Grand Theft Auto IV

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Yeah, based on the GTA2 engine. I think it was London in the 60s.

It was based on the first GTA engine, but you're right it was set in the 60's

[Asher]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
No, there was also a game by Rockstar set in London but not called GTA.

You're thinking of the GTA expansion pack, and it's still not what he was referring to.

[DaShi]

I think Asher's right. I never played it as I only just got a PS2 a month ago, but I remember seeing commercials for it.

[Asher]

Of course I'm right.

[Adagio]

There's a few scanned pictures here:

http://forums.gametrailers.com/showthread.php?t=86979

[Nostromo]

Some new info from Joystiq:

Game Informer gets the scoop on GTAIV in the May issue (not on "newsstands" yet), getting a peek at the Xbox 360 work-in-progress running on a debug unit. So, what's new besides what we saw in the trailer? Lots.

Setting: re-created Liberty City (better mirrors real-world NYC; smaller "geographical mass" than San Andreas, but more densely populated)

* MetLife building = "Getalife"
* Statue of Liberty = "Statue of Happiness"
* DUMBO = "BOABO" (Beneath the Offramp of the Algonquin Bridge Overpass
* Area includes an adaptation of four of NYC's boroughs (no love for Staten Island), and a section of Jersey:
o Manhattan = "Algonquin" (The Lenape did speak an Algonquin language from which our word "Manhattan" is derived)
o Brooklyn = "Broker"
o Queens = "Dukes" (a duke ranks just below a prince)
o Bronx = "Bohan"
o New Jersey = "Alderney" (also named for one of the British Channel Islands -- or a breed of cattle)

Main character: Niko Bellic; "Eastern European" ('cause who really keeps track of the countries over there?)

* Lured to Liberty by cousin Roman's suspicious emails (Roman claims to be living the America Dream: 2 women, 4 hot tubs, and 15 sports cars); Roman actually operates a rundown taxi depot in Broker and has gotten himself into a "load of trouble"
* NEWS FLASH: "Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal"

Miscellaneous:

* NPCs: lots of "non-American" characters, varied behaviors (e.g., shopping, drinking, smoking, chirping, hurrying, or just maxing on the stoop), "context sensitive," and dependent on environment; more freaks: "angry yuppies" and "lunatics"
* Dynamic storyline: "A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot their [sic] own destiny"; less of a sense of being a slave to NPCs' demands; communication is also dynamic (in person, by celly, etc.)
* No planes; but motorbikes
* Improved physics; characters' movements are influenced by weight and variations in physical terrain
* Emphasis on night and day lighting
* Seamless loading after initial boot (even between indoor and outdoor environments)
* No details about targeting system -- but Rockstar claims to have found the new "sweet spot"
* Voice casting will not focus on big-name stars; soundtrack will reflect 2007
* Crime experts and ex-police have helped Rockstar create a realistic contemporary criminal atmosphere (i.e., it's not the 80s or 90s anymore; crime and crime-fighting have evolved)
* Multiplayer confirmed; not MMO
* Both Xbox 360 and PS3 version will 'likely' be identical; Xbox 360 version will include exclusive episodic content (what about PS3?)

[Adagio]

* NEWS FLASH: "Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal"

Who would have thought?

[Adagio]

And here are some scans of the magazine:

http://metalgearsoliduk.blogspot.com/

[Wiglaf]

Is San Andreas any good? I only played GTA3 , thought it was ok, but got tired of it.

[Asher]

Hockey fan, Wiggy?

[FrostyBoy]

San Andreas is brilliant, but I still enjoy Vice City more for the sake of the 80's stuff. It's just fun! I feel like I am playing a game made in the 80's.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by Asher
Hockey fan, Wiggy?

THE BIGGEST

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Sn00py
San Andreas is brilliant, but I still enjoy Vice City more for the sake of the 80's stuff. It's just fun! I feel like I am playing a game made in the 80's.

I feel the exact opposite, SA is much better than Vice City because of the 80s theme in VC
I also got tired of VC halfway through the game, or at least I thought I was halfway through (I never look at the % complete), but when I decided to finish the game 4 months later I only had to beat two easy missions, then I had won the game... Usually the last mission in games is one of the hardest missions, but this one was easy as hell

[Adagio]

A new trailer is available:

http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/trailer_splash.html

[Adagio]

And now Rockstar confirms PC release in November 2008:

http://kotaku.com/5033671/rockstar-confirms-gta-iv-for-pc