Grand Theft Auto IV is Coming to PC - November 08

[Ruiner]

A shit load of new still are up on their site! (i;ve not been following this closely but i think the site has been updated just now)
http://www.rockstargames.com/IV

[roboaxl]

My parents have decided to come and stay with me the weekend of the game's release even though I'm trying to study for exams

But it means I'll get my bro to bring up my PS3 so I can finally play GTA

which would probably be even more detremental to my hopes of studing than my parents visit

[RKD]

A shit load of new still are up on their site! (i;ve not been following this closely but i think the site has been updated just now)
http://www.rockstargames.com/IV

unfortunately not, but it probably will be sometime this week.

anywho, Variety interviewed Dan Houser, here are the key points:

    *  GTA 3 through San Andreas focused on removing restrictions; GTA IV focuses on implementing things that make sense for the location or for the character.
    * In GTA IV, Rockstar aims to recreate the feeling of jumping from GTA 2 to GTA 3. It's not just an improvement; it's something completely different. GTA 2 to GTA 3 was 3-D; GTA 3 to GTA IV is a phenomenal increase in detail.
    * Physics in GTA IV make the game feel more alive; greatly improved graphics make emotions easier to convey. It's all about making the game more natural.
    * The story reflects the gameplay. The more realistic the game looks and feels, the more realistic the story can be.
    * Rockstar's dream with their games is to always make everything a flowing, completely integrated experience.
    * The development process for GTA IV was professional yet unstructured. The team hasn't really changed since GTA 3, so the process is largely intuitive.
    * The original Liberty City (from GTA 3) was never meant to imitate New York City; it was just "vaguely East Coast-ish".
    * As with previous Grand Theft Auto titles, extensive research was done to capture the true essence of New York City.
    * When coming up with the concept of Niko, Rockstar wanted someone that was tough yet foreign; he's both battle-hardened and innocent at the same time.
    * It took approximately six months to come up with a rough design of what represents New York City. Actually building that representation of New York (Liberty City, in this case) took years to complete.
    * As the city is created, the story begins to develop with Dan bouncing ideas off of Sam and Leslie Benzies. The story begins to be developed, artists start to work on the characters, and the designers begin to break down the story into missions.
    * Developing the actual Grand Theft Auto experience is a daunting task; although the game isn't linear, Rockstar sets it up in such a way that any given situation is predetermined. From the article: "We know where you can move around the map. We know when you can unlock everything. So although the thing to you playing game is non-linear because at any point you might have 15 things you can do, we can track on a huge multi-tiered doc, where you can be. So we know at that point can't see other things. We're trying to tell a story, design a videogame and take you on a trip around the world all at the same time."
    * While San Andreas and Vice City took influence from films, GTA IV does not. With the Rockstar team being based in New York City (and much of the team having lived there their entire lives), it makes more sense to base the game off of their own first-hand knowledge and experience of the city.
    * The main reason that we haven't seen multiplayer Grand Theft Auto in the past is technical limitations; the hardware just couldn't handle the strain that a full GTA multiplayer experience would dish out.
    * For GTA IV, the multiplayer experience isn't meant to be revolutionary or completely innovative; it's simply meant to be the best multiplayer GTA experience possible.
    * Multiplayer recreates moments while singleplayer creates narrative; it's all a very cinematic experience.
    * The storytelling experience in GTA IV is far beyond anything we've seen in any Grand Theft Auto title to date.
    * When we look at Niko's situation in GTA IV, we see him as a serious individual with problems that he most overcome; the world that he's stuck in, and the issues of those around Niko, are considerably ridiculous by comparison. It's this tone that defines the game.

http://weblogs.variety.com/the_cut_scene/2008/04/dan-housers-ver.html

[Ruiner]

Thanks for that!
im so close to buying that bundle from play but then i started thinking about metal gear
maybe if i wait off a few months till metal gear comes out they'll go a bundle with the PS3! but i have no idea how much it'l cost...if they don't i'll be stuck with nothing  :'(

[RKD]

Thanks for that!
im so close to buying that bundle from play but then i started thinking about metal gear
maybe if i wait off a few months till metal gear comes out they'll go a bundle with the PS3! but i have no idea how much it'l cost...if they don't i'll be stuck with nothing  :'(

although since it is an 80gb, expect it to be a bit more expensive.

[GGS]

If GTA IV comes out on a tuesday you'll be able to get it on friday before if you slip an extra bill or know anyone who works in the stores.

My mate and i do it often the only snag is you can't get a reciept and you got to keep it hush hush, I remember playing Snake Eater on the friday before it came out and laughing at people and spoiling the ending and Mario DS etc. Sometimes it don't work cause of shipping changes though.

Plus if you don't like it you can trade it in at Blockbuster cause there foooking clueless about games and you'll get almost cept 3 or 4 pounds full price credit for it.

I'll be lolling if i can get it on the friday and post pictures of me playing it LOOOOOOOL.

[Ruiner]

  thats awesome man! too bad i don't know anybody in gaming retail!

[RKD]

yea that is possible depending on what store you get it from. the bigger stores and non gaming stores obviously won't pay out before the release date regardless cos it'll be on the system but the smaller independant stores are alot more forgiving when it comes to releasing games early. i use A to Z Gamez in my town because A) i know the guy and B) every game that i've preordered from there, i've got early. from my first preorder there GTA San An which i got a day early to SDvsRAW08 which i got a day early whilst they were just coming in. and this will be the same. he told me the "official date" was the 29th but he'll probably be handing them out come the 28th when he gets them from his supplier.

[Ruiner]

I'll probably get mine a few days after the release date if im getting the play.com bundle.

[RKD]

yup, an interview with Art Director Aaron Garbut

GTA IV: The City that Never Sleeps
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/868/868352p1.html

[RKD]

the GTA IV Special Edition Boxart has been revealed. the game, cd, art book and duffel bag are inside the lock box which is then inside a cardboard box which holds one of these two respectively for each console

PS3:




360:



these were at first thought bogus until someone in Australia posted these this morning.

[GGS]

OH SNAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP looks like some shops already got them shipped and in the store room!!!! what i wouldn't give to be able to steal that special edition stuff from one of those rooms.   

Man you no that dude's totally jacked one for himself and is sitting at home now playing it and will be one of the first people writing up a walkthrough for it on gamefaqs lol.

[RKD]

haha probably. but if Australia are already getting it, that means stores in the US and Europe should also have theirs by now... well its Tuesday SO WHY NOT RELEASE IT!? hahaha anyways my favorite advertisement for GTA IV is in LA, check it out:

[RKD]

Stores and their employees could get in trouble if they sell the game this week because R* and Microsoft are tracking the online features.

GTA IV: Microsoft and Rockstar tracking Gamertags before April 29

Rockstar sent out an email this evening to all those in the UK scheduled to receive their copies of GTA IV this week, asking them to provide information on which platform they'd prefer to play on and their online IDs. The email's published in full below:

Hi there,

The good news is we are planning to send out your copy of GTA IV tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd April, to be with you first thing on Thursday 24th, so the wait is almost over.

In order for us to do that, could you:

- Let us know which format you would prefer to receive the game on?
- Let us know your Gamertag, if the answer to the above is Xbox 360 or your PSN On Line ID if the answer is PS3.

Why we need to know.

Xbox 360 Version

We need your Gamertag because Microsoft will be helping Rockstar Games monitor access to the online modes up to release date. Because of this, we will need to add your Gamertag to the approved list of gamers who can play online prior to release. In addition to supplying this information, if you do intend to go online before April 29th, you will need to change a couple of the basic settings on your Xbox 360 and keep these settings like this till the game comes out, otherwise other people will be able to see your achievements list for GTA IV (even if you are playing another game) and we'd like to keep that information back for the fans. You will have to switch your profile to private and appear off line. We have attached a document that explains exactly how you do this just in case.

PS3 Version

There are no privacy settings that can be set on the PS3 but we will still be tracking who is going on line so again it will make it easier for us to identify you as a genuine user if we have your ID.

Thanks and enjoy the game!

As the mail says, a document was attached which details how to change Xbox 360's privacy settings for every Gamertag to be used to play the game online before April 29. We're not going to publish it for obvious reasons.

So, if you're working in Game in Hartlepool and you fancy a quick waz on that copy you nicked last night, you're likely to get the internet police all over your ass if you try it while you're connected to Live. You've been warned.

http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/04/22/gta-iv-microsoft-and-rockstar-tracking-gamertags-before-april-29/

so looks like earliest will indeed be monday.