GTA IV briefing in Game Informer, multiplayer and more

Game Informer gets the scoop on GTAIV in the May issue (not on "newsstands" yet), getting a peek at the Xbox 360 work-in-progress running on a debug unit. So, what's new besides what we saw in the trailer? Lots.

Setting: re-created Liberty City (better mirrors real-world NYC; smaller "geographical mass" than San Andreas, but more densely populated)

• MetLife building = "Getalife"

• Statue of Liberty = "Statue of Happiness"

• DUMBO = "BOABO" (Beneath the Offramp of the Algonquin Bridge Overpass

• Area includes an adaptation of four of NYC's boroughs (no love for Staten Island), and a section of Jersey:

Main character: Niko Bellic; "Eastern European" ('cause who really keeps track of the countries over there?)

• Lured to Liberty by cousin Roman's suspicious emails (Roman claims to be living the America Dream: 2 women, 4 hot tubs, and 15 sports cars); Roman actually operates a rundown taxi depot in Broker and has gotten himself into a "load of trouble"

• NEWS FLASH: "Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal"

Miscellaneous:

• NPCs: lots of "non-American" characters, varied behaviors (e.g., shopping, drinking, smoking, chirping, hurrying, or just maxing on the stoop), "context sensitive," and dependent on environment; more freaks: "angry yuppies" and "lunatics"

• Dynamic storyline: "A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot their [sic] own destiny"; less of a sense of being a slave to NPCs' demands; communication is also dynamic (in person, by celly, etc.)

• No planes; but motorbikes

• Improved physics; characters' movements are influenced by weight and variations in physical terrain

• Emphasis on night and day lighting

• Seamless loading after initial boot (even between indoor and outdoor environments)

• No details about targeting system -- but Rockstar claims to have found the new "sweet spot"

• Voice casting will not focus on big-name stars; soundtrack will reflect 2007

• Crime experts and ex-police have helped Rockstar create a realistic contemporary criminal atmosphere (i.e., it's not the 80s or 90s anymore; crime and crime-fighting have evolved)

• Multiplayer confirmed; not MMO

• Both Xbox 360 and PS3 version will 'likely' be identical; Xbox 360 version will include exclusive episodic content (what about PS3?)

Read - GTA4.net
Scans - Xboxic (also peep: The Last Boss)

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]