::The official GTA IV facts and speculation thread::

[Jimex]

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4586/gtabannerzf1.png

Main Features


Gameplay

* Niko can use a mobile phone to recieve calls and phone his contacts. He can also use it to call taxis and purchase weapons. The options presented on the phone's LCD are Phonebook, Messages, Organizer, and Camera.

* Pedestrians smoke cigarettes, read books and newspapers, drop litter, talk on mobile phones, walk in and out of buildings, and generally act like any normal pedestrian would.

* It is possible to climb and descend telephone poles, and exterior fire escapes.

* There are many different animation sets for breaking into cars. One of these involves Niko smashing the side window with his elbow, climbing into the car, and then hotwiring it.

* Niko is able to manage his funds at ATMs.

* GTA IV features multiplayer, but it's "not a massively multiplayer game," according to Rockstar's creative vice president Dan Houser.

* It is possible to surf the internet in GTA4 via internet cafés. It is available from any computer in the game, and provides a hub for all sorts of interactivity within Liberty City.

* The camera angle behind the car is closer than it has been in previous GTAs. This allows you to see more detail on the cars, and more of the verticality of the city.

* In GTA IV, you will gain a police wanted level for any crime that you commit, providing there are witnesses present. The police can only chase you if they know where you are, and they need to see you to know where you are. If you escape the search area marked on the radar without being spotted, your wanted level will disappear.

* In terms of scale, GTA IV is about the same size as GTA: San Andreas, but the map size is considerably smaller. This is mainly due to the fact there is no desert or countryside in Liberty City. Liberty City in GTA4 is the biggest city R* have ever created.

* Every street in Liberty City contains a street sign with a name on it.

* It is possible to do more than one mission at a time. For example, some missions take place over several days and may involve waiting for phonecalls or attending interviews, and you are free to carry out other business during the waiting period.

* The story can be told in a number of different ways. Rockstar are trying to give people greater freedom and sense of control over their destiny. You now have a lot more choice in what you want to do.

Technology

* Grand Theft Auto 4 runs on Rockstar's proprietary next generation game engine, R.A.G.E., allowing for an unprecedented level of realism and interactivity.

* New sunlight and weather effects which give the city a whole different appearance as the time of day progresses.

* Volumetric lighting effects allow sunlight to stream realistically into dusty interiors. Police spotlights will likely benefit from this effect as well when helicopters kick up debris.

* Normal (bump) maps will provide much more detail in models than the underlying polygons, as well as giving materials more texture and depth.

* Road and building textures are more varied than in previous GTAs. On some roads you will find potholes, metal plates (etc) where the road has been dug up.

* Modern pixel shaders give water, glass, cars, etc.. more realistic reflections and shininess than the earlier games.

* In cars, you can see real reflections on the rear and side-view mirrors.

* There are no load times in GTA4, not even during exterior-interior transitions (and vice versa.)

* GTA4 uses euphoria, a fully procedural animation package created by NaturalMotion. The core technology is the Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) system.

* Variations in the terrain are met with realistic changes in the walking animation.

* Unique game moments. Animations are created on the fly, so each player's experience will be unique. Gamers are no longer subjected to pre-recorded animations.

* Characters will react realisticaly to being hit with gunfire, cars, and melee weapons or fists.

* Players will be able to push people out of the way, rather than "floating" past them as in older games.

* Falling/thrown characters will react as in real life- They won't simply be limp, lifeless ragdolls. Nor will they use a canned "super hero" animation like before.

* Characters (and players?) will be able to hang on to helicopters and trucks, which will swing them around as the vehicle moves.

[KIDxROCK]

After viewing the trailer I thought it would be New York also.

[phatmuther]

Nice post (Y)

[PicoDeath]

Nice thread.

[WACCOE]

Indeed.
Some info I didn't know about.
Brilliant stuff.
Keep it up, matey.

[PicoDeath]

http://kinoclub.by.ru/images/frame/b/behind_enemy_lines_468x228/frame_046.jpg

They look the same.

[Jimex]

I was thinking more Jean Reno :LOL:
http://lavender.fortunecity.com/foxybrown/515/reno33.jpg

[Jimex]

Updated with scans of the latest edition of Game Informer.

[Project-Cooper]

I just wanted to ask, is that your copy of the magazine?

If so, how'd you get it early?

(Oh, and thats pretty good... if you have the magazine.)

[edgehead411]

VERY NICE! I can't wait for this game

[Joe]

* Apparently there are no planes because there is only one city in the game.


(:/) Bit ----e

[Jimex]

* Apparently there are no planes because there is only one city in the game.


(:/) Bit ----e

That is really ---- if theres no planes, even if they don't put it in at first, i'm sure it will be a content download.

In reply to 'King_of_Games' post, these aren't my scans and you get it early by being a subscriber to the magazine.

[WACCOE]

That's ----.
Planes are the best bit.
I wanna crash into some big New York-esque building whilst claiming I have some C4 strapped to the underside of my armchair.
And film it.

[Jimex]

- Further updated the bulletpoints, i'm a little sad theres no countryside :(
- Added links to scans

[R3DF0X]

Good post man !

[lilazndood1]

Nice, can't wait!

[Dcontrol]

I too have heard via the rumour mill that there are no planes in the game. Lets just not rule them out just yet and take them for what they are pure speculation at this point. I wouldn't be worried if there aren't any planes in it anyway as its the cars that you drive the majority of the time anyway.

[Killer 57]

Ah now I don't regret not renewing my subscription to Game Informer when I have guys like Jimex to give me the 411 on ---- like this. Cheers.

[frika]

Sounds good..

Do we know a rough release date yet?

Multiplayer / co-op could be interesting!

[Jimex]

We have an exact release date, 16/10/07, i'll put it in the main post for you.
-UPDATED bulletpoints and removed the pictures to save space and keep annoying mods at bay :P, enjoy!

[WACCOE]

- Further updated the bulletpoints, i'm a little sad theres no countryside :(
- Added links to scans

No countryside?
Nooooooo :[

[Jimex]

No countryside?
Nooooooo :[
Apparently, i'm more sad about the prospect of no planes as there is only one island and they 'want to make it as realistic as possible'. Thats not what GTA's about, i want to jump off cliff in a monster truck and use a parachute at the last second. Thats what i loved about gta, i hope they don't take it away from me.

[WACCOE]

You probably won't be able to slap 'gangstahs' round the chops with -----s in this one, either. :[

[Project-Cooper]

UK realese - 19th October 2007
USA realese - 16th October 2007

Oh, and I love the new update. Sweet.

[phatmuther]

The no planes thing is obviously because of 9/11. Not because theres one city.

[Jimex]

The no planes thing is obviously because of 9/11. Not because theres one city.
That would just be stupid, since when have R* ever been sensitive about content they put in their games? If that were the case they'd think twice about almost everything that makes GTA what it is.

P.S. links to images have exceeded bandwidth so i'll alter them as soon as posible.

[phatmuther]

Well alot of people in america are still hurt by the ol' 9/11, possibly even people that work at R*. Parents wouldnt want their kids playing a game where you could recreate it are they.

You could fly the dodo in Vice city couldn't you? That was just one city, and its smaller than GTAVI's single city.

[Blaze Lord]

Didn't San Andreas come out after 9/11 though?

[Jimex]

Well alot of people in america are still hurt by the ol' 9/11, possibly even people that work at R*. Parents wouldnt want their kids playing a game where you could recreate it are they.

You could fly the dodo in Vice city couldn't you? That was just one city, and its smaller than GTAVI's single city.
Parents wouldn't want their kids playing a game where you could pick up prostitutes, shoot innocent people, blow up cars, deal drugs and slap policemen with -----s either, but thats what GTA has been for years. Plus you can't recreate 9/11 as there is no world trade center parody anyway.

[phatmuther]

That wouldn't stop you flying into the statue of liberty would it.

[Blaze Lord]

Wwwwwwell, over here, a 9/11 recreation would be a lot more incendiary than prostitutes and killing cops. But! I think the no WTC is the trump issue, and I don't think the lack of planes has anything to do with 9/11.

edit: Who cares about flying into Lady Liberty? You could fly into all sorts of things in San Andreas, phat, and SA came out after 9/11.

[phatmuther]

Yes, but that wasn't a near exact replica of New York, where 9/11 happened if you dont remember.

[Blaze Lord]

Mmmk. Well, considering I'm the one in this convo who's actually living in the area, you're just gonna have to take my word on it, the lack of planes isn't because of 9/11.

[phatmuther]

Believe what you want, and Ill believe what I want, and then we're all happy.

[damien©]

Why isn't there Planes, isn't there like 3 Airports in New York?

[phatmuther]

Read the thread BIG D. Blaze is right, your starting to lose it.

[damien©]

Read the thread BIG D. Blaze is right, your starting to lose it.

Yea he probably is, but I made sure I read it this time lol.

What I'm saying is, that the reason why there's no Airports is because it's just one City this time, however I don't know New York but I thought it had 3 Airports around the City. So it seems strange to me, to base a Game on a City and not Make Use of that feature, even if they just reduced the Size of the Airports.

I don't see the reason given as valid, and I think your reason is just jumping to conclusions.

[Jimex]

The whole 9/11 thing is just stupid, thats not the reason for not adding them. If you were to be outraged at the thought of there being planes in a videogame that has a world mirrored closely on NYC just because of the thought that people would try to recreate 9/11 is utterly idiotic. Honestly, thats the sort of political bull---- which people with nothing better to do with there lives throw at the game industry. ---- like 'you can't allow the ability to kill pedestrians because people will do this in the game and then go out and do it in the real world'. We know, as healthy sound of mind gamers, that the thought of this is both moronic and insulting.

So are you implying that the inclusion of planes in a game with a NY style city will cause gamers to recreate 9/11 and then go out and do a similar thing in real life? If so i would suggest you send a complaint about there being planes in San Andreas, as there were more buildings on that which looked like the world trade centre than what i've seen of GTAIV.

I may agree with you if the game allowed you to fly into the building and cause it to crumble to the ground as a mission to kill people and you recieved a sense of accomplishment from it, but at best, flying into a building in GTA causes a little explosion, no harm to the building and no loss of life apart from your own.

[Blaze Lord]

Yea he probably is, but I made sure I read it this time lol.

What I'm saying is, that the reason why there's no Airports is because it's just one City this time, however I don't know New York but I thought it had 3 Airports around the City. So it seems strange to me, to base a Game on a City and not Make Use of that feature, even if they just reduced the Size of the Airports.

I don't see the reason given as valid, and I think your reason is just jumping to conclusions.
But no one flies from Newark to JFK or JFK to La Guardia. If the game involved both Liberty and Vice, then yeah, it makes sense, cause you could be flying from on to the other.

I may agree with you if the game allowed you to fly into the building and cause it to crumble to the ground as a mission to kill people and you recieved a sense of accomplishment from it, but at best, flying into a building in GTA causes a little explosion, no harm to the building and no loss of life apart from your own.

Bingo. 9/11 is a reason for not having, say, a crash-into-the-Empire-State-Building mission, not for completely removing planes in the first place. It's just that no one uses planes to get from one borough to the other. San Andreas, remember, was an entire state, not just one city, made of three cities: Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas.

[Jimex]

Right, lets get this is context.

- GTA3 had an airport, correct?
- Presumably GTA4's Liberty City will be bigger than the Liberty City of GTA3, correct?
- Some may argue that there would be no point as to fly across the city in the jet from San Andreas would possibly take as little as 40seconds. Way to solve this, slow dodo planes.
- I think the main reason they haven't included planes is because of the extensive work it would take to optimise the very detailed and busy city for overhead flying to have a steady frame rate.
- San Andreas could cope with this because of the lack of detail, short draw distance and open 'blank' spaces. GTA4 on the other hand has apparently no blank spaces, extremely detailed and close-knit environments and the developers appear to be using depth of field as opposed to short draw distance, this would result in a very blury and laggy city.

[PicoDeath]

Well alot of people in america are still hurt by the ol' 9/11, possibly even people that work at R*. Parents wouldnt want their kids playing a game where you could recreate it are they.

You could fly the dodo in Vice city couldn't you? That was just one city, and its smaller than GTAVI's single city.

It's 18+, the game is not ment for kids.

And i think they'll be helicopters in the game and maybe wait till it's confirmed because that's a huge step back. They also said it's like coming from GTA to GTA3, so maybe we'll see some sort of aircraft like the dodo, then the next game we'll see some more and then it's a next gen san andreas with tons of planes.

I don't think it's going to matter with ONE city a little smaller than SA, wow at the size.

[RiLu@]

on the official site says that there will be a flying car and a submarine to drive.

a flying car it's ok but a submarine?!

[Joe]

The submarine download for SA on the pc was awesome :D

[damien©]

But no one flies from Newark to JFK or JFK to La Guardia.

I suppose yea good point, but the point I was making it was possible but I suppose like you say it would have no impact or use in the Game bar the fact you could fly planes.

Well at least there will be Helicopters? *Please don't destroy that hope aswell*

[phatmuther]

It's 18+, the game is not ment for kids.


I think we're past that, who do you think the majority of GTA players are? Kids.

Mum, can you get me this?
Ok.

[Dvx Uk]

Is this out the same time as Halo3?

[Jimex]

I think we're past that, who do you think the majority of GTA players are? Kids.

Mum, can you get me this?
Ok.
If thats the case, blame the bad parenting, not the game. If parents don't want there kids playing a game where you can recreate it, DON'T BUY THE BLOODY GAME! Its not rocket science.

I'm confused about this thread now, its on this board and the '360 monster' board. Does that mean that posts transfer across both? If not can a mod delete the other one.

In reply to DVX, we don't know when Halo3 is being released so its hard to say. I believe that Halo is coming out towards the end of this year so there won't be a more than a few months between their releases.

[Project-Cooper]

The links to the pictures, are once again busted. You need to sort them out again.

Oh, to the person that listed a flying car and submarine... can you provide a link the page stating that?

[PicoDeath]

The links to the pictures, are once again busted. You need to sort them out again.

Oh, to the person that listed a flying car and submarine... can you provide a link the page stating that?

It was a joke...

I think we're past that, who do you think the majority of GTA players are? Kids.

Mum, can you get me this?
Ok.

Erm, then what? The people that are over 18 should start having things removed because kids play them? That's not rockstars problem and i garantee they're not thinking like that. I think there's no planes because it's a new series, there wasn't really any planes which you could fly(only the dodo) and i think this series is going to start out like that, slowly build up to more features.

Is the majority a fact or just an assumption? I think assumption.

[Jimex]

Lol, had a lot of trouble with those bloody scans, i'm going to host them privately now so they should never go off again! Plus i managed to find them without the watermark over the pages. I'll tell you when there up and running.

Plus I plan to give the first post a complete reconstruction due to all the info gathered recently, including cropped and enhanced screenshots from the magazine.

[WACCOE]

Host them on www.imageshack.us - probably your best bet fella!

[Webb]

New preview that was discovered today...

OPM GTA IV Preview (http://www.gta4.net/news/3865/grand-theft-auto-iv-preview-in-official-playstation-magazine/)

Also...

New Character revealed (http://www.playthree.net/2007/04/gta-iv-secret-woman-revealed-elizabeta.html)

Thought I'd add some more sources for info ;)

[Project-Cooper]

New preview that was discovered today...

OPM GTA IV Preview (http://www.gta4.net/news/3865/grand-theft-auto-iv-preview-in-official-playstation-magazine/)

Also...

New Character revealed (http://www.playthree.net/2007/04/gta-iv-secret-woman-revealed-elizabeta.html)

Thought I'd add some more sources for info ;)

Sweet, thanks.

Ill be picking up the OPM soon.

[Dvx Uk]

Yip, This game is going to be sweet!!!!(Y)

[PicoDeath]

Sounds crazy!

[Project-Cooper]

This needs an update... Anyway, Rockstar have given some new screens out today...

http://files.gtanet.com/images/3293.jpg
http://files.gtanet.com/images/3288.jpg
http://files.gtanet.com/images/3297.jpg
http://files.gtanet.com/images/3289.jpg
http://files.gtanet.com/images/3304.jpg

[AK.]

graphics look sweet

[Parsa]

I love this game ! i think it will be the best one in GTA series ......

[FoooManChu]

So planes are out (not that fussed as I don't think they would have added much to the game) but helicopters are in (just hope you can snipe from them!)

Also read today that R* accidently on purpose let the US OXM see a prompt flash up on screen to open the boot of a car with LB in the recent demo. Hmmm what could we stash in there...? :)

[Adam]

Ok forgot to post this the other day, so here it all is now!

http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1181071727&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ GTA IV will NOT be delayed. Few rumors going round that because it would clash with Halo MS/R* would delay it.


http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1181074350&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ PSM GTAIV Preview, pretty interesting read.


http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1181159176&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ Gamesmaster GTAIV Preview, another interesting read.


I think there is a few mags coming out soon with more previews and info, one might be out tomorrow. I will post if I manage to get a'hold on the scans.

Enjoy! :)

[Tomshi]

Looks and sounds amazing

[robsta06]

yeah this will be INCREDIBLE cant wait

[Project-Cooper]

Sweet, can't wait for GTA IV.

Oh, and 360 GAMER had an interview with Rockstar, and Rockstar said they will realese new info around end of June/Early July.

[Adam]

Hmm interesting, could you post a link to the interview?

Also....

While checking out a few GTA sites to see if there is any news, I came across a topic on GTAForums that caught my eye. A guy called "ybakker", a member at the forum has done a little investigation using recent screenshots of GTA IV to try and construct the layout of one of the boroughs in the game, "Broker". Its worth a read! Nice job ybakker!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1181373546&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ Check it out!

[Project-Cooper]

Hmm interesting, could you post a link to the interview?

Also....

While checking out a few GTA sites to see if there is any news, I came across a topic on GTAForums that caught my eye. A guy called "ybakker", a member at the forum has done a little investigation using recent screenshots of GTA IV to try and construct the layout of one of the boroughs in the game, "Broker". Its worth a read! Nice job ybakker!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1181373546&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ Check it out!

I didn't buy the magazine, I had a quick look through it when I was in town the other day. It is the latest '360 GAMER' magazine though.

This is the cover...

http://www.the-gamer-hub.com/contentimgs/mags/27.jpg

...So if your out, check out the GTA IV bit they have in it.

[Outlaw]

This is the best read about the game so far Imo

Click Here (http://games.kikizo.com/news/200705/101_p1.asp)

[Adam]

http://consolemonster.com/newspost.php?id=0000002190

^ New trailer!1!!! 11 :o

[Adam]

Play Magazine (UK) - July - Issue 154

New preview of GTA IV! Enjoy!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1181971299&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

[Project-Cooper]

Play Magazine (UK) - July - Issue 154

New preview of GTA IV! Enjoy!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1181971299&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

Sweet... Great site... (Y)

[Adam]

Thanks :)


3 new GTA IV previews. GamePro, 360 Magazine and The Games Magazine!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182286733&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182285819&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182284565&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

[Adam]

Yahoo Exclusive Content & Trailer Release Time!

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182562510&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

^ Sounds good!

[Raisedbyflames]

wouldnt it be great if the new gta guy was gay and analy raped his victums and you played a hot coffee type mini game were you could spit in their arse hole if you wanted to be kind or do it dry

[Project-Cooper]

wouldnt it be great if the new gta guy was gay and analy raped his victums and you played a hot coffee type mini game were you could spit in their arse hole if you wanted to be kind or do it dry

OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMG... You are funny. That is kind of sick though... :sick:

[Raisedbyflames]

yep thats my sense of humor matey i lost it for a while but its back big style

[Adam]

^ LOL that's messed up tbh....

Yahoo are basicly doing a whole week of exclusive GTA IV content! I will post the info as its released.

Here is day one and two coverage.

Day 1

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182848020&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&


Day 2

http://gtaivsource.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1182972613&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&


Also, here is pics of the contents of the GTA IV Special Edition!


http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1182974061&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

[Adam]

Rockstar are going to release gamer pics and themes!

http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1183007963&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&


They have released two new screenshots.

http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1183008810&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&


Here is day 3 of Yahoo's exclusive content week!

http://gtaivsource.com/?subaction=showcomments&id=1183009446&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&

[Dvx Uk]

OOO anyone pre-ordered yet??????

[Dcontrol]

I have but I've opted for the standard edition on 360. Looking forward to seeing how GTA has progressed in terms of next gen gameplay.

[Project-Cooper]

OOO anyone pre-ordered yet??????

A year ago, lol.

Limited Edition of course.

[Dvx Uk]

What do people think the Xbox 360 only dlc will be ?????

[Uriel Septim]

What do people think the Xbox 360 only dlc will be ?????

I think it will either be added missions or an extra island.

[Dvx Uk]

probaby, an extra island would be kl.

On the other hand it might just be an exclusive theme or gamerpic :'( lol

[Dcontrol]

I think it maybe exclusive missions, vehicles, weapons or characters. Something along those lines. Why else would MS pay such a massive amount for it.

[Dvx Uk]

I think it maybe exclusive missions, vehicles, weapons or characters. Something along those lines. Why else would MS pay such a massive amount for it.

Its a god point, but they could have bout something soooo miniscule just so that PS3 don't have it. More hype around x360 version etc

[Dcontrol]

Well until they reveal what it actually is we are all in the dark. I hope it's not something that is so good that it ruins the game for PS3 users because they won't have it though.

[Wriggy]

I read that the downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto will be the same or equal size to San Andreas but that would be huge... :brow:

[Outlaw]

Microsoft have said themselves they will add up to 10 hours of extra gameplay so, whoever said gamer pictures, your wrong.

[Project-Cooper]

I read that the downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto will be the same or equal size to San Andreas but that would be huge... :brow:

They said that Vice City and San Andreas were add-ons for GTA 3, and they are aiming for that sort of size. :brow:

[Glitch100]

Dudes... what we need, due to its release closing in, is some damned Multiplayer Details :D

I know its confirmed... im hoping for free roam, MMO style, gangs and assainations shiz like that>

(excuse spelling, its getting late)

[Truplaya83]

i imagine it will be like Saints Row, scaled down bits of the city. It wont be the whole city, they would be shouting about it already.

[Glitch100]

I wish it was :(

Still MMO style would be nice, even if it was scale down ? ? ?

[Dvx Uk]

Check out my sig, :p

[Jimex]

*Updated the first post to somewhat resemble a useful fact guide. Sorry I didn't do it sooner.

[Truplaya83]

loving the sig DVX, so much i had to go change my old one. Did this one in about 90 seconds, and it shows!

[Dvx Uk]

Ha Tru :p

btw what does BOGART mean :s

[Truplaya83]

i have no idea, which makes it funnier

[Dvx Uk]

lol, suppose so :)

BOGART FTW