The term Bullshot was coined by Penny Arcade in 2005 and has come to be a much loved part of the videogame industry. It is used to describe screenshots that are sent out by PR companies that barely resemble the finished article.
And no matter how many times they get caught out you just know the PR departments are going to keep pushing them out as they always build excitement.
Take a look at the first top contender for this year with Rockstar’s GTA V promotional shot not quite matching the in game footage.
Now to be fair the game hasn’t even been released yet so calling Bull already is a bit premature and the video screenshot could simply be a bad render or timeframe… but still, it’s quite different isn’t it.
Thanks to the insatiable reddit for this one
Last Updated: April 15, 2013
Nathan Horne
April 15, 2013 at 09:02
We’ll, I can’t imagine it looking better than the bottom screengrab on any current gen console…
eXpZA
April 15, 2013 at 09:06
THIS JUST IN: Pre-Rendered Gameplay Trailer doesn’t look as good as actual gameplay! GAMERS SHOCKED.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:10
THIS JUST IN: Sarcasm detected
😛
eXpZA
April 15, 2013 at 09:15
THIS JUST IN: Never!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:17
THIS JUST IN: Trolling mode active
haha
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
April 15, 2013 at 09:39
THIS JUST IN: Trolling Mode always online. Might as well have DRM.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:47
THIS JUST IN: Nope, that’s a DLC with micropurchases
Poopypants
April 15, 2013 at 10:01
THIS JUST IN: I just wanted to join in
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 10:03
THIS JUST IN: Welcome brother
James Hollinworth
April 16, 2013 at 02:28
THIS JUST IN: I DON’T KNOW WHAT WERE YELLING ABOUT!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 16, 2013 at 08:09
THIS JUST IN: FUN ISN’T IT?
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 02:25
THIS JUST IN: I’m 2 days late 🙁
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 18, 2013 at 08:55
THIS JUST IN: Its never too late!
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 09:09
THIS JUST IN: YAY IM NOT TOO LATE TO BE PART OF THE FUN!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 18, 2013 at 09:17
THIS JUST IN: Sorry dude, you missed the cut-off by 3 minutes 🙁
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 09:21
THIS JUST IN: But.. bu-but.. but !! … 🙁
admiral ackbar
April 16, 2013 at 06:08
THIS JUST IN: I DONT GIVE A FUHHHH or IDOGIAFUHH!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:10
The bottom one looks more like GTA3 :p
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 15, 2013 at 09:18
You see, the better render was done on PC. The other on console.
That’s what you get for not letting it hit PC.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:19
…must….contain….ha…..the….laugh…..haha…..HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA
Well trolled sir, well trolled. I’m really proud of that one!
Mikhil
April 15, 2013 at 09:27
God I love watching the “PC master race” squirm, knowing they’re not gonna get a decent version of this. Much love, joy and happiness – the console crowd/revolution. “we shall have cake, and it shall not be a lie, Viva!!”
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:32
I’m trying to see this “squirming” you are referring to, nope, none detected. Point invalid Mikhil @LlewellynCrossley:disqus
#GotYourBackLC
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:32
I’m trying to see this “squirming” you are referring to, nope, none detected. Point invalid Mikhil @LlewellynCrossley:disqus
#GotYourBackLC
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 15, 2013 at 09:35
I don’t play GTA anymore. It has become stale. So I’m not worried either way.
Also, it’s a bit of sarcasm. Lighten up bud. I know it’s Monday, but it’s not all that bad. 😛
Mikhil
April 15, 2013 at 09:38
Hence the the jovial reply from me. I don’t think I’ve taken the elitists seriously for a good couple of years now :p Coming from someone who used to dish out 20k a year for new PC gear
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 15, 2013 at 09:45
Meh. I’m far from an elitist 😉
I just enjoy giving you console people grief coz it’s fun 😛
Ok but all jokes aside I am pretty sure that my original statement is probably close. The original render was most likely done on PC and then the new renders are closer to what will be since it isn’t coming to PC and needs to downscale for current consoles.
It also gives a good indication that it will hit current gen consoles with the possibility of better graphics for new consoles as well.
Look! I’ve become a detective! Woooohoooo
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 15, 2013 at 09:45
If you used to dish out 20k a year, then you were doing it wrong, tbh
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 02:31
Not completely true, Rockstar has produced PC versions of every GTA game that has been for consoles (Except the PSP ones), We just usually get it a year or so later
izayoi
April 19, 2013 at 16:03
Except that a lot of us belonging to the “PC master race” also have consoles. *yawn*
Skyblue
April 15, 2013 at 10:15
Have to agree 100% as it looks like a standard PC screenshot to me
Willy_head
April 15, 2013 at 20:26
Its not even made for PC yet. Rockstar North in the UK make the console versions first, once released they send over all the tools to Rockstar Toronto in Canada to put the PC version together. Thats why the PC version always launches 6 months after consoles.
Johan du Preez
April 18, 2013 at 15:46
They make the console version first but wait for it ….. DUN DUN DUN they develop the game on the PC ….. So all the testing is done on the PC first then it gets dumped on the console.
That’s why there might be higher rendered CGI and Screenshots available than the actual game-play on the consoles.
silverscorpio
April 15, 2013 at 09:24
Maybe someone should charge them for fraud because that is one hell of a difference between the screenshots. I do not think that they will stop anytime soon with this nonsense. And EA wonders why they were voted the worst company. Shame on them.
Skyblue
April 15, 2013 at 10:20
Dude, seriously?
matthurstrsa
April 15, 2013 at 09:32
His face is such low detail on the bottom one? I thought we’d progressed past that stage? It’s fugly.
matthurstrsa
April 15, 2013 at 09:32
His face is such low detail on the bottom one? I thought we’d progressed past that stage? It’s fugly.
Alec Jeffrey
April 15, 2013 at 09:33
I don’t think it’s real
Alec Jeffrey
April 15, 2013 at 09:33
I don’t think it’s real
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 15, 2013 at 09:42
So the top pic is before you’ve smoked crack, the bottom after?
Cedric Cole
April 15, 2013 at 09:49
Maybe thats why its comin out in sept so it can look like the other much better pic
Wtf101
April 15, 2013 at 11:17
I shall wait patiently for Saints Row 4…
ALKi1234
April 15, 2013 at 11:51
I just knew it was to good to be true.
Kobus Nel
April 15, 2013 at 14:33
FFS! If it’s not ready, then don’t release it!
BleedItOut031
April 15, 2013 at 15:04
This is the least of my concerns. I just want the game cause TBOGT is boring already. Much respect to Rockstar.
X-RunnerV6
April 15, 2013 at 16:05
Easy.. Top screen is from PS3, Bottom from 360
Ace Marlow
April 15, 2013 at 19:55
PS3 vs. Xbox 360 ?
Troll_oh_clock
April 15, 2013 at 20:23
The top ones obviously Xbox 360 and the bottom one is PS3, duh!
S3R6i0
April 17, 2013 at 04:49
Your obviously an idiot.
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 02:37
He was obviously joking, Offended are we?
S3R6i0
April 18, 2013 at 04:16
You’re another idiot.
thaghost
April 18, 2013 at 09:09
Lol, I wasn’t trying to be a dick like you are, But seriously, You fan-boys are too much.. Pout some more.
S3R6i0
April 17, 2013 at 04:52
All you retards putting a console label on the assets above need to shut you pie hole’s. XBOX 360 looks only slightly better than PS3. What you see above is not a next-gen difference. More like next-century. Please stop embarrassing yourselves.
sick of gtav crybabies
April 18, 2013 at 00:40
you look at one screenshot that doesn’t sync up and you create a huge sh*tstorm, max payne and la noire looked great as well as red dead, they’re all gorgeous and they are all current gen, the game’s going to be great, quit nit picking you’re all going to buy it.
Samantha
April 18, 2013 at 07:40
If you actually look at the trailer and match it up, it does not look like this. FACT
Anthony Brinklow
April 19, 2013 at 12:23
The screenshots were obviously above this hardware generation. PS4 will probably look like the screenshots they have shown but 360 and ps3 will look essentially like GTA IV.