Kotaku: gta 4

Crecente, N'Gai Talk GTA 4

Brian Crecente — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:20:00 MDT

I went up to Denver today to tape some segments for X-Play about GTA 4. One or two, like the one above, will be popping up online tonight but the bulk of it will be showing up on their one hour special about the game tonight. If you want to turn it into a drinking game, take a drink every time I say GTA and TEN drinks when I accidentally refer to Rockstar's game as Gran Turismo. Smoooooooth move Brian. In my defense, or maybe theirs, neither N'Gai Croal nor Adam Sessler seemed to notice the mistake.

Grand Theft Auto IV Is In The House

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:30:00 MDT

Rockstar Games and the UPS corporation—sorry for calling you Fed Ex yesterday!—came through in a major way this morning, dropping off a hot (but legit) copy of Grand Theft Auto IV at Kotaku Towers West. Naturally, I took an appropriate amount of time playing the game before posting that it had arrived. But this isn't one of those disgusting bragging posts, where some schmuck editor taunts you with an early release; it's a reminder.

Our GTA IV review is going live tomorrow morning, 9 AM Pacific/12 PM Eastern in the easy-to-read Kotaku style. After that, expect a handy platform comparison, in which we talk about how GTA IV performs on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Yes, I've played both quite a bit, so I hope you'll find my nitpicking informative. See you tomorrow!

Our coverage is live:
Grand Theft Auto IV Review: Life, Liberty City And The Pursuit Of Happiness
Which Version Of GTA IV Should You Buy? We Compare The PS3 and 360 Versions
SIXAXIS Brings Nothing to GTA IV (But Frustration And Burning Helicopter Chassis)

Who Will Win the GTA Hooker Pageant?

ogood — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:00:00 MDT

Man, I am on a mission to get Jack Thompson to spam my inbox. I figured anything pairing "Grand Theft Auto" and "hookers" might trigger his impotent, wasted bot-army of letter writers which is, of course, himself alone.

GamesRadar has an amusing tribute to one of the most indispensable classes in the GTA franchise, the hooker. I'll have you know — this is written with as serious a face I can muster — I've never killed one. Ever. I consider it a point of pride that I never, even to see the outcome, lowered myself to the top-of-mind stereotype everyone has of a GTA gamer. Nor do I kill the cops. Unless I have 3 stars and have been separated from a burning vehicle. But I digress.

GamesRadar's beauty pageant covers the ladies of the previous three titles, complete with screengrabs and pulled quotes. Funny Bunny is tattooed on my mind from the hours spent combing VIce City for special packages. And for Contestant 10, I mean this in the nicest way, I dated a woman who had a similar hairstyle and I recall both fondly. And fondlingly.

So, here they are, Misses Liberty City, Vice City, Los Santos, Las Venturas, San Fierro, etc. ...

Grand Theft Radar: Hooker Beauty Contest

Five Days with GTA IV: A Newspaper Diary

Brian Crecente — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:40:00 MDT

As Mike McWhertor and I alluded to earlier this week, we both spent five days last week holed up in a room in a swank San Francisco hotel playing through Grand Theft Auto IV. Yes, all of the way through.

The embargo for our official review and other hands-ons, impressions, comparisons, stories and whatnots doesn't lift until Sunday (10 a.m. Crecentral), but the package of stories I wrote for the Rocky Mountain News ran this morning. The story for the paper is geared for a much more mainstream audience, so I'm not sure how much you all will get out of it, but here's how it wraps up.

In Grand Theft Auto IV the story isn't just an amalgam of cut scenes and cleverly written dialogue, it's the experiences I create, too. It's now, watching Niko stand, his shoulders slumped, that the depth of this game finally hits me.

Niko's journey, the one crafted by Rockstar, may have ended, but Niko's adventures in the story I am creating have just begun.

If you're looking for something to pass your time that is, I believe, free of any major story spoilers, than hit up the link.

I was happy to see that the story not only took over the entire front page of the feature's section, but even got a mention on the front page of the paper. Too bad they went with a headline that sorta highlights the violence of the game. I suppose they would have done the same thing for blow-out coverage of a movie like Once Upon a Time in America.

Grand Theft Auto: A Brutal New World and What the developer of Grand Theft Auto IV champions [Rocky Mountain News]

The Grand Theft Auto IV Activity Book For Kids

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:40:31 MDT

Any mouth breathing simpleton with the power to procreate must know that Grand Theft Auto IV isn't for kids. Right? Right! Therefore, Rockstar has (read: hasn't) cooked up an alternative to the violent, raunchy open world crime fest that's for mature audiences only in the Grand Theft Auto IV Activity Book For Kids. Find the hot coffee, son! Good job!

It's filled with fun, imaginative activities like word searches, coloring and a quick primer on gang signs. The Minus World, you had us at the Mouth sticker. Good times.

Grand Theft Auto IV Activity Book For Kids [The Minus World]

Sony Confirms GTA IV Bundle For Australia

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:20:00 MDT

Look, we knew it was coming. Retailers, especially big retailers like Harvey Norman, don't muck around with these kind of things. But it's nice to know that we've now got new pictures of the GTA IV/PlayStation 3 bundle, as well as an officially-endorsed recommended retail price. It'll go for AUD$749.95 (USD$715), but while the game's due on April 29, this bundle won't be ready until May 1. Can you stand the wait, Australia?

April 23rd 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCE Aust.) today confirmed the release of an official Grand Theft Auto IV bundle exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).The bundle, available on May 1, 2008, will consist of a PLAYSTATION®3 40GB model, a SIXAXIS™ wireless controller and a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise, all for just $749.95 (RRP).
"We are delighted to offer the millions of PS3 and GTA fans the ultimate gaming package," said David Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is the eleventh, upcoming installment of the best-selling Grand Theft Auto video game franchise.

Sony Confirms GTA IV Bundle For Europe

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:46 MDT

No surprises here. Today, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed the long rumored (with pictures!) Grand Theft Auto IV bundle. Going on sale April 29th, it's packed with a 40GB PS3, a SIXAXIS and copy of Grand Theft Auto IV. Says David Reeves, SCEE president:

We are delighted to offer the millions of PS3 and GTA fans the ultimate gaming package.

That's not a very exciting quote, now is it? While SCEE is confirming this for, well, Europe, we image that the same will be true for the US. Hit the jump for the press release in full. It's THRILLING.

23/04/2008 10:08 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) Confirms Official Grand Theft Auto® IV bundle Grand Theft Auto® IV to be bundled with 40GB PLAYSTATION®3
April 23rd 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today confirmed the release of an official Grand Theft Auto IV bundle exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).The bundle, available on April 29, 2008, will consist of a PLAYSTATION®3 40GB model, a SIXAXIS™ wireless controller and a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise, all for just €439 (RRP).

"We are delighted to offer the millions of PS3 and GTA fans the ultimate gaming package," said David Reeves, President, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is the eleventh, upcoming installment of the best-selling Grand Theft Auto video game franchise.

ENDS

Grand Theft Auto IV Has So Gone Gold

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:00:13 MDT

Grand Theft Auto IV has gone gold. Ben Feder, CEO of the game's publisher Take Two, confirmed that GTA IV was "in production and in trucks en route to retailers." The M-rated game is out on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 April 29th. There will be pandemonium. You can bet on it.
GTAIV Gold [GameSpot]

GTA IV Box O' Swag

Brian Crecente — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:00:00 MDT

I received a big, flat square box in the mail today packed with Grand Theft Auto IV swag. It included some pretty funny stuff:

A Swingers baseball cap
A Swingers baseball T
Two GTA IV stickers
A foam GTA IV four-finger
A mousepad from in-game cybercafe tw@
An I <8LC lapel pin
A N1KO license plate

Now I just need to figure out if I should give this stuff out on the site or keep it for this year's Funde Razor Child's Play party as a giveaway.

If you're jonseing for GTA content with about two weeks left till the game hits hop over to our round up of impressions and details.

GTA IV Playboy X, Liberty City Gun Club Videos

Brian Crecente — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:40:00 MDT

As we head inevitably toward the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar's information tap seems to have been opened wide. Today, along with the new multiplayer modes, the developers have dropped these two, short, but still funny videos. They seem to be showing off a bit of Playboy X's character and, on the jump, the gunplay and weapons of GTA IV.

Four More Multiplayer GTA IV Modes Revealed

Brian Crecente — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:40:00 MDT

The official Grand Theft Auto IV site just updated with another wealth of information including details on four new multiplayer modes.

The new modes, all described in detail on the jump, include Team Mafiaya Work, Team Car Jack City, Turf War and Race.

Hit the jump for a run down of the ones we already have heard about as well.

Newly Detailed Modes
Team Mafiaya Work: (2 to 8 teams) You're a member of a crew doing contract work for the mafiya—including such plum gigs as escorting wanted men, picking up MacGuffins and stealing cars. Work as a team to complete contracts before the time period ends and get the rewards. You'll probably want to do your best to scupper the other crew's work as well. Each contract you complete gives your team cash, and the crew with the most cash at the end of the round wins.

Team Car Jack City: (2 - 8 teams) Cars spawn parked around the map and the teams must steal then and take them to a drop off point. Teh cash teams get for dropping of stolen vehicles depends on their condition—teams get less cash the more damaged they are. The exception to this are special bonus cars, stuffed with drugs, which five a set amount of cash on delivery no matter how damaged they are. Your crew has to get hold of whatever vehicles the boss wants. Whichever crew makes the most money wins. Simple.

Turf War: (2 teams only) A timed capture-the-base mode. There are a number of bases around the map that you have to take by stand on on them for a short period of time. The more players that are on a base, the faster it can be captures. The more bases that your team owns, the faster your team's cash score increases. If the rival gang is on or near a base, you won't be be able to take control of it—so do what you can to try and... displace them. The team with the most cash at the end of the round wins.

Race: Race to the finish through each checkpoint in order. If you take a wrong turn or mess up in some way, you can respawn your vehicle on the last checkpoint you passed. There is a large selection of races for cars, boats , and helicopters—you can choose laps and vehicle class/type. This mode has two sub-modes: Free Race and Cannonball Run.

Free race are point-to-point races. First one to reach the end point inws.

Cannonball Run are races where you have to reaverse several checkpoints any way you can.

Modes we knew about
GTA Race: Rockstar North's twist on the concept of a race. Host selects vehicle type (each racer selects his or her specific vehicle after that), race, number of laps, and time limit. Despite ordered checkpoints, players can go anywhere in the city at any time. Do you want a straightforward race from start to finish or do you want to create a roadblock and shoot rockets at your fellow racers? The choice is yours - each player does it slightly differently. 16 players max.

Cops N Crooks: 2 teams, 2 vastly different goals. The cops can see the crooks on their radar but the the crooks can only see the escape point making this the ultimate cat and mouse situation. For the first time, players can get a chance to be on the other side of the law in a Grand Theft Auto with Cops n' Crooks. A team of "crooks" need to get their boss to safety, as the team of "cops" pulls out every trick in the book to try and stop this from happening. Again, 16 players max.

Hangman's NOOSE: Co-op in Grand theft Auto IV is a 4 person affair. Each mode is a short, story-based mission you must complete with your friends. In Hangman's NOOSE you must get crime boss to an extraction point alive. First, several of Liberty City's finest need to be dealt with and then transport must be secured. Will you take Kenny to safety in an armored car? How about a motorcycle or attack chopper? The choice is all yours.

Team Deathmatch: Classic deathmatch done Grand Theft Auto style. Go anywhere, do anything: the whole city is yours. 16 players max, teams can be made in any configuration. Weapons on the ground can be configured by the host. Capitalism rules here: the team with the most money in the end is the winner.

PlayStation 3 Getting Grand Theft Auto IV Bundle?

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:40:00 MDT

According to Swedish retailer Webhalen who is boasting some pretty legit-looking box art, it looks like Sony will be offering a Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle—a standard 40GB PS3 along with a copy of GTA IV for roughly $750. As of right now, the news is still unconfirmed and could be a regional offering only.

Playstation 3 Basenhet - Black 40GB - Grand Theft Auto IV (4) Bundle [Webhallen] Thanks Alex!

Grand Theft Auto IV Rated By ESRB

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:30:07 MDT

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has weighed in on the potentially objectionable content in Grand Theft Auto IV, giving it an "M" rating, citing the game as having "Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Blood, and Intense Violence." One might suspect that, given the "AO" controversy surrounding Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' "Hot Coffee" mod, the ESRB did its due diligence and more when reviewing the contents of GTA IV.

One might also suspect that, when the game is finally release, opportunistic, fear mongering elected officials, clueless mainstream media and glory seeking attorneys may find extra content not listed, including Virtual Rape, Cop Killing, Overt Racism, Gerbil Abuse, Being On Someone's Lawn and Buggery. We're looking forward to a fun ride.

GTA IV, You'll Get It When You Get It

Mark Wilson — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:40:45 MST

In a recent conference, Take 2 chariman Strauss Zelnick refused to be more specific on a release date for GTA IV than the vague February to April 2008 time frame offered following the game's delay. He explained:

We're going to give a firm date when we are utterly convinced that we have it and that isn't right now...we're not in the business of disappointing investors.

And it makes sense, because unless Zelnick can promise GTA IV by December, Take 2 won't be looking any better to investors or fans.

Take 2 refuses to pinpoint GTA IV release [gamesindustry]

GTA IV To Support 16-Person Multiplayer

Mark Wilson — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:40:50 MDT

GTA is not a series known for its multiplayer, having ditched the premise after GTA II, but it looks like Rockstar is giving it another go. According to GamingExcellence, the company said at a Sony event that they are aiming for 16-person multiplayer that's richer than simple deathmatch gameplay (here's hoping for a hot coffee mode at Starbucks). We assume that this mode will apply to both 360 and PS3 versions of the game.

Another interesting tidbit? The entire world may be unlocked from the start. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Will gamers lose incentive to keep playing? Thoughts?

Coverage of the PlayStation Holiday Preview Event [via gamernode]

TGS06: Playing Ping-Pong as Rock Stars (and GTA4 Is Gonna Make You Its Bitch)

jeansnow2 — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:00:00 MDT

How does Rockstar Games go about promoting the upcoming release (October 12) of their table tennis game in Japan? By organizing private play party tournaments throughout the month in a swank penthouse apartment in Tokyo's Ebisu district, that's how. Following the craziness that was TGS, it was off to that event on Monday night, bringing along a few friends, including my brothers in hair, your very own Mike McWhertor and Scott "I played every PS3 game at show" Spatola.

The 2-storey pad, plus rooftop deck, was decked out with more HDTV sets than should probably be legally allowed, including 2 gigantic sets on which the tournament took place, plus a DLP projector. Loads of free booze, snacks, and pizza, turned yours truly into a monster table tennis machine (or so I was told), and unfortunately the schooling I dished out before the start of the tournament couldn't propel me to the final — and we learned to fear the cute Japanese girls who cleverly hid their ping-pong prowess (yeah, we got hustled). No worries though, as we did all get consolation prizes, including some primo Table Tennis swag.

And the game? I'll be picking it up on release (and for all you expat gamers, take note that the Japanese edition is multi-lingual). Oh, and as I chatted up with one of the Rockstar representatives — for those who attended TGS, he was on hand showing people how to play Tennis Table at the 360 booth — he casually mentioned that GTA4 would own us. Jean Snow