GTA:IV Official Thread

[joffocakes]

Crackdown's orbs were far more interesting to chase down, although I'm still missing one or two there. Making the orbs chime when you're near them is a touch of genius, much better than the faint red marks around pigeons (and pickups) in GTA IV.

You can hear the pigeons cooing, and feathers float around in the air if you're near one.

[christaylor]

(I think I've said this at least once before in this thread, but...)

whoever devised the pigeonathon needs to be taken outside and shot.

The fact that you get NO pay-off at all until you've found them all, and then the pay-off turns out to be something you can already get is ludicrous.

It would've been far better to keep the hidden packages scenario where you get a reward in your safe house for every 10 you collect.

Ludicrous.

[Mr Do 71]

They could've had an option for the map, for it to show where you've found each pigeon. At least if you're stuck on the last one to find, you can then just look at a guide and see which one you're missing.

[BeeJay]

I started playing this again last night. Took Michelle bowling, got pissed with Roman. COuldn't work out how to hail a cab so drove home instead.

Now what do I do? Just wander about until something happens? Where's the plot? Have I got to watch TV for a bit or go joy riding or something? I beat up a few hoodies just for fun and then switched it off.

Please explain, how am I supposed to play this? I can't even seem to go to the gym like I was told you could in san andreas.

[b00dles]

I started playing this again last night. Took Michelle bowling, got pissed with Roman. COuldn't work out how to hail a cab so drove home instead.

Now what do I do? Just wander about until something happens? Where's the plot? Have I got to watch TV for a bit or go joy riding or something? I beat up a few hoodies just for fun and then switched it off.

Please explain, how am I supposed to play this? I can't even seem to go to the gym like I was told you could in san andreas.

You should still have some 'proper' missions on your radar but yes, there is a very real limit on the stuff that you can do outside of the porper missions, you don't even have the gang warfare stuff to keep you busy. Basically, if you want to do anything outside of what Mr Houser wants you to do, you've got to do it off your own back.

Great point about the pigeouns though, why you can't have some sort of filter on the map is a bit daft, especially as you can see where all the pigeons are via the internet, you should be able to upload that to your mobile / pda or some such.

In fact, the map in GTA4 annoys the piss out of me. I'd forgotten how stupid it was until I played TLAD again, why on earth are so many of the icons dark which then blend in with the black background and then you can see them clearly only when fully zoomed out, when you zoom in, the icons also become smaller.... it's just a bit silly.

[BeeJay]

You should still have some 'proper' missions on your radar but yes, there is a very real limit on the stuff that you can do outside of the porper missions, you don't even have the gang warfare stuff to keep you busy. Basically, if you want to do anything outside of what Mr Houser wants you to do, you've got to do it off your own back.

But there is absolutely nothing for me to do. No missions that I can see, nothing indicated on the map or anything. What am I missing?

[rumblecat]

The Lost and The Damned has sucked me back into this, really enjoying it a lot. I think what I like best about the GTAIV world is that it provides some really nice 'movie' moments- not necessarily the big exploding car ones, but quieter moments as well. Did a mission last night where

Johnny has to go pick up his ex-girlfriend Ashley, who's messed up after a crystal meth binge.

Driving her home in the dark, radio tuned to the ambient station, streets wet with rain, it was a weirdly mournful little scene, like something out of a mid-80s art movie. But I've found a lot of times the game allows you to create these moments for yourself and although I technically agree with a lot of the bitching and moaning about the title, I can't really think of many games where I get these odd little moments that work so well.

[hanzo]

Yup, fully agree. GTAIV is king of the lil' immersive moments.

[Sir DangerM]

I still haven't bothered finishing TLAD. I really liked it at first, but after a couple of missions i just lost interest. I think I got pissed off with never having enough ammo/weapons, particularly for the missions where you have to shoot from your bike.

[hanzo]

Weird; I never had any issue with ammo. You harvest so many guns in the missions as you're literally killing 20+ people at a time, and hey, your mate with his van will always sell you some good stuff for some moneys. Just spam your cash and stock up!

[Sprite Machine]

But there is absolutely nothing for me to do. No missions that I can see, nothing indicated on the map or anything. What am I missing?

Sounds like a glitch. What was the last mission you did?

[b00dles]

Weird; I never had any issue with ammo. You harvest so many guns in the missions as you're literally killing 20+ people at a time, and hey, your mate with his van will always sell you some good stuff for some moneys. Just spam your cash and stock up!

I bought stuff from the gun truck a few times admittedly but that was more for the novelty stuff like the grenade launcher and some armour, I don't think I ever ran out of autmatic pistol ammo at all...

And superstarbeejay, that does sound like a fuck up, there must be something on your map, have you checked the legend, things appear on the legend only when they're active (for instance there isn't always the explanation of what the R is unless you have a Roman mission floating about.

[Guest]

I still haven't bothered finishing TLAD. I really liked it at first, but after a couple of missions i just lost interest. I think I got pissed off with never having enough ammo/weapons, particularly for the missions where you have to shoot from your bike.

Are you shitting me? A quick phone call gets you an SMG or Auto Pistol with 1000+ rounds for free.

[amnesiac_3]

But there is absolutely nothing for me to do. No missions that I can see, nothing indicated on the map or anything. What am I missing?

How far are you into the game? I had this happen when I was on the third island. I ended up finding the mission at the strip club, but it wasn't showing up on the map.

[Floshenbarnical]

I found this to be more of the same. Rockstar went in for the big movie moments again which I didn't really go for in IV anyway, and the lead character is even less likeable than Niko. Instead of waiting ages for an additional story, the good features of which don't even apply in the main game, I would have preferred just the extra weapons and vehicles transplanted directly into IV. Or even the simple ability to buy a silencer for one or more of your weapons at a time- this is something I've always wanted and would majorly change how you play the game. A mon avis.

Also, I think it would be ace if in multiplayer you could buy a parachute and tie it to a friend's car or boat. Also zipwire guns or grappeling hooks would be sick.

[The Mighty Ash]

http://ca.sys-con.com/node/977122

New GTA DLC announced apparantly - The Ballad of Gay Tony

Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony for Download on Xbox LIVE® and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City Available on Disc for Xbox 360® this Fall

By: Business Wire

May. 26, 2009 04:01 PM

Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce the fall release of both the second episode of Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony - exclusively for download on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network, and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, which will include both episode one The Lost and Damned, and episode two The Ballad of Gay Tony together on a single disc exclusively for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

"Liberty City is the most vibrant game world we've created yet. The episodic structure has allowed us to interweave stories, gameplay and atmosphere in a whole new way," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "The team at Rockstar North have yet again surpassed themselves, and made something that is both epic and very innovative. This episode's focus on high-end night life contrasts with the biker gangs portrayed in The Lost and Damned, whilst giving us a lot of new gameplay possibilities."

Grand Theft Auto IV's second downloadable episode, The Ballad of Gay Tony injects Liberty City with an overdose of guns, glitz, and grime. As Luis Lopez, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince (aka "Gay Tony"), players will struggle with the competing loyalties of family and friends, and with the uncertainty about who is real and who is fake in a world in which everyone has a price.

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City delivers two games on one disc - the all-new episode The Ballad of Gay Tony and the first episode, The Lost and Damned - together on disc for the first time - for Xbox 360 for $39.99 and will not require a copy of the original Grand Theft Auto IV to play.

The Ballad of Gay Tony will release on Xbox LIVE this fall for $19.99 or 1600 MS points and requires players to have Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE membership to download.

For more information, log onto www.rockstargames.com.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive entertainment software games for the PC, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. The Company publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play; and distributes software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two's common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at www.take2games.com.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the Company's future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our dependence on key management and product development personnel, our dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles for current generation platforms, the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games, our reliance on a primary distribution service provider for a significant portion of our products, our ability to raise capital if needed, risks associated with international operations, the matters relating to the investigation by a special committee of our board of directors of the Company's stock option grants and the claims and proceedings relating thereto (including stockholder and derivative litigation, actions by governmental agencies and negative tax or other implications for the Company resulting from any accounting adjustments or other factors) and risks associated with the Company's concluded process to evaluate its strategic alternatives including stockholder litigation arising therefrom. Other important factors and information are contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, in the section entitled "Risk Factors," as updated in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2009, and the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

[Mr Do 71]

Excellent! Sounds like you'll have to play it a few times, to see all the different outcomes.

[BlinkyBear]

Hmmmmm. Don't know what to make of that: I've not had or seen a press release from Rockstar Propaganda about this.

It reads well, but then it doesn't tie in with any previous rumours I'd heard about this DLC.

Plus there's nothing on the Rockstar website.

[dr_lha]

"The Ballad of Gay Tony"

[rumblecat]

Looking forward to the next batch of DLC. Was sceptical about Lost and the Damned but it turned out to be really enjoyable. Only reservation is that the gay character stuff in GTA IV was pretty poor- all horrible mincing stereotypes and little else. Still, nice logo...

[Mr Do 71]

Disco music!

Saturday Night Fever.

[hanzo]

Win

[mr_woo]

Looking forward to the next batch of DLC. Was sceptical about Lost and the Damned but it turned out to be really enjoyable. Only reservation is that the gay character stuff in GTA IV was pretty poor- all horrible mincing stereotypes and little else.

True that it was a bit stereotypical in its approach but Bernie was one of the most likeable characters in GTA IV despite all that. I think Rockstar will hopefully take it a bit more serious in this though I'm sure there will be some of the trademark low brow humour too.

I just know they titled it that way on purpose too as I'm sure there's a lot of bigoted arseholes out there who love GTA and will be going 'what the FUCK!' at the title

[Roboplegic Wrongcock]

Hmmmmm. Don't know what to make of that: I've not had or seen a press release from Rockstar Propaganda about this.

It reads well, but then it doesn't tie in with any previous rumours I'd heard about this DLC.

Plus there's nothing on the Rockstar website.

Really it was obvious that Luis was going to be the main character in this one. Luis and Gay Tony crossed paths with both Niko and Johnny plenty of times.

[Quest]

The extra radio songs had better be some sweaty, leather-clad, HI-NRG electro or there'll be trouble

[noob]

The extra radio songs had better be some sweaty, leather-clad, HI-NRG electro or there'll be trouble

you said it sister!

[Quest]

[noob]

[footle]

These add-ons would've been so much more important to MS had GTA IV been San Andreas II.

I suspect there will be a scary amount of marketing in the autumn.

[BlinkyBear]

Really it was obvious that Luis was going to be the main character in this one. Luis and Gay Tony crossed paths with both Niko and Johnny plenty of times.

So did plenty of other characters. I just felt that they be 'scared' to go in this direction, but it's certainly a good choice; as the press release says, it does open up an opportunity for a much brighter, more glamorous side of Liberty City.