Chinese tease

Most of the time, developers will release videos showing off their upcoming games in the months before they are due to hit shelves. This isn't always the case with DS games, though, as many slip under the radar, and we don't get much new info until shortly before launch. Then there are companies like Rockstar, who always seem to be very tight-lipped about all of their products, and show off just enough to keep people interested. So what happens when Rockstar develop a game for DS? We practically have a media blackout, that's what!

The game I'm talking about is, of course, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the first in the series to be released on Nintendo's duel screen system. Originally scheduled for last holiday season, it was delayed until first quarter 2009; a good move on Rockstar's part, as who really wants to compete with all the big-budget holiday titles? However, apart from some a handful of screenshots and features, surprisingly little is known about the game, despite the fact that it's due out in about three weeks. Yeah, you heard me correctly: Three weeks. Well, we finally have some footage of Chinatown Wars in motion, thanks to a Gamestop advertisement.

You'd think, what with the March 17th release date, that we'd have all sorts of videos to watch, but this little teaser trailer is about it. It may only have about 4 seconds of gameplay footage in the background, but it sure looks smooth, and harks back to the original top-down titles in the series. Plus, I have absolutely no problem with a story that takes jabs at corporate America. I hope that this is a theme dealt with more in the final game, and not just a throw-away joke concerning recent events in the country.

One other thing worth mentioning is the pre-order incentive at the end of the ad. Apparently, if you reserve your copy at Gamestop, $10,000 of in-game money will be yours, right from the start. This way, you'll be able to buy all the kick-ass weapons right away, breeze through the otherwise-difficult missions, finish the game before your friends, and be back at Gamestop to trade it in within the week. Very clever, you corporate bastards!