The Rumor Reporter posted this letter from a “informed source” regarding the recent delay Take 2 made with Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV.

Here’s the real scoop as to why GTAIV was “delayed”. It was never going to be released this year to begin with. Take 2 is in big financial trouble, and has been for quite some time. Isn’t it obvious this was the case? Come on, man. If either version of the game were actually causing Rockstar that much difficulty, that version of the game would have been delayed so that at least one version could have been released during the holiday season. Citing “difficulties during development” and not elaborating during a shareholder’s conference is the most obvious and painfully transparent deception of all. Take 2 told their shareholders that they’d have GTAIV out in 2007 so that they’d get more money from said shareholders. No investor wants to hear that the big money-maker is coming out in 2008 – especially when it’s obvious that the company is in financial trouble in 2007. The plan was always to release the game in 2008, not 2007. In fact, I would not be surprised if the game actually ships next fall.

If there are any developmental problems, they would stem from the Xbox 360 version of the game. The PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV has been in development longer than the 360 version has been, despite Rockstar showing off the “360” version every chance they get to show off the game. GTA IV’s technological “problems” on 360 stem from a couple of things. Unlike last generation where the PS2 did not have a standard hard drive, Rockstar is utilizing hard drive-caching and disc streaming for GTAIV. Assuming that they can actually fit all the content onto a DVD, the disc-streaming isn’t a problem for 360 – it’s the lack of a hard drive being standard. Microsoft is quite adamant about a game like GTAIV being able to be played by every single 360 owner. It gives them a marketing bulletin point to note that next-gen GTA can be played on a system that retails for $279.

But again, it’s extremely unlikely that the “developmental challenges” are a legit excuse, anyway. It’s a case of over-ambition and not enough time to deliver that game that resulted in a premature release date. A premature release date to help take a bit of the pressure off of Take 2 to perform, financially.

[source]

GameInformer verifies the rumor of a new black Xbox 360 is coming soon.

Most of what we heard prior is true,

• 120 GB hard drive (also available separately for under $200)
• HDMI output w/cable included
• black case - black accessories will also be available

This system will sell for $479 and it is unknown at this time if the $299 core system will be discontinued. Also it had been rumored that there would be a built in HD-DVD but sources say the format is not proven… The new black 360 should be in stores by the end of April.

[image via Kotaku]

Joystiq posted this recently:

Nintendo recently announced support for Neo-Geo and MSX games on the Japanese Virtual Console. Will the Sega Saturn be next? The gossip comes via Rumor Reporter reader Fei34 who claims to have heard it from a fellow DigiPen employee. The DigiPen and Nintendo of America buildings are connect by a single hallway, so it seems someone has been doing reconnaissance work in-between classes.

Since the VC launched, Sega has been one of its strongest supporters. Bringing on the Saturn is a likely next-step. Now if only the Dreamcast were next on the list.