Not entirely new news, but if you missed out on reports from GDC on the next instalment of the GTA series, then here is what you have to look forward too.
The latest instalment of the Grand Theft Auto series by Rockstar looks set to be one of the biggest releases this generation. The game features improved graphics, new gameplay features and a whole lot more, making it a living, breathing city that is absolutely amazing to witness.
The main character is Eastern-European hard man Niko Bellic, who has arrived in the USA hoping for a new life. GTA IV returns to Liberty City, which has had a major overhaul and is the most detailed GTA world yet. Liberty City now consists of four boroughs, plus the area surrounding the city, for players to explore.
In terms of size, Liberty City is huge. It is said to have more city streets than any other game in the genre. To go through Brooklyn and Central Park it is rumoured to take around 10 minutes by car. The majority of buildings in the game can be interacted with, though you cannot enter every one. You can interact with most of them by either climbing onto rooftops, up stairways, through fire escapes or partial interiors, making this the most interactive environment to date.
The pedestrian population in GTA IV becomes more dense depending on the space you are in, and don’t expect them to walk around doing nothing. If they see you with a gun in your hand they aren’t going to like it, and anyone with a phone can report you to the police. Also, if you are late for meetings, or fail to do errands or help someone, they will get upset with you. If you do, however, perform these tasks well, you will be rewarded with things that can help you in the game, such as weapons, vehicles and the like.
The pedestrians in the game also like to put up a fight. If you try to carjack someone without a gun, don’t expect the driver to give up the car easily,; in fact, they may even beat you up. Each person in the game is said to have their own unique personality and lead a life of their own. When stealing a car it is not just a simple case of going up to it and opening the door anymore - when breaking into stationary vehicles you must first smash the window with L1 and then you need to interact with the car’s wiring before it will even start.
The games controls are very similar to previous games, but now you can press circle to punch and square to kick, with the R1 button used for cover in intense shoot-outs. Niko has three speeds of movement, basic walk, light jog and fast sprint. It’s rumoured that you can also climb certain areas by using the square button in a similar way to Assassins Creed.
Technology features a lot in the game with Niko using a mobile phone with contacts; also to keep up to date on missions. The phone can be accessed by pressing down on the d-pad. It’s also rumoured that Niko can use an internet cafe to access the web. Mini-games have always featured heavily in the series and this new title contains plenty of them, including bowling and darts.
This is looking like one impressive title and we for one can’t it for it to arrive. To check out the latest clips from the game head to GameTrailers and the official site for a map of Liberty City and some of the games main characters.
I was a bit dismayed with San Andreas, but I can honestly say I am feeling some of that “anticipation” for playing a GTA title again
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:02 am
the PSM3 preview is mighty good news - this really is book a week off work stuff - soooooo excited, yip yip yip yip
Comment by Mr Jimmy — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Any info on what the online multiplayer might entail?
Comment by BlueGene — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Well apparently the definitive version to get is the 360 version with the DLC deal… but I will *never* buy that unreliable peice of junk… if your going to play this game as much as you think you are and with the DLC additions.. you better buy 2 xboxes to make sure you can
Oh well, Ive made $$$ outta t2 and EA in the last days so I am happy… Roll on La Noire
EA: Stick to what you know… and just rerelease another Madden game with new rosters… EA sports.. its not in the game
Comment by komp — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:10 am
GTA does NOT belong on the 360, playing a GTA game on that console would just “feel” wrong. Even though i own a 360 Ive always enjoyed my GTA fix on Sonys machine and intend to get the PS3 version regardless of what DLC is in place, and remember folks Microsoft are going to charge through the nose for it it aint free!!
anyways GTA IV is going to to amazing!
Comment by Paul — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:35 am
Disapointed by the visuals.. but there again I’m never happy. I never even cracked a smile for Bruce forsyths Birthday.
Comment by E-ROLE — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:41 am
@ Paul:
If you love the game so much, surely you’d want to play as much of it as possible? And you can only achieve that on theX360, because of the exclusive download content that’s specific to that version.
In addition, if price is not an issue for you to play your favourite game (and there’s noting indicating that Microsoft will charge “through the nose” for it), surely you’d want to experience as much of the game as possible? Again, you can only achieve that on the X360 version.
Generally speaking and considering the fact that the reason for GTA-IV’s delay to April was due to the fact that RockStar had ‘technical challenges’ in making the game work on the PS3, I’m rather concerned that all such problems have been ironed out and the game is relatively free of any obvious bugs.
I guess we can judge that with the amount of patches that come out after its release.
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:56 am
Several typos!
“the X360″
“nothing indicating”
“rather concerned whether all”
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 26, 2008 @ 11:58 am
@Zed Zee
I’ve never saw so blatant viral marketing in all my life…
Comment by Omaesan — Feb 26, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Another “Must Buy” for my PS3 collection, looks awesome,
Comment by Mr Vertigo — Feb 26, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
@Zed zee
I still hold some hope that R* havent totally shafted PS gamers, who helped the company get to where it is today, by making a shoddy port. Apparently both versions are identical. Its hard to put a finger on why I only want the PS3 version I just want to play GTA IV on my PS3, i dont want it on the 360…is that hard to believe?
i dunno this DLC deal with MS is a bit vague i mean there HAS to be some sort of DLC for the PS3 hasnt there? It may not the same as the 360 DLC in terms of size and missions etc but surely Sony can get some DLC out there for us.
Regarding price, well MS has to recoup 50 million, if they charge 10dollars for the download i wouldnt be surprised, the DLC is supposed to be an extra 10-15 hours worth of gameplay so i reckon MS will charge as much as they can for it.
R* has turned its back on PS gamers i hope they realise that they backed the wrong horse
Comment by Paul — Feb 26, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
One of the problems of the last GTA was that very quickly you had only one or two missions that had to be done in order to continue, where as GTA3 there was loads to do at any one time. I still feel that GTA3 was the greatest, and so am waiting to dive into this new one to see how well it’s “improved”. Could be a pile of cack, but it won’t be; will it? Nah!
Will it drag me away from Burnout and Warhawk though? I doubt it. I haven’t played Unreal3 again since the first day I bought it. It’s a case of shooting (Warhawk) or driving (Burnout). Mmm! Soon though this will arrive, and it could well be the third way, covering both shooting and driving; and no small adventure either! Nice!
Hey ThreeSpeech, what was with the weird blue looking site that I experienced the other day? Was that a hiccup, or an accidental taster of things to come?
Comment by LordOfRuin — Feb 26, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
@lordOfRuin
I call dibs on having seen it first!
Hail me with the glory of Blooooo!
Comment by JohnSketch — Feb 26, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
I own a PlayStation 3 and an Xbox 360. Microsoft are boasting that their version of GTAIV has Achievements and extra DLC (which you have to pay for.)
Is there anybody from ThreeSpeech/Sony who can tell me why I should buy the PS3 version?
Comment by Andronix — Feb 26, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
@Andronix
if you own both consoles and arent really bothered then the 360 is the system to buy it on. im buying it on the ps3 mainly
- the PS pad is better in my opinion
- free GTA online
- im PRESUMING uncompressed audio
- i want the next GTA to be PS3 exclusive
- i prefer my PS3 for games i dont play my 360 much at all
its down to personal preference though mate, if you want achievement points and DLC then 360 is the way to go.
funny thing is could you imagine the sales of the PS3 if GTA IV was a PS3 exclusive! just look at the sales of the console now even though its apparently got no games! oh well maybe GTA V
Comment by Paul — Feb 26, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
I considered buying a 360 just for the extra content, but as in the past where the game was PS3 exclusive for 6 months - 1 year, I’m sure after a certain time period there will be extra content for the PS3 as well. In the end these companies want to make money. And if not it’s not the end of the world. I’ve been loyal to Playstation for 10 years, I’m not going to change now.
Comment by John — Feb 26, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
@ Omaesan:
Everything I have stated is both common knowledge and factual. The X360 version does have an advantage over PS3 and thus a superior version of GTA-IV.
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 26, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
@ Paul:
I understand what you mean and I’d have wanted GTA to remain exclusive to PS brand as well, but that hasn’t happened and therefore ‘we’ have to live with the facts.
Microsoft is not silly, I’m sure they’d want to attract as many people to download the exclusive content as possible and from the quick back-of-an-envelope calculation, I’m sure they’ve figured out that if they keep the price down, there will be more people buying it, so they’ll recoup their money and make a possible profit that way.
Nostalgia is a point of view, so you’re obviously entitled to your opinion and want to continue to play on the Sony version, although I’d say any downloads available for this or indeed on-line modes, would be ‘common’ and therefore shared with the X360 version.
Will there be any common downloads? Perhaps a point for ThreeSpeech to clear up for everyone.
Comment by Zed Zee — Feb 26, 2008 @ 4:10 pm
Cant wait
Comment by BENNE77 — Feb 26, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
either way im just going to enjoy the game….before EA ruin the bloody thing…seriously i cannot believe they’ve gotten their grubby mits on the franchise..
RIP GTA
Comment by Paul — Feb 26, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
Let’s face it Sony fumbled the ball again in allowing this to happen.
For crying out loud Sony, just burst the bank and get some decent games out there, ones which look amazing, have 30+ hours of gameplay and are released when they say they will be.
That’s my criteria, GET ON WITH IT.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 26, 2008 @ 5:19 pm
‘decent games out there, ones which look amazing, have 30+ hours of gameplay’ - warhawk anyone?
Comment by Tom F — Feb 26, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Warhawk is OK but is online only thereby rendering the 30+ hours of gameplay non applicable as you continuously play the same maps over and over again, especially if you opt not to buy the extortionate add ons.
I will rephrase and say 30+ hours of offline gameplay, with online play an added bonus.
Comment by Ton Capone — Feb 26, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
EA doesn’t have GTA yet, their bid was rejected again, anyway Rockstar’s contract with Take-Two doesn’t end until February 2009.
and what’s with all the 360 fanboys (zz) posting in here about how their version is the best?
i feel all dirty now.
Comment by mobiletone — Feb 26, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
@ Ton Capone, Apart from RPGs and Racing games (which we’re excluding because you race on the same tracks over and over again) there haven’t been that many titles with 30+ hours in singleplayer.
I haven’t played any recently. I’ve clocked up about 120 hours on Burnout Paradise but the majority of that was online…
Comment by cn — Feb 26, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
I’m willing to give up DLC for MGS4
Comment by Liquidcalm — Feb 27, 2008 @ 8:21 am
Really looking forward to this game. I’m getting it on 360 though, the PS3 version can’t compete from what I’ve heard so far. GTAIV with DLC, Rumble and Achievements FTW
Comment by Sparky — Feb 27, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I like how people are saying the 360 version is ‘better’ like its a fact. Even if the game was out, that would still be a matter of opinion but the fact that it isn’t means you just look silly
Comment by TheShirts — Feb 27, 2008 @ 9:55 am
its amazing how many ppl think Achievements is an advantage when comparing games, what does it give u? some number on your profile? its a gimmick! DS3 will be out in the next few months so im sure GTAIV will be rumble enabled on the PS3.
as theshirts said the game isnt even out yet!
Comment by Paul — Feb 27, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Ive played every gta game made and have loved every single one of them
BUT……………………
Let me just say i cannot hope but feel that this game could have had alot more content put into it if only Dvd 9 was not holding it back.
Because as you all know bluray can fit at least 25GB on a single layer disc and 50gb on a dual layered one.
Anyway to my point the xbox 360 is holding gta4 back from its true potential *sighs then cries* which frankly is not acceptable for me.
As a gamer i want the full experience and not a half baked game without stuff it should have had due to certain microsoft owned consoles.
Thus i end it GTA4 will certainly need that extra content on the xbox version for download as i reckon they only did it because they could not fit on Dvd9 plus they wanted the money.
P.S this not a fanboy flamewar im just stating the obvious of what everybodys thinking but only i will say
Comment by Spitz — Feb 28, 2008 @ 4:35 am
I took a dump on my 360 this morning mmmmm steamy!!!!
Comment by DFTPUNX — Feb 28, 2008 @ 3:34 pm
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