THQ ignores analyst's pomposity accusation

By Robert Purchese Published 11 June, 2008

GTA IV parody video under fire.

THQ has told Eurogamer it has no comment on analyst Mike Hickey's claim that its recent Saints Row 2 trailer parodying Grand Theft Auto IV is "unusually pompous".

"The trailer directly attacks Grand Theft Auto IV in-game content, an unusually pompous position in our view, considering GTA IV is estimated to be the highest grossing first-week entertainment release of all time - and is currently the highest quality scored game on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 according to Metacritic.com," said Hickey, market watcher for Janco Partners (spotted by Gamasutra).

"We remain conservative on our sales expectations for Saints Row 2, in light of mediocre game previews and a delayed release in-part from quality concerns."

Saints Row 2 was pushed back from late August to 17th October recently to give developer Volition more time to polish the game.

The big difference between Saints Row 2 and GTA IV, according to Volition, will be a hyper-realistic and stylised world and, far from being put off by the competition, studio representatives told us at THQ's Gamers Day earlier this year that it wouldn't launch in 2008 if it didn't think the game was competitive. Will it all end in tears?

Head over to our Saints Row 2 preview to find out more. You can also drive by Eurogamer TV for a roundup of all the THQ hopefuls on show at its recent Gamers Day.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • the_dudefather #1 4 years ago

    if anything the video made a good point: the friends aspect gets old once they run out of things to say during the drive

    except for Brucie, any opportunity to spend time with the greatest GTA character ever is welcome :3

  • WinterSnowblind #2 4 years ago

    The trailer was clearly designed to get attention, and I'm pretty sure it done that. And all the GTA fans who were disappointed in the ultra realistic tone that GTA IV adopted will surely be happy playing the more sureal Saints Row. Personally, I thought the original Saints Row was more enjoyable than any of the prior GTA games, and what they've shown of SR2 makes it seem like it will be a lot more fun to play than GTA IV was.

    Pretty much everything that was said in the trailer was 100% true. It's not like they made things up or exaggerated to make GTA look bad, they simply compared the activites. Would you reather go bowling, or...
    Edited by 2 at 11/06/08 @ 11:29

  • mikeck #3 4 years ago

    "Pretty much everything that was said in the trailer was 100% true. It's not like they made things up or exaggerated to make GTA look bad, they simply compared the activites. Would you reather go bowling, or... "

    Whilst that's true, they've picked up on a small area of GTA that most people aren't that fussed about, it's not like they've made some insight into how the gameplay as a whole is flawed. Yes the bowling etc isn't that good, and dealing with your friends can be too much of a chore most of the time, but that's just one part of the game. If Saint's Row 2 is half as good as GTA IV then THQ can be happy.

  • Mr_Brown #4 4 years ago

    I own GTAIV and I have enjoyed playing it and I still am. However, I still intend to get this, the original offered just general fun and cut down all that gritty realism and annoying monotony that all GTA games include and just added some crazy stuff to make it more fun. Theres plenty of room in the genre for more than just GTA, Crackdown and Saints Row proved that and its hardily going to effect GTA sales. Its a great trailer and looks a fun game.

  • Bumhug360 #5 4 years ago

    Sounds like the analyst had a bit of a fan boy rant

  • Artemus #6 4 years ago

    One thing is for sure - Saints Row 2 is one ugly looking game.

  • cyacomini #7 4 years ago

    F**k GTA

    F**K Saints Row

    Give us Crackdown 2.... like now!

  • Darren #8 4 years ago

    Crackdown wasn't that good IMO, a definite third placer behind GTA IV and Saints Row IMO. The problem with Crackdown was that you could see everything the game had to offer within a few hours and the missions were literally all the same. Factor in a lack of story, a city that felt exactly like it had been built for a game along with that lack of variety and all you were left with was a short-lived reasonably fun sandbox game in my eyes. Not awful admittedly but certainly not that great either.

  • cyacomini #9 4 years ago

    For me, Crackdown was all about having fun though - and it pulled that off brilliantly. Even once the missions were complete, there was still the draw to load it up and do more.

    I'm bored with GTA already, and that's only after a few hours play. I understand why it got such high scores though, I was pretty much amazed by it when I first played. That's gone now though and I doubt i'll ever play it again.

  • monkie_king #10 4 years ago

    You've just listed most of the reasons I prefer Crackdown to GTA. No pissing about running errands and traipsing from A to B to watch cutscenes. No tedious fetch-and-carry missions. No dodgy minigames. No distractions and sideshows. Just the actual fun parts -- shooting, driving, blowing shit up -- turned up to 11.

    But each to their own.

    (edit: what cyacomini said. Multiplayer redeems GTAIV, though, and also whets my appetite for APB).
    Edited by 1 at 11/06/08 @ 12:00

  • paulf #11 4 years ago

    thought it was a good bit of advertising, certainly highlighting the differences between the two games- however it was a bit like comparing the godfather to jackass - that said I am interested to see how saints row 2 turns out

  • The_Inquisitor #12 4 years ago

    It's a big 'sand box' with enough room for everybody, so they should play nice.

  • Olemak #13 4 years ago

    The ad has a point - GTA IV is full of tedium. Last night, I was bored out of my mind trying to progress - and then I found out that one of the early, critical Vlad/Roman missions was probably broken, or that I'd just done something wrong - and had saved over the point of no return. So - I will probably have to restart to get it right... now - that just don't interest me.

    While the game has had some nice moments, sure, (I'm still just at 10 percent completed! So call me a casual slacker at playing games, I don't care), GTA IV has been pretty boring overall this far. Watching in-game TV because there was nothing else to do, except to drive around and annoy cops, was intensely boring - even though progression is halted du to a bug, a glich or perhaps even my own stupidity (no mention of what I have to do in the mission log; i got my only hint that something was wrong from some 'net forums) that just does not belong in a 10/10 game.

    I bet eurogamer will revisit this game, as they sometimes do, and alter the perfect score slightly in retrospect.

    Saints Row looks to focus more on fun and explosions etc, but after grinding my patience away on GTA IV I'm just not in the mood for a GTA copy-cat, even though it does promise to be "fun" and "awesome" this time around.

  • Wash #14 4 years ago

    Mike Hickey's isnt a former employee of rockstar is he? bejesus.

    If anything the trialer made SR2 look hella fun, which is somehting i could do with after the ultimately epic, but somewhat dour experience of playing GTA4.

    Hopefully there will be more to do in the mp too.

  • bad09 #15 4 years ago

    @ cyacomini

    Have you tried cops 'n' crooks? I to am starting to wane from GTA SP overkill, I'm taking a break from it for now with MP. Tried CnC, a HUGE laugh that never gets boring!

    I can't see why people are saying they are bored already I've still loads to do and loads of MP modes I haven't tried yet, maybe I haven't played as much as some.

    As for SR2, not interested. if anything the "pompous" (but funny) trailer made my mind up (mind you the first SR did that itself). To me, like the first one, it seems like a chavvy GTA clone.

  • WinterSnowblind #16 4 years ago

    @Olemak

    I pretty much feel the same, I absoloutely loved the story in GTA IV, and again, the characters are among the best ever seen in a videogame. But once the story is said and done, the game is fairly boring to play. There's nothing fun to unlock, and even just driving around isn't quite as fun as it was to do in the previous games. I'm certainly looking forward to Saints Row's more surreal approach, even if it doesn't come close in terms of story, or graphics.

    GTA IV's multiplayer was already done in the original Saints Row, so I've never found it quite as amazing as some of you other guys seem to, and the fact Saints Row 2 is taking that even further with full, drop in/drop out co-op is certainly a step above what GTA is offering.

    And hey, the GTA guys take shots at other games like this all the time, I'd be surprised if they didn't find this pretty funny themselves. It seems to me like the anaylst is the only one being pompous. The trailer was clearly designed to get some attention, and the fact the fanboys are so angry over it, only proves they're worried.
    Edited by 1 at 11/06/08 @ 12:18

  • mikeck #17 4 years ago

    I really can't understand why some people think GTA IV is boring, I mean it's a fair enough comment to make if that's how you feel, but for me I was not bored once on my way through completing this game, and I'm still only at 78.42%, so have a fair few side missions to do, which I will.

    Crackdown for me was fun, but I bored of that once I got to the last syndicate to take down, It was great fun for a while, I just found the repitition got a bit too much for me (probably like parts of GTA do for other people). Never played Saints Row, but the tariler does make me want to try the second game, but I'm not holding out for anything better than GTA IV to be honest.

    There certainly is plenty of room for more game titles in the 'sandbox' section of gaming, but any new IP has to do a lot right to better GTA IV in my eyes.

  • penhalion #18 4 years ago

    I loved the "Would you rather..." video. It highlights exactly why I got bored of GTA IV so quickly. All the things that reviewers drooled about became tedious after just a short while. Someone here said that you didn't have to do the friends thing. True but, then you litterally loose half the game. Don't do the dating stuff, then you don't get to zero your wanted rating with a phonecall. Don't wine and dine Jacob, then you get no rolling weapons cache etc. etc.

    I went past CEX the other day and they have a tonne of GTA IV trade ins. In fact they are reluctant to take anymore!

  • Fleeby #19 4 years ago

    The irony is that Mick Hickey's claim is far more 'pompous' than the Saint's Row 2 trailer...

  • miiiguel #20 4 years ago

    I was about to post something, but Fleeby said what I meant to say...

    Although I do love GTA 4.

  • paulf #21 4 years ago

    'I went past CEX the other day and they have a tonne of GTA IV trade ins. In fact they are reluctant to take anymore!'

    this may question gta4 longevity but doesnt mean it was overated - i think when saints row 2 comes out people might be able to put gta4 in context and see it for the great game it is

  • mikeck #22 4 years ago

    "GTA4 has very little to offer after story mode."

    But does it NEED to...how many other games get flak for not giving more once the main story is completed. I know it's different for sandbox games like GTA etc, but the main draw is playing through the game's story (which I thought was very well put together, and I really enjoyed the ending) and solely for that this game is a classic in my eyes. That's not to say it's not flawed, as parts of it are, but since when is there realistically one game that is not flawed in some way?

  • angerisagift #23 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus - "I also think GTA4 looks like a PS2 game"

    I really do question wether blind people should really be playing videogames...

  • Weezer #24 4 years ago

    Lookng forward to GTA V: Doing The Chores Before Popping Out For Some Groceries In A Nice Suburb Of Liberty City

    I was never that excited about GTA IV, but got all wrapped up in the hype and bought it on launch day. Now I've played to to 25% completion, I haven't bene back in about two weeks. I'm sorry but 10 out of 10 is Just. Plain. Fucking .Wrong.

    True, the game has moments of sheer, unadulterad brilliance - but regularly punctuated by some of the most boring task-related nonsense I've ever witnessed in 20+ years of gaming. The Rockstar guys were clearly too in love with their own concept to realise whe the game was broken (FFS: making me drive to every restarted mission? Please...)

    And which is why I thought THQ's ad was right on the nail. (Although I've no interest in buying SR2 either.)

  • monkie_king #25 4 years ago

    I think there two distinct types of gamer: those who care about plot, characters, dialogue etc., and those who don't. I'm definitely in the latter camp, tbh I'd rather GTA's plot would get the hell out of the way so I could get on with the actual gameplay. If I wanted a half-baked crime drama I'd turn on ITV1. (This might also explain the appeal of MGS4 and JRPGs, which I just don't get. To me they look like long, slow stories with occasional interactive bits).

    The thing I like about GTA's multiplayer is that it's all-action, like a GTA Arcade Mode. You don't have to wade through cutscenes and go and buy the right clothes before you get to the next shooting/driving fast bit, it's non-stop. Also, entering Party Mode on your own is the best way to enjoy the GTA sandbox. Quick access to weapons and vehicles, plus no cops to spoil the fun.

  • andromeda #26 4 years ago

    only thing that isn't good about GTAIV is the soundtrack. I've not got a favourite station really, and disregard whatevers on the radio when im driving. Few good tunes but pretty standard fare.
    Vice City soundtrack rocked and totally created the atmosphere. I'd slip it into IV if there were a custom soundtrack option..future DLC maybe? Surely by the time the added content comes out , R* must realise that people will be pretty fed up with the stations, so eitehr they'll provide fresh music or add the custom option. heres hoping


  • andywilkie35 #27 4 years ago

    i agree, the soundtrack was absolutely naff. when i first got in a car, the song that came on was 1979 by the Smashing Pumpkins and i immediately thought "this is going to be great!" but then the rest of it was sh*t.

    the one player game was good, i enjoyed it loads but i couldn't bring myself to keep playing once i finished the storyline. i must have done a few pigeons and stunt jumps to try and get 100% but soon got bored of that

    the multiplayer was floored and i no longer play it as it is the same as gears of war, just loads of abusive people. not for me

    i'll definitely get saints row 2, looking back i had more fun playing saints row 1 than i did gta 4

  • andywilkie35 #28 4 years ago

    oh and just want to say that if it didn't have the storyline that it did it would have been a much poorer game. doing the same missions 90 times doesn't make it a good game, what made it good was the reasons for doing it

  • bad09 #29 4 years ago

    @ andromeda

    I thought the soundtrack was pants at first but it really grows on you and there are some great tracks.

    Do you have 360 version? If so all you need is the VC soundtrack, put it on your 360 and bingo GTA4 with VC radio. I have all the GTA soundtracks so the best of all the radio stations in GTA4 :)

  • Grom #30 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    So the realtime lighting and full shadowing off all objects, fully dynamic environment maps and shaders for every bloody thing in the world make you think it's a PS2 game? Let alone the dynamic pathfinding, physics, reactive animation and streaming...

    Sometimes you have to wonder if some of you fuckers realise how difficult it is to make games.

  • Bluetribe #31 4 years ago

    Why should we even care about some "analyst's" opinion and why is gaming media giving exposure to these people like they're some kind of important figure in the industry? Let developers, gamers and sales do the talking. I'm getting the impression these non-gamer analyst's have an agenda to influence public opinion. I'm thinking Janco Partners "Full service investment banking firm" is a business partner of Take Two. I also find it suspicious how he refers to the metacritic reviews, when the general concensus in the serious gaming community (take NeoGAF for example) is that GTA IV, even though a good game, is overrated and overhyped, it's considered limited compared to it's last-gen efforts and has a lot of useless features tacked on to it, that is the reason why there's game like Saints Row 2 that adresses these issues. Also lately it's becoming more apparent that deals between game companies and major gaming sites are made, especially with a bigtime game; we'll give you exclusives/bonusses if you give us a super review, it's about business, not opinions anymore, resulting in unreliable and dishonest reviews, so what's metacritic worth then.
    And I agree that Hickey's own comments are pompous at least.
    Edited by 5 at 11/06/08 @ 14:22

  • PotajiTo #32 4 years ago

    We want Crackdown 2! Just put some more abilities, bigger weapons, bigger buildings, some history and that's it :p

  • angerisagift #33 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    I respect your right to have an opinion, but really, sit down for a minute, have a think and tell me - do you honestly believe that the bog-standard PS2 version of GTA SA is graphically equal to GTA IV? If you do honestly believe that, then I continue to respect your right to have an opinion but I can't actually respect your opinion at all. Oh and also a trip to VisionExpress might be in order...Basically, you're wrong, wrong, WRONG I TELLS YA!!

  • mikeck #34 4 years ago

    "@micket yeh but that's one of GTA's main selling points, it's what attracts gamers to buy it and always has, you can't even car surf any more :(

    that's what sandbox games do best, let you explore and experiment with the environment, GTA4 has none of that.
    Rockstar need to get some DLC out."

    Good point, I just think it's not the biggest part of the game...as in the story is the main feature for me, then everything else you can do in and around the core game structure.

    DLC is solely needed now...and not just a few missions, offer a new story arc and some variations in missions and I'll be a happy camper :)

  • mikeck #35 4 years ago

    "I think the DLC should feature skate boards, doing a "big shop" to get your weekly groceries, brushing teeth mode and growing old and remembering the good old days in front of an open fire. "

    Sod doing the 'big shop' there's a laptop in the safehouse so I'd be ordering the food shop online for a home delivery! I think pets and gardening should be included too, walking the dog, tending to the vegetables and flower-beds...awesome ;)

  • Cider86 #36 4 years ago

    If those who want Saint's Row 2 want it coz its more "fun" and less "real" then why don't they simply wait for Just Cause 2?

  • andromeda #37 4 years ago

    @bad09

    thanks for that tip mate, i shall be doing that !

  • miiiguel #38 4 years ago

    By looking at 360voice.com, Saints Row remains as the game I played most days. It has a great MP, very funny and well implemented with clans and great customizations. It's an urban soap opera, where GTA 4 is a full fledged movie, using a cinematographic analogy.

  • linksdad #39 4 years ago

    GTA4 is an absolutely beautifully realised city with an amazing level of detail filled with mainly interesting characters and story but boring as hell gameplay. Primary problem is the amount of uneventfull driving and traveling. Making you do the whole drive again cos you failed a mission is just spitefull.

    The only game I have nodded off playing (twice!) to find myself walking round aimlessly in circles.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #40 4 years ago

    If Real Time Worlds could deliver APB and a Crackdown 2 with more varied missions and locations, then they would literally rule the world. I'd make them all kings. And queens, I guess.

  • bad09 #41 4 years ago

    @ farticusmaximus

    You either need glasses or a new TV. GTA4 looks amazing!

    Even my girlfriend (who is very "meh" at GTA) commented on how much better GTA4 looks compared to the others.

  • Grom #42 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    Then I can only assume if you happened to visit, say, New York, that you would also complain that it is 'boxy and dull'.

    I can respect your opinion that you don't like the graphical style of GTA, because it is quite stylised and cartoony, but comparing it technically to a PS2 game is simply wrong.
    Edited by 1 at 11/06/08 @ 16:18

  • hybridial #43 4 years ago

    GTA IV was boring shit. If that makes me pompous, then I'm pompous.

    Of course, Saints Row 2 looks no better.

  • Bangaioh #44 4 years ago

    That is the second time I totally agree with Weezer in less than a month :)
    I've played GTA IV quite a lot, found it really good in certain moments but also really boring in many others. And having to drive someone to the bowling or to a strip club is such a waste of time; not to mention having to drive into every restarted mission, thanks Rockstar for you 10/10 game which is often such a pain in the arse. It is no way near 10/10, it's good but I can hardly give it more than 8. Way too much hype. I like Rockstar, I like their attitude and have bought every single game since GTA III but I find it really hard to follow the hype. If there is one game on the latest generation I could probably rate 10 that is Portal. If it's not a 10 it's a 9 for sure.
    Having said that, reading these comments has made me wanna go and give Crackdown a second ride...

  • indotoonster #45 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus: I'm with angerisagift on this... I respect your right to have the opinion that GTA IV's graphics are on a par with PS2, but I find it astounding that anyone truly believes this. Yes, R* were very ambitious, so some of the things they were aiming for visually didn't come off as well as I'd hoped, but the quality of the dynamic lighting, the attention to detail in every last grubby sidewalk, the weather effects, it all adds up to the most gorgeous looking gameworld ever. Some people may prefer the shiny glossy Technicolor graphics of other games, which boast higher resolutions than GTA IV, but in my opinion GTA IV is a visual masterpiece. It's kind of like WoW graphics compared to some other MMORPGS with snazzier graphics: WoW might have low quality textures and what-not, but the artistic direction is unparalleled.

    Oh, and for those of you who are griping about how GTA IV is boring once you've completed it, do you complain about movies and books being shit and boring once you've finished them as well?

  • evilboo #46 4 years ago

    farticus - clean that screen or get your eyes tested. your comment about the bad engine made me lol.