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

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Vladivostok FM

DJ: Ruslana
Genre: Eastern European music

Wow, Vladivostok FM is so going to be my favorite radio station

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Oh... then again, you can't see her on the radio >_<

Additional Spam:
Wow, they also have a Jazz radiio station, how cool is that

FELIPE NO

And a non-stop, all Marley, all the time station. =D

How ya doing, buddy?

All pics shamelessly stolen from GAF [Also, note the embossed logo which will be on regular AND ce versions of the game case]:




PS3 CE:

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Jam it back in, in the dark.

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And if you completely wipe the memory of past incarnations of something before you see it, I congratulate you on your Goldfish like memory.

My problems with San Andreas were with the story and framerate: the framerate issue has already been addressed, and the story is a problem that's very easy to look past when dealing with an entirely different plot (and a lot more development time).

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Rockstar's never shown the slightest inclination towards writing (see? This is that previous exposure thing we covered earlier) and now they should be up for best writing noms?

Maybe it's exaggerated, but if it was a problem before and Rockstar realizes this, they can reach into that endless pocketbook of theirs to fix something people considered an issue? I tell ya, I'd be upset if Rockstar didn't make an attempt to better themselves if people are outspoken about the story of the game... is it possible they listened and took the time to make it better? Seems like a reasonable move for a company if you ask me.

I'm not going to quote the entire post since they revolve around innovation and my understanding: one of the important points the reviewer had brought up were that these are issues fixed from previous incarnations of the game, not entirely new concepts (in regards to your Goldeneye comment). Late? If people want to think that, but gamers looking to play IV will likely have a level of satisfaction knowing those issues are a thing of the past.

Nonetheless, the point I made that you quoted:

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I'm going to give the game its chance

...and the half that you didn't quote:

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If my experiences quell my prejudice towards the game, then I am more than happy to let Rockstar Games prove me wrong.

...was that the game deserves its chance that you are more than happy to pigeonhole. IGN would be taking a huge risk to slap a 10 on a game that didn't merit it. At worst, the game would be a 9.5-9.7 that's exaggerated, perhaps? Anything below that would be noticeable and hurt the company's credibility. Most of the issues brought up by the reviewer were new specifics about the game that the public wants to hear about, however mundane it may seem to mention. As far as I'm concerned, the game is worth risking the $63.59.

Seems you did take the time to read the review when put on the spot, and the careful time spent crafting your arguments still don't prove why you seem to have such a disdain that you apparently won't even give the game a chance (not sure on that one, that's entirely you, man)? Like I said, I had problems with the old ones, and because of that I still maintain a level of skepticism. Rest assured: I want Rockstar to deliver and hope they do. This review won't do that until the game is in my hands, but at least it's giving me hope.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

A few more reviews are online now, since it seems the embargo has passed. A choice little line from the Eurogamer review that I spotted:

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If you get tired of other people, you can put your phone in sleep mode

This seems to imply that if you want to take a bit of a time out from that aspect of the game you can (I seem to recall someone saying they were a little worried that you would lose a little freedom because of having to go and deal with other people to make friends, etc.).

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

GameTrailers' video review is up as well, downloading it now. I was looking forward to it, since GameTrailers usually have the best video reviews, with free HD versions, and I'm sure it will be better than the disastrous IGN video review.

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

I had to pass this along to folks here that might have been in the same position I was. Having both systems I was highly debating which version to get. Originally I was going to get the 360 version for the DLC promise but after the reviews and seeing this:



I'm going with the PS3 version. This is an example of the pop-in reviewers are complaining about on the Xbox 360 version. I've decided that I probably won't ever finish this game to begin with so I think getting rid of that mess is more important than DLC. No shitty console wars please. This is only meant to inform.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Cetra

I'm going with the PS3 version. This is an example of the pop-in reviewers are complaining about on the Xbox 360 version.

Not necessarily; it's likely just the effect of a badly pirated game. I really doubt the actual problems in either version are that severe.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Hard to say. That would be an expected result streaming data from a optical disc and many of the reviews have mentioned the issue enough for it to be significant.

No optional install for the Xbox 360 version was a retarded move.

FELIPE NO

If the pop-in was that bad people would have a little more to say about it than "there's some occasional pop-in not worthy of note". As experience should have proven if people bullshit in reviews it gets picked up quickly. There is no way all these places are collaborating in some mass conspiracy about the pop-in.

Jesus H Christ some of you people are complete fucknuts.

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

Originally Posted by Cetra

Hard to say. That would be an expected result streaming data from a optical disc and many of the reviews have mentioned the issue enough for it to be significant.

No optional install for the Xbox 360 version was a retarded move.

What? I heard there was an optional install for the 360. Have I been mislead?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by OmagnusPrime

If the pop-in was that bad people would have a little more to say about it than "there's some occasional pop-in not worthy of note". As experience should have proven if people bullshit in reviews it gets picked up quickly. There is no way all these places are collaborating in some mass conspiracy about the pop-in.

Jesus H Christ some of you people are complete fucknuts.

Actually every review has made a note about the Xbox 360 pop-up issue with the only differences being the various degrees each reviewer perceived the problem. But the simple fact that its mentioned shows that it is an impacting problem. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be mentioned.

This real question is, is it a big deal? Probably not for most. We've dealt with the issue in the past games.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I agree with Cetra, the pop-in issue has been around ever since GTA 3.

Why i remember i failed a certain mission in GTA:SA when a tree popped out nowhere, And i was flying a plane (The mission when you need to three places)

And one more thing, I heard that people complaining alot about pop-in because most of them decided to play it without any hard drive or memory card.

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

Originally Posted by Cetra

Actually every review has made a note about the Xbox 360 pop-up issue with the only differences being the various degrees each reviewer perceived the problem.

Actually a lot of the reviews I've read have not singled the examples of pop-up to the 360 alone, so that would be you making a bit of an assumption right there. Also, it's getting mentioned because it exists and to not mention it, one of the few flaws getting noted, would be stupid on the reviewers' part. However, every instance of someone mentioning frame-rate or pop-in issues has been followed by a sentence that goes on to say how it really doesn't affect the experience.

Since there's no conclusive proof either way (the GameTrailers video review, using the 360, shows no such pop-in issues, despite demonstrating frame-rate variance and a geometry glitch), I'm going to wait until I experience it first-hand. But you know, if you want to go on some crappy little GIF undoubtedly taken from a pirated copy of the game - because we all know how reliable they must be - and speculate with further bullshit, carry on.

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

I keep hearing that you can and cannot install GTA4 to the 360's HDD. Which is it really? And honestly why the hell wouldn't they give the option?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Lmao, hard drive installs. Such a worthless, worthless feature.

I believe the answer is no, however.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by AcerBandit

I keep hearing that you can and cannot install GTA4 to the 360's HDD. Which is it really? And honestly why the hell wouldn't they give the option?

I think Microsoft actually tells the developers they aren't allowed to do it on the 360. For some reason they insist on the people who use a memory unit (all 10 of them) have parity with the people who use the hard drive.

As for the pop-in, could people get any more whiny? Honestly, a game developer creates games with massive cities filled with detail, pushing the systems they develop on to the limit, and you're going to sit there and whine that they couldn't get everything rendered before you could see it? Jesus christ, grow UP. Even in the PS2 games, the popup was noticable but not TERRIBLE. You get used to it, you move on, but it never actually affects (in my experience) the gameplay.

FELIPE NO

Sure, there's some poppin' in that gif, but it pops in so beautifully.

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

Hey guys, do you happen to know whether or not it is possible to have multiplayer games between NTSC and PAL users (I heard there were games that do not support this) or do I have to get the NTSC version in order to be able to play with you faggots?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Mo0

I think Microsoft actually tells the developers they aren't allowed to do it on the 360. For some reason they insist on the people who use a memory unit (all 10 of them) have parity with the people who use the hard drive.

This makes ( if somewhat stupid) sense for mandatory installs, but there is absolutely no reason not to give the option should one have the HDD. So far I've yet to see a single 360 game offer this, so it makes me wonder whether it's even physically possible. Iwata said GTA4 has the option, so maybe this one finally does. Everything else seems to talk about the load times as if there isn't an option. CURIOUS.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

They might as well have the option. Some game saves alone take up like 30 MB. >=( SIX HOURS 'TIL THE MIDNIGHT LAUNCH I'M NOT ATTENDING BECAUSE I'D RATHER SAVE $30 AND GET IT FROM ANOTHER STORE TOMORROW MORNING.

I am an excited consumer. I like how it's already been in the news here, some Family First cult wants it banned because you can shoot people in a city. Certainly a new thing for a video game, I cannot wait until 1994. How did Family First get a hold of the game anyway, did they download it? Family Pirates am I right.

Family Ski am I right.

Fami.. com am I ri-my braaaaain.

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

Originally Posted by Qwarky

Iwata said GTA4 has the option, so maybe this one finally does. Everything else seems to talk about the load times as if there isn't an option. CURIOUS.

No, there isn't an optional install for the 360.

Originally Posted by Kotaku

Does the Xbox 360 have a hard drive installation?
No. There is no required installation, nor is there an optional one.

GTA IV FAQ: Everything You Wanted To Know About GTA IV (So Stop Asking!)

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

Originally Posted by Aardark

No, there isn't an optional install for the 360.

I have been fooled! No idea why he said it did, then

That kotaku comparison review is quite interesting. So far I've seen people say time and time again that while the games are "identical", the PS3 has better framerate, the textures are nicer and the anti-aliasing better.

This one says the complete opposite, with 360 version achieving smoother framerate, the PS3 having worse aliasing and the filter they use make it seem a bit muddier =/


Either way I've been deadset on the getting the 360 game because the controller simply works better for me, so I simply wanted to make sure the 360 version wasn't gimped the same way as, say, Orange Box on the PS3 was. This doesn't seem to be the case at all, so scenery popup and load times are not big enough reason to compromise with a less comfortable controller for me.

Then again, I'm in no rush to play the game, so perhaps by the time I get around to it, there's a PC version announced and I'll end up getting that.

I was speaking idiomatically.

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How does the game end?
A list of credits scrolls vertically, with an extensive list of contributors

Ahahaha.

Originally Posted by Qwarky

Then again, I'm in no rush to play the game, so perhaps by the time I get around to it, there's a PC version announced and I'll end up getting that.

lol I hope you already pre-ordered your 4 GHz 8 GB RAM 16 GB video card desktop pc

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Musharraf

lol I hope you already pre-ordered your 4 GHz 8 GB RAM 16 GB video card desktop pc

Sir, if a regular dual core processor with enough RAM (say, 4GB) can run a game like Crysis with decent framerate, it'll have no problem running, say, Mass Effect or GTA4. It'll probably look a lot nicer than the console versions too.

Then again, it'll be a good three years or so before they release it so I guess that evens out.

FELIPE NO