GTA:IV Official Thread

[Blue Screen Error]

I also have a question, because I'm confused about the places you can go (restaurants etc.) I was taking Roman out to darts, and I drove past a place I hadn't been to before, so I popped in and had a meal. Generally, this would now appear permanently on my map, right? Well it isn't there, for some reason. Likewise, some of the places I've been to when not on a mission (a couple of Burger Shots) don't appear. And when I take that frigid bint Kate out, not everying appears on my map and of the things on my map, some places don't have yellow entry sections. I want to take her on a helicopter tour, but can't!

I think thats to do with what she likes and yeah I noticed a bar down from the "main" island safe house which isn't on the map at all.

[FishyFish]

Is there a write up anywhere of what the multiplayer is all about? I didn't notice anything in the manual, and the one time I went online I was quite befuddled by all the different game types Couk was flicking through when choosing what to play.

From Wikipedia:

Multiplayer

Grand Theft Auto IV is the first console game in the series to include online multiplayer, with 15 modes of play available. The multiplayer supports up to 16 players and allows players to explore the entire city.[45] Players use a customisable character in a majority of the modes, with cash earned during play able to be used to purchase clothing for their character. Hosts of the games can control many variables, such as time of day, police presence, pedestrian presence, traffic, location of game, and weapons. The online games are split into ranked and unranked matches. The reward for the ranked gameplay is cash, which determines players' ranks. The game does not feature any split-screen or LAN multiplayer modes.

There are several different game modes available. Team based gameplay modes include Team Deathmatch, where 2-8 teams compete to accumulate the most kills in a traditional deathmatch; Team Mafiya Work, in which 2-8 teams compete to complete contract work for the "mafiya", such as escorting/killing targets or stealing cars; Team Car Jack City where 2-8 teams compete to steal cars and earn money for keeping them undamaged; Cops n' Crooks, featuring a team of cops who must compete against a team of crooks (which features the "All for One" variation - requiring the cops to kill the crooks' "Boss" before he is escorted to the extraction point - and the "One for All" variation - requiring the cops to kill all of the crooks before they reach the extraction point); and Turf War, involving two teams who compete to take control of designated areas of the map and control them for as long as possible.

The game also includes a variety of racing and co-operative modes, which include Race, in which players race through checkpoints in a traditional automobile race; a GTA Race variation, where players race through checkpoints in an automobile race, with the ability to combat their opponents; Hangman's N.O.O.S.E., a co-op mode that requires players to collect a person from the airport and safely escort him to the extraction point before the cops kill him; Deal Breaker, a co-op mission that requires players to assault a construction site captured by enemies, then chase a group of enemies before they escape; and Bomb da Base II, a co-op mission that requires players to clear out a ship, then destroy it with explosives. The game also features a Free Mode, in which players have the entire map open to explore, with no end goal or mission to complete.

[Chase]

Boy, can't wait for more fun and frolics in Grand Theft Dating.

Guess there's no point in making a Sex and the City video game, GTA4's pretty much taken over that market already.

[RubberJohnny]

Kiki is really bipolar isn't she? I thought I'd take her to some upmarket bar and she started talking about cheap whores, and yelling at me about how I was looking at someone else while I was lying in the road drunk. When we got back to hers, she was then ecstatic at jumping into bed with me.

[Kinketsu]

Just don't bother taking anyone out then. I don't do it, can't be bothered.

[Chase]

Seriously though - do you think they left it out on purpose? Just for the lols?

It was most definitely considered, it's just when your game has a deadline and other more important parts need to be finished first, you can't always have every fucking feature.

So, lets take a look at the things considered "more important":

- In-game internet with ridiculously extensive amount of working web pages

- All the in-game TV like poker and shopping channel

- Incredibly dull bowling, pool, darts mini-games that everyone's already played many times over

- All the dating stuff

- Three talk-radio stations and all those radio ads

I like that the game has gone into such depth in satirising modern American society, but they could have just spent half the time and money on that and spent the rest on a replay function to allow for some user-generated content on the net (and all the benefits that could bring). Instead of the whole dating your buddies/girlfriends aspect, added some split-screen mini-games or even a simple split-screen free roam.

I'm not an apologist, I'm a realist.

[Chase]

Just don't bother taking anyone out then. I don't do it, can't be bothered.

Then you miss out on the five special features of your friends, though.

[Wallace]

Then you miss out on the five special features of your friends, though.

The dating isn't that important in the game at all. You don't miss out on much by not having the special abilities.

[Kinketsu]

Then you miss out on the five special features of your friends, though.

Yeah but they aren't essential, they are bonuses for doing the friendship mini-games, which you don't like.

[Big Gus]

I dabbled in the dating a bit more yesterday.

Shit, it's damn funny, and handy.

Carmen is a fucking man-hating hoot! "I see you, looking... Looking at my titties!" Took her to the club on the second island on our first date, then for something to eat on the second - that was me in there like swimwear. Her special ability to heal you with a phone call is class!

Lawchick Kiki seemed to be playing hard to get. Took her to see Gervais, got her number then took her to get pissed up on our first "actual" date. The knickers came off. Obviously her special ability to shake off wanted stars with a call is top banana

Anyone know what other special abilities the girlfriends give? I'm lining up that Oriental one with the baseball cap next.

In my 8 hour binge of single player I also did the

Dwayne/X decision

and Three Leaf Clover.

Needless to say it was an epic session filled with amazing scenes.

[K]

Yeah I've said it a few times, to be met with disagreement largely. Maybe we're just amazing.

Once you eliminate the impossible (i.e. me not being amazing) whatever remains must be the truth – no matter how improbable.

Speaking of amazing, I did that mission 'Hating the Haters' last night, and that was truly brilliant. A wild scooter chase through Central Park, watching people tumble to the ground like members of Jackie Chan's stunt team, while hot jazz blares on the soundtrack. The whole thing was a masterpiece of physical comedy on a par with Buster Keaton's work, and it really did showcase how brilliant the game is.

[Big Gus]

The dating isn't that important in the game at all. You don't miss out on much by not having the special abilities.

Yo' straight up trippin' Battyclat!

Lil Jacob's "special ability" is fucking amazing! In fact all the special abilities I've got so far are really, really handy and well worth the hassle.

Call up yo' bitches and get yo' wanted level removed or health restored? That's how a real playa roll!

[K]

So, lets take a look at the things considered "more important":

- In-game internet with ridiculously extensive amount of working web pages

- All the in-game TV like poker and shopping channel

- Incredibly dull bowling, pool, darts mini-games that everyone's already played many times over

- All the dating stuff

- Three talk-radio stations and all those radio ads

I like that the game has gone into such depth in satirising modern American society, but they could have just spent half the time and money on that and spent the rest on a replay function to allow for some user-generated content on the net (and all the benefits that could bring). Instead of the whole dating your buddies/girlfriends aspect, added some split-screen mini-games or even a simple split-screen free roam.

Not really the same thing, is it? Judging from the interviews I've seen concerning the replay feature in Halo 3, a cinema mode would be a mammoth piece of engineering that pretty much requires being incorporated into the game from the start. It's a programming challenge, rather than the things you've mentioned which aren't really programming, they're more the task of writers, actors, directors and animators. Not programmers. I strongly suspect that you're underestimating how much time and expense something like a cinema mode would entail, especially compared to putting in a darts minigame.

They couldn't have split-screen either, as the game streams from the DVD/hard drive. It can't stream from two points on the disk at once, hence no split-screen.

[Bocuma]

- In-game internet with ridiculously extensive amount of working web pages

- All the in-game TV like poker and shopping channel

- Incredibly dull bowling, pool, darts mini-games that everyone's already played many times over

- All the dating stuff

- Three talk-radio stations and all those radio ads

Do you think the people who work at Rockstar that did all of those bits would be capable of programming a replay editor?

[Mr. Gerbik]

Boy, can't wait for more fun and frolics in Grand Theft Dating.

Guess there's no point in making a Sex and the City video game, GTA4's pretty much taken over that market already.

The dating is really funny, the only one taking it seriously is YOU and certainly not Rockstar. You're simply looking for faults because you're unable to enjoy the game while lots of other people are having a blast with GTA4.

My advise is to stop playing and start looking forward to/hyping up the next big PS3 game. I understand Haze is coming out soon, maybe you should start an anticipation thread?

[Chase]

Do you think the people who work at Rockstar that did all of those bits would be capable of programming a replay editor?

It's not about programming skills, we're talking about time and money invested into features.

[Chase]

The dating is really funny, the only one taking it seriously is YOU and certainly not Rockstar. You're simply looking for faults because you're unable to enjoy the game while lots of other people are having a blast with GTA4.

My advise is to stop playing and start looking forward to/hyping up the next big PS3 game. I understand Haze is coming out soon, maybe you should start an anticipation thread?

Nah, I've chosen Killzone 2. The graphics shown in the last in-game trailer are fucking ridiculous. B)

[Bocuma]

It's not about programming skills, we're talking about time and money invested into features.

"Everyone stop what you're doing! We've decided to reduce the resources we've allocated to the non-gameplay features that have won us so much praise in the past for adding depth to the game world and use it to attempt to add a feature that the internet has decided would be possible because it was in Driver on the PSOne. Sorry!"

[robdood]

So, lets take a look at the things considered "more important":

- In-game internet with ridiculously extensive amount of working web pages

- All the in-game TV like poker and shopping channel

- Incredibly dull bowling, pool, darts mini-games that everyone's already played many times over

- All the dating stuff

- Three talk-radio stations and all those radio ads

I like that the game has gone into such depth in satirising modern American society, but they could have just spent half the time and money on that and spent the rest on a replay function to allow for some user-generated content on the net (and all the benefits that could bring). Instead of the whole dating your buddies/girlfriends aspect, added some split-screen mini-games or even a simple split-screen free roam.

Yeah, cos implementing a replay recording/editing/uploading or SPLIT SCREEN multiplayer thing would be just as easy as those things you mentioned, wouldn't it? You have no idea.

Please keep going, the more you say the more stupid you look

[Wallace]

Yo' straight up trippin' Battyclat!

Lil Jacob's "special ability" is fucking amazing! In fact all the special abilities I've got so far are really, really handy and well worth the hassle.

Call up yo' bitches and get yo' wanted level removed or health restored? That's how a real playa roll!

Thats how wimps role, queerbag

They're handy, but thats about it. Certainly ain't going to tear me away form playing the story mode, vigilante missions etc.

I do like a piss up with LJ for the patter though

[Paul3704]

Stop trolling Chase.

I know the game isnt what you wanted it to be, and your chosen version isn't really delivering as well as you wanted it to, but you're becoming really tired and irritating.

The best thing about GTA4 for me is the crushing disappointment it's left you with. Bit of egg on your face and all.

Go and hype Killzone 2 in the killzone 2 thread. There's a good boy.

[Rowan Morrison]

Speaking of amazing, I did that mission 'Hating the Haters' last night, and that was truly brilliant. A wild scooter chase through Central Park, watching people tumble to the ground like members of Jackie Chan's stunt team, while hot jazz blares on the soundtrack. The whole thing was a masterpiece of physical comedy on a par with Buster Keaton's work, and it really did showcase how brilliant the game is.

Speaking of Keatonesque moments, I was walking around that huge sports cage on the west side last night and spotted a fat copper ambling along, so I decided I'd get someone into trouble. I picked some unfortunate guy who was just minding his business sweeping up and started pushing him around. He gave me a bit of verbal back and we stood there in a stand-off for a while, at which point I pushed him again. He starts waving his arms in protest, and as soon as he stopped I bopped him right on the nose. He recoils, his little hat flies off his head just perfectly, and he decides enough's enough. Seconds later, the fat cop has him at gunpoint. Ha! The whole push / fight affair looked wonderfully Keatonesque.

After that I decided to see if the cops would help with more than one attacker at a time - they won't, but I did have an ace five minutes of running past pedestrians, smacking them on the back of the head as I went and building up a little troupe of Benny Hill chasers who eventually did beat me to a well-deserved death.

[Big Gus]

The best thing about GTA4 for me is the crushing disappointment it's left you with. Bit of egg on your face and all.

It's quite sad of me to take so much joy from this but I am also loving it.

[Chase]

It's quite sad of me to take so much joy from this but I am also loving it.

Same here! I love how people say they're pissed off and loving it at the same time!

[Yoshimax]

Me too.

It's the best internet Karma I've ever seen.

By the way, for amusement (and this is a trap), on the subject of replays where do you think these replays would be stored ? RAM or HDD ?

[Wallace]

So Chase really doesn't like the game? Gutted for you mon

Now fuck off

[Timmo]

Damn, another cracking comeback from Chase - he's unbeatable!

[Chase]

By the way, for amusement (and this is a trap), on the subject of replays where do you think these replays would be stored ? RAM or HDD ?

By the way, for amusement (and this is a trap), on the subject of replays where do you think the replays for Halo 3 replays were stored? RAM or HDD ?

[Stanley]

This game is a serious time sink, to the point it's becoming unhealthy. I'm glad they only come out every few years.

Anyway I'm seriously addicted to flying the helicopters. At first I was a bit sketchy but once the controls clicked I've found the handling sublime. Flying low through Sar Junction/Times Square with Queen's One Vision blasting out is frickin' awesome.

It's definitely a game which gets better the more you play. I'm now much more confident with the cars, and the handling is excellent with the weight shift feeling just about perfect. The combat too is cool once I got the hang of it; taking cover, sliding to cover... I use the default setting which combines auto and free aim. I've found this to be most agreeable as it provides the best of both worlds. It's awesome taking out a whole building of crims with headshots and then casually strrolling out, one badass dude.

The most trouble I've had with missions is race or chase ones. I just abandoned that early Brucie one after failing about eight times, but I'll go back to it now I'm a bit more familiar with the car handling. Snow Storm, one which some people said was difficult, I cleared first go, but Hostile Negotiations got the better of me right at the end (which if you've done it you'll know what I mean). Just about to attempt the much talked about Three Leaf Clover.

Took my first subway ride yesterday. I still can't believe the attention to detail and the sheer bloody scale of this game. It suddenly dawned on me last night when I was on a mission through a high rise, taking out homeboys. About ten storeys up I looked out the window and there's the whole city. So there I am, on my little mission, but the whole big world outside still exists, and I really felt a part of that world. I don't think any game has achieved this so successfully.

Oh yeah, there was definitely something up, or still is, with the talking GPS. I hadn't heard it since the day I started the game but last night it came on again, almost all cars now talk. The only thing I'd done was changed the display options (for brightness etc) back to default. Now whether it was that or the patch (PS3) I don't know, but.. weird.

Has anyone else thought the PS3 version is smoother running since the patch, or is it just me?

I spotted a continuity error last night too.

The mission where you go to an apartment to take out a dealer (for Francis) and first you have to identify an informant using a picture on your mobile. Anyway I threatened the guy at gunpoint and he told me the location of the dealer, but I then shot him dead (and he wad dead, I made sure!) but then a little later the same guy appears in a cutscene phoning said dealer to warn him of my approach.

[Chase]

Damn, another cracking comeback from Chase - he's unbeatable!

Cheers. B)

Oh and 8/10 is really 'hating the game', isn't it. I love the game - but I'm certainly not gonna apologise for it's faults.