Grand Theft Auto IV

[Blake]

But if the map isn't big enough for planes, then surely there won't be that much highway in order to properly out-pace the police?

IIRC, they never said it wasn’t big enough for planes, they just said that flying planes was not going to be part of the game because it’s not realistic in such a city-scape.

I also, contrary to spme of you, don't want to play a game that is particularly realistic. I've played 'the getaway', a quite damn realistic game (No radar map, damage effects movement, horrible aiming system) and it wasn't fun in a GTA sense.

Agreed, The Getaway wasn’t “fun”, but I trust Rockstar to get it right. I’m sure they understand the correct balance to make it a real GTA game (remember, humour still remains—Getalife anyone?).

 

[KieranMurphy]

I also, contrary to spme of you, don't want to play a game that is particularly realistic.

I agree with that. Do we want our central character to go to jail for months or years when he gets arrested? How about being crippled for life because he gets shot in the spine? Or having to spend weeks in traction because of a car crash? Those would all be "realistic" but pretty stupid to have in a GTA game.

But I like the idea of changing things around so that it feels more like a real cop chase instead of just a random free-for-all.

There's a fine balance between making a game "realistic" and making it fun and making it outright silly.


KM.

 

[McLaren]

Yes. We'll also be getting tickets because we don't have correct license plate registrations....

Seriously, can we not bring up that Rockstar might make the game super-realistic, when we know it won't? It's bad enough reading threads at GTAForums asking, "If we don't have license plates, then we will get pulled over. That'd be cool!" No, no it wouldn't.


Anyways, the song featured in Trailer #2 is actually pretty good.

 

[TS]

It's official, GTAIV eposodic content is on X360 is due out Spring '08.

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

Xbox.com has officially confirmed two things. First, that Niko is a "Russian immigrant" and not simply "Eastern European" as many claimed after hearing his accent.

Second, we have the following multi-player tidbit:

"In addition to the exclusive content for Xbox 360, GTA IV will feature a multiplayer mode on Xbox LIVE that will match the drama and intensity of Niko’s solo mission."

This comes after OPM Australia printed the following in their May issue:

"Although being able to play through the main game co-operatively with another player has been ruled out, there will be co-operative aspects of the multiplayer mode."

Also, the delay rumours have been quashed. GTA IV is still on track.

As for the realism discussion, Rockstar have said they want to make a game that has more aspects of realism than previous GTA games, but not to the extent of actual realism. You're taking what I've said way out of context. Noone wants anything that you have suggested, KM. However, we still want some added realism.

Either way, The Getaway wasn't fun partially because there were no real added side-missions and Free Roam mode gave you nothing to do at all. Also, the gameplay was a bit dodgy.

I'm not sure if any news on the clock has been released, but I wonder if they're going to change the 1 second = 1 minutes clock? Probably not. However, I've always wanted to see a clock which doesn't run as quick. Even if not real-time, at least give us something other than 1 second = 1 minute.

I hope those time-based missions aren't annoying, in relation to this.

 

[McLaren]

I'm not sure if any news on the clock has been released, but I wonder if they're going to change the 1 second = 1 minutes clock? Probably not. However, I've always wanted to see a clock which doesn't run as quick. Even if not real-time, at least give us something other than 1 second = 1 minute.

I hope those time-based missions aren't annoying, in relation to this.

Some great info there. Kind of shuts up all the idiots at GTAForums who thought he was anything but Russian. Russia is so popular these days out of all the places that feature an accent like Niko's, that imho, was obvious he'd be from there.

But anyways, on the clock, I believe the fellow responsible for showing us all the details for Trailers 1 and 2 is also responsible for showing that time will most likely remain the way it's always been. 1 second=1 minute.

 

[TS]

GTA IV @ E3 (Microsoft Press Conference)

​

 

[land sea air]

well I'm hoping M$ won't be the only one to have downloadable content when it comes down to it

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

New information, and I love every bit of it.

• McReary, the character we learned about in GamesTM, is a corrupt cop. He has "dirt on Niko's past." The mission they previewed is called "Call and Collect."
• Little Jacob (a caribbean arms dealer) is a good friend of Niko's cousin. When you buy weapons from him (which are kept in his trunk) you can scroll through them like you did in Ammu-Nation in the previous GTA games.
• Rotterdam Hill (the place where Niko agrees to meet Jacob) is in Alderney - the GTA IV equivalent of New Jersey.
• Niko kills Goldberg (the shady lawyer) because he owes a favour to somebody.
• Rockstar showed the sequence where he kills Goldberg twice. The first time he fell out of the window, the second time he merely crumpled on the floor.
• When purchasing clothes, you have to choose the items from the shelf individually.
• Determining which figures you need to kill requires perception - there are no arrowheads to direct you like in the previous games.
• Once you gain a wanted-level, the map flashes with circles of blue and red, with each circle representing the line of sight of the police chase. The circles differ in size depending on your wanted-level.
• The default camera view when driving rests around the left-hand side of the car above the road.
• Multiplayer is accessed via your mobile phone.
• The combat rests somewhere between Resident Evil 4 and Gears of War in terms of style, allowing you to roll, find protection and blind-fire from behind cover.
• Shooting different parts of the body has different impacts (e.g shoot a security guard in the foot at the top of the stairs, and he'll come tumbling down.)
• In GTA IV you have to develop relationships with other characters. Your relationship with Little Jacob, for example, is maintained through phone calls and loyalty. Developing good relationships with different characters can provide different rewards.

EDIT: Also, just because I'm in a bit of a rush, I missed some news from Planet GTA. Here it is:

GTA IV Details In OPM Australia
23:33 PST | Jordan | Print News
Three tidbits of information came out of the new OPM Australia magazine. First, a Central Park replica will be in the game. Second, a contact list, daily calendar, organizer, text messages, camera and multi-player will all work through Niko's mobile phone. Third, the website love-meet.net appears on a marquee in a screenshot in the magazine. The website doesn't seem to be run by anyone yet, though. Thanks to goholden1 of GTAForums for the news.

More GTA IV E3 Demo Details
14:40 PST | Jordan | Print News
As previously stated below in the news, a one-time five-minute demonstration of GTA IV was shown to a group of people in a secure room this morning at the E3 event in California. No recordings were allowed, and it will never see the light of day. However, I have been in contact with someone that saw it, and while they wrote their own brief summary, I have been able to ask follow-up questions.

IGN's Patrick Kolan is who I spoke with, and I first asked him about the map he saw when the game was paused. He said that he remembers seeing two large islands connected in the middle and that the two large islands were divided vertically, meaning that it somewhat resembles the Vice City map. However, remember that the map may have been zoomed in to one area where there happen to be two islands.

Second, Devin Winterbottom was one of the developers showing the demo, but Kolan was unable to catch who the second person was. Winterbottom is on the production team.

Lastly, at least one source mentioned seeing planes in the skies during the demo. Kolan told me that "there was a plane over the water at one point." He's a busy man at E3, and that was all he had time for. At least we got a few more tidbits out of the day. Stay tuned for possibly even more.

GTA IV Public Demo at E3
8:55 PST | Jordan | Print News
A Grand Theft Auto IV public demonstration (video) was shown today at the Take-Two Interactive Software press event at E3.

The demo was about five minutes long. It showed Niko walking through the replica of Times Square. Planes were in the sky. Big band music from the 1940s was playing on the radio in the car that Niko was driving.

 

[Tangled Web]

Thanks for the info Jimmy. 👍

It all sounds good, can't wait till October.

 

[ExigeEvan]

It all sounds great Matt, thanks for posting it up 👍

 

[donbenni]

Planes? Thought that was a no-go area?

Rockstar showed the sequence where he kills Goldberg twice. The first time he fell out of the window, the second time he merely crumpled on the floor.

Nice, like the sound of that 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

Planes? Thought that was a no-go area?

Perhaps they're just a little extra touch, like the birds you couldn't shoot down in SA.

 

[TS]

Great info Jimmy. 👍

Perhaps they're just a little extra touch, like the birds you couldn't shoot down in SA.

They could be like the ones in GTAIII that took off/landed in the airport.

Maybe in future installments of GTA games, we may see the return of flyable planes.

 

[land sea air]

Great info Jimmy. 👍



They could be like the ones in GTAIII that took off/landed in the airport.

Maybe in future installments of GTA games, we may see the return of flyable planes.

this is what I'm guessing, and as for future games, I Would certainly hope so, once they move on to larger places maybe.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Great info Jimmy. 👍



They could be like the ones in GTAIII that took off/landed in the airport.

Maybe in future installments of GTA games, we may see the return of flyable planes.

Perhaps you'll get an instant 5-star wanted level for attacking the planes in the airport? Ultimatley making them un-useable.

 

[TS]

this is what I'm guessing, and as for future games, I Would certainly hope so, once they move on to larger places maybe.

Like San Andreas or something? (you know, if rockstar decides to re-do it as a full state)

Perhaps you'll get an instant 5-star wanted level for attacking the planes in the airport? Ultimatley making them un-useable.

Possibly, but I don't think rockstar wants to endorse/condone virtual terrorism.

EDIT: Found the 1st radio station in GTAIV, WKTT Talk Radio.
EDIT 2: After looking at the site, you can call a phone number and state your opinions on various topics (the war, politics, healthcare, etc.), and (I don't want to start a rumor that turns out to be wrong) you may have your phone call featured on that radio station.
EDIT 3: After reading the TOS on WKTT, you very well could be featured in GTA IV.

Your participation in the WKTT Phone-In (the "Promotion") is subject to the terms and conditions and promises set forth hereunder (the "Terms & Conditions"). By both explicitly agreeing to these Terms & Conditions through our phone system by participating in the Promotion you agree to the following:

The Promotion involves the recording of voicemail messages which may be used in a video game, such as GRAND THEFT AUTO IV developed by Rockstar Games, Inc.

For good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, the opportunity to be included in this or other video games, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, you irrevocably agree for the benefit of Rockstar Games, Inc. and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "Rockstar") and their respective members, shareholders, directors, officers, agent, employees, successors, assigns, and anyone authorized by any of them (collectively, "Rockstar Representatives"), as follows:

 

[Blake]

EDIT: Found the 1st radio station in GTAIV, WKTT Talk Radio.
EDIT 2: After looking at the site, you can call a phone number and state your opinions on various topics (the war, politics, healthcare, etc.), and (I don't want to start a rumor that turns out to be wrong) you may have your phone call featured on that radio station.
EDIT 3: After reading the TOS on WKTT, you very well could be featured in GTA IV.

That’s a pretty awesome concept. 👍

 

[DuckRacer]

I found a little nugget of info some of you might be interested in.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161246

During our chat with Sony's head of game development, Phil Harrison, earlier today, EGM's Dan Hsu asked about whether Sony had any plans to combat the exclusive downloadable content headed to the Xbox 360. Here's what Harrison said:

"As the head of the [internal Sony] studios, it's hard for me to comment on the third-party relations, so I don't know the details of that -- we deliberately keep those separate -- but we have a great relationship with Rockstar and we're actually working closely with them on a number of initiatives, so I do know some things that are going on, but I'm not able to share those with you now."

What those initiatives are -- whether this could mean the Xbox 360 episodic content is a timed exclusive, or that there is other content headed to PS3, or something else entirely -- remains to be seen. But there you have it; something is in the works.

Now, these "initiatives" with Rockstar could easily be something along the lines of a Rockstar PS3 game (like, say, Red Dead Revolver 2 which was shown at E3 '05), but could this also mean the PS3 version of GTA4 is getting some extra content of its own?

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

Yes, that is correct about WKTT Talk Radio. Call the number (212-360-2368) and record your call-in. Head over to the site first, though, as there are a couple of things you have to include.

Like GTA Forums, I think if anyone from here actually does this, you should post up in a separate thread what you've said on the recording. Bragging rights, etc.

Awesome idea, though.

 

[McLaren]

Yes, that is correct about WKTT Talk Radio. Call the number (212-360-2368) and record your call-in. Head over to the site first, though, as there are a couple of things you have to include.

Like GTA Forums, I think if anyone from here actually does this, you should post up in a separate thread what you've said on the recording. Bragging rights, etc.

Awesome idea, though.

I think I'll have my bud, Michael, do it. He says enough crazy crap that sounds like something from a GTA.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I'm guessing that is a US number?

 

[McLaren]

According to the Wiki and a supposed source, GTA IV is around 86% finished. W00t!

There will also be 3 trailers total, but I'm sure Jimmy mentioned that earlier.

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

New details emerge from the latest Xbox Magazine:

• We find out that McReary's first name is Francis, and that he knows about a felony Niko committed. It also mentions that McReary has a moustache, which suggests he is the character seen in this official artwork.
• The weapons on offer by Little Jacob included a 9mm, a shotgun, an SMG, and a micro SMG.
• Before Niko submitted his cv/résumé to the Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster website, OXM got a quick glimpse of his work history and qualifications. It notes that Niko was on the "Balkan Peace Force," and that he is procificent in swimming, shooting and boxing (it also says later in the preview that you are able to swim to the Statue of Happiness, or get a boat there.)
• Niko steals a black Comet before heading to the Humboldt River Viewpoint, to kill the man who stole McReary's memory stick.
• GTA IV will include a pool mini-game, and many other mini-games. "You'll play at least some of these while hanging out with NPCs like Little Jacob."
• Neither the 9/11 terrorist attacks nor Ground Zero will be referenced in any way in the game.
• The receptionist from Goldberg, Ligner & Shyster, who calls Niko to inform him about his interview, is called Karen.

Thanks to GTA4.net for the details.

 

[Jay]

New info about GTA4 is getting to the point where I don't really want to know (and I just skim through), like details about particular characters and missions.

I still just want to know some details about the physics and damage system, more info on buildings, police and ped behavior etc.

 

[Blake]

New info about GTA4 is getting to the point where I don't really want to know (and I just skim through), like details about particular characters and missions.

I still just want to know some details about the physics and damage system, more info on buildings, police and ped behavior etc.

Indeed. It’s details about the game I want to know, not about the story.

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

I'm starting to agree. I did notice that the information being released is a bit different to usual. I'm not sure why they're giving away story bits.

 

[McLaren]

Jimmy, have Rockstar released any dates for Trailer #3?

 

[Jimmy Enslashay]

As far as I know, no. However, I'm guessing it's going to be around August/September, and I've heard it's going to show a bit of action from the game, much like the last San Andreas trailer did.

 

[Tangled Web]

Mmmmm, can't wait to see the third trailer.