Grand Theft Auto IV

[KieranMurphy]

Its also for the 360. After I heard this was going to be on the 360 was when I decided to get a 360.

It's why I bought a 360. I was thinking of buying a next-gen console, but wasn't too sure about spending 600 snots for a PS3. Then I got the news that the next GTA game would also be on Xbox 360. With the Xbox being 200 or so euro cheaper and another few months before the PS3 was available here, that sealed the deal.

Another damned 7 months so go however for it's out. 7 months of reading countless ridicilous rumours and half-truths about the game.

Oh and I didnt mean gender I meant race.

Ah.


KM.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

It's why I bought a 360. I was thinking of buying a next-gen console, but wasn't too sure about spending 600 snots for a PS3. Then I got the news that the next GTA game would also be on Xbox 360. With the Xbox being 200 or so euro cheaper and another few months before the PS3 was available here, that sealed the deal.

Another damned 7 months so go however for it's out. 7 months of reading countless ridicilous rumours and half-truths about the game.

Ah.


KM.

That was exactly the same thing for me. I was trying to decide which console to get but the 360 was cheaper and had a lot of games already available, plus it had xboxlive which is awesome since most of my gaming is online. Then they announced that GTA was coming to the 360 and like you said, that sealed the deal. I have been very happy with the 360. Actually I should say we because my girlfriend and I both have our own 360s.
Back on topic I am just so excited for this game. I would be surprised if it actually came out this year but if it does thats great too. I dont remember how dedicated Rockstar is to keeping release dates so it will be interresting to see if it actually comes out in October. 👍 I will definetly be using paid vacation days when this comes out.

 

[TheCracker]

I've just being looking on one of the GTAForum.com's GTA4 threads and come across a poster called 'deepthroatgta4' who's been posting some weird stories about coming across some GTA4 footage hinting that it will be set in NYC - this was days before the trailer was shown. It would appear that he's a Rockstar insider releasing snipits of info to boost media coverage. It might be worth checking his posts out every now and then!

http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=269166&st=0

 

[Omnis]

Yes, obviously, but I was referrring to Digital-Nitrate's correction of Omnis, who was talking about the real place in Miami called Liberty City.

Yes, thank you. I just thought I'd mention that there's actually a place next to Miami called Liberty City with everyone talking about the likeness of the in-game city.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I was also wondering if this was based on New York city?
If anyone isnt able to view the trailer I could post it on my own site.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Its also for the 360. After I heard this was going to be on the 360 was when I decided to get a 360.

It's why I bought a 360. I was thinking of buying a next-gen console, but wasn't too sure about spending 600 snots for a PS3. Then I got the news that the next GTA game would also be on Xbox 360.

Just don't be too pissed in the event RockStar releases a 20+GB edition of GTA:4 for the PS3, and trims it down to 7 GB for the XB360 version... as the XB360 only supports games on DVD. They would have to lower the resolution, lower the frame rate, cut out content, over compress the data in order to get from 20 GB down to 7 GB... and as the game in non linear, multiple discs are going to be a serious problem.

This reminds me of a funny pic Solid Lifters posted in the MGS4 thread that help illustrate the problem XB360 has with trying to port over high capacity games from the PS3:

 

[Blake]

Let the rumours begin. I remember this feeling from San Andreas, and to a lesser extent Vice City. It’s always fun to watch.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Just don't be too pissed in the event RockStar releases a 20+GB edition of GTA:4 for the PS3, and trims it down to 7 GB for the XB360 version... as the XB360 only supports games on DVD. They would have to lower the resolution, lower the frame rate, cut out content, over compress the data in order to get from 20 GB down to 7 GB... and as the game in non linear, multiple discs are going to be a serious problem.

This reminds me of a funny pic Solid Lifters posted in the MGS4 thread that help illustrate the problem XB360 has with trying to port over high capacity games from the PS3:

I wont be mad and I definetly dont see anything happening as exaggerated as you displayed happening between the 2 systems. From what I have seen there is nothing I am missing out on by not having the PS3. I am not saying I will never buy a PS3 but for right now I have been way more than happy with the 360. Besides I havent really seen any problem when they compare the multiplatform games. I have not seen anyone anywhere say "Dang I wish I would have got this specific game on the PS3 instead because it has more storage space on the disk" lol
If a game I really want comes out for only the PS3 then there could be a chance I pick a PS3 up. But I dont see anything within the next year that has even made me consider buying a PS3. I have nothing against a PS3 at all. I grew up loving Sony. I still have a couple PS2 systems, Sony equipment in my house, and Sony equipment in my vehicles.

 

[KieranMurphy]

Just don't be too pissed in the event RockStar releases a 20+GB edition of GTA:4 for the PS3, and trims it down to 7 GB for the XB360 version... as the XB360 only supports games on DVD. They would have to lower the resolution, lower the frame rate, cut out content, over compress the data in order to get from 20 GB down to 7 GB... and as the game in non linear, multiple discs are going to be a serious problem.

The last thing I want is a chopped down version for Xbox or a multidisc version. A multidisc version definitely ain't gonna work for a Grand Theft Auto game (changing discs every few minutes as you criss-cross across the gameworld during a race or police chase?).

It'll be interesting to see what Rockstar do. San Andreas squeezed onto a single dual-layer DVD. How are they gonna fit a similar sized game world with higher resolution textures and higher polygon models onto a similar disc?

I can't see them "lowering the frame-rate". Isn't videogame frame-rate a product of CPU and GPU power and nothing to do with disc storage capacity?


KM.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

The last thing I want is a chopped down version for Xbox or a multidisc version. A multidisc version definitely ain't gonna work for a Grand Theft Auto game (changing discs every few minutes as you criss-cross across the gameworld during a race or police chase?).

It'll be interesting to see what Rockstar do. San Andreas squeezed onto a single dual-layer DVD. How are they gonna fit a similar sized game world with higher resolution textures and higher polygon models onto a similar disc?

Exactly!

And the graphics in San Andreas were modeled in native 720x480. To model them in 1280x720 would take more than twice the disc space, and to model them in 1920x1080 would take six times the disc space... and this is with out adding any additional gameplay content.

Microsoft can try and spin this any way they like, but they have a serious problem on their hands. Basically they have a next gen player, but are limited to either last gen's games, or smaller versions of next gen games.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

Yes it will be HUGE. The question I am wondering about is loading screens between cities or islands. So far the 360 sandbox games did a great job with huge levels and no loading screens. Crackdown, Just Cause, and Saints Row are the examples off the top of my head. Crackdown was even full co-op with no loading screens. That really impressed me. It will be interresting to see how this turns out.

 

[LaBounti]

There was a boat with Liberty City on it did anyone notice that? It may be like a kid with bad eyesight getting glasses for the first time. That kid sees a whole new detailed world rather than a blurred mess(going from last gen to the new gen).

This one goes on my wish list.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Loads of people saw "Liberty" City on the ship.

It amazes me to this day that the Xbox360 doesn't support HD-DVD out of the box

 

[Jay]

Please don't turn this into a Xbox360 vs PS3 thread. Fact is both systems are getting it so lets join forces and all enjoy the forth chapter of the GTA series.

 

[livemusic]

The last thing I want is a chopped down version for Xbox or a multidisc version. A multidisc version definitely ain't gonna work for a Grand Theft Auto game (changing discs every few minutes as you criss-cross across the gameworld during a race or police chase?).

It'll be interesting to see what Rockstar do. San Andreas squeezed onto a single dual-layer DVD. How are they gonna fit a similar sized game world with higher resolution textures and higher polygon models onto a similar disc?

I can't see them "lowering the frame-rate". Isn't videogame frame-rate a product of CPU and GPU power and nothing to do with disc storage capacity?


KM.

Actually GTA games happen to have a lot of dummy files that do nothing but take up space. I haven't tested with San Andreas yet, but I know that GTA III, GTA LCS and GTA VCS only use half the disc space, the rest are dummies and false LBAs.

- GTA III: 4,38GB -> 2,39GB
- GTA Liberty City Stories: 3,73GB -> 1,8GB
- GTA Vice City Stories: -> 3,86GB > 2,01GB

I use a program that automatically finds and deletes these files from PS2 and PSP games, it's pretty useful for people that use HDLoader on the PS2 since you can fit more games into the HDD. Mind you, removing the dummy files only works if you play directly from the HDD, burned discs won't load. Apparently the dummies help loading the DVD.

Anyway, I think they'll have no problem fitting the game on a single disc for the X360.

 

[land sea air]

Please don't turn this into a Xbox360 vs PS3 thread. Fact is both systems are getting it so lets join forces and all enjoy the forth chaper of the GTA series.

agreed, I'm not a big 360 fan but I think we can all assume that R* and MS know what they are doing enough to make this game awesome for everyone.

 

[JohnBM01]

I've been thinking a lot about what this GTA would be like. I was imagining a few locales:

London, England
(a) Imagine Rockstar showing the crew behind "The Getaway" how it's done. I was probably thinking of a GTA game that sort of re-enacts not only London, but also Manchester and Cardiff (Wales). I know what British sirens sound like, so imagine being indulged with British slang.
(b) I also imagined London being the first city, but then go to Paris and maybe Rome. It would probably be a truly international GTA game.

London and Paris have been featured in past Rockstar games in Midnight Clubs 1 and 2. In fact, I'm still in Paris for MC2 since I haven't played it in a while.

Texas
Yep. Thought about a Texas GTA. It could be in the mold of San Andreas in which you start in my hometown of Houston, then go to San Antonio, then slap around some people in Dallas. There'd also be Lubbock and (there has to be some controversy) maybe Waco or El Paso.

Japan
GTA Japan? Imagine being in the Pachinko parlors of Tokyo and causing some trouble in Osaka. There would have to be some drift battles since it's the #1 illegal thing most people think of when it comes to Japan. Other cities would have to include Yokohama, Sapporo, Maybe even Hiroshima and Nagasaki.


But to find out this is going to include a much larger New York model, is kind of disappointing, kind of not disappointing. I haven't seen the trailer, but all I've seen from comments is that NYC will be featured in more detail than in GTA3 and GTA:LCS. I've had some great times with the game series in New York City. I liked the secretive location of (the next city area in GTA3 after Portland). I could rack up an easy two stars and take off in some car. I hated the Safe House location in Liberty City Stories since it isn't as secretive as I would like. It just seemed like GTA3 was a bit more fun than the Vice City-based Liberty City Stories. Then too, I even tried to avoid getting out of the way of the seemingly indestructible (unless you do something stupid) Rhino tanks. I try to rack up money without getting owned or busted. Put her in the water, game over (unless it's San Andreas). I think whoever the "protagonist" is, he has to be as able and as talented as C.J. in San Andreas. Doesn't have to be in that true gangster mold (I don't mind), but the guy has to be able to kick ass and be completely dynamic. He has to be dangerous- even when unarmed.

I won't follow this game religiously until I really get to learn more information. Looking good from what I've seen so far.

 

[Touring Mars]

I've been thinking a lot about what this GTA would be like. I was imagining a few locales:

London, England
(a) Imagine Rockstar showing the crew behind "The Getaway" how it's done. I was probably thinking of a GTA game that sort of re-enacts not only London, but also Manchester and Cardiff (Wales). I know what British sirens sound like, so imagine being indulged with British slang.
(b) I also imagined London being the first city, but then go to Paris and maybe Rome. It would probably be a truly international GTA game.

Indeed, they could have set it right here in East London, I swear to God that some parts of Hackney make Vice City look like Disneyland... Do you remember that scene from the film 'Big' when Tom Hanks is in his hostel room, watching something on TV, and when he switches off the TV, the sound is still exactly the same? It's a bit like that...

 

[Dave A]

I've been thinking a lot about what this GTA would be like. I was imagining a few locales:

London, England
(a) Imagine Rockstar showing the crew behind "The Getaway" how it's done. I was probably thinking of a GTA game that sort of re-enacts not only London, but also Manchester and Cardiff (Wales). I know what British sirens sound like, so imagine being indulged with British slang.
(b) I also imagined London being the first city, but then go to Paris and maybe Rome. It would probably be a truly international GTA game.

If I recall there was a Manc in San Andreas imaginatively called Macca. I haven't played it for so long I can't remember if he sounded proper Manc or not. Anyhow, Manchester would be cool, depending on how big they wanted to make it anyway. There's some great locations for a game like GTA here and the city has plenty of history with gangs in certain areas.

 

[KieranMurphy]

I haven't played it for so long I can't remember if he sounded proper Manc or not.

He was played by Shaun Ryder so I'm sure he sounded Manc enough.

Here's something trivial and pointless I noticed about the new trailer. The opening shot is a copy of the opening shot of the Grand Theft Auto III trailer (I have it on the PC here). The camera is just above the level of elevated train tracks and the shot has a train coming around a curve and towards us.

Probably a coincidence.


KM.

 

[Dave A]

There you go, a Salford lad. I just couldn't remember and I had no idea who voiced him.

 

[Spuds725]

1 question.

Too anyone who has played GTA enough, can you explain to me the story of motorcycles being banned from Liberty City? I must have missed a game.

They were not in III-- obviously added to the same engine for VC... but they weren't in III--- live with it...

Rockstar did explain it though (did not ignore the fact at least)-- LCS took place 2 years before III... Now if you purchase Liberty City Stories, read the newspaper (LC enquirer or whatever its called)-- in there you will find an article on a citizens group lobbying to Ban the "dangerous" motorcycles from liberty city-- you were to assume that they were successful in banning the bikes..

Awesome looking trailer for IV--- My guess is that it will be a new Liberty city-- looks like it will be worth the wait.

Regarding the port to xbox... there likely will be a problem with the data on a standard DVD... but can't part of the game be loaded onto the XBOX hard drive-- from some install disks... the rest ran off of a standard DVD?? I honestly don't know much about the xbox... I will likely purchase the PS3 in August in case there is a run on them in Oct--- I don't understand how Sony can afford to sell them... they lose about $150-$200 on each sell the last I read...

Microsoft has there hands in enough stuff... I try not to support them-- there success is mostly due to (IMO) an illegal monopoly... they have too much power over the industry... I recently installed SUSE Linux 10.2 on one of my PCs -- A great FREE Operating system....

 

[JohnBM01]

If not New York City, where else do you think GTA4 would have been great to base the game on? By the way, I chose the United Kingdom so that a lot of cool cars would be featured. Imagine everything from a classic Mini Cooper to something like a TVR Sagaris ready to be stolen and evading cops with. Perhaps imagine making a drive-by in (call me crazy) a Caterham or zooming down the Tower Bridge in something resembling a Radical SR8. I think this would have been a popular pick. I sort of think that more race cars should be made available. They are already illegal to drive on city streets, so imagine more race cars.

Carry on...

 

[Dave A]

I think you guessed the best places, London and Manchester, perhaps throw Newcastle and Liverpool in there as well.

 

[KieranMurphy]

Regarding the port to xbox... there likely will be a problem with the data on a standard DVD... but can't part of the game be loaded onto the XBOX hard drive-- from some install disks... the rest ran off of a standard DVD?? I honestly don't know much about the xbox...

The basic Xbox Core system doesn't have a hard drive, only the Premium bundle came with a hard drive. Although I'm pretty sure the Premium bundle is far outselling the Core bundle.

Microsoft has there hands in enough stuff... I try not to support them--

I'm not fond of either Microsoft or Sony. A couple of immoral megacorporations who aren't afraid of using dirty tricks when they need to. If it weren't for the fact that I use my PC for gaming, I'd drop Windows in a second and put Ubuntu on to my PC. I had Ubuntu installed for a while and really liked it.

But I was going to end up buying a console for GTA IV anyway, so I just went with the cheaper option that was then available. My moral principles don't extend to sacrificing my video game experience!


KM.

 

[land sea air]

Here's something trivial and pointless I noticed about the new trailer. The opening shot is a copy of the opening shot of the Grand Theft Auto III trailer (I have it on the PC here). The camera is just above the level of elevated train tracks and the shot has a train coming around a curve and towards us.
Probably a coincidence.

considering how deep R* goes when they develope a GTA game I doubt it was a coincidence, and now that you mention it that train scene does sound familiar to GTA3

 

[ND4SPD]

Actually, Liberty City is the "ghetto" of Miami. It's just coincidence, though.

Also, Lol @ "America's Next Top Hooker."

I'm somewhat confused as to why all of this is in the PS2 section even though it's a GTA sub-forum. When is there going to be a PS3 GTA Sub-forum? Or, actually, since it's multi-platform, should this be moved to its own independent slot?

edit: Also, does the russian guy (protagonist, I'm guessing) in the trailer look EXACTLY like the bad guy from Behind Enemy Lines or is it just me?

edit 2: here are some pics. He looks EXACTLY like him!

That was bugging the hell out of me when I was watching the trailer! He looked like a bad guy from a movie but I couldn't exactly remember what!

 

[Dave A]

I tell you what though, if it was based in Manchester you'd have the f word well and truely drilled into your head after an hours play.

 

[Small_Fryz]

Just don't be too pissed in the event RockStar releases a 20+GB edition of GTA:4 for the PS3, and trims it down to 7 GB for the XB360 version... as the XB360 only supports games on DVD. They would have to lower the resolution, lower the frame rate, cut out content, over compress the data in order to get from 20 GB down to 7 GB... and as the game in non linear, multiple discs are going to be a serious problem.

When PS1 came out with CD-Rom the 1st games didnt even come close to using the full capacity but by the end they were far too big for the cartridges and were now needing the 700mb of a CD.

PS2 came out with DVD and again the 1st few games could of fitted on a CD, but by the end not only did they fill DVD but they went dual layer. GTA wasnt even the game that used up the most space either. I have no doubt that while the games now wont come close to 50gb on a dual layer Blue ray, give it time and we will definelty exeed the ~9gb limit of Dual layer DVD and may even get close to filling a blueray when the console nears its life. Keeping the standard DVD is xbox's biggest mistake.

 

[KieranMurphy]

Also, does the russian guy (protagonist, I'm guessing) in the trailer look EXACTLY like the bad guy from Behind Enemy Lines or is it just me?

It's not just you.

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/1026.html

When PS1 came out with CD-Rom the 1st games didnt even come close to using the full capacity but by the end they were far too big for the cartridges and were now needing the 700mb of a CD.

Then again, these computer gurus can do wonderful things to squeeze data into small areas. I've just thought of Resident Evil 2 which came on 2 CDs for the PSX version. So that's 700Mb+ of storage space. Yet it fitted onto a 512Mbit (64Mb) cartridge for N64. From Wikipedia: "The N64 version is notable due to the compression techniques that the developers were forced to use in order to fit 2 CD-ROMs worth of data (including voice acting and FMV) onto a single 64MB cartridge."

So you never know how they're gonna squeeze the game onto a single DVD.


KM.