GTA IV

[Falconeer]

I guess it's old news but I read it just now, so not sure:

$100 Million Spent on GTA IV Development

Leslie Benzies, the producer of Grand Theft Auto IV, recently revealed in an interview that the amount of money spent on the development of the game was right around $100 million.

    "It's like making a theatre production, a few movies and an album all to fit into one package,' he says. He hasn't a clue how much GTA IV has cost to make but hazards a guess at $100m. About 1,000 people have had a hand in developing it. The perfectionism Houser and Benzies demand of their teams is astonishing. For GTA IV, time-lapse cameras were set on rooftops in New York to capture the correct intensity of the rain. Over 100,000 photographs were taken on location."

Source: TimesOnLine

100 millions?   

[LK]

The weather and time effects in the game are *phenomenal.*  That's what 100 million gets you.

They'll make that back easy with all the little things they've tossed in to earn extra money off the game, such as people buying Amazon MP3s from the radio stations and the soundtracks they'll sell.

[Nija]

Yeah, the game is pretty much one of the best I've ever played.

Co-op is amazing.

[Tairnyn]

One of the small details that really impressed me was the interference on the car radio speakers when your cell phone rings.

[schild]

YOU MOTHERFUCKERS NEED TO JOIN GAMES WHEN PEOPLE SEND INVITES! :)

[Viin]

Picked this up today at Target - I don't have a Gold account no more, so I'll use the trial that came with the game if anyone wants to do co-op later.

[schild]

SPAMMING INVITES MORE.

Also, Viin, I think a lot of people here are playing the more load efficient PS3 version. Ahem, I mean, the alternative.

[dannyBstyle]

YOU MOTHERFUCKERS NEED TO JOIN GAMES WHEN PEOPLE SEND INVITES! :

[Viin]

SPAMMING INVITES MORE.

Also, Viin, I think a lot of people here are playing the more load efficient PS3 version. Ahem, I mean, the alternative.

What? People still have PS3s? Didn't everyone trade those in for 360's when they heard Bluray was only going to have sucky movies?

[stray]

Ah, DannyB.... You're good. 


Some of these maps are hit and miss for me. But I suck either way.

[schild]

Yea, it's a mess. All of them really need like 8-10 players. Maybe the prison doesn't, but unless it has tanks, meh.

[Tale]

Go read the upcoming games thread before you just go "buy a system."

So what yer sayin is I need a $9999999999999 playstation 3 to play like it's sposed be played?

No, I think the plain old $399 one will do.

But there's only a $700 one ($750 with GTA4). Even though A$ is almost worth the same as US$. I could get an Xbox 360 Elite for that.

[stray]

I could get an Xbox 360 Elite for that.

And? The Elite is only "elite" compared to other x-box models. It's not like it has some value over the ps3, hardware wise. So I'm not sure what you're trying to say. The guts of each are about the same -- Except the elite's hdd is bigger and it carries a headset, while the ps3 gets built-in wireless, a good dvd and blu-ray player, no online fee, and up to 1080p in some games. And as far as hard drives go, you can replace the ps3's with third party brands, and at a cheaper cost. That you can get GTA4 for just a little more puts it in the "better value" category than the 360 imo.

[Falconeer]

GTA4 can be forced to run in 1080p (it doesn't do so by default if you don't tweak the video setting of your PS3 in the dashboard). You all probably know this already but I didn't so I thought it could be a nice tip.

[Tale]

And? The Elite is only "elite" compared to other x-box models. It's not like it has some value over the ps3, hardware wise. So I'm not sure what you're trying to say.

All I'm trying to say is, "MOTHERFUCKERS! I DON'T HAVE A PS3 OR XBOX 360, I HAVE A GREAT PC AND A WII, AND YOU'RE MAKING ME DROOL OVER A GAME I CAN'T PLAY WITHOUT BUYING ANOTHER SYSTEM". Does that make more sense?

[schild]

No. Now buy a PS3 and quit yer bitching.

[Azazel]

Or buy a 360 Pro for half the price of a ps3. Buy your game from play-asia, and you're golden.

It'd be nice if those fuckers shipped my copy though. When I ordered, it was listed as "in stock, ships within 24 hours" and now it's "due to ship on or before May 5th".

[schild]

You mean buy 2 360s when the first one dies, or buy a PS3 and not have to deal with that at the same cost.

This is me, just throwing that out there. I've never had a system that I was paranoid of. Like, the actual system. So this is unknown territory for me. But the 360, is literally a piece of shit, due to no fault of the games. And if you import one, you get no warranty and are up shit creek with an ugly concave paddle.

[Sairon]

We've luckly not had much problems with our 360 here at work yet luckly, but I think it's short sighted to say that the 360 Pro is half the price of the PS3, at least if you want to play online. It's pretty much the same logic people use when they buy stuff on payoff plans and doesn't realize they're paying an extra +30% of the actual price in the end.

[Miasma]

Wasn't someone saying that PS3 online games weren't loading right?  Which version are most you guys playing, somebody add a poll to this thing.

[Mazakiel]

I finally got this yesterday and fired it up last night, and so far having a blast like just about everyone else. 

Minor spoilers for someone who hasn't played for like 15 minutes into the game:

One thing I found amusing was that when I was driving to the first date, Roman called up saying he was cornered and needed help. I blew it off to go ahead and do the date, thinking the game'd just have that waiting for me when I was done since I never accepted a mission or anything.  A couple hours later, I'm driving back from the hospital with a not so happy Roman.  There was still the mission, but the leadup was changed a bit.  I found that to be a nice touch. 

[Nija]

I got an elite for a grand total of $55 through www.shopfreepay.com last May. They have since changed the site so it's not quite as easy to game it, but there's that option if you don't want to spend money.

Here's what you do before you try SFP.

1) create a new email address. One that you only use for SFP. As soon as you finish the stuff for the xbox, destroy the email address.
2) get a new CC to use with good fraud protection, OR set up a virtual credit card number with any of the firms that will do virtual CC numbers. Virtual is the better way as you can create one time use only CC#s which is pretty hard to get stolen - since it's only valid once, and you're going to be using it that one time.


An xbox live account is $8/mo. Yeah, the PS3 network is free, but it's free because it's empty and awful.

[MisterNoisy]

Is anyone else getting random pauses from between a half-second to 10 seconds long on the PS3 version?  Audio continues, etc, but the video and response to controller input ceases.  I tried the (fairly severe) suggested fixes (vibration off, delete all data and reinstall, locked 720P output, disconnecting from the net, etc.) but nothing seems to help.

There's times I can play for an hour or so uninterrupted, but once it starts happening, I'm pretty much boned because it'll keep happening every minute or 2 from that point onwards.

[Falconeer]

Online gaming is still not working properly. Looks like it's pure server overload, but no official words about it. Thing is you try to connect and it says "server unavailable, try later" and that's it. And that is basically random but present for 85% of the day. It helps to play online at 4am.

About what MisterNoisy said, it's even worse. Apparently there's a "freezing bug" that can reboot your ps3, fuck up your save games and even screw your HD to the point that formatting is the only way.
Not-so-fast patch incoming. I have no idea if this is a Europe-only bug.

MisterNoisy, a fix you didn't mention is to turn off auto-save. Some said it helps.

[AcidCat]

I like the Jamaican dude, I can barely understand a word he says but its oddly soothing listening to him talk. A nice change from the constant yelling of the other characters.

[MisterNoisy]

MisterNoisy, a fix you didn't mention is to turn off auto-save. Some said it helps.

Actually, I tried everything TTwo outlined here which was kind of a pain in the ass, and the problem still won't go away.  It's driving me nuts, because I love what they've presented, and it's driving me bonkers to not be able to actually play it without worrying about it happening again.

[Mrbloodworth]

MisterNoisy, a fix you didn't mention is to turn off auto-save. Some said it helps.

Actually, I tried everything TTwo outlined here which was kind of a pain in the ass, and the problem still won't go away.  It's driving me nuts, because I love what they've presented, and it's driving me bonkers to not be able to actually play it without worrying about it happening again.

Are you using the 40gb version, or the original 80gb version?

[NiX]

I like the Jamaican dude, I can barely understand a word he says but its oddly soothing listening to him talk. A nice change from the constant yelling of the other characters.

I ran an intramural basketball league during my most recent semester at college. Sadly, I understand everything Bad Man and Little Jacob are saying.

[MisterNoisy]

MisterNoisy, a fix you didn't mention is to turn off auto-save. Some said it helps.

Actually, I tried everything TTwo outlined here which was kind of a pain in the ass, and the problem still won't go away.  It's driving me nuts, because I love what they've presented, and it's driving me bonkers to not be able to actually play it without worrying about it happening again.

Are you using the 40gb version, or the original 80gb version?

40GB unit (no 60GB or 80GB available when I decided to pick mine up).  I've heard of other more severe issues with the 60GB system, but have only had 1 hard lockup so far - the intermittent pausing is far more frustrating.

[naum]

Man, it might be time to plunk down for a PS3.

[schild]

Haven't had a problem with GTA and my PS3. Except for the shoddy lobby code for multiplayer. Once you're in game, it seems solid.

[Mrbloodworth]

MisterNoisy, a fix you didn't mention is to turn off auto-save. Some said it helps.

Actually, I tried everything TTwo outlined here which was kind of a pain in the ass, and the problem still won't go away.  It's driving me nuts, because I love what they've presented, and it's driving me bonkers to not be able to actually play it without worrying about it happening again.

Are you using the 40gb version, or the original 80gb version?

40GB unit (no 60GB or 80GB available when I decided to pick mine up).  I've heard of other more severe issues with the 60GB system, but have only had 1 hard lockup so far - the intermittent pausing is far more frustrating.

I have one of the original 80gb ones, and do not have ANY of the freezing ETC..i just cant seem to connect to the multiplay (gamespy?) Service.

So if someone send me an invite, thats why i don't join, but i WILL TRY every time someone sends me an invite.

[rattran]

Well shit, I got the 360 version as everyone kept talking about the multiplayer and I didn't want to miss out. Now everyone is playing on the ps3

It's a good game, but maybe not good enough to buy another copy.

[WayAbvPar]

Played some multiplayer last night. I am at a severe disadvantage, since I don't play FPS games on consoles and thus am terrible when auto-aim is disabled. If the PC version has all the same multiplayer game options, I will definitely buy it just for that.

Word to the wise- don't bother putting your headset on during random pickup games. Chock full of LCD retards calling other bitches and niggers and other lovely misanthropy. If I could find a way to sterilize people through XBL I would win a Nobel Prize and solve 90% of this nation's woes inside a generation.

Anyone tried a group game yet? Is it private except for invites? The MP would be extremely fun with friends- then the shit talking would be amusing 

Please feel free to send me an invite if you are getting a game going. I am happy to play cannon fodder. I can hold my own a bit if I just stick to running people down in vehicles- I find that a fire engine is quite effective.

[Morfiend]

Played some multiplayer last night. I am at a severe disadvantage, since I don't play FPS games on consoles and thus am terrible when auto-aim is disabled. If the PC version has all the same multiplayer game options, I will definitely buy it just for that.

Word to the wise- don't bother putting your headset on during random pickup games. Chock full of LCD retards calling other bitches and niggers and other lovely misanthropy. If I could find a way to sterilize people through XBL I would win a Nobel Prize and solve 90% of this nation's woes inside a generation.

Anyone tried a group game yet? Is it private except for invites? The MP would be extremely fun with friends- then the shit talking would be amusing 

Please feel free to send me an invite if you are getting a game going. I am happy to play cannon fodder. I can hold my own a bit if I just stick to running people down in vehicles- I find that a fire engine is quite effective.

So far I have actually had pretty good experiences on XBL with GTA. People working together in multiplayer, and I havent been called "Fag" once yet. The party thing is pretty cool also. Basically it loads you in to your own version of the city as a lobby and from their you can invite your friends, once you have all your friends the leader can choose what type of game to join or create. If you join a team game, it automatically puts you and your "party" on the same team, which is nice. I did some team stuff the first couple of days, and then last night only pug stuff, which wasnt bad ether.

I am going to start sending random MP invites to all my friends on XBL. So your warned.