Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
GTA IV DLC Arriving This Summer?
Rockstar's "Lazlow" (one of the game's DJs) made another appearance on the Opie and Anthony show this morning. This time he claimed that the Xbox 360's DLC is being worked on at the moment and could see the light of day as early as this summer. Not much was said about PS3 DLC other than he hoped to see it happen in the future. Our guess is that Microsoft will release the DLC whenever it works best with their general plan of attack—be that as soon as Rockstar finishes the content or months later—since paying $50 million and ruling a platform probably affords you such luxuries.
Source [Kotaku]
GTA IV Runs At 630P on PlayStation 3, So What's That Mean?
Early test reports are finding that Grand Theft Auto IV is only running at 630P on the PlayStation 3—falling short of hi def—while the game runs at 720P on the Xbox 360. Clearly, the PlayStation version must look worse, right? It's not that simple. But the basic explanation is easy enough to understand.
You know 720P (along with 1080P) as "high definition" content. What 720P really means is that 720 lines of resolution are displayed on your television in "progressive" format—meaning all at once.
So if GTA IV is running at only 630P on the PS3, that does mean PS3 gamers are seeing 90 less lines of resolution—or quite a bit from a relative standpoint. And it's fast-approaching the Wii's standard def, 480p output.
The bottom line is that resolution does matter, but the more lines of resolution you add will depreciate in value. There's an interesting stat that always sticks in my head: From only about 10 feet away, most people cannot tell a 720p image from a 1080p image on a 42" television.
I'm not sure how well I could differentiate a 630P signal from a 720P signal from 10 feet away. But I'm sure that, given large enough televisions and sharp enough eyes, some of us could. Especially in a game context.
But what we'd be overlooking is that eyes-on reports show that Rockstar has taken the processing power formerly spent on resolution and added it to filters (and maybe even lighting). If GTA IV feels warmer or softer on PS3, that's probably why. And that's where taste triumphs numbers.
(If you're having a tough time wrapping your head around the filter concept, mess with the settings in Mass Effect.)
At the end of the day, both versions look good. But the PS3 used methods other than raw resolution to get there. Of course sharpness and detail is an important—that will be the biggest bonus of 720P. But in an era when we're past merely counting polygons on the screen to measure graphical quality, we shouldn't blow small numbers out of proportion. In short, it's not just the size of your P, but how you use it that matters.
And to see what we thought of the versions side-by-side, check out our impressions.
Source [Kotaku]
RockStar Social Club Opens
Social Club finally opens. You can now link your XBL or PSN ID to your user name on Social Club. RockStar has said, some changes will happen over the next few days.
RockStar Social Club
Official Site Updated 04.29.08
* Videos section has been updated with addition of the GTA IV TV Commercial in various formats.
* A tutorial (PDF) file has been added to the multiplayer section, which outlines the basics, tips & highlights and control scheme for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the multiplayer modes.
Grand Theft Auto 4: The Critics Speak
Now that Grand Theft Auto IV is finally ready to stand up to the cold, hard gaze of the world's army of eager videogame critics, the reviews are flooding in. Has all the hard work of Rockstar's army of developers, artists and writers been in vain? Can Grand Theft Auto IV really live up to the hype? How will the critics score this long-awaited epic?
No, yes, and very highly indeed are the answers, in that order. To a man, the critics are all overjoyed with the latest in the Grand Theft Auto series. Picking common themes out of the reviews is easy: the game's writing sparkles, the story is superb, the graphics are the best in their class, and new hero Niko is just the kind of guy you'd like to go for a beer with. (Except for, you know, all the brutality, drug-running, and drunk-driving, of course.)
First out of the gate was IGN's review, written by Hilary Goldstein. Goldstein calls the GTA IV "the best game since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," and goes on to heap praise on Nico's characterization, the realism of Liberty City, the dialog, the multiplayer, and - well, everything, really. He also tips the PS3 version as the better-looking of the two, offering less scenery pop-up and smoother graphics overall. And the score? A perfect 10.
Gamespy's Will Tuttle characterizes the game as a commentary on the nature of the American Dream, and sets it on a par with crime epics from directors like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola. He loved the lifelike Liberty City, calling it "the most important supporting character in the game," and paints a picture of wandering the streets for hours just watching life going on.
Tuttle also picks the PS3's version over the 360, although he's not impressed with the PS3's "forced" motion-sensitive controls. He notes the close-up combat still isn't quite right, and dings it for a few graphical issues, but all the same, rolls out the little-used five-star rating.
EGM's Crispin Boyer loves Liberty City, too, calling it "the most vibrant, dynamic, and entertainment-packed playground in console videogame history." He's also impressed with the way the game integrates its side missions with the city's mechanics, saying "Even things like stealing high-end cars and joining races happen through logical routes like e-mail and calls to the right people."
He's a little less impressed with the "squirrely" driving controls and the "tricky" gunplay, and wishes for checkpoints during longer missions - but again, his quibbles aren't enough to prevent him from brushing off EGM's highest accolade, an A+.
On the other side of the pond, British site Eurogamer had Tom Bramwell cast his experienced eyes over Grand Theft Auto IV, and like everyone else, he loved it. Bramwell picks out the game's gag-packed "fake internet" for particular praise, and also enjoyed the boss battles, saying Rockstar "manages more drama, and interactive drama, in these significant showdowns, rather than resorting to bosses with large health bars." Overall? "Almost everything you do in Liberty City would be good enough to drive its own game," he says, and awards it a seldom-seen 10/10.
Away from the specialist publications, Empire Online's review also sees the game racking up a 5-star write-up. Reviewer David McComb calls the game "damn-near perfect," citing its "rewarding" combat, "spot on" presentation, and "more streamlined" gameplay. McComb says it's "virtually guaranteed to be 2008's biggest videogame," and we're sure he's right.
Noticing a common thread through these scores? Uh, yeah, so are we. In fact, at the time of writing, not a single major site had awarded GTA IV anything less than their maximum possible score. That's not quite unprecedented, but it's pretty damn close, and it's certainly the first time a non-Nintendo game has ever done this well. It's been many years since a game had critics so uniformly worked up.
Source [Yahoo]
Freezing problems
360 version and PS3 versions of GTA IV are having some freezing problems. RockStar is aware of this problem. RockStar has not comment on, If a title update is coming soon or not.
Jack Thompson, IGN, and The US Attorney
The embattled Florida attorney has written a letter to the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, R. Alexander Acosta, demanding that legal action be taken against Take Two and retailers for selling the game...
Thompson sent a copy of the letter to Ars Technica, and his demands are far-reaching. "Indictments should be returned against Take Two corporately and its Chairman, Strauss Zelnick, along with other Take Two officers. Indictment should also be against Sony and Microsoft which are making this pornographic game available to minors, and openly so, on their PS3 and Xbox systems," Thompson wrote. "Further, indictments should be handed down against Wal-Mart, Best Buy, GameStop, and all other retailers distributing this game to minors at their retail stores, openly, to kids who are only seventeen."
He then compares the game to, of all things, polio. "Grand Theft Auto IV is the gravest assault upon children in this country since polio. We now have vaccines for that virus... The 'vaccine' that must be administered by the United States government to deal with this virtual virus of violence and sexual depravity is criminal prosecutions of those who have conspired to do this. If you doubt me, look at the aforementioned streaming audio/video. It will make you sick."
GTA IV Now Available
As most of you can figure out, It's now April 29th on the East Cost. Which Means You can now go and buy GTA IV. West cost still has a few hours to go.
Social Club should also be fully, up and running in a few hours. Site is currently down for Upgrades.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Cheats Found So Far
WARNING: For 360 owners I do not know if these will disabled the achievements or not. Might not want to save if your going to use some cheats.
Health
Restore Niko's health. 4825550100
Armour
Give Niko armour. 3625550100
Weapons #1
Baseball Bat, Handgun, Shotgun, MP5, M4, Sniper Rifle, RPG, Grenades. 4865550100
Weapons #2
Knife, Molotovs, Handgun, Shotgun, Uzi, AK47, Sniper Rifle, RPG 4865550150
Remove Wanted Level
Remove Niko's wanted level. Blocks achievement "Walked free". 2675550100
Raise Wanted Level
Add one star to Niko's wanted level. 2675550150
Change Weather/Brightness
Alters the weather/brightness of the game. 4685550100
Spawn Annihilator
Spawn an Annihilator in front of Niko. 3595550100
Spawn Jetmax
Spawn a Jetmax in front of Niko. 9385550100
Spawn NRG-900
Spawn an NRG-900 in front of Niko. 6255550100
Spawn Sanchez
Spawn a Sanchez in front of Niko. 6255550150
Spawn FIB Buffalo
Spawn an FIB Buffalo in front of Niko. 2275550100
Spawn Comet
Spawn a Comet in front of Niko. 2275550175
Spawn Turismo
Spawn a Turismo in front of Niko. 2275550147
Spawn Cognoscenti
Spawn a Cognoscenti in front of Niko. 2275550142
Spawn SuperGT
Spawn a SuperGT in front of Niko. 2275550168
In one of the in-game computers, type www.whattheydonotwantyoutoknow.com to view maps of the locations of pigeons, weapons, armor, ramps/stunts, health, entertainment, and vehicles.
Everything You Wanted To Know About GTA IV
Got questions about Grand Theft Auto IV? We've maybe got some of the answers! In an effort to address some of the frequently asked questions about the game, its two console versions and the particular quirks of each, we're compiling a handy reference guide which we hope you find informative. If your question isn't answered, ask in the comments and we'll hunt down an answer for you. We're trying our best to avoid spoilers, so some questions may go unanswered in the interest of letting you discover on your own. On with the questions...
How's the game? Any good?
Yes, yes it is. Check out our GTA IV review. It's spoiler-free and almost totally free of "teh biases"!
Should I get the PlayStation or Xbox 360 version?
That's up to you. They're nearly identical and it's hard to go wrong with either version. We found the feature set to be better on the 360, but the PS3 holds up a bit better technically. Check out our PS3 versus 360 GTA IV comparison piece.
Is there split screen multiplayer? What about local multiplayer via LAN?
No, multiplayer for both systems is only online.
Whats the deal with the PS3 hard drive install?
Installation is mandatory and kicks off when you insert the disc for the first time. We timed the 3.4 GB install at 7 minutes and 20 seconds.
Does the Xbox 360 have a hard drive installation?
No. There is no required installation, nor is there an optional one.
Can I remap the controls? Is there a control option for lefties?
Controls can't be remapped, but you can choose between Standard and Classic modes. Switching between the two will switch shoulder buttons for aiming and firing, among other changes. There is no special consideration for left handed players.
Is there an option for custom soundtracks?
No, the game's radio stations will have to suffice. Xbox 360 owners can still stream music from their hard drive or an iPod, but music played via the Xbox 360 Guide will continue to play over cell phone calls and cut scenes. If you're just going out for a stroll in GTA IV, it's still an option.
Does the PlayStation 3 version have any kind of achievements or accomplishments?
Outside of the standard stat tracking, which tallies up your kills, deaths, arrests, distance traveled, passed missions, stunt jumps, and other extracurricular activities, there are no Xbox Live Achievements-like features for the PS3.
How's the online performance?
Solid. We played for a pretty long, 16-player session before release via Xbox Live and were impressed. Microsoft says it's ramping up in anticipation of the release, adding hardware and hoping for smooth sailing. We have yet to go online with the PlayStation 3 version. Sony and Gamespy declined to comment about the status of the PlayStation Network.
How many players does the online mode support?
Up to sixteen players, depending on the game type.
Can I have sex with prostitutes?
In the game? Yes!
When can you trigger the "bullet-time"? Is it only while driving, or can you do it when walking around/shooting too?
You can switch to "bullet-time" during stunt jumps. While driving, hold B/Circle (or toggle to it using the Back/Select button) to enter the cinematic view. While in the cinematic view, click the left analog stick to toggle bullet time on and off.
Is there a huh, "normal" menu as in, not the cell phone one? For things like stats, audio, HUD and controller options, or just ofr ismply leaving the game paused? Or is this handled all in our cellphone?
Yes, when you press the Start button, you'll see options like Controls, Video, Audio and more.
How does the game end?
A list of credits scrolls vertically, with an extensive list of contributors.
Do helicopters have weapons?
Some do. Good luck hitting anything with the mini-guns! You might have better luck taking out foes with the chopper's blades.
Is ammunition only obtained by purchase? Are there (oh, the shame) cheats in this game?
Ammunition can be purchased from gun shops or one of your gun-running friends. It can also be collected from the corpses of your enemies. There are cheats, but we've yet to use any.
Can Niko buy the different outfits we see him wear or are they unlocked via missions?
Niko can buy new clothing, but some of Liberty City's clothing shops aren't immediately available to you.
Can you ride bicycles or skateboards?
Not that we've seen. You also can't ride in shopping carts.
Can you swim, or do those damn sharks eat you?
Niko can swim.
Is there a saved film or replay feature? What about saved screenshots?
Nope! This is certainly something we'd like to see added in a future game or update, as some of the player deaths are begging for a replay.
Are there different camera angles the player can select while on foot?
Sort of. The camera will pan further out or in, depending on your preference. While in vehicles or on the train, you can choose a cinematic camera mode, which is more cool than it is playable.
What if me and a couple friends just want to wreak havoc in Liberty City, no game modes, can we do that?
Yes, there is a Free Mode in multiplayer that can be played however you want.
How does the save system work?
There is an autosave feature, which you can turn on or off. The game will save your progress after each successfully completed mission. You can also choose to save at any time in one of Niko's safehouses.
Does GTA IV have Feature X from Vice City or San Andreas?
Character customization isn't as deep as it was in San Andreas, so you won't be hitting the gym or tattoo parlor to shape your own unique Niko. You can't own property, fly planes, customize cars or parachute off of skyscrapers. In multiplayer, you can choose how your character looks, with options for hair, hats, tops, pants, glasses and more. As you progress in ranked online matches, you'll unlock new looks for your character.
Are there subtitles?
Yes, and they come in handy, considering that Niko and his cousin will occasionally speak in their native tongue and characters like Little Jacob are nigh indecipherable.
Is lock-on targeting in multiplayer? Doesn't that kind of ruin it?
Lock-on targeting is an option in multiplayer matches, set by the game host. Even with lock-on targeting, however, there is still a level of skill involved, as accuracy increases while crouched, analog targeting tweaking can increase your likelihood of headshots and "pray and spray" firing will decrease accuracy. There are many, many options available to you in multiplayer, from having other players show up on your radar, to weather, to traffic density.
Source [Kotaku]
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Both IGN and GameTrailers have posted a ton of new GTA IV GamePlay Videos.
IGN
GameTrailers
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
IGN's GTA IV PodCast Now Online
Along with the Review of GTA IV. IGN has also just post a GTA IV Podcast. Everything you need or want to know about GTA IV will be covered.
GTA IV Podcast
Embargo Lifted on Sunday
With Grand Theft Auto IV due out on Tuesday, you're probably wondering where our review is! The answer is that our review will be going up on Sunday at 5pm GMT.
As with all good things, such as the weather and hats, that timing is subject to change, but we thought you would want to know the current plan so that you can stick your head round the internet on Sunday and find out.
In the meantime, of course, you can keep track of all the latest GTA IV news and assets on our Xbox 360 and PS3 gamepages. Hope to see you on Sunday, calling us names as usual.
Source [EuroGamer]
Amazon.com Having Problems Shipping the Guide
Hello from Amazon.com.
We're still trying to obtain the following item[s] you ordered on March 28 2008 14:18 PDT (Order# DELETED).
BradyGames (Author) "Grand Theft Auto IV Signature Series Guide
(Brady Games)" [Paperback]
Estimated ship date: 05/26/2008
You have unique (and excellent, of course) taste, and this item is difficult for us to get our hands on.
Still want it? We'll keep on trying. To keep your order for this item open, please click the link below. Otherwise, we'll cancel your order on May 25 2008, if we haven't located it by then.
If your still looking for the guide and want to get it cheaper the the MSRP. Check Wal-Mart.com.
No PC Version for GTA IV?
"As for GTA IV coming out on the PC, that’s very doubtful as we currently have no plans to develop for the PC. We could only focus our efforts extensively on so many consoles at once, and PC might not see the light of day."
Source [WhatifGaming]
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Gamestop's Midnight Locations
Gamestop just released the list of all the gamestop that will doing Midnight Launch.
GameStop's Midnight Locations
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Pirated GTA IV Leaked Early Online
At around 11:50am Greenwich Mean Time, the PAL version of Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360 was ripped and leaked to various torrent sites by a ground called iCON. This would of course enable burning a copy for the home console. Meanwhile, the NTSC version is expected within the next 48 hours. YouTube clips have been popping up online of the game's opening and early missions — but as of posting, many of the clips have been taken down. The retail release is a mere six days away. This isn't the first GTA game leaked as San Andreas was as well. And it was leaked a week before, too.
We haven't verified whether the 6.32 GB file really is the full game, but there are plenty of listings on torrent sites now and we contacted Rockstar for comment.
Source [Kotaku]
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