GTA:IV Official Thread

[Rowan Morrison]

I've noticed a few of the chase missions for the Italians have these scripted vehicles (waste trucks, buses, random cars) moving in to block your path at certain points. I failed one a few times and the same vehicles were there trying to stop me - luckily I worked out when to avoid them. Not sure if it would be less fun without them but it certainly makes it more linear for such a freeform game.

Yeah, I mentioned something similar a while back, one of the early missions that has a timber truck shedding its load etc. etc. - it just feels too forced in the context of the wider game, but I imagine perhaps that the AI just isn't up to the task of creating an enjoyable chase on its own - there are too many opportunities for short cuts and crafty manoeuvres for human players to exploit. Short of the AI cheating, which would be unforgivable, I guess the best they can do is ensure you encounter problems. It's just a shame they couldn't randomise those problems and prevent them sticking out like sore thumbs.

[Joyrex-J9]

I'm sorry to bring this up again but...

Can any kind soul briefly summarise which version (360 or PS3) I should be picking up?

I'm not that fussed about multi-player - I'll probably never use it.

Eurogamer haven't got round to doing a head-to-head comparison

This thread is moving too fast & I've got 448 pages to wade through in the vain attempt to find an answer!

[Tom*]

Yeah, I mentioned something similar a while back, one of the early missions that has a timber truck shedding its load etc. etc. - it just feels too forced in the context of the wider game, but I imagine perhaps that the AI just isn't up to the task of creating an enjoyable chase on its own - there are too many opportunities for short cuts and crafty manoeuvres for human players to exploit. Short of the AI cheating, which would be unforgivable, I guess the best they can do is ensure you encounter problems. It's just a shame they couldn't randomise those problems and prevent them sticking out like sore thumbs.

Yep, I can't think of another way of doing it, so I'm not really blaming R*. As you say it's just a shame that seems to be the only way of doing it without completely cheating or removing all tension. There's been some great chases in the Cops n Crooks MP games I've had, with some really random moments - I guess you'll never get that outside of MP though.

[therev]

Can any kind soul briefly summarise which version (360 or PS3) I should be picking up?

Some minor performance differences, but they're both great so pick the one on the console you like most.

If the 360 exclusive DLC is as good as what ships on the disc that might be a deciding factor, though.

[kerraig UK]

I'm sorry to bring this up again but...

Can any kind soul briefly summarise which version (360 or PS3) I should be picking up?

I'm not that fussed about multi-player - I'll probably never use it.

Eurogamer haven't got round to doing a head-to-head comparison

This thread is moving too fast & I've got 448 pages to wade through in the vain attempt to find an answer!

if multiplayer doesnt matter then its neither here nore there really.

360

slightly better framerate

lots of pop up

more muted colours

better controller (opinion based)

PS3

better colours

lower resolution

quicker loading

[Pob]

As we were saying, though, the Vigilante missions in GTA3 and Vice were great - more than challenging enough, and totally freeform. The enemy AI's task was just to keep away from you. I don't see why they can't just apply this to the in-game missions. Sometimes the enemy car would plough straight into traffic and the chase would last five seconds, but that's just funny.

[Timmo]

Probably my biggest disappointment with the game is the A.I., actually. Is it rose tinted that I remember the police in Driver being able to keep up with you and being hard to lose? Like mentioned previously, they can't even keep up with you on a straight in this one.

[Timmo]

Eurogamer haven't got round to doing a head-to-head comparison

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=137829

Literally as you posted, more or less.

[mr_rmg]

I'm sorry to bring this up again but...

Can any kind soul briefly summarise which version (360 or PS3) I should be picking up?

I'm not that fussed about multi-player - I'll probably never use it.

Eurogamer haven't got round to doing a head-to-head comparison

This thread is moving too fast & I've got 448 pages to wade through in the vain attempt to find an answer!

360 by the looks of it.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=137829

After almost two thousands words of technical discussion, the bottom line is that it's clear that Rockstar had some issues matching the basic performance of the Xbox 360 game on the PS3 hardware. Lower resolution, zero anti-aliasing support and a more variable frame-rate are the bottom line.

[Joyrex-J9]

<a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=137829" target="_blank">http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=137829</a>

Literally as you posted, more or less.

Bloody typical! I think they monitor rllmuk and like to make me look stupid...

Thanks!

[Eighthours]

360 wins the face-off... but only just. A very close-run thing, but the more consistent framerate edges it, according to EG.

[mr_rmg]

Maybe get the vs thread opened to discuss the eg article?

http://www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?showt...045&st=1300

[Joyrex-J9]

360 it is then...

Shame coz my PS3 collection is looking very, very sparse!

[Ste Pickford]

360 it is then...

Shame coz my PS3 collection is looking very, very sparse!

Without multiplayer, it sounds to me like the choice comes down to frame rate over prettiness, or your favourite controller. The 360 would win for me in both categories (not that I have a PS3 right now).

[Valver]

So the 360 is rendering a 20% "higher definition" image AND rendering it approximately 17% faster, than the PS3 can.

Sounds like a technical K.O. to me

edit: I'm just suprised that with a higher rez and higher framerate the choice to get the 360 isnt more obvious to reviewers. That blur/filter must hide all manner of sins on the PS3 OR it shows that most reviewers a) havent played each version B) havent played each ver side by side c) are technically useless and dont have a good grasp of rez's framerates etc. It's always the Beyond 3D "PC folk" who expose the faults and lack of HD rez's on these games...

[Okotta]

360 wins the face-off... but only just. A very close-run thing, but the more consistent framerate edges it, according to EG.

I found the face-off article a bit funny. About the only "bad" thing on the PS3 version, according to EG, is that the framerate sometimes drops more often on the PS3 version than on the 360.

I'll take faster loading times, a better looking game overall, a better view on the TV channels, less draw-in and popup, over a couple of dropped frames any day of the week. I also prefer the tighter control with the Sixaxis / Dual Shock 3. The cars simply feel better and control more tightly on the PS3, IMO.

And the noise even a Falcon 360 makes when running this game, makes me never want to experience a cutscene on that version ever again.

Now I really can't wait to read the inevitable Head To Head on IGN.

[DC Lemon]

I'm not interested in entering a controller war, but I've found the DS3 to be pretty much perfect for GTAIV and there's never been an instance where I've felt hampered by it. I'm sure it's the same for the 360 controller as well. I haven't bothered with the extra sixaxis malarky on the PS3 version, though.

Oh, and I shot the TV in my apartment so I don't get to enjoy the benefits of extra angles/higher resolution. I shot it because I could.

[tsunami1]

The cars simply feel better and control more tightly on the PS3, IMO.

This is where I think your mind is playing tricks on you and you are simply convincing yourself one is better than the other.

[Ste Pickford]

I'll take faster loading times, a better looking game overall, a better view on the TV channels, less draw-in and popup, over a couple of dropped frames any day of the week. I also prefer the tighter control with the Sixaxis / Dual Shock 3. The cars simply feel better and control more tightly on the PS3, IMO.

I'd take framerate over anything. Normally I'd say faster loads too, but as most of the game is streamded it's not a big issue.

[Eighthours]

I'll take faster loading times, a better looking game overall, a better view on the TV channels, less draw-in and popup, over a couple of dropped frames any day of the week. I also prefer the tighter control with the Sixaxis / Dual Shock 3. The cars simply feel better and control more tightly on the PS3, IMO.

Er... you did read the article, right? As for the Sixaxis, I'd take the 360 controller over it every day of the week, as would most people.

[mr_rmg]

I'll take faster loading times, a better looking game overall, a better view on the TV channels, less draw-in and popup, over a couple of dropped frames any day of the week. I also prefer the tighter control with the Sixaxis / Dual Shock 3. The cars simply feel better and control more tightly on the PS3, IMO.

I'll take exclusive episodic DLC over anything else.

[Trash Boat]

About the only "bad" thing on the PS3 version, according to EG, is that the framerate sometimes drops more often on the PS3 version than on the 360.

Rockstar had some issues matching the basic performance of the Xbox 360 game on the PS3 hardware. Lower resolution, zero anti-aliasing support and a more variable frame-rate are the bottom line.

[Joyrex-J9]

Hmmmm the EG article didn't mention anything about loading times, but I guess as long as they aren't as bad as something like Obvilion on the 360 then I can live with them...

[cassidy]

Er... you did read the article, right? As for the Sixaxis, I'd take the 360 controller over it every day of the week, as would most people.

well I rate the DS3 as highly as the 360 pad. GTA4 is fine with it, plus Teh Rumble

[Hewson]

Hmmmm the EG article didn't mention anything about loading times, but I guess as long as they aren't as bad as something like Obvilion on the 360 then I can live with them...

They actually say:

Rockstar also makes use of the PS3 hard disk, with a mandatory 3,339MB installation of game data that takes around seven minutes. This doesn't do much for the initial loading of the game, which takes around 100 seconds on both systems, but certainly helps with mission loading, shaving a few seconds off each time a new task is initiated. There are also improvements in texture streaming as you navigate around Liberty City, but the advantages are barely perceptible.

So, depending on how you feel about mandatory installs...

[Joyrex-J9]

A few seconds hmmm hardly earth shattering, not enough to swing me from the 360 version

[Okotta]

Your loss then.

[Joyrex-J9]

Ahh fuck it, I'll pick up Mario Kart Wii instead

[K]

Probably my biggest disappointment with the game is the A.I., actually. Is it rose tinted that I remember the police in Driver being able to keep up with you and being hard to lose? Like mentioned previously, they can't even keep up with you on a straight in this one.

I don't think that's the AI, I think they're just not fast enough. The police in Driver were fucking vicious, though, especially in survival mode.

[suzakuseven]

I've been very busy recently so haven't played much GTA since the initial sessions at launch and I'm finding it rather difficult to get back into. The story and characters are great but for a game applauded for it's huge variety of gameplay options there really isn't that much to do, mission wise. There's the occasional standout mission but an awful lot of 'filler' missions as well.

"There's some evil drug dealerz! Or something. They're over on this street"

"Well I best drive over there and kill them. Or chase them if they drive away. Then kill them"