Gta4

[Standup]

Apparently that's a grocery store in the UK. Great source

Asda are a pretty big supermarket chain owned now by Walmart but they aren't renowned for selling electrical goods. They're more likely to pick up the casual or impulse buyer rather than the dedicated games player.

Having said that all the big grocery chains - Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda are moving into that market big time so they could become major players in the future.

Although I don't know Asda's market share I'd be surprised if their figures are significant.

[Wiglaf]

I just read both IGN reviews. They are the most uncritical, lame reviews I have ever read. They clearly had to negotiate to get the early review (and all the preview content) 3 days before release, and I guess a 10.0 was one of Rockstar's terms.

Could game journalists be more of a joke?

[DrSpike]

I guess we'll see when the other reviews come out.

[FrostyBoy]

IGN just gave it a 10/10. After looking at the latest video, I think it may actually deserve it too.

[FrostyBoy]

[FrostyBoy]

If you are buying a console just for this game - don't! the PC version will come out eventually, and just like the previous GTA's, it will be better than the console versions.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, but you'll probably have to wait like a year.

[Asher]

Yeah. Get it now, play it for real and on Xbox Live...

Then a year from now, pirate it on PC and horse around with cheats.

That's how it's always done.

It'll require a pretty beefy PC to have the same fidelity on the consoles as on the PC though...

[Asher]

Teamxbox also gave a 10/10. Gametrailers review is up 9.8/10. A+ from 1UP.

PS3 has a 7 minute install time and has slightly more frame-rate issues according to EuroGamer.

[Asher]

Kotaku compares:

http://kotaku.com/384422/which-version-of-gta-iv-should-you-buy-we-compare-the-ps3-and-360-versions

We've played both versions of GTA IV—quite a bit, actually. We've noticed a handful of differences, some of which you know, some which you may not, many of them hair-splitting. We break it down, from frame rate to controls, after the break.

Installation
The PlayStation 3 version has a mandatory 3.4 GB hard drive installation that will be the longest 7 minutes and 20 seconds of your life if your chomping at the bit to play. It's initially an annoyance, but PS3 owners will welcome it. There is no option to install the game to an Xbox 360 hard drive.

Frame Rate
The Grand Theft Auto series has never been synonymous with a rock solid frame rate, something it generally seems to get a pass for. While GTA IV is smoother in general than it's predecessors, it can expectedly suffer during chaos. The Xbox 360 version seemed capable of achieving a smoother frame rate, peaking higher in certain circumstances, such as in confined spaces or during light traffic, but both versions seemed to regularly run at a similar clip.

Pop-In & Loading
With a huge, seamless streaming world, data must be constantly read from the disc. The PS3 version, with its required HDD install, loads missions a couple seconds faster and decreases pop-in. The Xbox 360 version can suffer from some very noticeable texture loading, as things like trees, vehicles and building signs will regularly pop-in as one tools about town. It can be distracting, especially during high speed chases, and the PS3 version isn't entirely immune from it, but it's not a game killing problem.

Graphics
The two versions are so close to identical, visually, that putting together a comparison was a challenge. Initially, it appeared that the PS3 suffered from more noticeable aliasing than its 360 counterpart, but after eyeballing the final retail copy, they appear to be on par. I noticed that the paint filter applied to cover some of the game's imperfections appeared a tiny bit muddier on the PS3 version, with night time scenes seeing more streakiness. Some of these minor complaints may be the result of our particular television settings and require the finest of fine tooth combs to assess.

Downloadable Content
The Xbox 360 version is announced to have two exclusive downloadable content packs for purchase. Details on what will be contained in those two exclusive batches of DLC are sparse, so we can't judge what they'll bring to the table, nor do we know if the PlayStation 3 version will eventually get its own DLC from Rockstar. If you're looking for more GTA IV, and you may very well be after you've completed the core game, you're going to want the 360 version.

Achievements
The Xbox 360 version has the requisite list of Achievements exclusive to the platform, creative and challenging goals that sometimes go beyond the regular gaming experience. However, as with other GTA games, stat-tracking for kills, stunt jumps, and the dozens of extras will keep completionists on the PS3 side happy.

Motion Controls
The PS3 version has optional SIXAXIS motion controls for piloting helicopters, steering boats and doing motorcycle tricks. You'll probably leave it off, just like I did.

Good Vibrations
GTA IV supports vibration in the Xbox 360 controller and the DualShock 3, so PS3 owners won't be left in the force feedback lurch.

The good news for Grand Theft Auto fans is that whatever platform you have chosen as your own, GTA IV excels on both. They are almost evenly matched, feature for feature. Gamers will have to decide which is more important to them, a slightly more technically sound experience on the PlayStation 3 or downloadable content and Xbox Live integration on the Xbox 360.

Final Thoughts
If this were a personal decision, I'd have chosen the PlayStation 3 edition, mostly based on my preference for the DualShock controller and the performance edge. However, one thing that we have yet to experience is how well the PlayStation Network will handle the online portions of GTA IV, an extremely important consideration. I place less of an emphasis on features like Achievements and Gamerscore, but appreciate how well crafted these features are.

In the end, each version stands on its own, with the only downside to the differences being that those invested in their particularly backed console will expend so much effort focusing on something far less important than the game itself.

BTW, the reason why people are describing the PS3 version as "muddier" probably stems from the fact that the PS3 version uses Quincunx AA while the 360 version uses 2x MSAA. Quincunx is a bit cheaper and less bandwidth-intense, but blurs the image sightly.

[flash9286]

With a huge, seamless streaming world, data must be constantly read from the disc. The PS3 version, with its required HDD install, loads missions a couple seconds faster and decreases pop-in. The Xbox 360 version can suffer from some very noticeable texture loading, as things like trees, vehicles and building signs will regularly pop-in as one tools about town. It can be distracting, especially during high speed chases, and the PS3 version isn't entirely immune from it, but it's not a game killing problem.

Is there any reason why MS won't allow optional installs for people who have HDD equipped 360s.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by FrostyBoy
If you are buying a console just for this game - don't! the PC version will come out eventually, and just like the previous GTA's, it will be better than the console versions.

All the GTA releases were crap on the PC. It's a console game.

Edit: Based on the fact that you said not to do it, I'm ordering a 360 for this game. Frostyboy

[FrostyBoy]

**** off Wiglaf.

GTA was originally a PC game. (DOS and Windows).

The number one reason GTA is better on PC is because of controls.

PC player Vs's a Console Player would be an unfair fight simply because the response time with a mouse+keyboard against a controller is simply too slow. (Hence why you need a 'auto-aim' on a console, it's funny, but I don't laugh at disabilities.

I'm willing to bet, a veteran Unreal player on a console, would have a very difficult time against a moderate player on a PC.

Not to mention the modding capabilities, the ability to upgrade your system beyond a console.

I'm just about to play Creed for the first time on PC. I have heard it was a bit rush, but I have also read that.. IT'S BETTER ON A PC.

[Asher]

Originally posted by flash9286


Is there any reason why MS won't allow optional installs for people who have HDD equipped 360s.

Why do you assume MS won't allow it vs Rockstar not bother implementing it?

[Asher]

Originally posted by FrostyBoy
**** off Wiglaf.

GTA was originally a PC game. (DOS and Windows).

The number one reason GTA is better on PC is because of controls.

PC player Vs's a Console Player would be an unfair fight simply because the response time with a mouse+keyboard against a controller is simply too slow. (Hence why you need a 'auto-aim' on a console, it's funny, but I don't laugh at disabilities.

I'm willing to bet, a veteran Unreal player on a console, would have a very difficult time against a moderate player on a PC.

Not to mention the modding capabilities, the ability to upgrade your system beyond a console.

I'm just about to play Creed for the first time on PC. I have heard it was a bit rush, but I have also read that.. IT'S BETTER ON A PC.

Frosty, newsflash: Games are for fun. Who cares who would win in an online battle, PC user vs console user. I find I have more fun playing FPSes on the couch and through Xbox Live than I do on a PC. Looking at the sales statistics, I'm far from alone on that.