Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars looks for success on the iPad

Rockstar hopes blood, guts, and sex will sell better among iPadders

Words: on September 9, 2010

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was lauded by reviewers and critics but didn’t sell as well as expected. Now, publisher Rockstar is working on reviving the handheld crime title with a new, higher-resolution version for the iPad.


Above: Rockstar invested heavily into Chinatown Wars and the DS hardware in general. But sales figures were lower than expected 

The new version will be re-titled Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars HD and will be given a visual overhaul to fit nicely on the iPad's notably larger screen. Controls will likely be similar to those of the iPhone version, which was released earlier this year.


Above: This is what the game looks like with the iPad version's improved graphics

Also added to the iPad version is the ability to sync directly to the device's linked iTunes account, allowing the in-game radio stations to pull from the user's own music library. We suggest flooding your iTunes account with only Lady Gaga songs prior to playing Chinatown Wars HD.

The game is available immediately for $9.99 from the App Store, a significant price reduction from the DS version. At $35, the original release of Chinatown Wars priced it at the highest-tiered level of standard DS games. $9.99 is a much more reasonable price point.

Sep 09, 2010


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Rockstar's small step backwards is still a giant leap forward

 


Liberty City landmarks: GTA IV vs Chinatown Wars
See how the handheld Grand Theft Auto stacks up against its full-sized cousin

 


GTA: Chinatown Wars on iPhone: the best version yet?
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Platforms:

PC, PSP, DS, iPad

Topics:

iPad , Mobile

10 Comments
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  • betterfashion

    betterfashion  - 1 year, 4 months ago  - Report

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  • Boxer47

    Boxer47  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    its best on the ds its like your using a pds
  • spideralex90

    spideralex90  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    Why not Android? :( the physical droid keyboard works well on alot of games.
  • papergoon

    papergoon  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    I played the iPhone version but I'll say the touch screen controls just can't beat tactile buttons. It's just a sad truth. :(

    Oh and another thing, do you have to hold the iPad like how you'll hold the iPhone to play it? (Gonna look clumsy)
  • youxue

    youxue  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

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  • youxue

    youxue  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    Air jordan(1-24)shoes $30-$34

    Handbags(Coach l v f e n d i d&g) $30

    Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $14

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  • Psylockerules

    Psylockerules  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    jeez they still trying to sell this? its never gonna sell what they want it to. surely 2 interations of it would have proved that?! well at least its digital distribution and not a waste of carts/discs
  • WonsAuto

    WonsAuto  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    I wouldn't say that the $35 for the original DS version was anywhere close to unreasonable, considering how much there is to do in the game.
  • therawski

    therawski  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    The graphics really don't look any more improved on the iPad from the PSP version. I'd like to know the ratio of people owning hardware that would buy the game.
  • oneshotfinch

    oneshotfinch  - 1 year, 5 months ago  - Report

    Step 1 Put this on XBLA/PSN/Steam
    Step 2 Money
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