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GTA 4 Iron Man mod is flying into buildings
Grand Theft Auto 4 has been host to many excellent mods in the past, such as one in which R2-D2 destroys Liberty City. In this case, YouTube user taltigolt recently showed off a video that showcaes improvements made to a complete GTA 4 mod that places Iron Man in the heat of the action. Not only does the video show Iron Man flying around the city and smashing into buildings, but he destroys police cars with ease by raising his arms. The modding crew also uploaded an album with Tony Stark in the game to their Facebook page. Unfortunately, the video features no sound at the request of another GTA 4 modder. Just imagine various crunch and explosion sound effects while you watch it.
GTA's Liberty City recreated in Google Street View, reveals your nearest Ammu-Nation
Type "Liberty City" into Google Maps and it whisks you to some place east of Wichita, Kansas. Yup, Wichita, for Pete's sake. No self-respecting Grand Theft Auto fan can stand for an omission like that, and thankfully now they don't have to. Those hardcore Niko-lovers at gta4.net have not only recreated the real fictional Liberty City using the Google Maps API, they've even cobbled together 80,000 screenshots to provide full-blown Street View too. Man, we haven't seen this much Gay Tony passion since the Trashmaster. Oh, wait a minute -- apparently this so-called Street View leaves out a couple of ramps that gta4.net considered to be "not very interesting." Hush, and you call yourselves fans?
Heavy Rain in Liberty City: a GTA IV Machinima
If you've played through Heavy Rain, you know that most problems can't be solved by shooting a dude in the face. For GTA IV's Niko Bellic, that's very much a real problem solver -- a tactic he has no problem using. So it's a pretty odd juxtaposition to see the two games spliced together like they are in the video past the break. It's a pretty great video, but we feel we should warn you that you probably won't get it if you've never played Heavy Rain. Unless you're watching this part, which we're pretty sure is funny no matter what game(s) you've played. [Via Kotaku]
Rockstar's Agent sneaks into 2010 release window
Aside from the game's exclusivity to the PlayStation 3 and the logo you see above, we've seen little else about upcoming '70s espionage game Agent. But while answering some fan questions about next month's GTA IV expansion, The Ballad of Gay Tony, on its forums, Rockstar North mentions that it's "working hard on a lineup of PlayStation 3 releases for 2010 ... including Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3, and the PlayStation 3 exclusive AGENT." The statement goes on to tease "yet to be announced" titles, possibly lending some credence to Michael Pachter's statements on another GTA game in the not- so-distant future. Considering Rockstar's statements were made in response to queries about GTA IV DLC coming to PS3, we wouldn't be surprised if those "yet to be announced" titles are the result of Microsoft's timed-exclusivity expiring. [Via Superannuation]
Utah game bill one step closer, Thompson speaks to Joystiq
Whoever said being a Bar-licensed, practicing lawyer had anything to do with amending existing laws has clearly never met Jack Thompson. Thompson's most recent game bill, authored by Representative Mike Morley and Mr. Thompson, was resoundingly passed (at 10-3) by the Business and Labor Committee of the Utah House of Representatives yesterday. What does this mean for Utah residents? Well, nothing yet, as the bill is now headed off to the full Utah House of Representatives for consideration. If the bill goes into law, however, retailers of all varieties in the state (from big-box outlets like Best Buy and Wal-Mart to independent theater owners) will be facing a $2000 fine for every documented sale of mature-rated content to a minor. We wanted some clarification on the law and it's possible ramifications, so we went straight to the source. After the jump you can see for yourself everything Mr. Thompson told us about his recently penned bill.
Rockstar Social Club adds multiplayer stat tracking
Being knee-deep in big news yesterday blinded us to the fact that Rockstar Games has finally updated their Social Club page to include multiplayer stats.Now, criminal masterminds in Grand Theft Auto IV can hit the website and check out detailed leaderboards and statistis for the each of the 14 basic multiplayer modes.While some bugs are still being ironed out, the Social Club update is an important step to growning the GTAIV community as it awaits news on the highly anticipated downloadable content, exclusively coming to Xbox Live Marketplace this fall.Now, go back to car jacking. It's been like 7-seconds since I heard a siren.[Thanks, StLouisRibs7734]
Grand Theft Auto IV impressions: A stranger in Liberty City
The PlayStation 3 has forced us to become accustomed to having to endure lengthy installations prior to being able to sit down and play a game, a fact made all the more aggravating for Grand Theft Auto IV, both because of the already overflowing anticipation as well as the aftertaste of having been up for multiple hours elbow to elbow with fellow players waiting for the opportunity to play the game. But there's little use in complaining at this point, so I took the opportunity to make me some tea and a sandwich as I prepared for what was to be a memorable evening that would mark my first visit to Liberty City ... ever.%Gallery-3442%
Analysts expect PS3 to benefit most from GTA IV
Oh, great, another Grand Theft Auto IV story. This one's about some analysts who believe the PlayStation 3 stands to gain the most following the release of Rockstar's go-anywhere, shoot-anybody romp. Though both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 are certain to experience a surge in sales upon the game's April 29 release, Michael Pachter tells Reuters that Sony's system will be the winner in this battle. He's joined by Edward Williams, from BMO Capital Markets, who suspects fans will want to keep their crime shenanigans in the family. "So many people who owned the PS2 went into PlayStation family because of 'GTA', he explains. "The release of 'GTA4' could expedite their decision to upgrade." That isn't to say that brand loyalty will overpower Microsoft's hand, as the manufacturer can still count on the Xbox 360's exclusive downloadable content and bigger install base. IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon (who's no longer unstuck in time, it seems) notes, "Online is such a strong part of the game and Microsoft has done such a great job of developing the online community, so for people who own multiple consoles, they will buy it for the 360." So, Microsoft wins the software struggle, Sony overcomes its hardware hardships and Rockstar has a rollicking good laugh to the bank. Oh, and we get to play Grand Theft Auto IV. We're all winners here![Pictured: Europe's Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 bundle.]
GTA IV 40GB PlayStation 3 bundle surfaces in Europe
If you're still licking your lips while gazing at that limited edition GTA IV Xbox 360 Elite, you may have the opportunity to make your GTA-branded console ownership dreams come true in a slightly different manner. Out of seemingly nowhere, a Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 bundle has popped up on a Swedish retailer's website, offering a 40GB PS3, a copy of the game, a decorated box and little else (DualShock 3?). Judging by the package art, we're guessing there's no suave paint job waiting on either side, and Webhallen has the unit priced at 4,499 SEK (or about $755). Before you ask -- there's no telling whether this thing is headed stateside or not, but surely Sony / Rockstar Games wouldn't let such a moneymaker swim around the US of A, right?[Via N4G, thanks John]
Pachter: GTA IV could sell 9 million units by Halloween
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes Grand Theft Auto IV could become the best-selling game of 2008, with $450 million in revenue and over 9 million units sold by the end of Take-Two's fiscal year (Oct. 31). He believes that GTA IV will ship 6 million units in its first week and sell 75% of that in a brief amount of time -- that means the game should not be difficult to find at any big box retailer. GTA IV is expected to mask the "underperformance" of other Take-Two games and make up "100% of Take-Two's earnings for the year."It's not all sunshine and lollipops, though, as Pachter questions the profitability of GTA IV's Xbox 360 exclusive downloadable content. The conclusion of some fancy math is that 50% of Xbox 360 GTA IV owners will have to purchase the DLC for Take-Two to generate cash from the deal, which Pachter believes is "not highly likely." Taking GTA IV out of the equation, Pachter continues to make his case for the EA buyout of Take-Two by saying the company continues to lose market share and revenues. GTA IV unleashes panic on Liberty City beginning April 29.
GTA IV Ad Artwork & Factoids List
With the game's release getting closer and closer, GTA IV's marketing strategy is begining to gain momentum. There's already been some viral marketing for the game, but now New York is playing host to GTA IV murals featuring characters from the game. The murals are designed to feel as though they extend into the wall and are very high quality. Photos of all the images, including the earlier ads, are in the gallery below.As for news other than pretty pictures, a four-page list of features, moments, bullet points and more was posted on thegamereviews and includes all sorts of interesting little bits of information. Spilit into various themes, the list concerns technical issues, locations, characters, groups, pyhsics and more, the impressions read as a great list of things to expect for those of us who just can't wait the six weeks 'till release. %Gallery-18115% [Read, thegamereviews] [Read, GTA Place]
GTA IV screens steal our attention, then beat it to death
We're not going to lie -- when the first screenshots for Grand Theft Auto IV leaked out onto the interwebs, we thought the game was rather fugly. Nothing against the folk at Rockstar or anything, we just didn't really think they looked that special. We've got some new screenshots for you to look at now and the game seems to be improving in visual quality. But really, who plays the GTA games for the graphics? It's all about the stuff you can get your character into and that seems just as top-notch as ever. We're looking forward to seeing and hearing more!
GTA IV dated 'March 08' in Micro Center ad
Leading game retailer Two-bit computer and electronics chain Micro Center has taken Grand Theft Auto IV's target release window – between Feb. and April, 2008 – and divided it in half: "March 08," declares the store's new circular. While GameDaily recommends we leave our calendars open for Saturday, March 8th, we're pretty certain Micro Center's "08" is an abbreviation for '2008,' and further evidence that no one knows exactly when to expect GTA IV. Do yourself a favor: don't be that guy who drives all night to Mayfield Heights, Ohio, arriving during the wee hours of the 8th, only to find a few eager campers for Smash Bros.
GTAIV trailer is live. Thoughts?
Well folks, the Grand Theft Auto IV trailer is up. You can either watch the tiny, poorly streamed version at Yahoo! Games, or you can watch the higher resolution trailer at Rockstar's website. Either way, expect to do a little waiting. As we suspected, the trailer gives a marginally closer look at some of the colorful characters we'll be seeing in Liberty City. We also get a deeper look at Niko, the main character. Sprinkled throughout are bits of action, like kicking in doors, hanging from helicopters, hanging on to the back of a speeding truck, and evading the newer, smarter police. All in all, the trailer is short, but definitely sweet. Alright, talk amongst yourselves.
GTAIV trailer goes live at noon EDT
Just so you know, the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV will be hitting the internet equivalent of the airwaves today at noon EDT. It will be available at the official GTAIV website as well as Xbox.com, and hopefully it will hit Xbox Live Marketplace on time too. Now that we've been introduced to the world of GTAIV, we're hoping to see at least a little gameplay. We wouldn't be surprised, however, if the second trailer is used mainly to introduce us to the other characters aside from Niko (the game's protagonist). As you sit there watching the minutes go by (this time without an oh-so-trendy countdown clock), you might as well check out our GTAIV gallery, which we've updated with an entire two new images. Yeah, we know. We spoil you.%Gallery-3451%
2nd GTAIV trailer brings new theme, gamer pics
Those of you looking forward to experiencing the second Grand Theft Auto IV trailer tomorrow will be happy to hear that it will also be available on Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox.com. In addition, Rockstar will be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV gamer pictures and a theme. The press release (featured at Gamertag Radio) makes no mention of a cost associated with the gamer pictures and theme. We're hoping Rockstar has the sense to make them free.If you simply can't figure out what to do with yourself until tomorrow, why not take a gander at our Grand Theft Auto IV galleries? We've got tons of screenshots, and some images of the special edition. Maybe that will take the edge off of the long wait.%Gallery-4323%%Gallery-3451%
GTAIV Special Edition images revealed
Fresh from Rockstar we have the first images of the Grand Theft Aufo IV Special Edition. With the special edition -- for the not-too-low price of 90 bones -- you get the game, an art book, a soundtrack CD, a duffel bag, and the particularly cool locking safety deposit box. Yes, you'll have all the makings of your own (pretend) robbery. We have to admit, as special editions go, Grand Theft Auto IV looks to be right up there with the cat helmet. Check out high resolution images of the special edition in the gallery below.%Gallery-4323%
Grand Theft Auto IV images galore!
Rockstar has rolled out a handful of new Grand Theft Auto IV images and we've incorporated them into a new gallery, along with previously released content as well. The shots all show off a very impressive level of detail, from foliage in the trees to reflective surfaces on automobiles. We also get some close looks at GTAIV's protagonist, Niko Bellic (seen above behind the wheel of a likely stolen ride). Check out our extensive new gallery below and tell us what you think.%Gallery-3451%
GTAIV hops on the special edition bandwagon
It seems like every major release -- and even some not-so-major releases -- gets a special edition these days. The latest to hop on the bandwagon is the next in the franchise that power-hungry politicos love to hate, Grand Theft Auto IV. We have to admit though, as special editions go, this one's a doozy. For the bargain basement price of $90, you get a metal safety deposit box, an art book, a soundtrack CD, a keychain for holding the keys to the deposit box, and a Rockstar duffel bag. Oh, and you get a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV as well. We dig that the special edition basically gives you the end result of a high profile theft: a loaded safety deposit box in a duffel bag.What say you, fanboys, does it top the cat helmet?[Via Joystiq]
Staten Island slighted by GTAIV
Many will recall yesterday's big Grand Theft Auto IV news including plenty of new details about the game. One of those details is causing a bit of a stir in Staten Island. It was revealed yesterday that only four of New York's five boroughs would be represented in GTAIV, with Staten Island being left out. It seems that Staten Island (or at least one of its newspapers) is miffed at its exclusion from the game. As John Annese writes in the Staten Island Advance "When did Staten Island get run off the road as a borough of New York City?" A gamer at a local gaming center stated, "If you're gonna base a game on the five boroughs and you leave out one of the boroughs, it's kind of unsettling" (he added that he would still probably buy the game though).Of course, not everyone is displeased with the news. Linda Baran, the president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce noted, "That's something I appreciate being left out of." A mother at the gaming center shared similar sentiments, noting that GTA is "not a great game" and that her son wasn't allowed to play it.Naturally, as game journalists, we're disappointed that so many people remain unaware that games have grown up over the years. Still, the response is expected at this point. Considering the flack companies have been getting lately for basing their games on real world locations, it's interesting to see things turned the other way around.[Via Game Stooge]
