So, we finally know the later-than-expected release date for Grand Theft Auto 4, but what of the reason for the delay? Developing for the PS3 has copped a chunk of the blame.

Speaking in an interview, Rockstar Games' VP of Product Development, Jeronimo Barrera, said of the delay:



Not to worry, all ye PS3 owners, however. “That's not to say there's anything wrong with the PS3 version. It's awesome. They're both identical", Barrera elaborated.

He also hinted that technical issues were not the only thing that held back the game's release. "We wanted the time, and I think we made the right choice. It was very difficult to make the choice because everybody wanted it. But we thought, you know, what with that extra bit of time, it's just going to be that much better and there will be more systems out." (SPOnG's emboldening).

Hmmm... (SPOnG caresses beard knowingly).

Barrera also let fly a touch of... professional pride? Or, maybe, petulance? We'll let you decide. "We don't want anybody else to raise the bar for a genre that we created and that everybody else ripped off", he said. "So we definitely want to shock not just the players, but the industry. I'm not talking about shock value. I'm talking about just how big it is and just how many crazy, bananas things you can do in the game".

For those looking for more Hot Coffee – there might be a bit of disappointment. "Are we going to have a 'Hot Coffee' situation? ...Absolutely not", Barrera said. Except..."Obviously it's a mature title and there's human relations. That's a natural thing."

Look out for SPOnG's latest GTA IV preview soon. In the meantime, you can catch our earlier impressions here. If you missed the latest screens, you'd better follow us this way.

^{Source: MTV.com}