The GTA4 thread

[BurroDiablo 222]

Originally posted by: outriderdriver  there are still straight line curbs on the turned roads. arent those things of the past?!quote>

Curves in games are made up of alot of straight lines anyway...

Watched the Video though, it was alright, doesn't show off anything we don't already know about... certainly won't keep me satisfied untill its sitting in my 360 being played to death!

[outriderdriver 4]

well specifically, the roads use too little of an amount of straight lines to give the appearance of a curve. but with that theyed have to cut the texturing to mold around a multi poly curve. im sure they have the option/ability to create a separate texture just for a curve to eliminate the machine having to generate that cuve on its own, or however it works. I do NOT speak with experience but with some common sense from being around games for years. I just think that by now theyed find ways to make the appearance better. They didnt choose to enhance this part of the game, oh well. I wont sit here and say that they didnt put alot of work into it still.

[GreekMan 246]

I really want to do something about the Talk Radio Station

I heard that you could call in to Rockstar and talk about different stuff

I think it would be cool if your script got accepted into the WKTT station!

you know what i am talking about?

[GMT 389]

yes. and I think, some 4 weeks before the release, the "casting" (better: recording) has finished long ago

EDIT:

ok, some more input... damn, my keyboard starts to hurt...

rumors are that R* has set up a deal with amazon concerning the soundtrack, goes like this:

after you've registered with Rockstar Social Club (real life), you are able to use GTA's cellphone mp3 system ZiT (you're able too anyways, but R* Social Club is neccessary for the whole thing), call ZiT-555-0100 on your cell (in game) when you like a certain song (like I do like Ruslana, the former eurovision song contest winner on the russian station). you recieve a text with the song and the interpret.

since you're registered with the RSC, you recieve an email linking to custom playlists at amazon, where you can buy each track (thanks to ZiT knowing the names) for 80-90 cent.

There will be 200 game tracks available, including the GTA4 only tracks that where exclusively recorded for the game

further, several sites offer screencaps of the 4th trailer in HD quality.

I'd certainly take a look at them.

you'll find interesting things to discover... like I just saw that the cars' undersides are really modelled and not a texture with a poor modeled exhaust anymore.

or how a sprunk ad can bee seen almost all over town for it is so damn gleaming green...

the game really looks like finished now, you'll see.

still with some flaws here and there (like the one mentioned above with the curves)... but I think they're minor compared to the game as one

EDIT: just for fun, don't try to get around per taxi in GTA... 2,50 initial fare + 40c per 1/5 mile... just what  I can read at on of the taxis in the screenshots... Oh I love the dirt simulation on cars already

another screen shows a dead bird lying on the sidewalk, and a lot of dirt like cans, cigarettes and stuff, although signs across the street threat with a 1000$ fine for not cleaning up one's mess...

blood seems to splatter on all surfaces and not just the ground as in SA, on screen shows blood on a  squad car, another screen shows bloodstains on Niko's face, so he either takes visible damage or blood from opponents can splash onto him

so, does Niko need glasses? another screenshot shows someone in a training suit with a sniper rifle wearing glasses. the haircut seems to be Niko's, but you can't see the face to tell for sure... Correction: it seems like Niko where's glasses occasionally

The airport is just Francis Intl. Airport and not  St. Francis Intl. Airport. At least no sign has the "Saint" in it

A clock mounted to an overpass shows the time, and it seems like the clock is animated

an airline is called FlyUS

The airport seems accessable, at least one fo the multiplayer scenes take place on the field, showing a big plane flying by in rather low altitude

a subway station is called Emerald, the screen also shows a recycle trashcan for cans and bottles

you can see bullets rushing through the air

some remake cars I found:

Escalade (the Huntley I gess), a sports care with some rear elements of the Pagani Zonda ( I think it's either the new Bullet or the new Infernus), a diaper bomber (i think it's either the new Solair or the Stratum space wagon), the good ol Honda CRX equivalent Blister, a Freeway chopper, the Banshee is included again, a car that looks like the Mitsubishi Galant (maybe the Sunrise), an all terrain vehicle shows a "Declasse" print, hard to say if it's a cars name or a manufacturer name..., another car looks like the s2000 from the rear, the Flatbed truck is back, another car looks like an Aston Martin or a Jaguar, one dirtbike is called GP-450 which leads to the conclusion that there're many new vehicles to choose from...

further, german electronics chain Saturn has a special offer to buy a presale box now and get the g

[toxicpiano 125]

Originally posted by: El Burro

Originally posted by: outriderdriver  there are still straight line curbs on the turned roads. arent those things of the past?!quote>

Curves in games are made up of alot of straight lines anyway...

Watched the Video though, it was alright, doesn't show off anything we don't already know about... certainly won't keep me satisfied untill its sitting in my 360 being played to death!quote>

Indeed, but True crime streets of LA and NY had such wonderfully smooth roads. They were probably the best thing in that game. A pleasure to drive on.

[GMT 389]

yea, if true crime la would have offered a little more realism than just street layout and names and the most important sights of la (in a pretty poor quality) it would have become one of my most favorite games because of the setting...

but replacing hancock park / la brea tar pits with some grad and a few trees made it ridiculous...

and the playboy mansion was nothing but a huge wall and a villa behind it... :-(

EDIT: just took a closer look at a certain screenshot from the trailer:

spotted someone familiar?

yes, me too.

but I don't think he's the one.

Although the similarities between the guy on the chopper and Eddie Pulasky are intriguing.

maybe his brother?

ok, pretty much a coincidence, but the guy really looks like Eddie, doesn't he?

[Duke87 1,070]

Apparently a map of the subway in the game is out.

[GMT 389]

Originally posted by: Duke87 Apparently a map of the subway in the game is out.

quote>

There's links on lower page 8 to some pictures of the leaked GTA4 map, incl. the one you linked. toxicpiano found them, I made the link working.

rather interesting map pics.

so, don't you even dare to think we won't hear of the game anymore until it's released...

where to start...

oh yaeaheewah (*****?)... well:

first: new artwork has been released at gamewallpapers.com ... one of these will definately give you the San Andreas feeling back ... at first sight

second: IGN offers a huge article on how Liberty City was made, especially pointing out the NYC-recreating part of the works and the gameplay's feeling, like storyline and stuff. Unfortunately no new pictures, but therefore pretty interesting 11 pages to read (I ask you to read them!! definately worth the time since I don't want to write a conclusion for it's too much content)

EDIT2: just to pick up the graphics talk again, Art Director Aaron Garbut says in the article: "...but we're still not aiming for realism by any means. " (just as I said before)

third: R* was kinda attacked for not showing or at least showing too few gameplay scenes in the trailers. Now, according to Kotaku, R* assured them that in the latest trailer about 70% of the pictures are actually real gameplay and not just copies of the videoscenes in game.

EDIT: including the cool 180 with the black sports car!

fourth: Zoo magazine revealed pictures of the games HUD. As earlier articles said already, it's nothing but the radar in the lower left, and arround the radar is the life bar left and the armor bar right. everything else (wanted level, weapons, etc) is only shown when actually needed

further, an editor from Zoo uk is featured ingame as a pedestrian, incl. his own voice as the ped's voice.

so far, that's all, but it'll keep you buisy for a short while, maybe the next news are to be told until then

EDIT3: there's a new official screenshot, showing a driveby scene where Niko, driving a cab, hunts down someone in a Phoenix in downtown Liberty. You can see a small red arrow above the Phoenix, almost at second sight only.

plus, there's a trailer at Youtube, called Give me Liberty: a tourist guide to Liberty City. Main character in this trailer is Jeremy St.Ives, and he introduces us to Liberty City in a (guess what) tourist guide like way to Liberty City, only telling the best, but the pictures of course with the typical GTA flair, with drunks, shootings and so on.

rather funny thing, but yet only in youtube quality, maybe the next update to the GTA4 site offers us this video in full quality.

[GMT 389]

I'm doing it like this cuz the above post would get to messy with all the additional editings...

well, deputy editor of the 360 word magazine is the first journalist ever to play the whole GTA4 story mode.

according to an interview over at games radar, and here's what he says according to the time it needs:

- he finished the storymody in 24 hours without skipping cutscenes, but in a rushing kind of way, without any side missions and without taking care about the visual content of the game (lovely details and stuff)

- he thinks that at a normal speed, finishing the game will take about 40 hours plus another 25 for the side missions

- but all in all, he thinks that you can easily spend a year on the streets of Liberty and still discover new things to see

his advice (I quote): just kick back, take your time and breathe every fresh sight and sound in, don't simply rush through just to finish it before your mates.

the whole interview covers more than just the time you need to get through the game (like the skill level of the missions, how tight the game is in terms of visual and narrative content and others) feel free to read it over at games radar

[hym 358]

I'm doing it like this cuz the above post would get to messy with all the additional editings...quote>

Considering the days between posts, I don't think this would be considered the kind of "double posting" the rules reference.

[ilikehotdogsalot 308]

25 days people!!!

[Glenni 1,444]

Is it there yet? Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?Is it there yet?!

This is gonne be soooo great!

[Cleaner475 150]

I can feel it now with less than a month to go - I porbably won't leave my bedroom until I've completed it twice over ,

Richard

[GMT 389]

there's loads of new input concerning the multi player mode and other things...

first off, there's artwork released showing a radio DJ: Karl from K109 The Studio.

DJ karl... lol... this guy looks exactly like Karl Lagerfeld:

so much for this...

further, we once speculated that the ingame search engine is called eyefind.info... based on a screenshot showing the LCPD kiosk at star junction with the eyefind.info banner behind, a replica of the NYPD kiosk at time square with an yahoo banner.

word is at Weazel News website that eyefind.info in fact IS the search engine ingame

ok, this covered, off to the multiplayer mode.

13(!) websites have posted previews of the multiplayer mode, including IGN, Gamespy, Kikizo TeamXbox and of course others.

word is (thanks to lazzbrium for the conclusion):

- since scoring is based on money you earn by killing and picking up the remnants, you can also pick up money stashed all over LC (especially a gimmick for *****s who are not as familiarized with the aiming system)

- weapons and other pick-ups are scattered all over the place and marked on the map

- no damage from falling into water from high places (like in SA)

- 10 levels to reach by earning experience (=money), unlocking more possibilities to customize the character (head, clothes, shades, hat, sex and more)

- these levels are not meant to be the focus but the reward you get for multiplayer mode

- the host has 16 options per multiplayer mode to choose from to set up a rather specific type of game

- visual quality goes slightly down in multiplayer mode so the game can run smooth will maximum players reached

- names and tags disappear when you crouch or take cover, making it more difficult to be spotted

- it seems like you can access the statue of liberty

- friendly fire can be disabled, giving the opportunity to use RPG to access rooftops and stuff when fired by allies

- you can open doors of cars as a passenger to shot out

- law enforcement has extremly improved AI

- grenades need to be cooked as in some of the fps games

- new vehicle: Annihilator, an armed police chopper as seen in the trailer

- about ten minutes to cross one hood

- mobile service differs from player to player

- chopper blades are harmfull (guess what)

- no differences between ps3 and 360 (too bad, one feature less to flame which one is better)

- pay 'n spray still gets the cops off

- no replay mode

- if you limit the multiplayer to one hood doesn't mean you can't access the whole city... only respawn is affected

- chopper blades are torn appart when hitting too hard objects like walls

- GTA race mode includes weapons, GT race mode is a straight forward race mode like in other racing games

- race tracks can be customized

- you can even privat-chat with foes via cellphone

- good ol GTA loading screens (didn't they say there're no loading screens?)

- passenger views are over the shoulder

- in a vehicle, players can listen to individual radio stations instead of one for all (not very realistic but who cares? consider it headphones ;-) )

- RGSC (R* games social club) displays the player stats

just to name significant information of the previews... go read them on your own of you want the full info

as this was not enough, there're 12  new multiplayer screenshots available

and, to finish this informational update, several GTA fansites are already forming up multiplayer clans or teams or however you wanna call it

[Deever 23]

Oh GTA IV. To add to that, I came across this CNN article on the game talking about... guess what, multiplayer mode. This part of the article in particular was eye-catching:

"If players want they can jump online and never even play the single-player again," Jeronimo Barrera, vice president of game development, told GameTap. "Online is a serious time sucker. You're going to have to be really careful if you're married," he added with a smile.quote>

I guess that means multiplayer mode is really gonna rock.

[GMT 389]

so there's another guy out there who had the favor of rushing through the main storyline of GTA4 (the guy also rushed MGS4, the other big title on this years schedule).

the full interview is over at gamesradar.

an interesting part is the decissions you have to take.

it seems like there's a spitload of decissions you have to take while processing, and sometimes one lead you to somewhere/thing/one else than another would do, WITHOUT ever getting to where/what/who the other leads you (apart from re-loading and taking the other one of course).

so the game is dynamic within the story. not as in a whole different line evolves like a tree has thousands of branches,  it's kinda the many ways lead to rome thing.

so, you play through the plot, your buddy plays through the plot, you both have the same plot you've gone through, but little twists here and there that alter it.

this makes it interesting to play through it another time.

also, these decissions sometimes force you to think a minute or two about it, so it's a little more complicated than just " do I shoot or run?"

another thing the guy was amazed of is how vivid the city actually represents nyc without being nyc. as he said, since he played it at his office in nyc, it was hard to keep track wether he was in LC or in NYC (don't take this statement too serious, but I think it gives the idea of the experience of LC)

[football_fever 6]

They were talking about multiplayer on a radio show, and said pretty much everything you already did, GMT. The only thing they elaborated on more were the different types of games. One was like cops & robbers, where one team would be robbers trying to take their kingpin (a randomly chosen member) from a random place to another random place. Everyone gets multiple lives, except the kingpin. If he's killed, the police have won. Once again, the entire city will be open, so however the robbers decide to get him there is entirely up to them. My lord, this is going to be awesome...

[GMT 389]

update time!

R* propaganda hit me again

over at the GTA4 site, there was a rather massive update:

- the multiplayer section was launched, including information on ALL team and race modes incl. new pictures

- new person: information on Playboy X

- new location: the Liberty City Gun Club ("meet like-minded people in a 2nd amendment-friendly environment")

- new location: Middle Park, the Central Park equivalent

- new location: Bean Machine, the starbucks equivalent

- new feature: ZiT (the song identification system I was talking about a couple of posts earlier, giving you the oportunity to identify the song played on the radio and later download it at amazon)

- new firm: Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster (sounds like lawyers...)

- new feature: The Men's Room, self-evaluation system

- new radiostation: Electro Choc, modern electro and dance rock, hosted by Francois K.

- new radiostation: LCHC Hardcore, hosted by Jimmy Gestapo... NYHC equivalent

further, there's a nice update on the screenshots section aswell as new wallpapers and MySpace Profile layouts

[GMT 389]

sooo, the first previews with rating are coming round the corner to knock us off our feets.

here's what the official Xbox Magazine says:

The review also features a number of brand new screenshots showing the full HUD, including the radar, and ammo/score counter.

Most importantly though, the review gives GTA4 a perfect 10/10.

• Amazingly realistic world
• Stunning action set pieces
• Genuinely engrossing storyline
• Hugely entertaining multiplayer
• Vast in every respect

"Stunning in every respect"

yeehaw...

looks like 2 years of waiting really pays off...

oh, and ... to be honest...

VC and SA *are* still omnipresent in LC (according to one of the guys who finished it already), so brace for another 2 stunning GTA impacts within the next few years.

If it goes like it did with San Andreas, working on the next GTA start april 29th (as I learned from a Q&A with Dan Houser back from when SA was in stores. He was asked when working on SA started and he said it was the day VC hit the stores)

[Wrightguy0 40]

I think the delay window for GTA has closed. there is no possible way it could happen. The game gets into stores next week and goes up on the shelves the week after, it's already shipped or is just about to be.

[GMT 389]

Pre-registration starts in 2 days!

What offers the Social Club?

here's a rough and incomplete list, for nothing more has been revealed:

- LCPD Blotter: features a map of LC, marking the dangerous and not so dangerous areas according to the registered players' activity; also it tells what weapons are commonly used

- The Story Gang: shows who finished the storyline and how long it took him. if you are in this sub-club, you get special online widgets and merit badges

- The 100% Club: THE club to reach. the first 10(!) players to finish the game will be rewarded with a unique "Key to the City"... that done, players are ranked by who WILL be the next to finish it

- The Hall of Fame: lists those players who reached the best record entry in different statistics (like most crimes, tires popped, gunshots fired and so on, you know what I'm talking about), also giving away rewards

- The LC Marathon: A ranking based on physical achievements such as miles walked, driven, swam, stunt jumps and stuff like this. more to come here

that's all known now, but word is that there'll be more sub-clubs opened as time goes by after the release of the game, so stay put and check for more

EDIT: some of the GTA fan sites have recieved new exclusive screenshots, some multiplayer, some singleplayer.

especially the latter one are to be noticed since they give away a great look onto the full(!) HUD

[Wrightguy0 40]

Well I can't wait much longer. Thank god it's only two more weeks till release and I've paid for my special edition pre-order in full, all i need to do is walk into the store

[GMT 389]

yet another 10/10 rating for GTA4: Playstation Magazine

a few new details are revealed:

- Niko comes to LC to find the guy who sold out his army unit

- first thing Niko does when you left him standing for a while is scratching is ba...

- PS3 version supports the new dual shock 3 controller, enabling vibration when you get called or recieve messages on your cell

- the first girl he meets is calles Michelle

- you can whistle for a cab by pressing L1

- Lazlow is back again with his own talk show

- you can stumble over adds for babiesovernight.com... remeber? petsovernight.com from GTA3?

- some of the choices you got to make are as important as killing or not killing important people for the storyline

(like let them live and learn more / get more missions or waste them and die stupid without additional missions)

- real comedians have their appearences in the clubs

- several locations where designed to be the scene of firefights, giving away some awesome pictures of scattering stuff

- OPM says real world influences are "eastern promises", "brotherhood", fox news, celebrety culture and fast food

- helicopters are hard to maneuver aswell as bikes

- one flaw: the aiming system isn't the best one, but *way* better than san andreas' aiming system

further, OPM lists the radio stations:

talk stations:

WKTT - We know the truth (right wingers)

Integrity 2.0 - Lazlow's station

PLR - Public Liberty Radio (the station with the famous phone calls)

rock,punk,etc:

LCHC - Liberty City Hardcore (it's obvious)

Liberty Rock Radio 97.8 (classic)

Radio Broker (alternative)

blackbeat:

The Beat 102.7 (contemporary)

The Classics 104.7 (old school)

The Vibe 98.8 (soul / rnb)

others:

San Juan Sounds (latin)

Jazz Nation Radio 108.5 (idk... maybe... techno?)

Vladivostok FM (eastern european music)

Tuff Gong Radio (reggae / dub)

Electro Choc (dance)

Massive B Soundsystem 96.9 (dancehall)

IF99 - International Funk (...)

K109 The Studio (disco)

The Journey (chillout / lounge music)

Fusion FM

further again, game trailers received a new GTA video, this time it's the GTA4 TV add aired in Ireland

[ilikehotdogsalot 308]

*scream* 8 12 more days! CAN YOU HANDLE IT?!

EDIT: Curse you mathematics.

[ILL Tonkso 1,237]

Paid in full today, pre-ordered

[Wrightguy0 40]

I Can just about handle it, barely.

[GMT 389]

pre-ordered it loooooooong ago, when pre-ordering was enabled at a local store.

I can hardly handle to wait anymore.

I'm counting the days... noo, the hours!

it's hard. so hard. I... can't... stand... it... any...long... .er....

anyways, 3 words to say:

the previously mentioned UK/Ireland TV add is now available in 2 versions: the known 30 seconds, and an extended 60 seconds trailer.

2nd, R* Social Club pre-registration starts today (just a reminder)

3rd, "The Office" showstar Ricky Gervais is one of the mentioned comedians to appear in GTA4, performing in one of the comedy clubs. he gives away some parts of his recent tour and some never before seen showacts

according to an interview, the guys at R* motion-captured him and he had great fun. further, he says that you won't meet him at the comedy clubs and he thinks that games have outsold hollywood what makes it interesting to work with

EDIT: damn, what a busy pre-release phase. new news all 5 minutes.

for the playstation owners among us GTA gamers: the game will have an optional sixaxis support for navigating bikes, choppers and boats.

also, but that's for both consoles, the game has an initial 5 minutes installation phase when played for the first time

[BurroDiablo 222]

GTAIV went Gold today

Sad to see EA still persuing Take Two in a bid to take them over... I know the business world is cruel but EA is just getting ridiculously desperate now.

[GMT 389]

desperate?

ridiculous is more likely to fit this stalking.

8 of 10 games in last years top10 bear an EA, and literally NOONE cares about it.

but when 2 smalltime players wanna join together, all hell breaks loose and law enforcements prohibit this fusion...

stupid. simply stupid...

anyways, it's awesome to see that TT refuses whatever offer EA makes tho they need the money after the manhunt desaster.

well, they needED the money, 4 get's them back to the top. luckily.

oh speaking of 4, R* Social Club sweepsteak:

under all pre-registrations (officially the site starts april 29th), R* choses 10 lucky bastards that get their very own GTA4-style portrait painted!!

a copy for you to frame and nail to the wall, and an exclusive avatar version of it for the Social Club.

oh folks, I'm number 45551... registered this morning... the site was no 12 hours online to register back then... what awesome chances to win ^^

oh, does anyone else but me experience serious problems with firefox over at the SC? or better, with all flash stuff from R*?

tho I'm running the latest version of ff and adobe flash, with firefox it sucks, doesn't load fully, can't scroll... with ie it just works fine...

[Wrightguy0 40]

#10110