Loads of new GTAIV details rounded up

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 11th 2007 at 1:30PM }

With scans of the latest Game Informer hitting the net earlier today, our paymasters at Joystiq have uncovered lots of juicy details about Grand Theft Auto IV. There are so many details, in fact, that it would be impossible to enumerate them without the aid of a bulleted list. Lucky for everyone, we have such a function handy for just this kind of situation. Many of these bits were copied directly from Joystiq ~~because we're lazy~~ to preserve clarity. So, here we go.

Setting: re-created Liberty City which is a much better representation of the real life New York city. The game area is technically smaller than San Andreas, but it is also denser.

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:

Manhattan = "Algonquin" (The Lenape did speak an Algonquin language from which our word "Manhattan" is derived)
Brooklyn = "Broker"
Queens = "Dukes" (a duke ranks just below a prince)
Bronx = "Bohan"
New Jersey = "Alderney" (also named for one of the British Channel Islands -- or a breed of cattle)

Main character: Niko Bellic; "Eastern European" (non-specific country, in keeping with the GTA theme we'll call it Communislovakia)

Niko is called to America by his cousin Roman, who claims to be living the American dream with 2 women, 4 hot tubs, and 15 sports cars. In reality, Roman runs a taxi depot in Broker and is in serious trouble.
"Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal" (Really? Wow.)

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?)

So there you have it folks. Drink it in. We can only assume this is the tip of the iceberg and that we'll be hearing plenty more before the game's release. Hit the "read" link for the full rundown.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: grand theft auto 4, grand theft auto iv, GrandTheftAuto4, GrandTheftAutoIv, gta, gta 4, gta iv, Gta4, GtaIv, rockstar, rockstar games, RockstarGames, take two, take two interactive, take-two interactive, Take-twoInteractive, TakeTwo, TakeTwoInteractive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NitroFrost @ Apr 11th 2007 1:52PM

So glad 360 is getting exclusive content and not the PS3. Thank you Rockstar!

Gemini Ace @ Apr 11th 2007 4:57PM

Sounds pretty boring. I'll pass.

Ayo Jube @ Apr 11th 2007 2:00PM

please...please...please...4 player co-op online. Man that would be so unbelievably fun!

I really cant wait for this game, Rockstar really pushes sandbox up a notch each and every time.

pos @ Apr 11th 2007 2:03PM

yes exclusive is great and dont forget that the graphics are going to be better that the PS3, The have the power in the 360 to ad small details that makes the experience exclusive on the 360. PS3 lack of GPU power are going to be proven since the game is going to be realeased att the same time for both concoles, so no more 1 year after comperation videos where the game designer had 1 year to tweak the graphics for the PS3 version of some games that are old for us 360 users.
Then again some of those PS3 games have worse graphics then 1 years old 360 games. Viva 360

Dave H @ Apr 11th 2007 2:12PM

I am going to miss the planes and parachuting. But I still might have to break my personal policy of only renting and not buying.

VOS @ Apr 11th 2007 2:31PM

@1 Both the 360 and PS3 are getting exclusive content, different stuff on each system.

the director @ Apr 11th 2007 2:49PM

@3...... where do u get your info...NOOB
having both the 360 and ps3, i might even get both. as both will be getting diffrent episodic content, i want to see if they to complete exclusive or weather, the ps3 exclusive will go to the 360 and vice verse.

David Michaels @ Apr 11th 2007 2:57PM

give us MMO.

xenocidic @ Apr 11th 2007 3:00PM

"A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot their [sic] own destiny"

i see no incorrect spelling ([sic]) in the above sentence

lolz @ Apr 11th 2007 3:40PM

Same i bet ps3 and 360 get diff content or possibly the same as for the graphics its possible with the better gpu and better memory of 360 to get better graphics over ps3 version. But i doubt it since its multiplatform and they wont cater to either but i bet the ps3 has some less detail like most multiplatform titles.

dusty @ Apr 11th 2007 4:56PM

I agree @7. I want Massively Multiplayer Online.

This appears to be the only evolution worth considering in the Franchise.

Why would we pay $60 for a Saint's Row, Just Cause, or Crackdown look-a-like unless there is something making it completely extraordinary!??

I know that GTA is the definition of open-world SandBox gaming, but come on, they are going to have to pull something out of their rear to make me buy...yet again...another sandbox game. I don't care if its Rockstar, or GTA. I dont care about names...I care about quality!!!!

underbiter @ Apr 11th 2007 4:03PM

@8

It's not a spelling issue. The plural pronoun "their" replaces the singular noun "player." It should have read:

"A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot his own destiny." (sexist)

or

"A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot her own destiny." (unlikely)

or

"A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the players to plot their own destinies." (now possible with multiplayer. Woo hoo!)

Luke Valentine @ Apr 11th 2007 4:24PM

grammer aside, im so excited i could poop!

Dave @ Apr 11th 2007 4:55PM

#9
Just to let u know the Cell P. in the PS3 doubles as a grapihcs card, the RSX card and Cell P. work together. If Rockstar had some more time to make the game respond to each system, the PS3 would kick the Xbox360's ass.
It's because of the Xbox360 that multiplatform games don't look that good on the PS3, If Rockstar made GTA4 for the PS3 and then try to put what they made for the PS3 on the Xbox360, they would have to delete and compress half the game to fit on the Disc.

Example(exclusive games like MGS4, Lair, and Heavenly Sword, has been proven that it wouldn't be possible on the Xbox360.)

lolz @ Apr 11th 2007 5:24PM

Thats only if they were able to use it correctly and lets not forgot ram ps3 ram is the same little less but its still not as much as 360 idk about you but i havent seen a game on ps3 like gears of war yet and dont count motorstorm the levels dont require much to make graphically good cars and dust wow... I am a 360 fanboy but i will try to be fare here

good traits of ps3 if gta was exclusive

It would use blu-ray.

It would use cell

It would use psn.

good traits of 360 if it were exclusive.

Gpu of 360

Extra memory

Live.

It really only matters when it comes down to what exclusives u like on these consoles not graphics im sure halo 3 will kickass graphically since we havent seen anything yet.
And im sure metal gear solid will look good to.

It all comes down to games really and im a complete graphics "whore"

If u like mgs, ff, lair, hevenly sword, and killzone get a ps3 each game will be great.

If u like mass effect, halo 3, bioshock, gears of war 2 (we all know its coming), and huxley (100 on 100 player matches) get a 360.

And alot of games are going to be 360,pc compatible so ps3 online wont be as full as them games going live anywhere are huxley,shadowrun, and possibly team fortress 2 so in tf2 its possible that ps3 will be left alone and unwanted in the online realm im done lol.

lolz @ Apr 11th 2007 5:30PM

Oh yeah and heavenly sword was originally in development for xbox 360 and kojima stated that mgs would run fine on 360 dont lie ps3 fanboy =).

Dave @ Apr 11th 2007 5:37PM

@15
Dude, only reason u haven't seen games like Gears of War on the PS3 yet, its because they haven't came out yet.
For another thing Gears of War ain't that great.
If Gears of War came out for the PS3 it would probably look and play better than the Xbox360 version.
Developers whom r making games for the PS3 are taking there time making sure that every thing is perfect and looks it's best, that's why all the hit games r being delayed.
Plus the Ps3 doesn't need all that ram, if u haven't figured it out the Cell is everything,
The PS3 doesn't even need the RSX card, Sony just put it in there to help out the cell.

Dave @ Apr 11th 2007 5:40PM

#16,

I didn't say it wouldn't run on the Xbox360, it just wouldn't look as good as it would on the PS3.

lolz @ Apr 11th 2007 5:52PM

Lol we shall see in time if the cell is really capable of anything gaming related you are probly a sony fanboy so its hard to fight someone that wont listen but lets let the games do the talking when lair and heavenly sword come out and they blow the 360 out of the water then ill believe you. The 1 year head start was big cause the 360 should stay ahead in alot of respects and gears of war is spectacular its the nicest looking game out so until a game comes out thats better on ps3 i wont believe it.

Dave @ Apr 11th 2007 6:00PM

http://gamepro.com/sony/ps3/games/features/108456.shtml

@19
If u want proof about the cell, look at this website, It talks about Heavenly Sword, and the way it uses the cell.
And yes i am a sonyfanboy, but i do like the Xbox 2 a certain degree.

Ryan @ Apr 12th 2007 10:31AM

@17

so the Cell is everything, yet they include the RSX to HELP it?

lolz @ Apr 11th 2007 6:26PM

As it seems exclusive games will be all that matters im getting a ps3 and plan to rent heavenly sword doesnt look like a buy to me but anyways its just preference i like shooters and graphics so xbox is my favorite and besides all my friends either want or have 360. You have a different opinion. The cell may really be as powerful as sony said but having 500 enemys on the screen at once doesnt really interest me lol and multiplatform will be an xbox victory for probly the entire gen or at least 3 years so again it comes down to online play and exclusives and they seem to be catered to diferent peoples tastes thats why 360 rules america we like shooters and ps3 rules japan they like rpgs.

refinedsugar @ Apr 11th 2007 6:30PM

I wasn't blown away by the hyped trailer ... and really there should be no surprise at the vocal disappointment over no aerial vehicles. If you love this genre of games it's a definite knock. Dealbreaker to some, others don't care, but it's a knock all the same.

Boff @ Apr 11th 2007 8:01PM

Now now children play nicely.

I'm looking forward to GTAIV but have to admit I was a little disappointed by the list. I was hoping for (or expecting?) a bit more innovation - especially after Saints, Just Cause and Crackdown.

Fingers crossed they've got something up their sleeves!

Ryan @ Apr 11th 2007 8:58PM

Yeah cause you know those bulleted lists that are posted six months before a game comes out tell you EVERYTHING about the game. I thought GTA IV was going to include cars, but I see that list has no mention of them. I sure hope the bikes handle well then.

Anonymous @ Apr 12th 2007 5:07AM

Exclusives like this are why Gameinformer is beating Electronic Gaming Monthly. And it's also probably an example of magazine companies "Paying for exclusives" as Dan Shoe put it. But when a magazine is giving me exclusives like this, it's obvious which one I'm going to subscribe too. Oh, and my two cents, I think shoe was talking about GamePro and Gameinformer in his rant. GamePro has receantly had some of the lamest possible games on their covers, and it fits with shoes rant.

lolz @ Apr 12th 2007 10:50AM

@ 26

The rsx is in the ps3 cause it CANT do everything that sony said it would if it could they wouldnt need ram which makes all games look better on 360 cause of the better ram and gpu which is y the 360 is better looking on most games.

To dave Only sony developers and developers who only make for that console say the cell is so great and ps3 is much better than 360. When most thirdpartys say the exact opposite.
Most say that they are equal or xbox is better

two examples:
John Carmack (thinks ps3 is alittle more powerful but xbox gpu and better dev tools make xbox same or better than ps3
Gabe Newell (He really hates ps3 lol)

Both are shooter and windows develops but they think sony has screwed up and i beleive them more than a sony dev.

Im not saying the cell isnt the future it might be but the cell in the PS3 isnt its a beta that only uses 75# of its power.

Kyle m @ Apr 15th 2007 10:46AM

lols...

You people don't know sh1ts about hardware.

Let's say you use the Xbox 360's Xenos (three 3.2 ghz processors divided into 2 cores each) and the PS3's Cell (six 3.2 ghz cores branching off of one processor, the 7'th core IS NOT USED FOR GAMES AND NEVER WILL, it is reserved for the PS3's operating system and security features and the 8th core is not used whatsoever, it is disabled). Running generic programs on 3 cores(xbox360) is nothing like running it on 6 cores (Technically threads since it is one processor on its own, PS3) The more you share the load of the generic program (one code) increases execution speed and reduces overall performance if the system doesn't provide enough EDRAM (Which the 360 has more of) so not graphicical workloads the xbox 360 wins. The RAM on the PS3 is faster by means of clock speed, but the 360 has double the amount of ram which exceeds by far in overall performance. The 360's Xenon GPU is faster again. Don't believe me? see how the PS3 does anti-aliasing and lighting in all multi-platform games with the SAME RELEASE DATE. Sony just bitches to all the game developers and keeps putting the release date back for the games and keeps them under development for years until they come on par with performance or visuals than the 360, or better. But hey, if you do the same on the 360 then we'll see who's better?

Hardware: Xbox 360 > PS3
Multiplayer (Or online Base): Xbox 360> PS3
Exclusivity: You'll just have to wait and see, many exclusives are going multi-platform because it's easier to develop games on the xbox 360 (They don't need to work for years to get the games to run smoothly on the 360 since it performs better hardware-wise).

The only downfall is the 360's disk system which cannot hold as much data as the PS3. But it's easy to compress the data and rework it to look just as good or better than the PS3 since the 360 can easilly handle the uncompression. Most xbox 360 games don't even use the full amount of disk space. However PS3's games take up 20+ gigs of space and don't handle as well as they do on the 360 (Multiplatform that is).

Whitepanda2010 @ Apr 16th 2007 5:44PM

ps3 and xbox 360 each have their own weaknesses and strengths, so quit arguing about it already. no matter what any of you say, its all going to come down to the quality of the games, not the power of the systems.