NO SPOILARZ - THE GTA IV THREAD

[weemadando]

Playing on the 360 and due to Rockstar's failing to man-up and stand up to pathetic "no install" thing on it (like MS would have prevented them from being on the fucking console based on an optional install), it FREEZES every 5-10 seconds for about half a second.

This STARTS during the intro sequence and doesn't let up. It's like it doesn't even cache the fucking textures it's using within that fucking cutscene, because every single change of shot it freezes again. Even within a single shot, it will freeze regularly. The audio keeps streaming, but then you are left watching a still shot and waiting for the animation to start again.

Driving around, as you can imagine, when the graphics JERK TO A HALT every few seconds but the game keeps running - well, it makes it hard.

This continues into the combat - I don't even have a gun, but I've been killed once because of this fucking FREEZE FRAME SLIDESHOW BULLSHIT that means I get shanked repeatedly while waiting for the game to figure out that in fact, there is NOTHING NEW ON SCREEN THAT IT NEEDS TO LOAD SOMETHING FOR.

Even doubling back into an area which you've JUST WALKED THROUGH will often result in the same outcome - of you staring at a screenshot while you wait for the game to figure out what the fuck it is actually doing.

Not very happy at all. It is in fact, rendering the game damn near unplayable.

Now I get to scout about online and see if it's just me or if other people are having this issue too.

[Superboy]

I've been playing the game on the 360 and haven't had any problems like that at all. It actually runs very smoothly.

[Admiral Valdemar]

So the 360 sucks, what's new? Has no relevance to the actual game itself, which seemingly has no such issues mentioned like that and which runs smooth as silk on the PS3.

[Mr. Coffee]

Sounds to me like your box is having overheating issues an/or your optical drive is dirty. Does it do this with any other games?

[Delta_Squad]

I have yet to see these problems in my copy either and that's with almost a weeks worth of play time. So either some copies have problems or its something to do with your console.

[weemadando]

After a turn off and on of the 360 it's lessened, but has still not gone away...

And the console is not overheating, I can guarantee you.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Neither is it the game he a reset corrects it somewhat. Your console may have other issues, so a good check over would be the order of the day for now. Them maybe put in for a replacement copy.

[weemadando]

Issue resolved - I think it was my routers fault - the network plug connection on it have been fritzing and it must have been sending near constant "connect to XBL" requests and screwing with teh machine.

So, unfortunately until I can figure out how to fix that problem I'm off XBL. Or until I buy a new router.

[weemadando]

With my odd fucking issues resolved, it's running like a dream - and the gameplay is nice. Though, I'd question just what car designer made every car in the world suffer from HORRIFIC UNDERSTEER, which combined with the world's softest suspension makes turning a corner a white-knuckle, frequently inverted, experience.

I'm really happy with the story thus far, it unravels just a little at a time and I must say, being given a choice in matters is good, and Nico not being a TOTAL goddamn bitch (as in he does what he feels is the best option not what someone tells him to) really helps the immersion factor.

I'd actually say that he's my favourite GTA protaganist yet. I can't wait to see more of his backstory come out - especially the main thread - what did happen on that fateful night, and why?

Also, playing pool, bowling etc is great. Rockstar as usual has completely outclassed the rest of the gaming world by creating a monstrous world full of things to do and see and hear.

[weemadando]

Bas. Fucking. Rutten. Has an in game TV show.

That is all.

[DPDarkPrimus]

I've had fun so far, though I've only done like four or five missions proper and a few dates/get-togethers with people I meet.

Still getting the hang of taking corners at higher speeds... so used to KBAM. But the fighting system is nice, and so is the cover/aiming mechanism.

[weemadando]

I'm still getting hte hang of fighting, the counter system is pretty cool (especially when combined with a knife).

And - in a brilliant turn which Stark will appreciate (having bitched in his ear for AAAAGES about this problem):

PEOPLE REACT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

Just beat the shit of a few guys without effort? No one else is going to step up, and all their buddies are legging it or deciding to take it to the next level and drawing weapons.

In fact, people react to EVERYTHING in the environment, any incident has consequences and sometimes it's hilarious to just watch a fender bender from the pavement, see the drivers get out and have a catfight and then both get arrested by the police.

The Euphoria animation stuff is truly amazing too. It's still a little "unrealistic" in the way that some people move and react, but goddamn - it kicks the shit out of anything else that I've EVER seen in a game. The first time I got killed, it was in the knife-fight with Dagmar (or whoever), he stabbed me as I kicked his legs, and he fell forward on top of me, knife still in hand (and stuck into my chest) as I went over backwards and he went with me (having lost his balance following hte leg kick).

[Tolya]

For the first time in my life, I am seriously considering buying a console...

nononono...be patient young padawan....

wee, I really, really envy you. The vengeful, hateful way, you GTA-IV playing bastard

[The Grim Squeaker]

Looks at PC & Wii. Still worth it.
I haven't played a GTA since the second one, but this sounds good enough to make the jump to 3d.
One essential question, how good is the plot? Pure sandbox games always bore the crap out of me. (One of the reasons I was never crazy about Oblivion).

[weemadando]

Without spoiling it, the plot is at the very least, intriguing.

Let's just say that Nico's visit to Liberty City is for more than just family business and he wants to meet up with certain people who were on the other side of some ethnic cleansing.

[Vympel]

The gunfights are great, though on my crappy small TV it's a bit hard to make out the items to pick up once you kill the badguys, since they're not spinny/glowy things anymore. I've not seen a single piece of body armor or weapon for me to pick up in about 1.5 hours of play (that being missions + cutscenes and the first date etc, so not really much playtime) - I've just got a knife, a baseball bat, a pistol and a shotgun.

It's hard getting used to the new controls on PS3 - especially the shooting from cover system.

[aerius]

Bas. Fucking. Rutten. Has an in game TV show.

That is all.

I found the video of his in-game TV show. Fucking hilarious.
Bas is the man.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Dammit, my copy can't come soon enough. The world sounds far better than any MMORPG even.

Is it worth making a new thread on the plotline?

And has anyone heard about Rockstar North being potentially taken over by those fucks at EA? Great. He true, another British developer looking at death by mediocrity.

[Jade Falcon]

This may be just because i've not got an HD LCD or Plasma TV, but on my 28 inch widescreen, I still find it difficult to make out the text on the phone.

Am I the only one to find this? I even turned up the brightness a bit.

Good game so far though, what little I've played.

[Jon]

To add to my degree of sadness which included picking it up at midnight, I also booked a day off work for it too. Having been playing it for the most of the day, and after last night worrying it wouldn't live up to the hype or massive expectations I had of it... all I can say is that I am not disappointed in any way, shape or form. It was certainly worth the wait, game of the year without a doubt... best game I've played in years, easily. The visuals are amazing, the AI is superb, the effects are fantastic, the detail is awesome and the story is literally oscar worthy! Okay, so I'm bigging it up a little but what can I say, really, really enjoying it so far... the most immersive GTA to date, so much to see and do, I'm sure it will keep my happy for a long time.

And I haven't even had time to try the online content out yet, which in itself looks immense!

[weemadando]

This may be just because i've not got an HD LCD or Plasma TV, but on my 28 inch widescreen, I still find it difficult to make out the text on the phone.

Am I the only one to find this? I even turned up the brightness a bit.

Good game so far though, what little I've played.

Yeah, the phone text is a little tough to read, especially when you're speeding through traffic. It really needs you to stop and focus on it.

[weemadando]

Dammit, my copy can't come soon enough. The world sounds far better than any MMORPG even.

Is it worth making a new thread on the plotline?

And has anyone heard about Rockstar North being potentially taken over by those fucks at EA? Great. He true, another British developer looking at death by mediocrity.

I think that EA has really stepped up to the plate of late, look at them letting Criterion go hog-wild and create an engine etc from scratch for Burnout: Paradise rather than forcing middleware onto all their devs. They're not brilliant still, but I think they've realised that they need to change in order to stay on top of the pile.

[Admiral Valdemar]

This may be just because i've not got an HD LCD or Plasma TV, but on my 28 inch widescreen, I still find it difficult to make out the text on the phone.

Am I the only one to find this? I even turned up the brightness a bit.

Good game so far though, what little I've played.

I'm considering getting a 26" Bravia to at least give me HD capability for gaming, which the PS3 can also help with for older games and uprating SD-DVD video too. Otherwise, I'll stick with my SDTV for the time being.

[weemadando]

It's OK AV, you don't need an HDTV if you're playing on PS3.

After all the PS3 version doesn't even run in HD...

Does anyone actually give a shit about this stuff? I mean people obviously do, but I mean on SDN, do we have anyone who is still a rabid "OMG MY CONSOLE IS BETTER THAN YOURS" type?

That said, I can't wait to see the SDF article about this...

[weemadando]

Oh, and the best new feature in my opinion:

The new Wanted system. You're wanted? Your map pulls out to show you the current search radius, centred on where you were reported. It also shows on the map current police locations. Each time you are spotted the search radius resets around the new location. Should you escape the search area, you just need to keep yourself out of sight and the stars go down one by one.

It really is fucking awesome. I'm yet to get above 2 wanted stars, but that's still enough to make evading hard. And driving into a Pay'n'Spray isn't the insta-fix anymore. Game time passes AND you have to be out of LoS for it to work.