GTA IV discussion thread

[DrewTheXenocide]

My suitemate got a copy yesterday, and I've watched a good chunk of gameplay.

Somehow, no one seems to realize this game is exactly the same as the ones before it. I understand not wrecking a good formula, and it is a very good formula. But with all the great reviews it's getting, you'd think it was doing something original.

[Van Custo]

Lol one thing nobody in the West can ever seem to get right is that Bosnia, Croatia, Albania and that part of the Balkans is SOUTHERN Europe, not Eastern Europe. The Meditteranean in climate and geography and every way.

Part of the confusion people thinking he's russian is probly cuz he WORKS FOR the Russians in the US in the game and since people kept saying Eastern Europe.

[StreetFighterRyu]

So, did any of you get your Gamestop pre-order bonuses?

http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comics/20080428.jpg

Hey, how come no one told me any of this? :mad: I'm going to GameStop tomorrow.

But I did buy the guide book 20% off. Meh, I'll get it over it.:tongue:

[Exslade ZX]

My suitemate got a copy yesterday, and I've watched a good chunk of gameplay.

Somehow, no one seems to realize this game is exactly the same as the ones before it. I understand not wrecking a good formula, and it is a very good formula. But with all the great reviews it's getting, you'd think it was doing something original.

But Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar) was essentially the game that created the formula. For them, it is original. What, are they supposed to go out there every year and create a whole new system from scratch or something?

And it's not as if nothing's changed. How about the biggest selling point this year, 16 man multiplayer. That is something that people have always wanted, and is in fact something new to the genre. The only real comparison is Saint's Row, which the multiplayer is fairly sub par by comparison, and doesn't include a 'free mode' which is just awesome. The game now includes a fully working cellphone, internet cafe (complete with ads, and dating service haha), working taxis!, newer minigames for GTA, with bowling, darts, etc.

Point being, I think saying it's exactly like the previous games is a bit harsh...and pretty untrue. Which, even if it was, those were pretty positively reviewed as well you know...

[StreetFighterRyu]

Lol one thing nobody in the West can ever seem to get right is that Bosnia, Croatia, Albania and that part of the Balkans is SOUTHERN Europe, not Eastern Europe. The Meditteranean in climate and geography and every way.

Part of the confusion people thinking he's russian is probly cuz he WORKS FOR the Russians in the US in the game and since people kept saying Eastern Europe.

You know, to be honest, I thought he was an Arab when I first saw the trailer.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

My suitemate got a copy yesterday, and I've watched a good chunk of gameplay.

Somehow, no one seems to realize this game is exactly the same as the ones before it. I understand not wrecking a good formula, and it is a very good formula. But with all the great reviews it's getting, you'd think it was doing something original.

Like Exslade pointed out, they didn't just slap a new coat of paint on the old formula. They've refined it, and put in so many new systems and extras that most of the time it feels like something totally disconnected from the GTAs of old.


I mean, I walk out of my safehouse, set up a appointment with Brucie, call Roman to remind him that no, I haven't forgotten him, and get reassured in return that he thinks I'm not just another criminal, but human. On the way to the internet cafe I spot a guy working on his car (hood up and everything, on the side of the road). Suddenly, a car goes flying by with two cops in pursuit, the radio is talking about the aftermath of one of my crimes, and it starts to rain. Folks are running everywhere covering themselves with what they've got. Walking into the cafe, I hear a man crabbing to his wife on the phone about the weather. The lady at the counter flirts with me as I walk by, asking if I'm here to see her instead of the go online.

Getting onto the computer, I'm able to read no less than three news reports about something I did, with various theories as to the real culprit. Along with other random news about events in town. Wouldn't you know it, I've been rejected by both the women I tried on the dating website. But I get to read about the history of Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts, by clicking on a sponsorship ad.

With no new mail, I must make a decision whether to go out with Michelle again, find out why Dimitri has been calling me incessantly, maybe arrange a meeting spot with Little Jacob to load up on weapons, or leave the whole mess for tomorrow, and take a cab home. Where I will then watch some television and fall asleep.




NO open world game has ever felt that alive to me.


And really, to a certain point, some of that basic structure is going to always be the same in open-world games. Just as FPSs have their universal elements, so do the GTAs and Saints Rows and True Crimes, and what have you. It's the stuff you use to accentuate and enhance those mechanics that make the game.


What elements do you think need changing?

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Anyway, a few helpful things I've learned.


After you've done something big (and unlocked the internet, of course), it pays to check out what the news sites are saying about your exploits. If only for a chuckle or two.

Craplist (parody of Craigslist) is an awesome site. When the average listing is 'Nemesis Needed', you know you're in for a treat.



Also, in a more practical tip, go to the neighborhood Faustin lives in (bottom right part of the first island, for those who haven't met him yet, near the docks and the bowling alley), and look in the driveways for a Tourismo. Not only is it a superfast car like in previous GTAs, but it's also wwwaaaaaayyyyy better handling than the other tubs on the road.

[Van Custo]

You know, to be honest, I thought he was an Arab when I first saw the trailer.

He's pretty much the epitome of stereotypical Balkan man look lol. They nailed that. And besides the really darker ones Arabs don't differ that much from alot of Balkan people like Greeks or Serbs or Bosniaks. Or even other Meditteranean people like Spaniards or Italians. Sure there's plenty of light ones but things like blonde hair are in the small minority for a genuine Balkan person.

Vlade Divac is Serb and he could pass for plenty of other ethnicities.

http://lauda.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/vlade-divac.jpeghttp://hoopedia.nba.com/images/a/a1/Act_vlade_divac.jpg



This Balkan movie character seems to be the inspiration for Niko somewhat.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/behind_enemy_lines/vladimir_mashkov/enemy4.jpghttp://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3244/enemy5jv4.jpg

[Agent Helix]

My suitemate got a copy yesterday, and I've watched a good chunk of gameplay.

Somehow, no one seems to realize this game is exactly the same as the ones before it. I understand not wrecking a good formula, and it is a very good formula. But with all the great reviews it's getting, you'd think it was doing something original.


It's not reinvention of the wheel that's getting them accolades. It's taking the wheel, removing anything that didn't work about the wheel, and polishing everything that did work about the wheel to a mirror-shine, while adding new bearings to make the wheel run more smoothly. The best review for WHY everyone loves the game so much is probably the Eurogamer review, which goes a long way to explain just HOW the game is different than its predecessors.

And I can see how on the surface, it does seem like the same game, because on all the basic levels, it is. Just like on all the basic levels, Mario Galaxy is no fundamentally different from Mario 64 or Sunshine. But it's the crucial minor changes to formula that all add up to a game that, like Galaxy, is reinventing its franchise in some very profound ways. (And I mean profound as in marked, not profound as in Confucius.)

[StreetFighterRyu]

Somehow, no one seems to realize this game is exactly the same as the ones before it. I understand not wrecking a good formula, and it is a very good formula. But with all the great reviews it's getting, you'd think it was doing something original.

I'm pretty sure GTA fans have notice it but don't really care. They seem to love the new ad ons in the game. The lobby especially. My brother was having the time of his life in it.

[StreetFighterRyu]

He's pretty much the epitome of stereotypical Balkan man look lol. They nailed that. And besides the really darker ones Arabs don't differ that much from alot of Balkan people like Greeks or Serbs or Bosniaks. Or even other Meditteranean people like Spaniards or Italians. Sure there's plenty of light ones but things like blonde hair are in the small minority for a genuine Balkan person.

Vlade Divac is Serb and he could pass for plenty of other ethnicities.

http://lauda.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/vlade-divac.jpeghttp://hoopedia.nba.com/images/a/a1/Act_vlade_divac.jpg



This Balkan movie character seems to be the inspiration for Niko somewhat.

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/behind_enemy_lines/vladimir_mashkov/enemy4.jpghttp://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3244/enemy5jv4.jpg

Cool. So Niko is either a Serb or Balkan then?

[Lester C.]

This isn't fair. I'm sure every weekend violence occurs at a movie theater somewhere in the nation. And yet you never have the media go after people in Hollywood.

[Agent Helix]

Because games are new, and movies aren't. People that grew up playing games are replacing people that didn't that make up most of society, so nobody's going to care in a few more years.

[Jmacq1]

From the sound of things, he's either Bosnian or Serbian. He was definitely in Bosnia, and involved in the war there. However it's not clear which side he was on (at least at the point in the game I've gotten to).

[DrewTheXenocide]

And I can see how on the surface, it does seem like the same game, because on all the basic levels, it is. Just like on all the basic levels, Mario Galaxy is no fundamentally different from Mario 64 or Sunshine. But it's the crucial minor changes to formula that all add up to a game that, like Galaxy, is reinventing its franchise in some very profound ways. (And I mean profound as in marked, not profound as in Confucius.)

I've yet to play Galaxy, so I can't compare it to that, but there have been series with major changes that worked beautifully. Like the jump from Devil May Cry 1/2 to 3, with all the different fighting modes. It might have looked the same, but you had to play it differently. Or the jump from Metal Gear Solid 2 to Snake Eater, where it's almost a completely different game.

I skimmed through the Eurogamer review (I'll read it in full later), and from what I saw, it's just GTA prettier, with more stuff. There's a lot more to do, but how you go about it, remains the same. The thing is, I thought they perfected the formula at Vice City, which I loved. Since then, it's all been extensions of that.

[Brett P]

Don't blame the game, which is a legit work of art, for what retarded people decide to do.

lol well sure, people do dumb sh*t all the time but whatever you say, people are going to be influenced by stuff like this.

At any rate, running around killing people, selling drugs and shagging wh*res isn't my idea of a "work of art" by any stretch of the imagination.

I kinda hate how the video game market has degenerated into this kind of stuff but I guess different strokes for different folks.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

I skimmed through the Eurogamer review (I'll read it in full later), and from what I saw, it's just GTA prettier, with more stuff. There's a lot more to do, but how you go about it, remains the same. The thing is, I thought they perfected the formula at Vice City, which I loved. Since then, it's all been extensions of that.



How exactly can you change how they 'go about it'? You're talking basic structure, here.

They get an objective, whether through a face-to-face, phone, computer, what have you, and then complete the objective. Whether its a simple matter, or your player having to contend with a dozen new systems of gameplay to get through the objective, they finish it. Then they get a reward, and are given information through those same communication methods about where to go next. Or suggestions, I guess.

That's the most fundamental part of the genre. Mercenaries, GTA, True Crime, Lost Cause, Saints Row, Mafia, etc.


That's exactly like having a problem with the fact that FPSs, from Doom to Crysis, are about running around and getting into firefights. Sure, new mechanics pop up, additions to the basic gameplay, cover systems, gravity guns, hopping from ceiling to floor (man, Prey sometimes made me nauseous), recharging health or shield meters (that's the big one, recently) but that basic structure is still there.


Platformers, FPSs, etc, at their heart all have some mechanics that have been universal since their inception. Why can they stay the same, yet the Open-World games have to change? Especially when OWs are far younger?

[Agent Helix]

Eh, to each their own. Whether you think the game is a grand reinvention or not, I think the overall quality is difficult to deny.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Eh, to each their own. Whether you think the game is a grand reinvention or not, I think the overall quality is difficult to deny.

Amen to that.

[adamthered]

2 kids here in the Twin Cities tried to steal 23 copies from the Oakdale Best Buy yesterday. They were arrested. Morons.

[nervmeister]

Thompson's probably having an orgasm...That's an understatement.

[Van Custo]

From the sound of things, he's either Bosnian or Serbian. He was definitely in Bosnia, and involved in the war there. However it's not clear which side he was on (at least at the point in the game I've gotten to).

Serb is the ethnicity, Serbian is the nationality, someone who lives in Serbia, of any ethnic group. Serbian wouldn't make sense, if he's a veteran of the Bosnian war. That war was between BOSNIAN Serbs and BOSNIAN Croats and BOSNIAKS. It also wouldn't make sense because Niko is a Croat name and Bellic is both bosniak and croat more then it is Serb.

Seems like they took things from all 3. Either way he's a Bosnian Croat, Bosnian Serb or Bosniak, one oft hose 3 from Bosnia.. Most likely one of the first two ethnic wise, and Bosnian nationality wise.

Serbian and Serb is so synonymos it's easy to confuse it.

So while even they might officialy say he's "Serbian veteran of Bosnian war" as I've seen articles do, it' dosn't really make sense. But not like it matters whatever of the three, it's the same thing just different religion lol. It's all Ex-Yugoslavia people, and if you wonna get really technical he was born while Yugoslavia still exised so he'd be Yugoslavian too lol.

[Lester C.]

Thompson's probably having an orgasm...

I thought Take Two paid Jack a whole lot of money for him to STFU indefinitely about their games.

[DrewTheXenocide]

That's exactly like having a problem with the fact that FPSs, from Doom to Crysis, are about running around and getting into firefights. Sure, new mechanics pop up, additions to the basic gameplay, cover systems, gravity guns, hopping from ceiling to floor (man, Prey sometimes made me nauseous), recharging health or shield meters (that's the big one, recently) but that basic structure is still there.


Platformers, FPSs, etc, at their heart all have some mechanics that have been universal since their inception. Why can they stay the same, yet the Open-World games have to change? Especially when OWs are far younger?

I think I'm going to have to disagree with the lack of, uh, gravity, gravity guns and cover systems have. Half Life 2 changed FPS all together, making it not about pointing and shooting, but making your own cover, finding different ways from point A to point B, somewhat manipulating the scenery.

Portal totally changed everything, making it ENTIRELY about getting from point A to B, in crazy, physics playing ways.

I haven't played Gears of War much, but I had tons of fun peeking around corners, playing one on one, sometimes not shooting for crazy long periods of time.

I'm not saying FPSs should stay the same either. All games should branch out, and find new ways of doing things. For instance, Ocarina of Time and it's lock on. For a more recent example, RE4, and its doing away with the tired and true lock-on system (and not doing whatever crappy aiming system the other RE games had.)

I'm not saying GTA 4 isn't a good game. It is. Its mechanics are fun, its writing is great, and its graphics are pretty. But save that last one, there's nothing I couldn't find in past iterations of the series. It's the bee's knees, but not the second coming.

[Perry Holley]

Merged the discussion re: viloence surrounding the GTA 4 release into the general GTA 4 thread, FYI.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

For those who might not have noticed it, make sure to watch out for the little green person icon that shows up on the map from time-to-time. These 'friend' missions pay pretty well, and you actually do some good.

[Big Red Spider]

Does anyone know if there is any difference between the 360 and ps3 version?

[StreetFighterRyu]

For those who might not have noticed it, make sure to watch out for the little green person icon that shows up on the map from time-to-time. These 'friend' missions pay pretty well, and you actually do some good.

You mean the random missions like with that jerk that gives you a Benjamin? lol That made me laugh.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

You mean the random missions like with that jerk that gives you a Benjamin? lol That made me laugh.

You'll be seeing him again. He actually turns out to be alright.

[StreetFighterRyu]

You'll be seeing him again. He actually turns out to be alright.

Saw him the second time. (And I do have the guide actually so, :tongue:) I know, I know. I'm cheating already. So what? lol I bought it mostly for the packages. But don't know if there's a page for that.

[Xero Kaiser]

Cops and Crooks is insane

[StreetFighterRyu]

Cops and Crooks is insane

That's online multiplayer right? My brother tried to play it but everyone keeps leaving the damn game.

[the goddamn batman]

Saw him the second time. (And I do have the guide actually so, :tongue:) I know, I know. I'm cheating already. So what? lol I bought it mostly for the packages. But don't know if there's a page for that.

I don't think there's any packages... there's something else (like in San An).

This game is nuts, by the way. I just love the s*** out of it. Aside form hockey palyoffs and sleeping, I realyl haven't done much else in the last few days.:redface:

[glue]

Does anyone know if there is any difference between the 360 and ps3 version?

Supposedly the PS3 version looks better, but not significantly. The 360 has accomplishments and will have extra missions to download beginning in, I believe, the fall. My guess is that the PS3 will get extra content at some point (maybe even the same missions as the 360 version), but right now there's nothing concrete.

There's also reports of lots of freezing up with the PS3 version, but I haven't experienced it (knock on wood). I'm not sure about the 360, because I don't have a 360 so I obviously don't care about bugs in their games.

[glue]

Has anybody else seen the pigeon with the red "weapon aura" over, I believe, by Michelle's house? I thought maybe that was this game's equivalent to packages, but I couldn't pick it up and I haven't seen any others.

Also, kudos to me for playing the game for three hours and being "unable" to get new missions because I was waiting for calls instead of going to the letters on the map like you've had to do in every version since GTA3. I am on the ball!

[the goddamn batman]

Has anybody else seen the pigeon with the red "weapon aura" over, I believe, by Michelle's house? I thought maybe that was this game's equivalent to packages, but I couldn't pick it up and I haven't seen any others.

I've only seen regular pigeons (no aura)... like, on top of the Empire State Building.

Shoot them.:wink:

[Lester C.]

I bought the game yesterday but haven't played it yet. The plan is to take my time with it, so I'm just going to drive around steal stuff and get into trouble and avoid missions for a while.

[JDogindy]

I saw this on the news earlier today. Someone was going to steal the game. Don't know if it happened yesterday or this morning. First thing you see is him in the back seat of the police car kicking the window. lol I was laughing of course, and disappointed. -_- Granted, this isn't the first time that it happened with a GTA game. I still remember when Vice City came out, (it was around the same week too) a couple of teens drive-by an old lady "just because they played the game". Of course it pissed me off because how the hell are you going to blame on a game for your own stupid actions? Geez. -_-

Anyway, I'll see if I can find the article about it. 'Till then, I'm sure they're gonna show it almost the whole day.

Discuss: Why do stupid things like this happen? -_-

Stuff like this happens whenever a GTA game comes out. Remember the GTA 3 moment where you could control a car by standing on top of it and shooting and some moron tried that? In addition to what's in the game, stuff like this is why there will always be watchdog groups on it.

GTA IV is still, simply, beautiful.

[StreetFighterRyu]

Stuff like this happens whenever a GTA game comes out. Remember the GTA 3 moment where you could control a car by standing on top of it and shooting and some moron tried that?

I only know the Vice City one. Didn't know about GTA 3.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

Has anybody else seen the pigeon with the red "weapon aura" over, I believe, by Michelle's house? I thought maybe that was this game's equivalent to packages, but I couldn't pick it up and I haven't seen any others.

Also, kudos to me for playing the game for three hours and being "unable" to get new missions because I was waiting for calls instead of going to the letters on the map like you've had to do in every version since GTA3. I am on the ball!

You have to actually shoot them. There are 200 of them and they ARE the new hidden packages.

[JDogindy]

I only know the Vice City one. Didn't know about GTA 3.

I could've sworn that, but, from that dumb watchdog ad, it was from GTA 3.

Morons can't even get the stuff that they're yelling at right.

[StreetFighterRyu]

I could've sworn that, but, from that dumb watchdog ad, it was from GTA 3.

Morons can't even get the stuff that they're yelling at right.

It could've happened in another state or something. The Vice City thing happened in Miami Beach. Since that's where VC was taken place.

[Lester C.]

If you have the PS3 version of the game and are experiencing freezing issues, www.gamespot.com has an article detailing a complex 11 step process on how to fix the issue taken from Take Two tech support. No word on whether or not the steps work.

[IQ!]

If you have the PS3 version of the game and are experiencing freezing issues, www.gamespot.com has an article detailing a complex 11 step process on how to fix the issue taken from Take Two tech support. No word on whether or not the steps work.

The newest fix outside of the 12 step crap process is to disable PSN. I signed out before I started playing single player and played with no problems. Blogs and forums are saying this is working.

[Lester C.]

What kept me from fully enjoying the previous GTA games were the many clock mission. It just made the game unnecessarily difficult. With this entry they stepped back from that and I for one love that decision, although I will understand if some people feel that this dumbs down the game a bit.

Do you know who the biggest losers are today. Sony. Can you imagine what PS3 sales would have been for next few months had this game remained a PS3 exclusive?

[Big Red Spider]

Do you know who the biggest losers are today. Sony. Can you imagine what PS3 sales would have been for next few months had this game remained a PS3 exclusive?

No kidding. Man, they would have cleaned up.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

You have to actually shoot them. There are 200 of them and they ARE the new hidden packages.

And as annoying as they are to collect, the prize is something that you'll definitely enjoy.

Y'know, if you like cool stuff that allows you to dominate the skies.

[1WEBHEAD]

What kept me from fully enjoying the previous GTA games were the many clock mission. It just made the game unnecessarily difficult. With this entry they stepped back from that and I for one love that decision, although I will understand if some people feel that this dumbs down the game a bit.

Do you know who the biggest losers are today. Sony. Can you imagine what PS3 sales would have been for next few months had this game remained a PS3 exclusive?

Oh yeah, Sony should've held onto the GTA franchise with all their might.

Now the 360 copies are outselling the PS3 copies.

I believe it's due to the fact that XBL beats the crap out of the PSN but mostly because more people have 360s than PS3's. . . .

[Preus]

My bro got this game on Friday and it's pretty damn impressive. It's a step-up from San Andreas and it's definitely one of the best I've played in a long while.

[StreetFighterRyu]

My bro got this game on Friday and it's pretty damn impressive. It's a step-up from San Andreas

Yeah, but what I didn't like is that they took off the skill building. I like to lift weights and show off my muscles. lol :tongue:

[1WEBHEAD]

I just want to let you guys know that even though GTA4 is destined to become this year's GOTY, you all should finally stop playing it for about 2 hours so you can go out and watch IRON MAN.

Trust me! It's great! :biggrin:

[Preus]

I saw it on Friday, awesome movie, my favorite superhero movie to date. Has anyone played the game yet?

[glue]

Yeah, but what I didn't like is that they took off the skill building. I like to lift weights and show off my muscles. lol :tongue:

I liked all the customization in GTASA. I didn't care for the required eating or huge map with stretches of nothingness you had to cross.

[StreetFighterRyu]

I just want to let you guys know that even though GTA4 is destined to become this year's GOTY, you all should finally stop playing it for about 2 hours so you can go out and watch IRON MAN.

Trust me! It's great! :biggrin:

I'm planning to do that on my day off.

[Preus]

I liked all the customization in GTASA. I didn't care for the required eating or huge map with stretches of nothingness you had to cross.

I like how it's much more realistic than before. The feel and look of it is just amazing. I don't really care about the skill building being taken away, doesn't really matter. This is a shoot em up game, not a weight lifting game. :wink:

[glue]

I like how it's much more realistic than before. The feel and look of it is just amazing. I don't really care about the skill building being taken away, doesn't really matter. This is a shoot em up game, not a weight lifting game. :wink:

It's also not a fashion show, but you buy clothes. I'm not suggesting the customization added anything to the gameplay; just saying that I enjoyed it.

[Preus]

Yeah, and I'm saying I don't care if you can lift weights or not. See where I'm going with this?

[StreetFighterRyu]

I like how it's much more realistic than before. The feel and look of it is just amazing. I don't really care about the skill building being taken away, doesn't really matter. This is a shoot em up game, not a weight lifting game. :wink:

I know. I just like the skill building. If anything, being able to hold two pistols/SMGs would be cool. Or at least more accurate shots. The dual wielding thing is kindof the gangsta thing so, I guess there's no need for that. I can't picture Niko wielding two pistols. I just can't. lol :tongue:

But if anything, they should've added the dojos. The fighting system is horrible. I know it's a shoot em up game, but GTA is more than a shoot em up.

[Preus]

Did you mean the fighting is horrible in this game? I actually like the fighting in this game. In fact, all I did when my bro first got the game was run up on people and fight them. :biggrin:

[StreetFighterRyu]

Did you mean the fighting is horrible in this game? I actually like the fighting in this game. In fact, all I did when my bro first got the game was run up on people and fight them. :biggrin:

I guess I'm not used to it. The fighting in SA was easier. That and you can learn some martial art moves. :biggrin: I just like kicking people to death. lol :tongue:

But the problem with that is too slow to use so I use street boxing.

[Preus]

I love just running up on people in any GTA game and beating the crap out of them or walking up behind them and shooting them in the head. It's all in good fun.

[Jared H.]

Played a lot of GTA IV over the weekend.

Man, things really go to hell for Nico and Roman, don't they?

[Preus]

Lol, I haven't gotten that far in the game yet. I'm just having fun with it and having multiple shoot outs with the police.

[Preus]

I was playing the game today and there's something I'd like to know:

I basically took Michelle on a date and we saw the show. I didn't attack anyone or anything and after the date she complained about the place were at. Next thing I know, it said she had been killed. I want to know, if she is killed, does she actually die or what? I restarted the game and she's alive. I did the exact same date and she didn't get killed this time around.

[Jared H.]

I was playing the game today and there's something I'd like to know:

I basically took Michelle on a date and we saw the show. I didn't attack anyone or anything and after the date she complained about the place were at. Next thing I know, it said she had been killed. I want to know, if she is killed, does she actually die or what? I restarted the game and she's alive. I did the exact same date and she didn't get killed this time around.

Preus, I think you just got really, really unlucky. Probably some random car hit her or something on your way out.

[glue]

I was playing the game today and there's something I'd like to know:

I basically took Michelle on a date and we saw the show. I didn't attack anyone or anything and after the date she complained about the place were at. Next thing I know, it said she had been killed. I want to know, if she is killed, does she actually die or what? I restarted the game and she's alive. I did the exact same date and she didn't get killed this time around.


I really wish you'd kept playing with her dead. She turns out to be a fed later in the game. I'd like to know how they deal with her dying before she outs herself, as it leads to missions.

[Preus]

Damn, now I wish I would've too. I'll probably try going to the place where she got killed the first time and see if I can start some s*** to intentionally get her shot up.

[Agent Helix]

Most of the time, when a plot-important character is "killed", they call you to pick them up from the hospital a few days later, game-time. It's a failsafe to prevent you from ending up in an unwinnable game situation due to the occasionally wonky civilian car AI.

[Donald M.]

This game rules. People who complain because lame stuff from San Andreas like making your character fat got left out suck.

That is all.

[1WEBHEAD]

This game rules. People who complain because lame stuff from San Andreas like making your character fat got left out suck.

That is all.

Co-signed.

[StreetFighterRyu]

This game rules. People who complain because lame stuff from San Andreas like making your character fat got left out suck.

That is all.

Really, that's about the only thing. Everything else is fine.

[the goddamn batman]

It does rule. But there's some s*** to complain about.

For one, I'm not really into GTA fashion, but (i'm not onto the third island yet) if there's only going to be a few shops, why put two of the same shop on the same island? That's retarded.

This whole, hanging out with your friends s*** is bullshit. It's fun the first few times, and the fact that you can do it is cool, but man, STOP CALLING ME ALL THE TIME!!!

Don't get me wrong; the good far out weighs the bad.

[Donald M.]

I haven't gotten to the point where the hanging out thing annoys me yet, though . . .

Last night Roman called me to hang out while I was in the middle of a mission, thus spooking the drug dealer I was following and costing me the element of surprise that would have allowed me to take out at least one of the three armed opponents I had to face before they realized I had come to end them.

As a result, I died and lost my supersweet Uzi. My ****ing supersweet Uzi, Roman! **** your needy @$$!

[Agent Helix]

Since I missed it almost every time I was in that area, and didn't even see it until a friend pointed out to me, make sure you check across the street from the Perseus store in Middle East Park (near your Algonquin safehouse). There's a car dealership there stocked full of Turismos.

[Preus]

This game rules. People who complain because lame stuff from San Andreas like making your character fat got left out suck.

That is all.

Sure, it was fun to make the main character fat but why in the blue hell does it even matter that they took it out? I guess those people would rather have making him fat than ultra sweet graphics and better gameplay.

[StreetFighterRyu]

I haven't gotten to the point where the hanging out thing annoys me yet, though . . .

Last night Roman called me to hang out while I was in the middle of a mission, thus spooking the drug dealer I was following and costing me the element of surprise that would have allowed me to take out at least one of the three armed opponents I had to face before they realized I had come to end them.

As a result, I died and lost my supersweet Uzi. My ****ing supersweet Uzi, Roman! **** your needy @$$!

Lesson learn? Turn off the phone! :tongue:


Sure, it was fun to make the main character fat but why in the blue hell does it even matter that they took it out? I guess those people would rather have making him fat than ultra sweet graphics and better gameplay.

I didn't want to make the character fat. o__O lol I want to buff him up.

[Preus]

I wasn't talking about you specifically.

[StreetFighterRyu]

I wasn't talking about you specifically.

Oh. :tongue:

Though it is fun making the character fat.

Actually no it isn't. I used to be disgusted when I saw CJ with a big gut. ugh.

[Preus]

Yeah, anyway....

Does anyone know how long exactly the game would be if one were to play it nonstop from beginning to end?

[Jmacq1]

Well, there's an achievement that can be unlocked if you beat all the story missions in 30 hours or less, so that's a pretty good benchmark, I'd say.

Unless you're talking "100 percent" completion, in which case you're looking at 100+ hours at the very least, I'd say.

[Agent Helix]

Well, there's an achievement that can be unlocked if you beat it in 30 hours or less, so that's a pretty good benchmark, I'd say.

I'm so hopelessly not going to get that one. I'd have to restart the game from scratch to do it, as I'm currently around 22 hours with about half completion of the main storyline.

[Preus]

Well, there's an achievement that can be unlocked if you beat all the story missions in 30 hours or less, so that's a pretty good benchmark, I'd say.

Unless you're talking "100 percent" completion, in which case you're looking at 100+ hours at the very least, I'd say.

Woah, that's a hell of a lot of gameplay. Even though I'm a game freak, I don't think I'd be able to play a game for 100+ hours.

[Jmacq1]

Woah, that's a hell of a lot of gameplay. Even though I'm a game freak, I don't think I'd be able to play a game for 100+ hours.

Depends on how you play. If you take it in bite-sized chunks it goes by quicker than you might think. I probably ended up with almost 200 hours on Mass Effect, given how many times I played through it.

But yeah, even with a guide, just getting from point A to points B,C, and D takes a little bit of time. So when you're going for 100 percent completion, you're looking at running/driving all over the place looking for stunt jumps, pigeons, etc....

[Preus]

I'm not worried about completing the game as I want to have fun with it but I just wanted to know how long it'd actually take so thanks for that info. Btw, for the record, sometimes there's days when I don't even do missions, I just have shoot outs with the police. Speaking of which, me and my brother just got to the part where Niko kills Vlad.

[glue]

I'm not worried about completing the game as I want to have fun with it but I just wanted to know how long it'd actually take so thanks for that info. Btw, for the record, sometimes there's days when I don't even do missions, I just have shoot outs with the police. Speaking of which, me and my brother just got to the part where Roman kills Vlad.

When you had the choice to kill the guy for Vlad or let him live did you let him live?

[Donald M.]

Woah, that's a hell of a lot of gameplay. Even though I'm a game freak, I don't think I'd be able to play a game for 100+ hours.

I've played some RPGs for more than a hundred hours. I invested around a hundred hours each in Final Fantasy X and XII. I put close to two hundred into Morrowind and was nearing a hundred in Oblivion before I lost interest.

[StreetFighterRyu]

When you had the choice to kill the guy for Vlad or let him live did you let him live?

I assume he did. 'Cause I killed him. And Roman of course starts bitching.

[Preus]

I've played some RPGs for more than a hundred hours. I invested around a hundred hours each in Final Fantasy X and XII. I put close to two hundred into Morrowind and was nearing a hundred in Oblivion before I lost interest.

Still, don't think I could play a game for 100+ hours straight unless I were really interested and hyped for that particular game. However, I played GOWII for about seven hours straight one day.

[glue]

I assume he did. 'Cause I killed him. And Roman of course starts bitching.

I think we're talking about two different missions.

I'm talking about the guy that you chase up the scaffolding and across the roofs. It's the mission where you learn that you can either let someone live or die. I killed the guy, so I thought maybe Preus had let the guy live and that's why Roman killed Vlad in his game.

[Preus]

Sorry, I meant that Niko kills Vlad. I got the characters mixed up. Sorry about that.

[Donald M.]

The in-game tv is cool and all, but for sheer entertainment value the cabaret club wins hands down.

I don't know who's more awesome, Bluesy St. John or the Incredible Kleinman.

[Preus]

I'm about to go play the game right now. I wish I was out of school. If I were I'd be able to play it as much as I want all day. Still, I'm going to go do some missions right now.

[StreetFighterRyu]

Sorry, I meant that Niko kills Vlad. I got the characters mixed up. Sorry about that.

lol You know, I don't think this is really a spoiler. It's bound to happen anyway. Anyone can tell just by looking at Vlad.

[Preus]

My friend tells me that someone who worked on the game or I think he may have said the creator of the game said the game only has around 30 hours of gameplay.

[Jmacq1]

My friend tells me that someone who worked on the game or I think he may have said the creator of the game said the game only has around 30 hours of gameplay.

They heard wrong. Very, very wrong.

If you did -only- the main story missions, successfully accomplished them on the first try, ending each chase quickly, completely ignoring all the relationship-building missions, and taking taxis with the "skip ahead" option to your destinations every possible time....then yeah, you can probably beat the game in 30 hours. That's just the main story missions though.

Once you get into over 100 side-missions, 200 "hidden packages," maintaining the character relationships (which includes several mini-games of its' own), and the unique stunt jumps (50 of them, I think).....yeah, like I said above...well over 100 hours of gameplay. That doesn't even count online multiplayer.

[Donald M.]

My friend tells me that someone who worked on the game or I think he may have said the creator of the game said the game only has around 30 hours of gameplay.

It's possible to beat the game in under thirty hours, there's an associated achievement in the Xbox 360 version, but you'd have to skip a lot to manage it.

Anyway, "only" thirty hours? Thirty hours is plenty of gameplay time, even at sixty bucks it beats most other form of entertainment for sheer dollars to hours ration. You have to work hard to get less than 30 hours out of this game though.

[Preus]

I definitely wouldn't want to beat this game that quickly. The fact that it's 100+ hours of gameplay with this game means they really went all out. I just wish we could get a superhero game with that much gameplay.

[Jmacq1]

I definitely wouldn't want to beat this game that quickly. The fact that it's 100+ hours of gameplay with this game means they really went all out. I just wish we could get a superhero game with that much gameplay.

That quickly? 30 hours is far above average for a video game, in terms of length.

Most games can be beat in 12-16 hours or less (often much less). Only RPGs tend to consistently have more than that, often pushing into the 40's and 50's (and sometimes even more) in terms of gameplay hours.

Of course, even the shorter games often take much longer on the first playthrough as people find out where all the hidden stuff is/do the side missions/etc... But if you know where to go and just work to get through the "main story" without any funny business on the side, I'd say about 80 percent of the games on the market are pretty darn short.

[Agent Helix]

We're lucky if we get ten hours out of most games. Personally, I think the ideal length for a single-player action game is about 15 hours, but that's me, given my pace of play. A lot of action titles actually wear out their welcome if they go on too long, but I hate getting a game and beating it in a weekend without any real replayability.

[DrewTheXenocide]

I have to say, this game implements its well written story right into the gameplay really well. Those last couple missions... good stuff.

Also, is anyone else thanking God for the lack of RC missions? Even if the gameplay itself didn't grow much, at least they learned what sucked.

[Preus]

RC missions? Refresh my memory.

Anyway, this game is a step up from San Andreas for sure although San Andreas was a hell of a lot of fun, especially when it was my first time playing through.

[glue]

RC missions? Refresh my memory.


I think he may be referring to Zero's missions with the remote controlled planes. Those sucked. A lot.

Can somebody refresh my memory on how you let someone live when it gives you the option to kill them or spare them?

[Agent Helix]

Just walk away from them.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

GTA3 had them in the top fun vans. RC Car drives out and you use it to blow up crowds of folks and certain cars. I think the Diablos had you use one to blow up an armored truck.


In Vice you used RC helicopters and planes for various tasks. From transporting the bombs needed to blow up a building, to destroying boats with dropped bombs.

San Andreas, of course, had Zero's missions. Can't remember if there were any more there.

Can't remember if the 'Stories' games had them.

[Karl H]

Okay so I've just completed Packie McReary's third mission. All I can say is that THAT was one heck of a mission! Loved it! Homage central!

[Preus]

I think he may be referring to Zero's missions with the remote controlled planes. Those sucked. A lot.

Can somebody refresh my memory on how you let someone live when it gives you the option to kill them or spare them?

That was the whole reason I never actually beat San Andreas. Damn them and those airplane missions.....:evilangry:

[glue]

That was the whole reason I never actually beat San Andreas. Damn them and those airplane missions.....:evilangry:

I couldn't do those or the flying missions, so I had my nephew do them for me.

[Preus]

After a few days me and my brother just gave up on it. We occasionally did some free roaming but that was it after we got to the airplane missions.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

After a few days me and my brother just gave up on it. We occasionally did some free roaming but that was it after we got to the airplane missions.

Zero's missions were strictly optional, though. You didn't have to do them.

[StreetFighterRyu]

It takes a while, but RC missions are possible to finish.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

It takes a while, but RC missions are possible to finish.

Yeah, they're doable. Took me long enough that I gave up several times and played other games for a couples hours each time, but they're doable.


After Supply Lines, the mission where you're fighting on that miniature battle-field is cake.

[Donald M.]

It takes a while, but RC missions are possible to finish.

Of course they're possible! They still suck.

[Karl H]

Right I'm gonna come out and say it.

I'M BORED OF GTA IV

Why?

Repetitive missions with a ludicrous difficulty scale
Irritating friends
A dire soundtrack
A general lack of motive behind Nico other than "I'm good at this"
A lack of fun.

The last one is perhaps the most pertinent. Having played every GTA III generation game, I have to say, where's the invention in the missions? They all follow the chase/ shoot / runaway format virtually. There are no missions like, for example, the tank mission in Vice City which was just fun, plain and simple.

I've just opened up the third island so I'll push on through but after a couple of days play I'm highly underwealmed.

[the goddamn batman]

Repetitive missions with a ludicrous difficulty scale

I've actually found this one much easier than all the games in the past.

There have been TWO missions that I found difficult. One of them was me doing the wrong thing and making it harder on myself. That said, there's only been one that I found truely hard.

The rest are challenging at times, but only take two or three tries to pass.

I really appreciate that this game isn't pull your hair out hard. I'm trying to have fun, not prove something.


Irritating friends

I agree. Most of them give you something in return for your efforts, though.


A dire soundtrack

Agreed. Fully agreed.


A general lack of motive behind Nico other than "I'm good at this"

Well, that and he's illegal, so what's he going to do, work at Burger Shot? Also, he's looking for people involved in crime, so getting involved is the best way to find them. I mean, out of the few possible ways.

I don't think "search the streets listening to conversations" would be as fun a game.


A lack of fun.

GTA has always been what YOU make of it. I've been having a blast.


The last one is perhaps the most pertinent. Having played every GTA III generation game, I have to say, where's the invention in the missions?

YEAH! Man, I wish there was more pointless missions about fictional pop stars and RC vehicles.

You only sited ONE example of an 'inventive mission' and you're not even at 50% yet...


They all follow the chase/ shoot / runaway format virtually. There are no missions like, for example, the tank mission in Vice City which was just fun, plain and simple.


I disagree... I see your point, but, I disagree. This is the first time that I've been more interested in playing the missions than causing havock in the streets.

[Preus]

I shall mock anyone who says this game isn't fun. There's so much to do in this game and it's easily the best installment yet. I've been having fun with it and I've loved everything about it thus far.

[Donald M.]

I shall mock anyone who says this game isn't fun. There's so much to do in this game and it's easily the best installment yet. I've been having fun with it and I've loved everything about it thus far.

I agree. After loving GTA III and Vice City, San Andreas nearly killed the series for me. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it didn't click with me and I ended up never finishing it.

GTA IV has rekindled my love of the series and I find it insanely fun.

[Preus]

San Andreas was a great game and it was nearly perfect. The only thing I felt that was bad were the graphics, the story was pretty good.

[the goddamn batman]

I shall mock anyone who says this game isn't fun.

Why? Different strokes for different folks.

I mean, wasn't it just a week ago that you got mad at me ( so much so that I got BANNED!) for poking fun at the idea of people actually watching Jurassic Park 4?

[StreetFighterRyu]

Repetitive missions with a ludicrous difficulty scale

Heheh. You know, this is kinda the same for Oblivion. Still had fun.

Still though, when is "repetitive missions" ever new? There are more games that are pretty repetitive, ( especially Assassin's Creed) but they're still fun.


Of course they're possible! They still suck.

lol :tongue:


Why? Different strokes for different folks.

I mean, wasn't it just a week ago that you got mad at me ( so much so that I got BANNED!) for poking fun at the idea of people actually watching Jurassik Park 4?

:confused: What's wrong with Jurassic Park?

[glue]

I've gotten to the point where I have to do some mission on a boat. My GTA4 days may be drawing to a close. I do not do well with vehicles that don't travel on roads.



:confused: What's wrong with Jurassic Park?

The dinosaurs don't talk. They don't battle robots. It's not animated.

[the goddamn batman]

I've gotten to the point where I have to do some mission on a boat. My GTA4 days may be drawing to a close. I do not do well with vehicles that don't travel on roads.


A had to do that one a few times... really, it's not that hard. Stop shooting when you're turning, and shoot when you're not.

[Lester C.]

As much as I love this game I wish there was a "Walmart" family version. Only because this game would be the perfect game to give to someone to introduce them to video games if they never have played one before. Sort of like Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Hush arc was a perfect introduction to the Bat Universe.

[Karl H]

I shall mock anyone who says this game isn't fun. There's so much to do in this game and it's easily the best installment yet. I've been having fun with it and I've loved everything about it thus far.

That's very grown up of you.

[Preus]

Ever heard of a joke?

[the goddamn batman]

Ever heard of a joke?

Yeah, I got banned because you couldn't take one.:wink:

[Preus]

That wasn't my fault, you kept talking about it when you were told to stop. And guess what? You're still talking about it now!

[the goddamn batman]

That wasn't my fault, you kept talking about it when you were told to stop.

That didn't actually have anything to do with it... because I didn't keep talking about it. I am, however, talking about it now.

All I'm saying is I mocked your interest in something, and now you're mocking others lack of interest in something. It's pretty much the same thing. All I'm saying? Kettle, meet Pot.:wink:

[Preus]

All I'm saying is mouth meet closure. :wink:

[the goddamn batman]

I can point out your hypocrisy for as long as I like. :wink:

My initial point stands: You got your panties in a bunch when you got mocked, then turned around and made claims of mocking others. You can't refute that.

[Preus]

I never got my panties in a bunch, it was that you were intentionally trolling. I was never mocked or anything like that. Besides that, with a press of a button a Mod can come in here and delete this whole conversation and tell you to knock it off. Perhaps you'd like another suspension?

[the goddamn batman]

Jeez, man, you take it so seriously...


Anyway, I did the revenge ending last night. I'm going to play through the deal ending today, I guess.

[Perry Holley]

Preus, goddamn batman,

If you want to continue this conversation re: your discussion on another board and GB's banning, take it to Private Messaging. Continuing the conversation here will result in a temp-banning.

[the goddamn batman]

Man, I really dislike the endings...

[Kevin M.]

I can't wait for the episode packs to come out, and extend the story even more.

[Preus]

Still haven't gotten to the ending yet as I haven't really been playing the game a lot lately but I did the mission yesterday where you take out that guy for Playboy X and when you first get the new phone.

[Donald M.]

Still haven't gotten to the ending yet as I haven't really been playing the game a lot lately but I did the mission yesterday where you take out that guy for Playboy X and when you first get the new phone.

Speaking of which, I'm a bit disappointed that the camera phone in the game is so useless. There should be some sort of picture taking side mission in the game like in San Andreas, just so the phone has a reason to exist.

Hell, I didn't even use it in the one mission it was designed for. I couldn't get a proper picture of the guy Playboy X wanted me to take out so I said screw it, pulled out my gun and killed everyone in the basketball court.

I mean, they were going to shoot at me when I took out their friend anyway. Cut out the middleman.

[the goddamn batman]

When Stevie sends you pictures of the cars he wants, you can't even tell what some of them are. I can't even see the car in the photo. And I've adjusted the brightness and contrast. No help.

Also, I still really dislike the endings.

[StreetFighterRyu]

They could've at the very least give you a real camera. At first I thought it was gangsta. Then I saw how difficult it is to even take a picture with.

So far I only use the camera twice in the whole game. Which by the way, I haven't finished yet. I haven't been playing it lately. I've been playing Bully for the past week or so.

[the goddamn batman]

I only used it two or three times in the whole game.

[Donald M.]

They could've at the very least give you a real camera. At first I thought it was gangsta. Then I saw how difficult it is to even take a picture with.

So far I only use the camera twice in the whole game. Which by the way, I haven't finished yet. I haven't been playing it lately. I've been playing Bully for the past week or so.

Bully's a great game, lots of fun, but unlike any of the GTA games, which I've never gotten 100% for, I got 100% on Bully within a few days with just a little over 20 hours game time.

I hear they added stuff to the 360 version though.

[Preus]

The camera on the phone was a cool idea but why the hell can't it take a picture of something right in front of it? That pissed me off.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Bully's a great game, lots of fun, but unlike any of the GTA games, which I've never gotten 100% for, I got 100% on Bully within a few days with just a little over 20 hours game time.

I hear they added stuff to the 360 version though.

Yeah, they added 8 new missions, new classes (with cool bonuses, more on that in a second), new odd jobs, tons of new trophies, new clothing and what seems to me to be quite a few tweaks to the A.I. and the world in general. Like the 360 port of the Godfather game, they seemed to make everything mesh better, to the point where the world is actually more lifelike. I've found myself enjoying it even more the second time.

If you're a percentage kinda guy, the new Geography class is a life-saver. Every time you pass a level, it adds icons for another type of collectible to your map. Finding the Lawn Gnomes, G&G cards, rubber bands, transistors, and other stuff is a bit easier now.

[Big Red Spider]

This game is a lot of fun. Maybe to much fun. It is disrupting my dreams.

[Preus]

This game just gets better and better as you go along. I love that you can go on the internet and actually send emails or use the dating service, it's pretty funny.

[Big Red Spider]

I was a little drunk and didn't feel like driving so I whistled me up a cab and told to go the gun store. I was just watching the city out the window. There were people walking. I passed Jerkov's Bar and seen that DJ's Disco Emporium had gone out of business. The sun was setting and things were looking pretty dusky. Suddenly the cab make this sharp left, runs over a guy and smashes into a sentinal right in front of the gun store. The guy that got run over pulls the cabbie out and starts beatting on him. The cabbie fights back and beats up this other guy then the cabbie pulls the guy out of the sentinal and tries to take off, but he's blocked by his cab. The sentinal driver pulls the cabbie out of his car and I lose my view of the fight. By the time I get my drunk ass turned the right way there is a body in the street with money all around it and a cabbie running down the sidewalk. WTF. So I go over and pick up the cash and go buy some body armor.

[asloveislost]

I was a little drunk and didn't feel like driving so I whistled me up a cab and told to go the gun store. I was just watching the city out the window. There were people walking. I passed Jerkov's Bar and seen that DJ's Disco Emporium had gone out of business. The sun was setting and things were looking pretty dusky. Suddenly the cab make this sharp left, runs over a guy and smashes into a sentinal right in front of the gun store. The guy that got run over pulls the cabbie out and starts beatting on him. The cabbie fights back and beats up this other guy then the cabbie pulls the guy out of the sentinal and tries to take off, but he's blocked by his cab. The sentinal driver pulls the cabbie out of his car and I lose my view of the fight. By the time I get my drunk ass turned the right way there is a body in the street with money all around it and a cabbie running down the sidewalk. WTF. So I go over and pick up the cash and go buy some body armor.

Haha score! That is a weird turn of events...
I got this game last night and I'm really enjoying it, I'm actually about to go home from work now and play all weekend...

[Preus]

The cabbie whooped ass!

[Decepticons_Rule]

I was stalked by two opponents online. The two guys chased me all over Manhattan in a car chase, I got down to a harbor, thinking I lost them, then I saw their stupid purple dot coming straight for me on the radar. I jumped into the water, so did they, I got to New Jersey, got out, lobbed a couple grenades their way, no luck, began swimming away again, they hijacked a boat and one of them had an AK and gunned me down. This all lasted about 15 minutes.

I love how you can hunt people down online.

[Kevin M.]

The new Saint's Row 2 trailer took some shots at GTAIV. Hope they can back it up with everything they are saying about it.

[StoneGold]

The new Saint's Row 2 trailer took some shots at GTAIV. Hope they can back it up with everything they are saying about it.

It's funny, because I think this is the first GTA game that isn't randomly making fun of every other similar game out there.

[Preus]

I was stalked by two opponents online. The two guys chased me all over Manhattan in a car chase, I got down to a harbor, thinking I lost them, then I saw their stupid purple dot coming straight for me on the radar. I jumped into the water, so did they, I got to New Jersey, got out, lobbed a couple grenades their way, no luck, began swimming away again, they hijacked a boat and one of them had an AK and gunned me down. This all lasted about 15 minutes.

I love how you can hunt people down online.


They got yo whack ass! :tongue: :biggrin: :eek: :confused:

[Kevin M.]

It's funny, because I think this is the first GTA game that isn't randomly making fun of every other similar game out there.


I guess they wanted to stir something up with their 'shocking' remarks.

[StoneGold]

I guess they wanted to stir something up with their 'shocking' remarks.

That's what GTA did in every other game. It's more "shocking" that they didn't this time.

[Preus]

I hear you get to kill Ray, that true? I really hate that guy.

[Kevin M.]

That's what GTA did in every other game. It's more "shocking" that they didn't this time.


Probably wanted to focus more on story, and decided to leave that part out of GTA this time.

[Preus]

I like some of the missions, but they could've been better.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

I guess they wanted to stir something up with their 'shocking' remarks.

Not really, you'll notice they even said at one point 'We know you're doing those other things right now, and that's fine, but when you're done we'll be right here'. Meaning 'Cool, play GTA as much as you want, and pick us up when you're ready'. In an interview from March, one of the lead developers noted that the games have taken a different enough path that it shouldn't be hard to enjoy them both for what they are. Which is true. GTA's taken the more serious, grounded crime drama route, while Saints Row is going for the customization route, with the 'crazy' gameplay taken to another level. Basically, Next-Gen San Andreas.

[the goddamn batman]

It's funny, because I think this is the first GTA game that isn't randomly making fun of every other similar game out there.

There's still billboards mocking True Crime...

[Preus]

I killed Darko, that ugly bastard deserved it!

[Donald M.]

There's still billboards mocking True Crime...

Eh? Which are you talking about, the ones for Science of Crime? Those are making fun of CSI.

If there are some other billboards making fun of True Crime I'd be curious to know what they are.

[the goddamn batman]

Eh? Which are you talking about, the ones for Science of Crime? Those are making fun of CSI.

If there are some other billboards making fun of True Crime I'd be curious to know what they are.

No, not the Science of Crime stuff... I don't know, I haven't played this in a few weeks, so I don't recall off the top of my head, but it's pretty much the same one's that were in San An. Just billboards around town. Keep your eyes open for them.

[Big Red Spider]

A question about who you killed.
So when I had to pick between playboy or dwayne. I killed dwayne. Playboy was pissed and I read that if I had killed playboy I could have got his apartment.
So now I had to choose between Francis and Derrick. I killed Francis since he was threatening me with prison. I went to the funeral and saw Derrick there and the family seemed to be fine with the whole thing. Anybody know what would have happened if I'd killed Derrick?

[Jake V]

A question about who you killed.
So when I had to pick between playboy or dwayne. I killed dwayne. Playboy was pissed and I read that if I had killed playboy I could have got his apartment.
So now I had to choose between Francis and Derrick. I killed Francis since he was threatening me with prison. I went to the funeral and saw Derrick there and the family seemed to be fine with the whole thing. Anybody know what would have happened if I'd killed Derrick?

Basically the exact same funeral scene happens, with Francis sitting there instead of Derrick. The perk you get if you choose to kill Derrick is that Francis can remove your wanted level when you call him from that point forward.

[Big Red Spider]

Basically the exact same funeral scene happens, with Francis sitting there instead of Derrick. The perk you get if you choose to kill Derrick is that Francis can remove your wanted level when you call him from that point forward.

That's cool.
I've been using Kiki for getting rid of wanted level.

[Lester C.]

Brucie is my role model. They all are. I love this game so much it hurts.

[Big Red Spider]

Brucies's weird.

I pretty much just hang out with Roman, Little Jacob, or one of the girlfriends. I go to the strip clubs, cabaret, comedy club, or pool. I don't find bowling or darts very fun.

[1WEBHEAD]

That's cool.
I've been using Kiki for getting rid of wanted level.

Who the hell is Kiki?

[StoneGold]

Who the hell is Kiki?

One of the girlfriends from the dating site. Ultra-square, ultra-liberal rich black lawyer chick with a naive streak a mile wide and a thing for bad boys. But also ridiculously needy. Or just observant. Doesn't like you hanging out with your other sluts. She can call the DA and get your wanted level taken down, but generally not any time you actually need it.

But then, I've found Carmen's first aid pretty useless. And wuzzername, the other chick, by the time you find her, the half off at the clothing stores isn't even worth it.

[Big Red Spider]

Kiki sent me a picture mail of a hot ass in a thong. It was sweet of her.

[Preus]

I officially beat this game yesterday morning and if I had to give it a rating out of a 10, I'd give it an 8. The story could've been a little more fleshed out and there should've been more to do as far as activities go.

[Jake V]

That's cool.
I've been using Kiki for getting rid of wanted level.

She can only clear up to a 3 star wanted level. Francis can clear up to 6 stars.

[Agent Helix]

But Francis is a d-bag.

[the goddamn batman]

Yeah.

(10 blah blah blah)

[Big Red Spider]

She can only clear up to a 3 star wanted level. Francis can clear up to 6 stars.

Dang. 6 Stars would be nice to have just disappear.


I thought the girls were pretty cool... until this morning. I called Carmen to help me out with a little health and she told me that I didn't take her out enough. Stupid chick. Do you only get one health boost between dates?

[Preus]

Btw, Francis can only clear 3 stars. Anymore than that and you're on your own.

[Asian_Invasion]

Dang. 6 Stars would be nice to have just disappear.


I thought the girls were pretty cool... until this morning. I called Carmen to help me out with a little health and she told me that I didn't take her out enough. Stupid chick. Do you only get one health boost between dates?

Once per day I thought.

[Big Red Spider]

Once per day I thought.

That makes since.


I was riding around in a cab, just listening to the radio the other night. I do this a lot. I just whistle up a cab and ride around staring out the window. Well suddenly I decided I wanted to get out and shoot somebody. So I jumped out and got my machine gun out and suddenly this cop yells, "Freeze!" I look around and this cop across the street is pointing his gun and this guy in a yellow jacket. The guy in the yellow jacket has his hands up so I decide to go over and investigate. They just stand there for a long time. Then the guy in the yellow jacket starts slowly backing up and the cop slowly follows him. I thought maybe they were going to walk to the police station so I decided to follow them. This goes on for about half a block and then yellow jacket takes off in a sprint. The cop starts running after him and I start running after the cop. They were moving and it was taking all I had just to keep up. I finally caught up with them at a construction site. Yellow Jacket had his hands up and the cop was covering again. They start their slow walk again. I'm start thinking about maybe blowing them both away in this abandoned constuction site when suddenly yellow jacket bolts again. I start chasing after him. He turns a corner and then I turn the corner at a sprint but he's gone. Ducked down an alley or just dissapeared. Oh well, time to find another cab.


So what Radio Stations does everybody like to listen to?

[Lester C.]

I am taking my time though the second play though. For instance I did not know you could do vigilante missions the first time around.

[Jack Zodiac]

I just got to the end of my first play through. I'm at the finale mission, where I can either go for revenge or for money. And I really like Roman's character, and given all the backstory about their history together, about Roman's mother during the war, how they're practically brothers, I can understand why Niko would want to do this for Roman more than himself (which is also something I considered over Brevic), but goddamn... revenge sounds so sweet. And Roman comes off almost kind of pushy about it over the phone when you get the decision. Tough call.

Would it be cheap if I made to save files and shot for both endings right at the same time instead of going through the game again?

[Donald M.]

Would it be cheap if I made to save files and shot for both endings right at the same time instead of going through the game again?

Why would it be cheap? The story's the same up until that decision, why play the game twice unless you really want to? You paid $60 for the game, play it however you want to.

That said, if you choose the deal, you have to fly a helicopter and pursue another helicopter in the final mission. I still haven't beaten it because I suck at piloting the copters in this game.

[Preus]

I just decided to go with the revenge mission and didn't make two saves. I started to but I didn't. I may play through the game again but as of now, I just like to run around the city causing havoc.

[Jack Zodiac]

So, I beat it, both ways. I've gotta say, I'm kinda disappointed in both endings, but then I suppose that's the point. Nobody really wins. I mean, I guess technically the one ending where you don't take the deal is probably the better outcome for the characters, but still, it's a whole lot of depressing stuff for everyone.

Amazing game, though. Much better story than the last two "GTAs." And a much better character. He was real, and when he went into his stories you started to realize that you were inadvertently playing into his crappy life's history of repeating itself as you dig him deeper and deeper into that lifestyle. I also like how you could really get into these characters' heads through hanging out with them. Made it more than a time-sink and a chore.

Now I'm gonna play through the game again with cheats and get my "under 30 hours" achievement, and then I think I'm gonna go through it one last time, no cheats, with only a knife, handgun, semi-auto, and body armor, just to keep things interesting.

[Lester C.]

The only thing I hate about this game is that the sfx blare over the radio, which sucks if you like the talk radio stations. Then I learned that you can lower the sfx volume and increase the radio volume in the audio options. They really did think of everything.

[Donald M.]

So, I beat it, both ways. I've gotta say, I'm kinda disappointed in both endings, but then I suppose that's the point. Nobody really wins. I mean, I guess technically the one ending where you don't take the deal is probably the better outcome for the characters, but still, it's a whole lot of depressing stuff for everyone.


Yeah, but then it's not really the ending. We've got DLC that continues the story coming at some point. Be interesting to see how the DLC deals with the main game's two different endings.

[Lester C.]

Yeah, but then it's not really the ending. We've got DLC that continues the story coming at some point. Be interesting to see how the DLC deals with the main game's two different endings.

The Xbox 360 has two DLC deals in the pipeline. Thus far there has been no announcement for a PS3 DLC and all signs point to an inital Xbox exclusive.

[Paul Dee]

The only thing I hate about this game is that the sfx blare over the radio, which sucks if you like the talk radio stations. Then I learned that you can lower the sfx volume and increase the radio volume in the audio options. They really did think of everything.

I think every GTA game from GTA III onwards has that feature in the options.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=56010

DLC info is here, pictures and a release date.


Whole new story-line, though it does touch on a number of things from Niko's.


The first DLC will deal with a member of 'The Lost' motorcycle gang, you ran into them a few times in the original campaign. Rockstar's promised it will present you with a 'different side of Liberty City'. We'll see.


Looks interesting, if nothing else.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

For those who have been contemplating getting the PC version of GTAIV...


...*Ahem*


Don't. At least, not right now. You're setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. I've pretty sure a room full of chain-smoking crack monkeys could have optimized it better in a day.

Everyone remember those bloated 'this rig could probably eat Crysis alive' recommended specs they put out? Remember thinking that's a bit of an exaggeration? It's not. It's done so poorly that it truly does take a monster rig just to get acceptable framerates and performance.

This makes Crysis' poor optimization look like a ray of sunshine.

[Serik]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/dec08/gtaah1.jpg

Yeah, the GTA IV PC release is a piece o' crap. From what I've read at Rock, Paper Shotgun (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/12/04/gtagate-the-saga-continues/#more-5834), the problems arise from the Rockstar Social Club and/or Games for Windows Live bloatware they make you install. Plus the game's poorly optimized, like you said.

Some folks claim Valve's offering refunds on a case-by-case basis if you bought it over Steam and experienced technical problems.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/dec08/gtaah1.jpg

Yeah, the GTA IV PC release is a piece o' crap. From what I've read at Rock, Paper Shotgun (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/12/04/gtagate-the-saga-continues/#more-5834), the problems arise from the Rockstar Social Club and/or Games for Windows Live bloatware they make you install. Plus the game's poorly optimized, like you said.

Some folks claim Valve's offering refunding on a case-by-case basis if you bought it over Steam and experienced technical problems.

They are, it's been confirmed by a number of the sites I frequent.

At first Rockstar tried using Crytek's excuse, y'know 'We future-proofed the game, systems in later years will get to see it in all its glory'. That's bullcrap. No offense to GTA, but the visuals aren't *that* awe-inspiring, and you're still talking about some rigs that were made to try and max out Crysis. Anything even remotely capable of doing that shoud be able to handle GTA with nary a hickup. I suppose I should have seen the warning signs when the PC version of Bully was released and it was mostly junk as well. FYI, that title *still* hasn't gotten any support for its numerous problems. I imagine GTA won't meet the same fate, but dang.

I hope to heck the Saints Row 2 PC release isn't handled this poorly. I'm really looking forward to that one, too.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Bit crude (I blanked'em out), but this guy's take on it seems to sum things up.


"So, just to reiterate: smug, lazy ***** doing an amateurish and rushed port, saddling it with crippling DRM, pissing all over it with the crime against humanity that is Games for Windows Live, strangling it with their own broken lobby system, making all this compulsory, failing to test any of it, and then pushing the thing out their corporate wind-tunnel to get it out in time for Christmas?

Who would have thought that could rebound on them? NOT ME, that’s for sure.

Maybe that’s why I’m not a highly-paid PR executive."

[Serik]

Yeah, stuff like this baffles me. Who thinks that releasing a shoddy product is a good idea?

I'm actually playing GTA:SA and GTA:VC right now (got them from a Steam sale) and they're damn fine games. But I certainly won't purchase GTA IV until GFWL and Rockstar Social Club are removed and the game runs properly.

Anyway, I'm considering buying World in Conflict over Steam, which they just added today. :cool:

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

It's a shame, too. I was really looking forward to seeing where mods for this game can take it. San Andreas has had a community loyal to it persisting even now, due to modders and their works.


Until this crap gets ironed out, I just don't see most of them making the jump. Not worth the hassle.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://kotaku.com/5109842/spike-vgas-gtaiv-lost--damned-trailer


New Trailer for the GTA DLC "Lost and the Damned"


Makes me wish they'd done something similar with "Big" Mitch Baker and his biker gang from Vice City. Wouldn't have minded hanging out with them more.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://kotaku.com/5110257/new-gta-iv-lost-and-damned-screens

New screenies are out for the DLC.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://kotaku.com/5137087/hands+on-with-grand-theft-auto-iv-the-lost-and-damned


Pretty substantial preview for "Lost and the Damned". As long as my biker buddies aren't going to be bugging me about taking them bowling or something, it sounds like more than enough to get me back into the game.

[marty is ruling]

The preview says that Niko and the new character will cross paths. Didn't Niko tear up the Lost or was it the Angels?

[marty is ruling]

The preview says that Niko and the new character will cross paths. Didn't Niko tear up the Lost or was it the Angels?

[Agent Helix]

There was one mission involving the Lost that I recall, but only a few random members.

[Simbob4000]

The preview says that Niko and the new character will cross paths. Didn't Niko tear up the Lost or was it the Angels?

Yeah, he did, but he also worked with one of them later on. And I'm pretty sure the guy he worked with, is the character you play as in the new DLC.

[StoneGold]

Well, I know this much - they aren't hiring Nicco's voice actor for any new lines.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://kotaku.com/5154550/gta-iv-the-lost-and-damned-also-adds-full-frontal-nudity


*Cough*

[Mr. Cakes]

I wish it was hot, young pixelated peen instead of old wrinkly man dong.

[Jake V]

I wish it was hot, young pixelated peen instead of old wrinkly man dong.

Can't you just get that by looking in a mirror?



OH SORRY, I guess you can't.

[Mr. Cakes]

Can't you just get that by looking in a mirror?



OH SORRY, I guess you can't.

Seeing as I'm not pixelated, no I cannot.

[Donald M.]

*sigh*

Why do I let myself get pulled into this crap?

So there's apparently a rumor going around that Johnny Klebitz, main character of the Lost and Damned expansion, is gay.

When some players on GameFAQS freaked out about having to play as a gay character - because, you know, it's okay to be a drug dealing, mass-murdering biker, but god forbid he like men - and I called them on it, I got piled on by children calling me immature for not being tolerant of their differing opinion.

*sigh*

Why I even look at the boards at GameFAQs I have no idea. Just a masochist, I guess.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

*sigh*

Why do I let myself get pulled into this crap?

So there's apparently a rumor going around that Johnny Klebitz, main character of the Lost and Damned expansion, is gay.

When some players on GameFAQS freaked out about having to play as a gay character - because, you know, it's okay to be a drug dealing, mass-murdering biker, but god forbid he like men - and I called them on it, I got piled on by children calling me immature for not being tolerant of their differing opinion.

*sigh*

Why I even look at the boards at GameFAQs I have no idea. Just a masochist, I guess.
identity politics...theres ALWAYS controversy when the main character is anything but a hetero WASP male



oh yeah i went there!

[Donald M.]

identity politics...theres ALWAYS controversy when the main character is anything but a hetero WASP male



oh yeah i went there!

Oh no, as was explained to me it's okay to play as a female character as long as she has a nice ass and big jiggly boobs.

Playing a female in Saints Row 2 is wrong though because man, that used to be a dude!

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Eh, for real fun stick around until the eventual debate about the gender/nationality/etc of the next main character.


Ever since Vice City I've taken to watching the boards of the upcoming games for entertainment. So much hilariously stupid stuff gets said that you wonder how half these people don't walk into traffic every day.

[Agent Helix]

Stupid arguments aside, the value of this DLC at just $20 is pretty unbelievable. The main story missions apparently run 10-15 hours, and the new multiplayer modes look fantastic.

[Donald M.]

Stupid arguments aside, the value of this DLC at just $20 is pretty unbelievable. The main story missions apparently run 10-15 hours, and the new multiplayer modes look fantastic.

And yet, as always, you have the whiners saying it should have been $10 or it should have been free.

I don't know if it's just that PC gamers are more used to expansion packs, or if the higher cost requirements for PC gaming keeps most of the really disgusting idiots out.

[Agent Helix]

Let them whine. A lot of times, DLC is overpriced or just plain underwhelming (I'm looking at YOU, Mass Effect.), but this isn't one of those times at all. I don't see how this could have been free, as they obviously had to spend a lot just to license new songs and record new dialogue alone.

[Donald M.]

don't see how this could have been free

But I wannit!!

*throws tantrum*

[2-4-5_Trioxin]

Really now who cares if you see a dudes schlong or not? Its just part of a persons body and no different than seeing their ears, hands or butt. Ive been a nurse for along time and Ive seen more dicks than I can count and naked women and its just skin and tissue.

Id be more concerned about if the game had a decent story, good characters and solid gameplay vs what I see of a persons body.

And in terms of offensive content I always thought seeing people killed or tortured would be worse than just nudity. Course nothing bothers me, Ive been watching horrific shit since I was a kid.

But thats what happens when you grow up in a society dominated by a christian background "Violence is basically ok especially if its against people of a different relion, being mean and judgemental of those not of your faith is a good thing, you can be mean as you like to the gays because they are evil, drink yourself into a stupor all you want, you can create or pick whatever version of christianity you want to suit what rules you want to follow, you can twist the bible around to whatever you want, but whatever you do DONT even think about sex or see someone else naked or your going straight to hell!"

[Donald M.]

All matter of dongs and such aside, this is a great little expansion. It introduces some great new characters. Billy Grey is hilariously psychotic and the aformentioned Senator Stubbs, he of the pixelated peen, is pretty damn funny too.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

For those wondering about the second expansion for GTAIV, consensus seems to be this man will be the main character:

http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Luis_Fernando_Lopez (Warning, spoilers of course)


Once I read the article and remembered half these events, it seems obvious in retrospect. "Impossible Trinity" indeed.

[Andreas Tanis]

I've been playing GTA IV a lot again lately, I'm up to over 29,000 kills. My goal is to get to 100,000 kills before the next GTA game comes out.

[Lester C.]

For those wondering about the second expansion for GTAIV, consensus seems to be this man will be the main character:

http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Luis_Fernando_Lopez (Warning, spoilers of course)


Once I read the article and remembered half these events, it seems obvious in retrospect. "Impossible Trinity" indeed.

Given both of the endings of Nico's story in GTA IV I am extremly disapointed that the none of the expansion packs are about him. This isn't to say that I don't think they are very good or that I won't but more "episodes" in the future. I'd just like a proper finish to Nico's story, is all.

[Agent Helix]

His story got a proper finish.

[Lester C.]

His story got a proper finish.

By proper I mean satisfying. Like every other game in the series. Again I'm going to buy all the expansion because if they are all very fun like Lost and The Damned. I just want Nico's story to have a satisfying end as well.

[Agent Helix]

No, you want him to win at the end. There's a difference.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

For those wondering about the second expansion for GTAIV, consensus seems to be this man will be the main character:

http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Luis_Fernando_Lopez (Warning, spoilers of course)


Once I read the article and remembered half these events, it seems obvious in retrospect. "Impossible Trinity" indeed.



And...we have confirmation.


http://kotaku.com/5270840/rockstar-obama-put-latinos-front-and-center


BOO-YAH!

That's some excellent detective work.

[1WEBHEAD]

The ending works. Niko doesn't become some huge crime boss or king of world. He's just another small fish in a very big ocean full of other fishes.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

Been awhile since this was updated, but here you go;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP-tZtTvH-A

http://kotaku.com/5355107/new-gta-ballad-of-gay-tony-trailer-shows-modern-gay-life-can-bedifficult?t=15253286#c15253286



Two trailers about "The Ballad of Gay Tony".

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://kotaku.com/5360654/gta-iv-the-ballad-of-gay-tony-preview-crimes-for-the-crazy-rich?skyline=true&s=x


Preview filled with a *lot* of info about features in the next expansion.


Sounds like they're going for the San Andreas feel with this one.

[Genma:TheDestroyer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-16aFzb_So


New Trailer for "Tales of Liberty City", the compilation disc with both "Lost and the Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony". It's coming out the same day TBoGT is released as a standalone download on XBL.

[Lester C.]

Anyone playing Ballard of Gay Tony? I want to but the download is taking hours and that's no exaggeration.

[StoneGold]

Anyone playing Ballard of Gay Tony? I want to but the download is taking hours and that's no exaggeration.

Downloaded it last night/this morning. Took about an hour for the almost 2 gigs or so. Fun stuff.