GTA IV

[Jordan]

Well I did the boat thing.


First time = awesome cheers guize.

And then the mission after I unlocked the third island - WHIN! The bank mission was fuuuuuuuun (Although failed twice, first time not enough body armor, second time car set on fire when at top speed, so couldnt stop in time. Third time I tried the car set on fire like 200 yards from Packies...I was like NOOOO but thankfully stopped in time. And Packie was on fire but survived.)

If you hold Y, at high speed you'll dive out of the car. Also, AI characters which are story essential don't die.

[ReZourceman]

If you hold Y, at high speed you'll dive out of the car. Also, AI characters which are story essential don't die.

Yeah I actually dived out of the car, it went speeding off and then the car exploded with Packie and co in (He did die, as thats why I failed the mission...It said "Packie is dead" PHAIL.)

[mariosmentor]

If you hold Y, at high speed you'll dive out of the car. Also, AI characters which are story essential don't die.

I think they can die in missions, but not permanently. Packie died with me one the mission before that. The one with the Mafia guys at the docks and you escape in the boat?

Mission failed - Packie died. Then a cutscene came about with the other guys in the car saying "what the hell are we gonna tell packies brothers," then I got the mission redo text and he was back and healthy.

[Jimbob]

I'm gonna give the 5 min six star achievement a wack tonight, as well as doing a few odd jobs for Roman and Little John. I also love the fact that you can ride bikes/cars into places like Burger Shot.

Just unlocked the 2nd Island yesterday, some parts of it remind me of GTA III. The bridge to the south that leads into the island reminds me a lot of III with the layout of it.

[Dan Dare]

Algonquin is the best part of the city. I have the third Island but i've not had much motivation to actually go there yet.

[Jordan]

Theres not much on the third island, its all urban-y... some nice houses though.

Anyone noticed how pedestrians aren't just walking around? They're going to different places. I followed this one guy, on a bike (because i wanted it) from the middle of the city, back home and then parked it in his garage next to his house. Then he got off the bike and then went in his house.

[Dan Dare]

any Infernus' out there?

[Mr. Bananagrabber]

Three Leaf Clover.







Goddamn.

[Nintenchris]

Three Leaf Clover.







Goddamn.

That kicked my ass over and over, but i loved every minute of it

[Roostophe]

Got the 'One Man Army' achievement, via the video on Inside Xbox today.

Loving this game so far, enjoying it a fair bit. :smile:

[Dyson]

I did it first try with no body armor, was chuffed - very nearly died at the tube station but got to a medkit just as I got shot, would have killed me if I was a split second later :D

Also I have a save right before it, hell yes.

Epic mission.

[Shorty]

I didn't like Three Leaf Clover, I know the whole wanted system is the most unrealistic part of the game, but that's ridiculous, you would have the whole country after you, you'd be near the top of America's Most Wanted.

[Tales]

Any good places to blow up ten cars in ten seconds? I tried Star Junction but it's hard to hit all the cars because the area is so flat.

How do you activate it? Ramon just keep calling me to meet him at the church at 10 AM. But what church?

[Hero-of-Time]

Any good places to blow up ten cars in ten seconds? I tried Star Junction but it's hard to hit all the cars because the area is so flat.

How do you activate it? Ramon just keep calling me to meet him at the church at 10 AM. But what church?

If you go to Star Junction ( is that the place with aload of flashy buildings and a really long straight? ) there should be a bus. Steal that and drive it to the main bridge. Go into the lane with oncoming traffic and tilt the bus sideways to block the lane. Cars will smash into the side of it and just wait for loads to arrive. Climb on the bus and lob a few grenades for your achievement :)

[Stefkov]

If you go to Star Junction ( is that the place with aload of flashy buildings and a really long straight? ) there should be a bus. Steal that and drive it to the main bridge. Go into the lane with oncoming traffic and tilt the bus sideways to block the lane. Cars will smash into the side of it and just wait for loads to arrive. Climb on the bus and lob a few grenades for your achievement :)
To echo that
NCl2Zp34A-4
I just got it doing that method aswell. Killed myself in the process. Twice.

[Tales]

HoT: I just did it, but without the bus, thanks anyway.

Completed the game just now. 60 hours, 85% and 590 gamerpoints.

[Moohawk!]

Gahhh just completed the game - 31 hours. So irritating, one hour off an achievement that I wasn't trying to get and I know i'll never bother with it again.

[Aalborg]

Gahhh just completed the game - 31 hours. So irritating, one hour off an achievement that I wasn't trying to get and I know i'll never bother with it again.

loser!!

ha ha.. im taking my sweet time with this game.. ill probably finish it around the 50 hours mark.. I always end up beeing chased by the cops or shoting at cars that run me down.. and the cops dont take kindly to that

[Jordan]

So that achievement for finishing the game in 30 hours isn't just being in missions? Man that sucks ass! I've been doing so much random shit outside of the missions that i'm at 28 hours already.

[Hero-of-Time]

So that achievement for finishing the game in 30 hours isn't just being in missions? Man that sucks ass! I've been doing so much random shit outside of the missions that i'm at 28 hours already.

Yup, afraid so. If you stick to the storyline the game is only 12-15 hours long though.

[Jordan]

I'm gunna have to try and cram the last X amount of missions into 2 hours then. Jeeze... >_>

[S.C.G]

I'm gunna have to try and cram the last X amount of missions into 2 hours then. Jeeze... >_>

Or do what I'm doing and just enjoy the first play through with no pressures, once the first file is done a speedrun on a second file will be so easy. :heh:

[Dyson]

Or do what I'm doing and just enjoy the first play through with no pressures, once the first file is done a speedrun on a second file will be so easy. :heh:

Eeeexactly :smile:

[S.C.G]

Hmm I've taken out all the criminals on the most wanted list...

wheres my achievement ><

Am I doing it wrong? :blank:

[Hero-of-Time]

Hmm I've taken out all the criminals on the most wanted list...

wheres my achievement ><

Am I doing it wrong? :blank:

There are 10 on each island :)

[S.C.G]

Ah that makes sense, thanks HoT. :smile:

[Gizmo]

What do you do with the car that Stevie wants you to get? I got a text from him with a location and a picture, I got the car, but now I have no where to take it and no number to call.

[Hero-of-Time]

What do you do with the car that Stevie wants you to get? I got a text from him with a location and a picture, I got the car, but now I have no where to take it and no number to call.

If its the right car the you get a message on the screen saying you have found a car Stevie wants. You then have to take it back to the garage on the small top island. The garage is near your apartment.

[Stefkov]

That fly under the bridges achievement is broke. I've been under every bridge and I havn't got the achievement. I need 1 more aswell apparently.
I followed this just now
http://i26.tinypic.com/s6t45e.jpg
Why won't you work...

[Cube]

The most South Western bridge took me a few fly troughs to find the right position for it to count as part of the achievement, so perhaps it's that one.

[Stefkov]

Yup it was the furthest one west on the western island...I just went under it 5 minutes ago...

[Nintenchris]

Umm i got it Kov and im sure one of thos on the bottom left you have to fly under the bridge at a certen part cos if you go under it at the wrong part it wont count

*edit* ahh ok then i have no idea if you've already tryed it *edit*

[Stefkov]

I've just checked my stats. 45% and I've played 23 hours.
That 30 hours achievement probably isn't possible now.

[Gizmo]

If its the right car the you get a message on the screen saying you have found a car Stevie wants. You then have to take it back to the garage on the small top island. The garage is near your apartment.

Yeah I got the message saying it was the right car. Found that garage now, cheers. Stupid how it doesn't give you a way point or whatever towards the garage, or at least mentions thats where it goes.

[Moohawk!]

I've just checked my stats. 45% and I've played 23 hours.
That 30 hours achievement probably isn't possible now.

You know for the 30 hour achievement you only need to complete the story missions right? Percentage probably isn't a clear indicator of how far you have to go.

[ReZourceman]

Apparently the missions are 58%.

Im not certain on how accurate that is mind.

[Tales]

You have to fly underneath the westernmost bridge twice, at each side of the little island it is standing on. Because of the island the bridge counts as two bridges.

[Nintenchris]

Im sure i only flew under every bridge once

[Moohawk!]

Haha! I just randomly punched a woman in the street. This black guy started fighting me but I didn't fight him back, just dodged. Cop car sees him, cop gets out and arrests him!!

Aces!

[Stefkov]

You know for the 30 hour achievement you only need to complete the story missions right? Percentage probably isn't a clear indicator of how far you have to go.
Arite, well if anyone can assist me in telling me where I'm up to.
I've just done the mission for Ray Boccino in killing Luca and getting his diamonds back. I've got one of the Irish brother on the far left to start and I've got th other brother, Gerry, to start.
There aint any other letters on the map for now. Seems I've only done 60% of Roman's missions aswell.

[Chuck]

Who do I kill out of Francis and Derrick?

[Caris]

Makes no difference.

[Dante]

SEC filings have revealed that Electronic Arts borrowed $1 billion from Morgan Stanley and other lenders to help finance a possible acquisition of Take-Two.

"There's no news here," said EA VP of communications Jeff Brown. "This is just a process point on something we announced in February."

With $2.3 billion on hand in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, EA already has the funds available to do the deal as it currently stands. With the deal not contingent on financing, why borrow more money?

"It helps us maintain maximum flexibility for any opportunities," said Brown.

Take-Two had no comment as of press time.


EA really want GTA for the milking.

[Gizmo]

Who do I kill out of Francis and Derrick?

I killed Francis, because he's a dick. Don't think theres any actual repercussions for it, or at least I haven't encountered any yet.

[Tales]

You have to put something after [SPOILER=
If you don't the forum will just add "SPOILER" and nothing will happened. Erase " and it should work.

[Gizmo]

Sorry! I definately typed in "That mission". Could have sworn I did. Must have tabbed out of the text box when I was typing it rather than shifting or something.

Hopefully that didn't spoil it for anybody.

[Athriller]

GTA IV to me is one of those rare treats in the video game world that I haven't had in a while. I really want to play it and progress every second of the day, but I also really don't want to play it as I know with every mission I complete I'm one step closer to the end. Personally, I think it deserves all the hype it got.

Could someone who's completed roughly tell me how near I am from the end please? I realise it depends on all the other missions too, but right now I'm at:

The bank mission for Packie.

Also, has there been any word on what the downloadable content will be and when we're expected to see it?

[Gizmo]

Also, has there been any word on what the downloadable content will be and when we're expected to see it?

Looks like you made the same mistake as me :p

Theres a rumour going around that the DLC will take place in San Andreas.

http://kotaku.com/388835/niko-bellic-going-to-san-andreas

I think it was previously said that the DLC is going to be along the lines of what Vice City and San Andreas were, entire new cities and storylines kinda thing. Dunno how true that is. Think I read that in the Edge "making of" article, or something.

[Tellyn]

The first DLC pack hits in August I think.

[Jordan]

I finished the game with a time of:

30:02:59
I was not happy.

[spirited away]

I finished the game with a time of:

30:02:59
I was not happy.

Why weren't you happy?

[Tales]

Because to get one of the achievements you need to beat the game in 30 hours.

[Gizmo]

Theres an achievement for sub 30 hours.

Can't you load up an old save and do the last sections a little faster?

[spirited away]

Couldnt you go back to the last save and do the last bit really quickly?

[Jordan]

It saves the game when you finish it. My only save.

[Dyson]

Oh dear god that's horrible. Unlucky Jordan :D

[Daft]

I live and die by the multi-save.

[Tellyn]

http://jordan.justgotowned.com

[Mr. Bananagrabber]

I'm at the 28 hour mark and the only missions I can do at the moment are Ray's. Reckon I have a chance of making it?

[ReZourceman]

Found out this morning mine didnt auto save after Three Leaf Clover, and about two missions I did after that. :blank:

[Moohawk!]

I finished the game with a time of:

30:02:59
I was not happy.

Ouch... and I thought I had it bad finishing an hour over. To be fair though as others have said, if we concentrate solely on story missions, got taxis everywhere where possible, ignored friends and loaded after failed missions instead of carrying on, it should easily be doable in no more than 20 hours i reckon.

Oh and it might be nice to see the vague changes that occur depending on your various moral choices.

[BeerMonkey]

I finished the game with a time of:

30:02:59
I was not happy.

ROFL!!!


bout 40 hours in now done bout 65% just taking my time and having fun :smile: love the cops "most wanted" missions that im doing a bit of at mo. Also "stevie"'s car collect mission even thou a few have been a pain in the arse to find

[ViPeR]

Man this game doesn't bloody let me online anymore :(. Every time I go into multiplayer it disconnects me and returns me to single player. Sometimes I even hear people in the game i've connected to. So it at least gets that far...

[Cube]

Man this game doesn't bloody let me online anymore :(. Every time I go into multiplayer it disconnects me and returns me to single player. Sometimes I even hear people in the game i've connected to. So it at least gets that far...

It's a very common problem. I've been able to join a massive total of three games.

[Stefkov]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w232/stefkov/DSCF3444.jpg

Woop woop. Took me a while but finally.

[Ramar]

What does the picture show/mean?

[Stefkov]

I got inside the Statue of Happiness.

[Dyson]

Me too. It's nothing special :P

[Tales]

What does the picture show/mean?
It's the heart of Liberty City. Use a helicopter to jump on the upper platform to reach it.

[Stefkov]

Me too. It's nothing special :P
I thought it was more difficult that it was. It was just annoying when you are right above the edge and you fall at an angle and you totally miss it.

[Dyson]

Getting there is tough, but the heart itself isn't special I meant.

I got lucky, I tried it first time and landed on the ledge. My friend also made it (we were in online free roam) but...I was feeling like a complete bastard so right as he got to the top of the final ladder I blew him away with the shotgun so he couldn't get a proper look at it :D

[tapedeck]

Ok, I'm bolloxed...Did the PlayboyX and Dwayne choice mission then one mission for Dwayne, and then delivered like 10 parcels for Jacob and now...(counting a good 2 days of solid gaming) NOTHING has come up for me to do. ALL phone-calls are answerphone, only Manny and Jacob have mission % remaining. Jacob does reply but it's MORE parcel delivering.

So where the hell do I go? Nothing is on the map/no blips/no phone call jobs apart from Jacob (which is just delivery) and Manny doesn't reply.

Soooo pissed off as I have the time to finish it. And GameFAQS is spoilerific.

Anyone?!

EDIT: Had a goose at CVG's guide...Patrick seems to be the next guy I need to use for missions. yet to even get him yet he is involved before Playboy missions...utterly lost as I don't know where to find him at all.

[arnold]

Have you done Elizabeta's missions? You should get Packie after the last of hers, I got him yesterday he phones you up asking for help.

[tapedeck]

Have you done Elizabeta's missions? You should get Packie after the last of hers, I got him yesterday he phones you up asking for help.

After more looking around online it seems I haven't finished Elizabetha's missions, no (cheers.) I've tried phoning her loads today at differing times - and I've been going to her highrise flat and yet nothing...it's really starting to annoy me now. I'll just keep doing little Jacobs missions and hope she phones me. Nothing else I can do :(

[Dan Dare]

anyone know where i can find an infernus?

[Pit-Jr]

the soundtrack here is pretty forgettable, thank god for the San Juan station.

[Gizmo]

Woo, completed the storyline just now! Nowhere near 30hours but I wasn't expecting/trying to get it anyway :)

Now just Brucies cars, Stevies cars, street races, Jacob's deliveries, Assassin missions, people on the street, stunt jumps, misc fun achievements and all the rest to complete!

[Stefkov]

I think I have just a little under and hour to finish the main story. Looking at a guide to see how many missions left I thought it seemed doable but I'm having doubts the more I see the time get closer to 30 hours. I hope I can do it.

[tapedeck]

Well, looks like my games broke :( It won't ever let me get online AND MORE ANNOYINGLY...

I'm forever stuck on the Holland Play mission. Even though I've killed PlayboyX I did one mission after this for Dwayne and now nothing works. No missions, nothing. I've looked for guides and my game wont let me get on with anything. The phone isn't on standby and so I'm truly, truly pissed off.

Fucking shit. Shit. Shit.

[Tales]

Seems like this is a bigger problem than I thought. There's at least a couple members besides you that have the same problem.

[tapedeck]

Seems like this is a bigger problem than I thought. There's at least a couple members besides you that have the same problem.

Good job I have a save earlier on. I'll keep you posted if it happens again...

[Gizmo]

Yeah I've heard of that happening a few times now, hopefully they can patch it because I would hate to get 30 hours into a game only to have to restart.

[tapedeck]

This time its ok...I have Brucie on the map asking me to go dating some guy :o. So I've done that and now the phone never stops ringing. For a sandbox title that's pretty poor. There should be more than 1 story element keeping things going on the main story arc.

So yeah, the Brucie option didn't come onto the map/missions etc on my previous save. How frustrating. I've now resorted to making TWO saves all of the time. Irksome.

[FighterO'Foo]

Love this gaaame.

I'm hoping they'll add some new stand-up comedians to the DLC. Can't see it happening, but it'd be all the awesomes and that.

[Mr. Bananagrabber]

Love this gaaame.

I'm hoping they'll add some new stand-up comedians to the DLC. Can't see it happening, but it'd be all the awesomes and that.

Nice to see you dude.

Finally finished this today, with 50 hours on the clock. Haven't even tried the multiplayer yet. I might go back and try and get some more achievements. Maybe do a speed run for the 30 hour achievement.

[Dan Dare]

anyone know where i can find an infernus?
anyone????

[Tales]

Try the car park next to the safe house in Alqaquin(middle island).

[gaggle64]

Grr, I'm stuck on a couple of missions. Anything where your asked to blast your way into buildings isn't made easy by the fact it's impossible to see anything not standing in direct sunlight. It's like fighting the Shadow Man.

[Girgo]

Finished the game about ten minutes ago, took me about 26 hours. While it was a good game I still think it's very very overrated! Also the game began to drag at the middle point of the game.
They started to introduce new characters one after another. And my one final complaint is that the missions started to be too similiar at some point (hold the trigger down and kill about 30 enemies) :shakehead

[Gizmo]

Grr, I'm stuck on a couple of missions. Anything where your asked to blast your way into buildings isn't made easy by the fact it's impossible to see anything not standing in direct sunlight. It's like fighting the Shadow Man.

Put brightness and contrast to about 3/4's to the right. That way, you can actually see whats happening at night / in alleyways, but it doesn't completely ruin the day time.

[Dan Dare]

Try the car park next to the safe house in Alqaquin(middle island).

na those are turismos.

[Chuck]

I just finished, I clocked 19:47:49:)

[S.C.G]

Rolled Over get! been trying on and off for a while to get that achievement. :smile:

[Jimbob]

I just started the races for Brucie and i personally think they are too easy compared to San Andreas. All the opposition tend to crash into other oncoming veichles or spin out quite often not posing a challenge to you. I've won three races with this happening in each race.

I'll give another race a go and see if it is any different this time around.

[Cube]

Why is it taking Rockstar so long to fix the multiplayer?

[Daft]

Why is it taking Rockstar so long to fix the multiplayer?

Too busy rolling in money I suspect.

[FighterO'Foo]

Money and bitches and cocaine and impressionable teenagers' sense of right and wrong, too. lol

[fex]

Yay just completed GTA, just under 20hours. Towards the end, I was taking taxi's everywhere and only concentrating on the story missions.

I enjoyed it, but the missions are just to similar to each other. Heres hoping the next GTA will blow this one away. And get out of the city, I likes SA, because there was loads of woodland areas.
________
HERBALAIRE VAPORIZER REVIEW (http://herbalairevaporizer.com/)

[That Guy]

Getting slightly bored of this game already. I still don't understand all the hype surrounding GTA as a franchise. I'm not that far in the game, does it get better later on?

[Jackster]

Anyone else get the feeling that the talk radio stations are really short compared to GTA3 or Vice City? I used to love just driving around listening to Chatterbox on GTA3 but I've only been playing for like 8 hours and I've heard all the talk radio stations loop round at least like 5 times.

A bit crap when you consider Chatterbox FM was like 3.5 hours long

[Cube]

Getting slightly bored of this game already. I still don't understand all the hype surrounding GTA as a franchise. I'm not that far in the game, does it get better later on?

First 10 hours - Over-long, dull tutorial section.
Middle Missions - Loads of fantastic missions.
Later Missions - Rather dull.

[Daft]

Getting slightly bored of this game already. I still don't understand all the hype surrounding GTA as a franchise. I'm not that far in the game, does it get better later on?

I'm pretty bored of it as well. I did the "Three Leaf Clover" mission and that was easy and pretty uneventful. This has the best city, SA had the best missions, VC was the most entertaining in terms of story and script.

[Ryan]

Stuck on the last mission but I'm bored of the game..

[Happenstance]

I was very disapointed with Intergrity 2.0, your right the chatshows were way too short and I always look forward to them.

To be honest though im definately not convinced GTAIV deserves a 10/10, more of an 8/10 for me.

[Athriller]

Brucie alone makes this game a 10. Genetically different, baby. Hes such an amazing character that sometimes I wish I was him.

[Pit-Jr]

Brucie alone makes this game a 10. Genetically different, baby. Hes such an amazing character that sometimes I wish I was him.

Yeah the conversations between him and Niko are priceless. The other support characters are a drag by comparison

[Ice9]

As much as I love this game, I can't help but feel most reviewers barely played the game in order to have the 'first reviews', hence it ending up being (IMO) rather overscored.

anyone know where i can find an infernus?
anyone????

With difficulty! You can wait until you've done missions for one of the characters, and he gives you one (look after it, mine randomly disapeared from one of my parking spaces :mad: )
The other way is to start a race (I remember one of the ones in Dukes is against Inferuses (Inferni?!)) and then head over to the start, shoot the driver and steal the car. Or when you are close to the race you may see some driving about too because of how the game loads cars.

To be honest though, Comet is better, its just as fast, but small enough to fit between lanes of traffic and turns better.

[Gizmo]

If you keep the first one you get from Bernie loads spawn while you are driving it. Find on, steal it, then push it with the original back to your parking space. I did this with 3 of my safehouses so I have one at each :p

[flameboy]

Well I've only just racked up 20 hours today after a 2 hour session. Just done the missions where;

Michelle turns out to be a snitch called Karen what a bitch and had to rescue Roman from a warehouse

For me the game is still getting better and better everytime I play it!

[Jav_NE]

Completed the main story today in 28 hours. I'm a bit sad the main missions are over :(

[Gizmo]

Has anybody had any trouble contacting the lovemeet girlfriends? I only just found out about the perks, and I sent in a message to the two that you can actually date, but about 2 ingame weeks have gone past with no reply. When I go to contact them again, the option is blanked out. All the rest I at least get a negative reply email, but LawChick and Sobohoe seem to just be ignoring me :(

I want the wanted level perk damnit!

[Moohawk!]

Has anybody had any trouble contacting the lovemeet girlfriends? I only just found out about the perks, and I sent in a message to the two that you can actually date, but about 2 ingame weeks have gone past with no reply. When I go to contact them again, the option is blanked out. All the rest I at least get a negative reply email, but LawChick and Sobohoe seem to just be ignoring me :(

I want the wanted level perk damnit!

How far are you in the game? I've got a feeling that the option to date people from lovemeet might be unlocked after you do a mission where you need to contact someone via lovemeet.

[Gizmo]

How far are you in the game? I've got a feeling that the option to date people from lovemeet might be unlocked after you do a mission where you need to contact someone via lovemeet.

I've completed the story.

[Sexual Chocolate]

Getting slightly bored of this game already. I still don't understand all the hype surrounding GTA as a franchise. I'm not that far in the game, does it get better later on?


No, its shit, over hyped and over here.

[Ramar]

Tried playing twice today, got two disc read errors after 5 minutes. Not looking good.

[flameboy]

No, its shit, over hyped and over here.

jeez...its not shit...

Its funny how this hugely hyped games get battered weeks after they come out. It happened with Halo 3, as if the hype isn't enough anyway the reviews come out giving them 10's and then the intial eurphoria means everyone is loving it then it dies down and people are like its just more of the same, its shit, it gets boring fast.... I guess this is what is going to no happen with this big budgeted mass marketed gaming behmoths...good thing or bad thing, you decide...

[Happenstance]

I dont think its shit but its definatley not as fun as the old gtas. Im probably going to trade my copy in tomorrow

[tapedeck]

Best gta yet in my opinion. Taking my time with it has made me actually appreciate it rather than trying to fly through it. I think people seem to play a lot of titles for the achievement points rather than actually enjoying everything. Shame for them I say. I‘ve just rescued roman and it's great fun to sink a few hours into.

[Daft]

To be fair I wasn't that hyped for it and at no point did I love it. Essentially it adds nothing new to the formula.

I've got to de-hype myself for MGS4 though. :(

[Aalborg]

So I got the achievment for taking a taxi from one island to another.. I can now see why that earns you an achivement... the first 4 taxi's I tried got stuck (for good) in traffic.. the fifth somehow ended up alongside a building from where it was unable to move.. finally the sixth took me where I wanted to go

[Jimbob]

So I got the achievment for taking a taxi from one island to another.. I can now see why that earns you an achivement... the first 4 taxi's I tried got stuck (for good) in traffic.. the fifth somehow ended up alongside a building from where it was unable to move.. finally the sixth took me where I wanted to go

That was quite a fun achievement. It is a lot easier if you don't press X to speed him up otherwise, like you experianced the taxi's get stuck or end up upside down. That happened to me once and the driver got out, pulled me out and beat me up for some reason.

Currently completing all the races on the first island until i can be bothered to do more missions.

[Domo Kun]

I remember enjoying San Andreas more than this. This game is great, but I think it being so overhyped ruined it for me. My expectations were too high. Great game, 9/10 :)

[Aalborg]

That happened to me once and the driver got out, pulled me out and beat me up for some reason.



yes I also think I had to pay to leave the taxi's even though they were stuck for good.. come to think of it I should have blown them to pieces

[Jimbob]

yes I also think I had to pay to leave the taxi's even though they were stuck for good.. come to think of it I should have blown them to pieces

I do that from time to time, and sometimes end up with a wanted level or sometimes not if i am lucky.

I'm currently on the mission Snow Storm, having trouble completing the last bit, anyone got any tips?

[Jordan]

Question:

What are the par time for the multiplayer ranked co-op levels? I did them all last night under 10 mins each and didn't get the achievement.

[Stefkov]

I remember one of my mates saying 7 minutes. Don't quote me on that though.

[fex]

7 Minutes and 4 seconds for the mission where u have to go to a construction site and kill loads of people. Theres vids on youtube showing you the best way. Its all about grabbing a helicopter, and only doing it with two people.
________
Amc v8 engine specifications (http://www.dodge-wiki.com/wiki/AMC_V8_engine)

[Marshmellow]

Played this game for the first time today. Seems pretty good so far, not sure if it's living up to the hype though...

[CoolFunkMan]

Played this game for the first time today. Seems pretty good so far, not sure if it's living up to the hype though...

I agree. I got this game a few days ago, along with my PS3, and I've been playing it a bit. It was boring at first, but it's starting to pick up a bit (I've just completed the Jamaican Heat mission.) Still, I'd give it an 8.5/10 atm.

[flameboy]

When it got to killing either Dwayne or Playboy X who killed the second one?

I know most people will be past here, but don't wanna spoil for those who havn't ! I just ask cos I did kill him, as I felt he was too cocky for his own good and felt sorry for other guy....hoping this is a choice that has an effect on the story!

EDIT;

I only ask cos most people I know killed the first one.

[LazyBoy]

I killed the second. You get:

his apartment, plus if you're firends with dwayne you can get him to send a gang of people to help you out.

[Shorty]

I killed the second too.

Getting back into this now :) (after having my xbox sent off for repairs). Finally found a shop selling NRG 900s :D so I just get a taxi there all the time :heh:

[flameboy]

I am well and truly stuck on the Paper Trail mission. I can get to the water go under the bridge and Jacob lines up his first shot... and it always goes agonizing above or below the chopper I'm trying to shoot down, I've lost count of how many times I've tried to do it...how can you line it up perfectly? It seems to deep and rise so much and I find myself constantly trying to correct it.

Also one thing noticed a number of cars I picked up the radio hasn't been working odd.

Anyway gotta take a break from it but any tips on the paper trail will be very very much appreciated.

[Dante]

'PR’s Dirty Little Game With 11th Hour Reviews'

[In a sharply worded opinion piece, British games journalist and producer Simon Parkin discusses how limited access to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV may have affected its initial reception by the press, suggesting that withholding pre-release versions may be affecting reviews of many big game titles.]

Judgments cast before they'd been adequately weighed; words sold before they’d been properly valued; shallow opinions that should have been presented as the first word in a conversation but were dropped with the clacking gavel pound of a conclusion. Yeah, every writer has regrets.

Four weeks ago in this publication I referred to Grand Theft Auto IV’s depiction of immigrants as being more nuanced and sympathetic than that demonstrated by the exquisite Baltimore-set television drama, The Wire.

The exact words were: “[Niko Bellic’s] portrayal should do more to warm viewers to illegal immigrants than any of the (nevertheless awesome) characters in, say, the culturally-acclaimed TV series, The Wire.”

While it seems like a harmless enough statement it was an idiotic comparison considering the heavyweight dramatic nature of the television series and the shits-and-giggles, tongue-in-cheek parody of the video game.

But what’s really nagged and irritated me over the following weeks is that, with a little distance and perspective, the bold proclamation was so obviously made, like so many from within our industry, with the aim of elevating video games to the respectability of more established media via bald association.

The opinion piece was written following a short weekend's playing of the game just prior to its release and, as I’ve played on through the rest of the story, the fault lines in that specific claim have become ever more apparent. While I adore the slow pacing of the first few hours, the way Nico starts off on the straight and narrow and is dragged into the shadows of the American Dream by forces of poverty and necessity, the game soon enough swings into full adolescent-posing-as-adult narrative fizz.

There’s nothing particularly unusual or wrong with that, especially when sat alongside Hollywood’s output, but claiming it has anything particularly meaningful to say about the immigration issue is stretching the game beyond its purpose.

More interesting than this whiny narcissism are the forces that brought about my (and ten thousand other professional) snap judgments of the game.

In the weeks prior to GTA IV’s release, Rockstar made promises that print and online publications would receive early review code so that they might fully ingest and digest Liberty City in order to deliver mature and balanced opinions on its day of launch.

In reality, this was not the case, with precious few publications getting to spend prolonged time with the game ahead of release. The first review of the game came from the UK’s Official Xbox magazine bearing the worrying caveat “based on unfinished code”.

Eurogamer, wise to the fact promises of AAA title retail code ‘a week before release’ are rarely upheld, arranged to play through the game over a period of days in Rockstar’s offices instead (along with a couple of other UK publications). From speaking to other editors (some of high profile titles) this was not an opportunity offered to all and, when review code failed to turn up the week before release, many were left panicking about how they were going to serve their readers in a timely manner with any integrity.

The reason for the withholding of review code was, according to Rockstar, a result to the game’s leaking onto the internet seven days before its release. Speaking to the company at the time it was claimed that this leak came from an unscrupulous journalist.

As a result, there was a lock down on all review code: everybody would get their copy just one day before the game’s release, and, despite the wonky logic (after all the game had already leaked to those with the capability to play it so why punish the many for the indiscretion of the few) there were to be “no exceptions, no arguments”.

At best then, by the time the game had been played, copy written and subbed ready for the Tuesday morning, most journalists (both in the UK and the US) had played for only a few hours, experiencing just a fraction of the game’s content, a situation testified to by various admissions in professional reviews.

Time Magazine dubbed their piece Grand Theft Auto IV: The 6.24% Review while the Associated Press reviewer, Lou Kesten, admitted to having spent only spent eight hours with the game.

Slate Magazine’s excellent Chris Baker admitted he only had chance to ‘scratch the surface of the game’ going on to say in a comment on N'Gai Croal’s Level Up blog: "I couldn't even attempt to be definitive…it was kinda liberating”.

The BBC noted the phenomenon saying: "Most reviewers were not sent advance copies of the game, and instead had to attend Rockstar offices or sit in booked hotel rooms to play the game,” where Rockstar could keep an eye and some pressure on them. While these few admitted the partial and necessarily subjective nature of their reviews, how many passed off their impressions as being definitive of the whole?

Rockstar aren't the first ones to handle big title reviews in this way. Nintendo’s recent ploy, in the UK at least, is to require reviewers to visit the ‘Nintendo Flat’ in London, a place where one can book slots to review titles for a period of time (depending on what slots are left over from the prioritised lifestyle mags and newspapers) from the comfort of one of the company’s armchairs.

For the reviewer it’s an inconvenience at best, at worst a pernicious and blatant attempt to colour their opinion in as short an amount of time as possible. Halo 3, Super Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart Wii: all big name titles (in both size and stature) only supplied to many games reviewers a few days before their release.

But what’s the benefit to a PR or publisher in holding back code from non-exclusive reviewers till the eleventh hour, especially if the game is hotly anticipated and good? In part the practice has been fueled by the internet, where there are simply too many websites about video games. The competition to be first to ‘print’ with a review, while always a consideration in magazine publishing, is exacerbated through the global competitive nature of the net. In this environment many gaming website publishers are willing to publish a final review even if it’s only based on very tentative impressions of a small portion of the game.

After all, the effectiveness of a ‘buyer’s guide’ review is reduced the closer its publication gets to the game’s release. Any reviews appearing a few days and weeks after a game’s release is almost completely superfluous, thanks to the industry and its consumer’s obsession with the next thing, the next thing, the next thing.

By withholding code until a late stage then (be it through design or ineptitude), a PR can force a journalist to rely on marketing hype and information to fill the gaps in their knowledge of the game when writing copy. In this way, control of the critical reaction is shifted back to the PR in a subtle and (arguably) legitimate way.

Add into this the journalist’s natural inclination to want to say something, anything, that will distinguish his/ her copy and opinion from everybody else and you start to get bold proclamations being made and unlikely comparisons being drawn. The pressure to say something, anything serious and unique to distinguish your piece from ten thousand others that litter the Internet is heavy. There are too many games journalists tussling over too few opinions with too little time to make them and the PRs have learned to turn that to their advantage.

What’s interesting is the recent rise in a different approach to reviews, one that isn’t dependent on their being published on the day of a game’s launch and that doesn’t doesn’t come with a score attached. The staggering popularity of Ben ‘Yathzee’ Croshaw’s Zero Punctuation videos (which, according to Alexa.com have booted host site The Escapist’s profile up several internet leagues), are almost always focused on games that the viewers have already experienced first hand post-release.

Of course, its popularity has been driven by excellent knob gags but behind the stickman puerile humor there is something more serious and profound going on. People might come for the cock jokes but they stay for the critical chutzpah that props them up. It mightn’t look like it in the classical sense, but Zero Punctuation is one of the first pieces of games criticism, as opposed to reviewing, to hit the mainstream.

A more serious example is Edge magazine’s excellent monthly ‘Time Extend’ feature, which attempts a more orthodox approach to criticism, placing a game in its wider context, drawing out its long terms achievements, identifying its aims and its various success and failures in those goals (disclosure: I'm a long time Edge contributor who has penned numerous Time Extends).

Perhaps it’s time for the industry to treat reviews as snapshot buying guides, inconclusive first words in the conversation, and to nurture the more fertile and under-populated ground for more helpful and insightful long-view criticism in the weeks and months following a game’s release.

www.gamasutra.com (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18761)

[Pit-Jr]

regardless, the finished product is very much a 10

[Mike1988uk]

I have also killed the second one u mentioned flameboy and for basically the same reason you did!

[flameboy]

I have also killed the second one u mentioned flameboy and for basically the same reason you did!

lol....just thought he was a total nobhead who needed bringing down!

[Mike1988uk]

lol....just thought he was a total nobhead who needed bringing down!

Yep! I most certainly agree! Where bouts r u in GTA4 now anyway?

[LazyBoy]

That article makes sense, it wasn't a 10. Good game, but it wasn't perfect.

[flameboy]

Yep! I most certainly agree! Where bouts r u in GTA4 now anyway?

My complete rating says 32% and I've now played it just short of 29 hours :shakehead I am up to the mission with the helicopter for the paper firm if that makes any sense....

Its so annoying I just don't get the time to play a ton of it when thats all I wanna do!

How far are you?

[Mike1988uk]

My complete rating says 32% and I've now played it just short of 29 hours :shakehead I am up to the mission with the helicopter for the paper firm if that makes any sense....

Its so annoying I just don't get the time to play a ton of it when thats all I wanna do!

How far are you?

I have been playing it for about 23 hours. My completed ratio is about 39% i think (would need to check). However i did that mission quite awhile ago...

[Jordan]

When you finish the game, you'll have about a 60% completion ratio.

[Dog-amoto]

Well, I've been really sad and finished the game 100%

Took about 75 hours.

[Pit-Jr]

That article makes sense, it wasn't a 10. Good game, but it wasn't perfect.

A 10 doesnt mean perfect though, as no game ever is. A 10 places it at the top of its class until something better comes along.

[LazyBoy]

A 10 doesnt mean perfect though, as no game ever is. A 10 places it at the top of its class until something better comes along.

Well it wasn't that. Look it is a fantastic fantastic game. But at no point was it like "wow". You know what I mean. I was constantly impressed but never surprised. There's was little originality, little new. Nothing that hit me emotionally at all. But most of all it's the problem I have with any GTA game, and a lot of games these days. There was no imagination. It was, well kind of normal. A little boring.

Well there's my two cents. It goes in the drawer now, and I don't think it'll be coming out soon.

[flameboy]

I have been playing it for about 23 hours. My completed ratio is about 39% i think (would need to check). However i did that mission quite awhile ago...

how the hell do you stay level with them towards the end of the water when they seem to bob up and down.

[Mike1988uk]

how the hell do you stay level with them towards the end of the water when they seem to bob up and down.

I don't really remember. I don't remember it bobbing up and down though. Can you get the oppatunity for jacob to shoot earlier than that?

I have a fague memory of shooting it down abit after going under a bridge i think.

[Gizmo]

Btw, when the chopper your chasing goes under the bridge, dont bother and turn straight away towards the open water. Keeps you much closer to the target.

[flameboy]

Btw, when the chopper your chasing goes under the bridge, dont bother and turn straight away towards the open water. Keeps you much closer to the target.

yeah I do that and get all the way until we are about to turn back to the land and jacob takes his first shot and misses, often by next to nothing like it looks like it touches.

[CoolFunkMan]

Me and my mate had our first online game last night, we were on free mode. It was epic, deffinitely the most fun I've had with the game so far! Tbh, GTAIV was made for multiplayer.

[Gizmo]

yeah I do that and get all the way until we are about to turn back to the land and jacob takes his first shot and misses, often by next to nothing like it looks like it touches.

Dunno what to say then. It's just something that happens or it doesn't. Theres no trick to it afaik, just try and stay roughly the same height and don't rock about too much.

[Dyson]

I thought it was fixed that he'd hit on the third time tbh.

[flameboy]

I thought it was fixed that he'd hit on the third time tbh.

I always fail after he misses the first time...

[Solo]

OK I've just completed the game...

... on both endings, (where Roman or Kate die). And I've saved the endings on different files, but does it matter which one I continue with to try and get 100%?

[Mike1988uk]

Mine hit the second or third time of jacob shooting at the other helicopter. I can remember a first one definatly missing.

[Happenstance]

OK I've just completed the game...

... on both endings, (where Roman or Kate die). And I've saved the endings on different files, but does it matter which one I continue with to try and get 100%?

Personally id carry on with the one where Kate dies as that way you can keep using Romans taxis if you need them. Dont think Kate gives you anything.

[Aalborg]

wtf.. just when i got the game i did some havok and ran from the police with 6 stars for 5 minutes and 15 seconds.. just found out theres an achivement for doing it for 5 minutes.. that i didnt get... grrrrrrr

[Gizmo]

I always fail after he misses the first time...

Don't think you're getting close enough then. He only shoots when its roughly lined up and close. Sounds to me like your not getting there fast enough and he doesn't have time to shoot any more than once.

[Dog-amoto]

wtf.. just when i got the game i did some havok and ran from the police with 6 stars for 5 minutes and 15 seconds.. just found out theres an achivement for doing it for 5 minutes.. that i didnt get... grrrrrrr

I got it by getting a chopper before opening up Alderney and just flying over. Nobody does anything to you!

[flameboy]

rather oddly went back to do the paper trail mission and it didn't happen like before after the 1st shot the continued whereas every other time I did it, I found the mission ended...first 2 shots missed then 3rd shot hit like a charm.

[Shorty]

Just started this again aiming for the <30hr achievement, and to see what happens when you make certain different choices. Noticed some things in tutorial I forgot about or never paid attention to before :heh: like RB for handbrake (I always used A) and pressing down on the D-Pad to speed up phone conversations. And I'm using the taxi to get everywhere...

Anyone know the fastest way to get Little Jacob to start supplying me with guns?

[Jimbob]

I ought to get back into this now, need to finish the bank raid mission i keep failing on because somehow i can't quite perfect a grenade throw and keep blowing myself up.

[That Guy]

I've not played it in weeks. Might try to get back into it at some point.

[Shorty]

I've been watching jayseven play this and he's getting through it in such a strange order.

He unlocked all 3 islands and killed Francis long before he even got the apartment in algonquin

That said with the way I'm trying to get through it now, in under 30 hours, it's looking a bit more like that for me too.

[flameboy]

I've been playing a ton of multiplayer this week which is something I havn't really done. Loving playing Hangmans Noose...

Also another thing how does the rockstar zombie thing work? Is it if you kill a rockstar employee? or is it viral as in if you kill someone who has killed someone who killed a rockstar employee etc... either way I can now dress in the yellow pants and zombie get up!

[That Guy]

I'm really starting to hate it. I just can't see why this game is getting 10's every where. I might even just sell it.

I'm finding every mission to be utterly boring and when I die more than once in a mission it becomes even more tedious. I've never understood the facination with GTA and now I've actually played one I understand it even less.

[Shorty]

I'm really starting to hate it. I just can't see why this game is getting 10's every where. I might even just sell it.

I'm finding every mission to be utterly boring and when I die more than once in a mission it becomes even more tedious. I've never understood the facination with GTA and now I've actually played one I understand it even less.Perhaps you're just taking such a negative approach that you can't possibly enjoy it? Have you tried just driving around for a bit? Ignore the missions, grab a fast car and evade the police for a bit? Get a helicopter? An NRG 900 motorbike? The multiplayer is great fun too.

Also if you're getting killed during the missions make friends with Jacob, then you can buy body armour from him, most on-foot missions have body armour and health hidden around (which respawns in time). Take cover a lot and use the right stick to aim for the head, pull the trigger for a moment and release, so you only fire one or two bullets (like you would in counter strike or rainbow six) so that the accuracy stays on. I often just use the pistol and kill people in one shot.

Seriously you'll have to approach the game more optimistically, remember it's a sandbox-type title and just try to have fun. Otherwise yep, you're probably right- this isn't for you- you should sell it now while you can still get a decent price for it.

[Daft]

I stopped playing it about a week after it came out. Its too similar to SA and VC but it lacks the charm.

Also I think its much easier than the other ones. I died once, on the Three Leaf Clover mission and that was because the idiot Niko kept trying to melee a swat guy instead of shooting so I lost most my health.

I can appreciate people liking the sandbox aspect but after jumping around Crackdown, GTA becomes pretty mundane and a lot more tedious.

[That Guy]

Perhaps you're just taking such a negative approach that you can't possibly enjoy it? Have you tried just driving around for a bit? Ignore the missions, grab a fast car and evade the police for a bit? Get a helicopter? An NRG 900 motorbike? The multiplayer is great fun too.

Also if you're getting killed during the missions make friends with Jacob, then you can buy body armour from him, most on-foot missions have body armour and health hidden around (which respawns in time). Take cover a lot and use the right stick to aim for the head, pull the trigger for a moment and release, so you only fire one or two bullets (like you would in counter strike or rainbow six) so that the accuracy stays on. I often just use the pistol and kill people in one shot.

Seriously you'll have to approach the game more optimistically, remember it's a sandbox-type title and just try to have fun. Otherwise yep, you're probably right- this isn't for you- you should sell it now while you can still get a decent price for it.

Possibly. My main concern with it is, what exactly is there to do in the game? There's not exactly a great deal, with Roman asking you to go drink with him, which is fun the first time as you see the effect, after that it's just like everything else.
Crackdown was a laugh because I played it co-op and got achievements messing around. There doesn't seem to be any of that in this game. I'm just going to leave it for a couple of months I think, maybe go back to it eventually.

[Gizmo]

I can appreciate people liking the sandbox aspect but after jumping around Crackdown, GTA becomes pretty mundane and a lot more tedious.

I was really expecting to feel like this too but there was so much more to do in GTA that I never really noticed it at all. Although the jumping around and climbing was very frustrating at times.

[Daft]

I was really expecting to feel like this too but there was so much more to do in GTA that I never really noticed it at all. Although the jumping around and climbing was very frustrating at times.

Yeah, I can understand why people like it but I didn't really find the things that interesting to do without any kind of motivation. Also after the absolute chaos and rampant destructive fun of Crackdown, I don't really find GTAIV that fun, if the story was good I could immerse myself in its strong basing in reality but I thought the story was incredibly dull.

[Stefkov]

Have you tried just driving around for a bit? Ignore the missions, grab a fast car and evade the police for a bit? Get a helicopter? An NRG 900 motorbike?
These I did in GTA3 and I loved it back then. It just had that different feeling to it, less like when I ran over a person I was actually running over someone so I could just enjoy evading the police.
In GTA4 I just can't be bothered going back to it now. It was such a hyped game for me, I couldn't wait to actually own a gta game and do what I did on 3. But the cars controls are meant to be more realistic and other stuff in the game puts me off going back and doing what I want to do.
I guess I should try, but I can't be bothered turning on any of my consoles recently.

[Shorty]

These I did in GTA3 and I loved it back then. Did GTA 3 have helicopters or motorbikes? :heh:

[Aalborg]

Did GTA 3 have helicopters or motorbikes?

no the first 3d installment "only" had cars.. and as i remember a smalle plane that you couldnt fly.. well not further than the wright brothers anyway

Im nearing 100 hours.. still not finished with the main story as I keep getting sidetracked by stealing cars and exploring..
I dated that fucked up nurse and once I had my way with her I blew her up by dropping a grenade in the car and running.. I have seldom laughed that much.. in the following "cutscene" she dumped me.. surprise!!

I have unlocked the ability to buy weapons from jacob and the next thing im going for is the carbombs from Patrick.. im just so tired of all those stupid calls about bowling etc. And you usually have to pick them up as far as possible from your current position

[Dante]

These I did in GTA3 and I loved it back then. It just had that different feeling to it, less like when I ran over a person I was actually running over someone so I could just enjoy evading the police.
In GTA4 I just can't be bothered going back to it now. It was such a hyped game for me, I couldn't wait to actually own a gta game and do what I did on 3. But the cars controls are meant to be more realistic and other stuff in the game puts me off going back and doing what I want to do.
I guess I should try, but I can't be bothered turning on any of my consoles recently.

Rockstar believe GTA4 has to realistic game than than the others. :blank:

GTA4 has no:

Crazy missions
Bikes
Skydiving
Gambling
Flamethrower
Samurai swords
Gatling gun
Chainsaw
Gangs
Tanks
Jetpacks
Rampages
Car customization
Business

[flameboy]

The lack of gangs and business are the biggest thing for me....Definitly think they both would fit really well...When I was playing the early stages of the game I naturally assumed that the taxi firm would be a means to creating a business and acquiring more and different missions.

I'm 32% in, so assuming neither of these are going to come in to the game now over half way through.

[Dante]

a good post from a user at another board.

I first played GTA4 on the merits of its great story and interesting characters, including Niko. The problem is that half-way, somewhere after the big bank heist with Packie, the whole atmosphere and play trend the game establishes at first, becomes rather hollow and plain. From that point on, all Niko is really doing, is killing for money. In my opinion, that does not fit his initial character at all, nor into what he evolved as a result of his experiences in the game.

Another problem is the amount of killing you do. For a realistic story, it's just too insane how much killing there is. Niko's physical reaction to damage is also weird, for he does not fall on the ground or wander injured when he takes bullets, unlike every other NPC in the game. At first, it's not very noticeable, but after many fights, it detracts heavily from the experience. The Euphoria animation aspects are definitely noticeable, but what I do not like is how the player has to interact with the environment. I thought it was amazing, now I kinda wished Niko would automatically jump over fences if I was running towards one. The only time the Euphoria engine shows its greatness is when you're drunk or when you're hit by a car.

I generally don't mind the way the game is right now, but what bothered me the most was that half-way the game, the story just takes a free-fall and the emotion and character drive you emphasise with is gone. It's as if the initial story was to pull you through the game, until it provides enough free-choice content for you to do at any time during the rest of the game.

They tried to create a serious and realistic GTA on its face-value, but with old-fashioned traits from the previous games. They succeeded in the prior, but failed in the latter. The city they developed was made as a medium for an active storyline, but it's not designed for randomly fucking around with the technology it boosts. It's way too much of a set-piece for a story, in contrast of being a sandbox playground. When half-way in the game, the story starts being down-played heavily, there are at first no real cues or hints of this being the case. It feels a lot like a disappointment or waiting for something awesome to happen. But in the end, nothing really important or amazing happens. Second, the free-choice content is very poor for a GTA game. I don't like the free activities. I like the comedy performances, but they're not going to be entertaining forever.

I think they just over-promised on the story and had to cut short or realized that they weren't really making a GTA game. By cutting it short, they kinda fucked up their premise half-way the game. Maybe they should have realized that their goal was too ambitious. Personally, I'd think the best course of action for this game, would have been to give each island section it's own particular play properties. So for example, the eastern islands are meant for the story development, while the western islands are for having random fun.

I still have great fun with this game, but the defects, global and local, are kinda obvious at times.

[Dyson]

Yeah I agree with that post myself. Don't get me wrong, I still love this game, and nobody really seems to mention multiplayer when talking about screwing around randomly, but it's something that people should look in to a bit more if you haven't done already.

[Cube]

Yeah I agree with that post myself. Don't get me wrong, I still love this game, and nobody really seems to mention multiplayer when talking about screwing around randomly, but it's something that people should look in to a bit more if you haven't done already.

Have they fixed the servers yet?

Edit: No. They haven't.

[Din]

Why the hell is there no checkpoints in at least some of the missions? 3 Leaf Clover is pissing me off.

[tapedeck]

yeah, I did 3 leaf clover the other night, about the 4th time I was getting knarked off at the no-checkpoints. Then I did it with body armour and realised there are health packs in the "cellars", piece o' cake. Checkpoints are a must if missions are long (or far away!). R*= Fooools.

I also think the third island is poor. Shouldn't they get better? I think the first island was maybe the best...

[Mike1988uk]

I think i may prefer the first island being the best. Maybe its just coz i could pretty much remember my way round the first one but not really for the others...

[That Guy]

Played a bit more today, got to the second safehouse story seems to have just started to get good. Still not a big fan of the missions but it's alright.

[tapedeck]

I think i may prefer the first island being the best. Maybe its just coz i could pretty much remember my way round the first one but not really for the others...

Indeed, it, *sniff* feels like *sniff* home. I remember when Roman worked the dingy cab office and we were stuck in that seedy dive. Never forget your roots. :p

[Jimbob]

Completed the mission where i had to raid a flat and take out a notorious gang leader. Was a little tricky in places, but was alright in the end.

Much prefer the first island to the third. As it looks like it has been rushed in a few ways to get the game out on time.

Edit: Am available for online play tomorrow night (19/6/08), if anyone wants to join in. Be on from 7pm

[Dan Dare]

Ok, this is fucking crazy.


Finished the game now but apart from the one Bernie gives you, I've not seen a single Infernus (Lambo style super car) in the game. Do they spawn anywhere? is there one hidden away? I managed to blow Bernie's up by driving over a petrol can in some godforsaken industrial dump somewhere after making a get away. Not going to be impressed if I can't get another.

[flameboy]

I havn't touched this for ages...owing mostly to MGS4, wondering if it will join my stack of GTA games not completed...only completed GTA3.

[Mike1988uk]

I havn't touched this for ages...owing mostly to MGS4, wondering if it will join my stack of GTA games not completed...only completed GTA3.

I have not touched this for ages either, my reason is just having loads of good games on all 3 consoles at the mo! lol.

I prob will come back to it at some point but i don't think i have ever completed a GTA game!

[tapedeck]

I've been getting back into this lately. It's so vast that I've forgot half of the story already...God knows who some of the phonebook contacts are...

I was hoping custom soundtracks would entice me back (still waiting). But I've just done the 'funeral' mission which was pretty good.
I'm just a bit annoyed that Niko is nothing but a hitman. Seems like every mission is just rinse and repeat for different characters. I hope this changes.

Determined to complete it though. I've always got bored of every GTA title pretty much half way through.

[Mike1988uk]

I've been getting back into this lately. It's so vast that I've forgot half of the story already...God knows who some of the phonebook contacts are...

I was hoping custom soundtracks would entice me back (still waiting). But I've just done the 'funeral' mission which was pretty good.
I'm just a bit annoyed that Niko is nothing but a hitman. Seems like every mission is just rinse and repeat for different characters. I hope this changes.

Determined to complete it though. I've always got bored of every GTA title pretty much half way through.

Yer i think thats my problem, i get bored of it. I have played arond 25 hours on it which is along time but its just gets so samy and i was ending up getting taxi's everywhere coz i couldn't be bothered driving to places. Will defo come back to it at some point though.

[tapedeck]

I agree with you Mike.

What I would like to see is the multiplayer merge with the single player - on the fly. It would be great if I could do a mission whilst other people are roaming/fighting in the game. Obviously in-mission things would perhaps have to revert to AI characters roaming the streets (as people would try and ruin your mission at all costs) but then coming out of missions and just having a scenario where the city is like free roam (with cops and pedestrians) would be a but more realistic.

I guess there are LOADS of issues with that but the NPC's sometimes felt lifeless and although different, they seem to do a lot of similar things. (dropping items when you run past, running away or fighting, falling over after a push).

Want, want, want... It just seems for such a 'small' area, there is little to actually do.

[Gizmo]

Ok, this is fucking crazy.


Finished the game now but apart from the one Bernie gives you, I've not seen a single Infernus (Lambo style super car) in the game. Do they spawn anywhere? is there one hidden away? I managed to blow Bernie's up by driving over a petrol can in some godforsaken industrial dump somewhere after making a get away. Not going to be impressed if I can't get another.

I think there are 2 ways of making Infernus's spawn;

1) While driving the original others spawn a LOT. Like the entire pavements get lined with them. Just push one with the other and get one to your parking space.

2) Sometimes they spawn around the start of races that Brucie sets up.

[Mike1988uk]

Just decided to have a quick play of this coz i ent played on it in ages and it is making me update the game.

Anyone know what this update does? (PS3 version)

[Cube]

Anyone know what this update does? (PS3 version)

I didn't notice any changes - I still failed to connect to online games 90% of the time after the patch.

[Mike1988uk]

I didn't notice any changes - I still failed to connect to online games 90% of the time after the patch.

lol, oh well.

I have not really tried connecting online to be honest...

[Jimbob]

I think there are 2 ways of making Infernus's spawn;

1) While driving the original others spawn a LOT. Like the entire pavements get lined with them. Just push one with the other and get one to your parking space.

2) Sometimes they spawn around the start of races that Brucie sets up.

Think the 3rd way is to drive around a lot on the third island, they sometimes appear and drive past you over there as well. Quite rare to see that though.

Luckely i saved my Infernus at Playboy X's place so its always there as well as my Suberu Impretza. Havn;t been on the game for a little while properly, been online gaming a lot. I have noticed that the wireless adaptor maintains my signal permanently compared to when i had it wired.

[Fresh]

Think the 3rd way is to drive around a lot on the third island, they sometimes appear and drive past you over there as well. Quite rare to see that though.

The Infernus hardly ever spawns without you driving one already. The only way to get it is by Bernie or there is a number that you can ring that will spawn one, however that stops you accessing certain achievements.

[Bren]

the infernus is crap, it looks horrible and handles bad, fast though.

Banshees are wot ya need

[Gizmo]

The Infernus never spawns without you driving one already. The only way to get it is by Bernie or there is a number that you can ring that will spawn one, however that stops you accessing certain achievements.

Not true, I have found one randomly while I wasn't in an Infernus, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a cheat for one either.

[Fresh]

Not true, I have found one randomly while I wasn't in an Infernus, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a cheat for one either.

Lol, your right, how odd. There is one for almost every other super car but that. For me there is always one that spawns on the corner of Montauk Ave, and Earp Street in Broker.

[tapedeck]

Decided to get back into this last night and finally met up with Flavian Cravic (sp?). The thing is, I actually thought I was nearly finished ...Sounds like there is a hell of a long way to go. Really hope his "adding to the phonebook" offers a nice change of pace. God, it's needed.

Having said that, I enjoyed chasing the bikers through the subway...Even if it takes two hands to (easily) control the bike AND the aiming reticle.

[Dan Dare]

yeah that chase is fun. one of the better ones.

[Dyson]

It's also hard. Love the bit where you have to dodge the trains though.

[Mike1988uk]

It's also hard. Love the bit where you have to dodge the trains though.

Yer i remember that... I'm pretty sure i said hello to the train driver a couple of times...

lol

[Dyson]

XD

Yeah, I did a couple of times.

[flameboy]

Ok so major bumpage...but just gottan back into this. I abandoned it as didnt finish it before MGS 4 came out...but now got back in to it, only on 45% but wanna try and complete it soon...

[Mike1988uk]

Ok so major bumpage...but just gottan back into this. I abandoned it as didnt finish it before MGS 4 came out...but now got back in to it, only on 45% but wanna try and complete it soon...

Cool, i have had no urge to play on it again. Maybe i will in the future...

If i remember rightly someone said u normally complete the story around the 60% mark.

[tapedeck]

Think I'll play it tonight and try to get it finished. I'm sure I've passed 60% though :o

[Mike1988uk]

Think I'll play it tonight and try to get it finished. I'm sure I've passed 60% though :o

oh right, lol. Think i was in the 40%ish region.

[flameboy]

Yeah mike its take me a long time to want to get back into I though ah fuck it iv forgotten the plot...but it kinda all came gushing back...had some awesome missions today...

[Mike1988uk]

Cool, well i finally bought uncharted today!!!!!!!! It taken me long enough.

[flameboy]

awesome game, probaly my fav ps3 game.

[tapedeck]

Well, I finally completed this last night. (68%!) And after 70hrs of play and some reflection time, for the most part I loved it. It certainly had it's ups and downs and was, at times a slog to play. Nico felt like a hitman and nothing more, which was a shame. And there were that many characters that if you left the game for a while (like I did) when returning it was a case of "who, eh?" The story was nothing stellar, although towards the end, the choices came thick and fast and were brilliantly weaved into the way the story would finish. More of that would have been nice. (Ala Playboy/Dwayne.) The choices are probably something which will become a larger feature in any future iterations imo.

I thought there would have been a massive "ending" as such so that was dissapointing. The wedding was nice and the way you had something to go to which didn't involve killing was a nice alternative and something I would have liked more of - outside of the "date" scenarios. I got the ending where Roman survived and I was pretty gutted at the Kate scenario. Thought it would finally be a happy ending. :indeed:

Other than that, the texts/calls you get after finishing the title were nice and there is plenty still to unearth. Even if it's of the bird killing variety. DLC can't come soon enough though as I still feel the title promised the world yet only gave a continent or two. :p

Does anyone else have any thoughts about the title months after release? What do you want from upcoming DLC? Jetpacks? Planes? Better missions? More interaction? Or has the series grown stale?

[Cube]

The bank mission is the only thing I remember (aside from bad driving, awkward shooting, poor physics and the broken online mode).

[flameboy]

I completed it last week, blitzed the last missions in a mammoth 9 hour session, ended with a playtme of 45 hours and 64%. Was my favourite GTA so far in terms of story. I'm not sure how the decisions I made changed the game but I was pretty gutted at some of the events.

[Sheikah]

I remember getting quite far with this, but it being exam period during when I had to stop playing. Never returned to it...on reflection I don't think the game is all what it was hyped up to be; definitely not 10/10. The online, for starters, is terrible. The game does have some good missions, namely the bank raid, and is fun at times. Too much of it felt like a drag though.

[The Lillster]

I brought it at launch, played it for about a week and I havn't touched it since.

Mind you I do this with most games.

[Jimbob]

I completed it last week, blitzed the last missions in a mammoth 9 hour session, ended with a playtme of 45 hours and 64%. Was my favourite GTA so far in terms of story. I'm not sure how the decisions I made changed the game but I was pretty gutted at some of the events.

Some of the decisions i did resulted in different positionings for certain missions, some easier to beat the missions others harder.

I'm pumping for the 30 hour achievement, i think i got either 14-16 hours of gamplay left to get this in. I'm on the final island now beating the missions on there. Each time i go on, i beat a character or two's missions and only take mates out if they call, saves a lot of time and can go back to these at the end of the game.

[tapedeck]

If anyone wants some online PS3 GTA tonight, 8pm-9pm I'll be online.

[Dog-amoto]

I've just got the online achievements to get on this now, as I got 100% on the main game, but i don't think I'll bother

[Dante]

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is the first of two planned episodic expansion packs to be developed for the Xbox 360 version of the sandbox-style action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto IV, developed by Rockstar North.

The first episodic pack is to be released on Xbox Live on 17 February 2009, retailing for 1600 Microsoft Points.

The Lost and Damned features a new protagonist, Johnny Klebitz, who is a member of Liberty City's biker gang The Lost, a gang which is featured in several missions throughout the course of Grand Theft Auto IV. Dan Houser, vice president of creative development at Rockstar Games, claims the episode will show "a different side of Liberty City".

Jeronimo Barrera, Vice President of Product Development for Rockstar Games, has said that the episodes are experiments because they are not sure that there are enough users with access to online content on the Xbox 360.

Take-Two Interactive's Chief Financial Officer, Lainie Goldstein revealed that Microsoft was paying a total of $50 million for the first two episodes.


Hands-On Previews:

games.kikizo.com (http://games.kikizo.com/features/gta-iv-the-lost-and-damned-hands-on-p1.asp)

www.eurogamer.net (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-theft-auto-iv-the-lost-and-damned-hands-on)

www.gameplayer.com.au (http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/LostandDamned.aspx)

www.computerandvideogames.com (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=206492)

xboxlive.ign.com
(http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/947/947252p1.html)

uk.xboxlive.ign.com (http://uk.xboxlive.ign.com/articles/947/947267p1.html)

kotaku.com (http://kotaku.com/5137087/hands+on-with-grand-theft-auto-iv-the-lost-and-damned)

www.gamesradar.com (http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox360/grand-theft-auto-iv/preview/gta-iv-how-the-lost-and-damned-makes-niko-look-soft/a-20090122153825218073/g-2006051014323586065)

[Jimbob]

^ So, theoretically we'd be spending nearly £15 on DLC. Gonna be an expensive month.

From what i've read about it, it does seem promising and looks good. It will be nice to go back on GTA and actually do missions for a change.

[Daft]

1600 points?! For one of two DLCs...

That's a lot.

[Goron_3]

1600 points?! For one of two DLCs...

That's a lot.

Well judging by IGNs preview, 1600 points is a bargain. They could release this as a full game apparantly.

[Daft]

I'm not going base any decision on IGN. They gave IV a 10 which I don't think it deserved.

Tbh It sounds like it has some stuff that should have been in the original. Variety in mission being the main one. It sounds fun, although I hate that GTA doesn't have recharging health, but I found IV so monotonous that I can't be bothered with it. Especially after completing Saints Row 2.

[Cube]

I'm glad I sold the game rather than waiting to see what the DLC is like. It sounds like it's going even further from what. I think I'll have to check out Saints Row 2 - from what I've heard that game is actually based on having fun.

[dwarf gourami]

I've never owned a GTA game and neither do I want one. Really don't care about it. Sandbox games in general need to improve gameplay wise I think. Most of the time it's essentially one big level that you've seen the majority of so in story mode it would be better to have more variation.

[RoadKill]

I've never owned a GTA game and neither do I want one. Really don't care about it. Sandbox games in general need to improve gameplay wise I think. Most of the time it's essentially one big level that you've seen the majority of so in story mode it would be better to have more variation.

If you haven't owned a GTA game it doesn't really give you much leeway to comment on GTA gameplay, if you don't like that kind of game, that's fine, but that doesn't mean GTA should change so you do like it, it's already ridiculously popular, for example, there are no changes in the world that would make me play the majority of sports games, but I don't they should change since clearly some idiot loves buying the same football game year in year out with just better graphics and different names above people's heads, so it remains profitable

[Dan Dare]

I've never owned a GTA game and neither do I want one. Really don't care about it. Sandbox games in general need to improve gameplay wise I think. Most of the time it's essentially one big level that you've seen the majority of so in story mode it would be better to have more variation.

That's a very limited way to look at it. What you have with GTA is the deepest, finely nuanced and well designed gameworld of all time. It's an artistic triumph that pushed the boundaries of what gaming is capable of in so many areas.
Still, you've not played it. You weren't to know:heh:

Re: the price.

My first reaction was a bit of a coffee spitting knee jerk you WHAT? kind of situation
I've thought about it some more though and with that kind of content (new plot, new cast, new radio stations, new missions) what we have here is NOT comparable to your standard DLC offerings. Instead, I'm considering it comparable to the expansion sets associated with Blizzard games (for a popular example) where the main game was released then six months later you got a new cmapaign, a few new units or characters and a new set of maps for half the price.

Arcade releases are generally just arcade games and small content releases but we shouldn't consider that it's only capability. This is bigger and more elaborate than anything anyone has ever released on the platform and i think the price will just be a reflection of that.

[Dyson]

The reviews have said pretty much the same thing as Dan Dare, that it will revolutionize the way we look at DLC. I'm interested to see how it turns out myself.

[dwarf gourami]

I've played a lot of the game! I completed the bank mission (first time if it matters) and thought it was quite good, but after I learned that was the trademark level. I didn't think it was that great.

Obviously the game looks amazing and is technically amazing but in terms of fun and gameplay I didn't think it was all there.

[Daft]

I've played a lot of the game! I completed the bank mission (first time if it matters) and thought it was quite good, but after I learned that was the trademark level. I didn't think it was that great.

Obviously the game looks amazing and is technically amazing but in terms of fun and gameplay I didn't think it was all there.

I agree. The game has no flow.

People told me to keep playing it until the bank job. I did and was completely underwhelmed. Nico is an awful character devoid of any charm.

The game is too easy and the missions are incredibly boring.

Try Saints Row 2. It never for one iota takes itself seriously and is a blast.

[Gizmo]

Yeah. To me, it seems more comparable to the kind of expansion packs you get for PC games. I'm thinking: Tiberian Sun Firestorm, which added a whole new set of campaigns, new units, new maps, new rules.

[dwarf gourami]

Yeah I may try out Saints Row 2 when I use the code Choze gave me for the 3 month trial with LoveFilm. Legend.

[Chris the great]

hum, i relly liked the bank job, and thought niko was a great character. had some depth. i did enjoy the game, though it suffers the same problem all sandbox games do, freedom is an illusuion and missions are repetative.

[Jimbob]

hum, i relly liked the bank job, and thought niko was a great character. had some depth. i did enjoy the game, though it suffers the same problem all sandbox games do, freedom is an illusuion and missions are repetative.

GTA was great up until the bank job, then it was the repetitive "find x, kill/kidnap x" style missions afterwards. And they didn't take too long to do either. Still, it was a great game with a great story to it.

I am looking forward to this DLC, to see a new side of Liberty City as the creators have mentioned already.

[Dante]

If you haven't owned a GTA game it doesn't really give you much leeway to comment on GTA gameplay, if you don't like that kind of game, that's fine, but that doesn't mean GTA should change so you do like it, it's already ridiculously popular, for example, there are no changes in the world that would make me play the majority of sports games, but I don't they should change since clearly some idiot loves buying the same football game year in year out with just better graphics and different names above people's heads, so it remains profitable

The media are just as bad with GTA.

Chicago Tribune: Is 'Grand Theft Auto IV' the greatest writing of the century? (http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-0125-gta-newjan25,0,5000350.story)

[Bren]

There are no changes in the world that would make me play the majority of sports games, but I don't they should change since clearly some idiot loves buying the same football game year in year out with just better graphics and different names above people's heads, so it remains profitable

sry, just have to point out how wrong this whole statement is. Clearly you needa play some sports games if thats what you think of them. Theyve gone through some changes, trusttt meh.

[Chris the great]

sry, just have to point out how wrong this whole statement is. Clearly you needa play some sports games if thats what you think of them. Theyve gone through some changes, trusttt meh.

im split down the middle between you and road.

on the one hand, i agree that more is changed in a game then just the graphics and player rosters, i know controles are refined, new elements are added in, but i still dont think its different enough from the previous years offering to warrent a £40 price tag. then again, i dont enjoy sports games.

[dwarf gourami]

Well that's why you don't pay £40 for them. For Fifa I think what I'll do is buy a new one every 2 years.

[Hero-of-Time]

Here's Eurogamers review of the DLC that will be out tomorrow.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/grand-theft-auto-iv-the-lost-and-damned-review

CVG review

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=208414

[Gizmo]

I love the fact that this expansion is supposedly so long - 15 hours according to the Eurogamer review. I spent £35 on Dead Space and just finished it in 10 hours, and while I'll probably play through it at least once more I'm sure the asides that comes with a playthrough of GTA will make that a roughly equal playtime for half the money. Can't wait for this to come out.

[Bren]

ahh cant wait for the DLC, anyone kno what time its being released?

[Gizmo]

Wait is it out tomorrow? I thought it was Wednesday. Excellent!

[Dyson]

Just noticed there's been next to no chatter about the expansion pack being released today for GTA IV. I, personally, am not going to be getting it right away, though it does add a lot of features to the game, I can't justify spending 1600 MS points on it just yet.

Do you plan on picking this up? If so - you might be interested to know that it comes out today, at 10am GMT. Which means it's probably out now, depending on when you read this.

Leave your impressions here - and yes, I do care, as I'm basing whether or not I purchase this on what everyone else has to say about it :heh:

Release Date: Tuesday 17th February 2009
Platform: Exclusive to Xbox 360 :awesome:
Price: 1600 MS Points

[Dyson]

Doh, god damn it, sorry guys, I actually didn't see this thread bumped on my New Posts button. I just made a separate thread for it unintentionally. Feel free to either let it be or merge it, mods. : peace:

[m_fergy]

Just got in from work... 6:30 am :zzz:

Will buy this when I wake up... Will have a lil go before I got to go to work again...

Will be on at the weekend if anyone is up for some online (not sure if they are adding anything to the online :confused: )

[Jordan]

Btw, its "Lost and Damned".

Its out 10am GMT :)

[Nintenchris]

Go to marketplace at xbox.com .. its already there :smile: downloading as i type this!

[Jav_NE]

Haha, awesome moment in this....

Full-frontal male nudity!!!!!