Remember that Grand Theft Auto game that was created exclusively for the Nintendo DS?  And remember how the game didn't quite sell so well?  Never one to leave money on the table, Take-Two and Rockstar are aiming to recoup some of their development expenses by bringing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to the Sony PlayStation Portable in both disc-based UMD and downloadable formats.  Kotaku has the news.

"We're proud to extend this truly unique handheld Grand Theft Auto experience to PSP and offer a downloadable version of Chinatown Wars for PSPgo," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "Rockstar Leeds has shown incredible talent in creating games that raise the bar in terms of depth and innovation on portables, and with Chinatown Wars we have a rich, fast-paced, and incredibly addictive entry into the series."

Obviously, all of the touchscreen gameplay has to go for the PSP version of the game, but if that material is removed, then what is it that makes the new version of Chinatown Wars stand out?  The touchscreen mechanics are part of that game's identity, but then perhaps that's part of the point here: rebranding a critically-successful but underselling game for a second chance in the marketplace.  Let's just hope that the touchscreen taps aren't replaced with mindless button-jamming.  I'd hope that Rockstar knows better than to do a lazy port, but cheaper things have happened.