[Multiplatform] Grand Theft Auto IV. Not as much fun as shooting real Albanians

Ah, thanks, Rock. That was it, mah bad.

FELIPE NO

God, this is 8.8 all over again

Here's my review:

"GTA IV is great. It has a few flaws, but delivers a lot of new ideas to the series. Check out this video and decide for yourself if you want to get it. Rated M for Mature.

Final Score: Worth Playing"

Most amazing jew boots

Is that a worth playing out of 5 or a worth playing out of 10.0?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Colonel Skills

Is that a worth playing out of 5 or a worth playing out of 10.0?

Its worth playing.

However If I had to quantify a rating system, I'd have just 3 ratings:

AVOID, MEH, WORTH PLAYING:

Avoid - Do not purchase
Meh - Its okay, nothing special.
Worth Playing - Worth playing.

Simplifies things a lot. If you needed further clarification, that's what the rest of the review would be for.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

That was the joke, DN.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Rotorblade is just mad because he got one of the copies that had freezing issues. Haha, you suck, Eric.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Jessykins <3

Rotorblade is just mad because he got one of the copies that had freezing issues. Haha, you suck, Eric.

It doesn't get much better than this.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Jessykins <3

Rotorblade is just mad because he got one of the copies that had freezing issues. Haha, you suck, Eric.

My favorite part is how people are still getting their panties in a twist trying to crusade about how GTA isn't a 10/10. Ok fine, you don't think it's great, we got the point ten pages ago, you can shut up now.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Guys. Shut up. >=( YOU CAN PUSH OLD LADIES OVER. Fuckin'... fuckin'... 16/10!

FELIPE NO

I wouldn't rate it 10.0 because of missing hardcore sex scenes (I expected more!!!), but it's definitely a 9.9.

Those GamerNode guys just want some attention, that's all. Maybe they're being serious with their rating, though, I dunno.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Or they just want to bring the metacritic / gamerankings score down, so that what? Ocarina can be the perfect game evar again.

Wouldn't argue about the rating though. The rating system as it is does have some benefits, but overall, I think it's more of a hindrance. I'm with the ones saying that game reviews should be more like OTHER reviews (books, movies, music) without a scoring system. Even if that means that you can't compare Final Fantasy XII with Manhunt 2 by just looking at the score any more...

As for the notoriously deviant people who keep shunning IV, yeah, Rockstar can't please everybody. But I think it's safe to say that if you really can't have lots of fun with IV, you should probably think about quitting video gaming. Or get surgery to remove that firmly planted stick from your ass. Whichever is easier.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Garr

I like how the ratings are still an issue.

It's perfect for some, not so much for others. Something I like is probably something the person getting paid to review a game doesn't like. In the long run, who really gives a shit?

That's so true. I love how people get so worked up over what is essentially a subjective opinion. Just looking at two people's examples of great games from the last page, Mario Galaxy and Ocarina of Time, I personally would give neither anything like perfect scores as Mario is just another Mario game (And I don't like Mario games) and Zelda is dull in my opinion.

GTA IV is an incredible game but actually, I preferred San Andreas, mainly because there was so much more to do.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Why do I care, Garr? All generalizing aside? I "get worked up over the rating system" probably because it's related to video games and the persons who deliver the news to us. We complain about not getting honest previews or game related information, but you're willing to skim over this fact because you can enjoy GTA IV beyond its flaws and don't necessarily care about reviews. That's nice, but, I don't know, call me crazy... the game boards were so alive before we even touched on this. It's worth discussing, provided you don't try to dip out of it. It's not about complaining about a subjective opinion, more like expecting better, which I actually cleared up with Omagnus, which is why we didn't really carry on. The fact I never mentioned my buying a faulty copy or holding it against the game does say something about how much leniency I give GTA IV, because Jessy wasn't lying.

Carry on.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Infernal Monkey

Guys. Shut up. >=( YOU CAN PUSH OLD LADIES OVER. Fuckin'... fuckin'... 16/10!

I'll only agree with the "Not a 10/10" crowd on the condition that they agree that the only 10/10 game ever made was Cheetah Men II.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Garr

Well, I mean, I see where you're coming from with the whole not getting honest previews and/or reviews thing, because honestly, if I was paid a million hojillion dollars to review a game that could be compared to a really gross sweaty festering ballsack or whatever you can imagine, I'd still give it a 10/10 A++ WOULD PLAY AGAIN rating because I don't give a fuck, I'm a million hojillion dollars richer for it.

I think the idea is to expect people to be better than a price tag, but that's a guess between an individual critic or an editorial mandate. I doubt any sole reviewer is the only one richer if they did give a 10 out of "million dollars." Again, less PR machine, more legitimate journalism. This is a small piece of a larger problem quite honestly, and money doesn't really justify it. I've said it before, it's about expecting better.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Rotorblade

I've said it before, it's about expecting better.

I expect better too. GTA should have been an 11/10, I'm disappointed at Rockstar for only making a 10.

In all seriousness though, given the vast amount of media out there now, who even actually uses reviews as a part of their decision to buy a game. I haven't picked up a game mag or done more than skim through online reviews for years now. Given the demo services, videos, screens and other forms of media floating around on the internet, not to mention the multitude of people around here who could probably give you a good idea about what most games are like, there's really no need for it other than supplementary info. I've gone to GFFers more often about shit than I have IGN/Whothefuckeverelse, just ask Guru, I bug him about shit I see him playing that I might like.

I'd much rather buy something based on what I see for myself and that someone I know who plays similar shit might like as opposed to what some goof in an office wrote.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Quote:

This is a small piece of a larger problem quite honestly, and money doesn't really justify it. I've said it before, it's about expecting better.

In context next time, Tails. I already sided with that post by Skills that outlined the whole "sheep review" thing. So, yeah, thanks.

FELIPE NO

Little bump i guess.. ratings aside i saw this article on a site that peaked my interest.

"Niko voice actor ONLY earned $100,000" o_o wth Rockstar?! He did sound mature about it wouldn't call it whining but with the casts of Friends each earning $1 million per episodes (just outrageous) video game industry should be able to pay royalties.

EDIT: He did have some previous experience only as small roles on TV shows. Should certainly open more doors for him though he did a good job.. especially hailing taxis when he's smashed.. YELLOW CAR AAARRGH!

How ya doing, buddy?

Hey does anyone with the 360 version have any trouble getting online at times? I tried to play Deathmatch last night, and every time the game would load the lobby and then go to the black "Starting Game..." screen and just stay there for 10+ minutes. I could hear people talking and it sounded like they were all playing each other already. I'd always have to exit to the Dashboard just to get out of the game.

But then when I go to free mode (which might as well be a Deathmatch since everyone just fucking kills me when I try to just walk down a damn street), it enters me into the game quickly but it was just me and like 3 other guys. So I went to try Deathmatch again and it still hung at the starting screen, so I just decided to leave it. After about 15 minutes, it FINALLY loaded the city and game and there was just a sad 5 minutes left for me to play in the 20 minute match (my first and only kill of the game also gave me the Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie achievement so I guess it's viral). But then every game I played immediately following had zero loading problems at all.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by kupomog

Hey does anyone with the 360 version have any trouble getting online at times? I tried to play Deathmatch last night, and every time the game would load the lobby and then go to the black "Starting Game..." screen and just stay there for 10+ minutes. I could hear people talking and it sounded like they were all playing each other already. I'd always have to exit to the Dashboard just to get out of the game.

But then when I go to free mode (which might as well be a Deathmatch since everyone just fucking kills me when I try to just walk down a damn street), it enters me into the game quickly but it was just me and like 3 other guys. So I went to try Deathmatch again and it still hung at the starting screen, so I just decided to leave it. After about 15 minutes, it FINALLY loaded the city and game and there was just a sad 5 minutes left for me to play in the 20 minute match (my first and only kill of the game also gave me the Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie achievement so I guess it's viral). But then every game I played immediately following had zero loading problems at all.

I'm not sure about XBL, my assumption is that it was Friday night.. school for most is ending and there would be a lot of people around. Have you had trouble before or just have game now? That's my only guess, i haven't heard any problems though for XBL or PS3 other than the first day it was out PSN had some issues.

The first couple times i tried multiplayer (PS3) i only had trouble getting into groups, i think its a crappy style the way they try to pair everyone up with instant action cause you got people just sitting there not confirming they're ready or keep switching between teams if there is one.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I've tried only going to free mode before and that was April 30th or so. My 360 suffered RROD and I haven't been able to play again until now, but when I tried free mode then it let me on to play for about 15 minutes with no problems, save for the system freezing my game and finally dying. I was thinking I'd try some of the other games in Player Match too to see what happens there.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Hey hey, there's a patch out for those interested.

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV PATCH

Quote:

Rockstar Games has released patches today for Grand Theft Auto IV for the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360™. These patches fix the issues we have identified for each system, specifically multiplayer connectivity issues including freezes during certain modes, continuation when players leave matches, and bugs within races and race lobbies.

We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences and thank you for your continued support. For any consumer still experiencing issues, please contact support.

1. Fixed an issue where players were unable to enter or exit vehicles in GTA Race.

2. Fixed an issue where scripted vehicles were causing games to unexpectedly crash.

3. Improved reliability and frequency of PS3™ online leaderboard updates.

4. Fixed a rare hang some players encountered when moving from a Race or GTA Race lobby into gameplay.

5. Fixed a hang that would occur when players were switching teams during the countdown in the lobby.

6. Fixed an issue where players were able to get ridiculously high scores from Cops 'n Crooks matches.

7. Changed GTA Race and Race so that the last player remaining always receives a reward of $250.

8. Fixed an issue where spectating players would prevent the game from finishing.

9. Fixed an issue where players were unable to spectate in Round 2 of Cops 'n Crooks games.

10. Changed countdown timer in lobby so that it no longer resets when new players join a game.

11. Changed the kick option so that kicked players are no longer brought back to single player.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Quote:

10. Changed countdown timer in lobby so that it no longer resets when new players join a game.

Thank god, that was really annoying at times. It's a bit disheartening not to see any of the other multiplayer glitches I've encountered on that list, though.

I was speaking idiomatically.

More thread up-digging...

So the new DLC, which was due late 2008, is finally on its way next month and they've finally announced the price:

Quote:

Rockstar has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned will cost 1600 Microsoft Points (GBP 13.60 / EUR 19.20) when it's released on 17th February.

[ source ]

Whilst this is likely to be far more substantial bit of DLC than we've seen for other games (which are generally map packs), 1600 points is still fairly hefty and makes me question if I'll grab this when it launches.

Anyway, Eurogamer have a hands on piece up for anyone interested.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Cheaper than Chinatown Wars is going to be though and with guaranteed no retarded stylus waggling mini-games or green blood.

To be honest though , I probably won't bother with this. I only really finished the main story because I had a free evening and felt I might as well, having got a fair distance in. I was pretty bored of the game by that point so unless they've massively improved the fun levels, this would probably be a waste of money for me.

FELIPE NO