GTAIV
Latest
Australian game rating board under fire for Lost and Damned classification
Typically, when Australia's Office of Film and Literature Classification (the game rating board for the Land Down Under) is criticized for shoddy job performance, the attacks are coming from ... well, people like us. This is because the board's highest rating is MA15+, meaning games containing similar content to games rated Mature by the ESRB are often refused classification and sent back to the developer for content cuts.However, the OFLC has recently come under fire from its harshest critics, not due to its refusal to classify certain games, but rather, because of its rating for the recently released expansion to GTA IV, The Lost and Damned. These critics take issue with the fact that the expansion earned a rating from the OFLC without undergoing any content cuts, while GTA IV was forced to clean up its act before getting approved. These critics claim the similarities between the core game and expansion are evidence of major disparities in the Australian rating board. These critics might have a point -- the OFLC could be taking on a more lax approach to their classification of mature content titles. However, it's just as likely that Rockstar made content cuts to Lost and Damned before the first submission in order to avoid a refusal of classification -- and a costly resubmission. There's only one way to tell: Australian readers, we need you to boot up the game and, well, check for any and all wangs. We know, it's a lot to ask.
Joystiq Review: GTA IV's 'The Lost & Damned' (DLC)
Rockstar's ambitious Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable expansion, The Lost and Damned, tells a new tale in Liberty City, focusing on the vice president of The Lost Motorcycle Club, John Klebitz. Fans of the GTA series need no introduction to the content within this episode and will likely relish the opportunity to fulfill more of the series' staple quests. For those of you who couldn't care less about the franchise, however, know that Rockstar has set a wonderful precedent for the quality and size of a DLC offering with The Lost and Damned. It's practically a game within a game.Now, here's the part where you make your choice: "Continue" on to read our full review or jump to our video review below and give your reading eyes a rest. [And don't forget to enter for your chance to win The Lost and Damned right here!]
Dress up in leather with Lost & Damned Avatar apparel
Microsoft has added a touch of leather to the Avatar closet, delivering biker themed clothing to celebrate the release of Grand Theft Auto IV's The Lost & Damned downloadable content.As has been the norm, all clothing is free and denoted by a yellow star in the Avatar customization application. Sadly, there is no miniature Avatar motorcycle to go with the new biker duds. Guys: Rocker Jacket, Pixie Boots, Grunge Pants, Metal Combats, Top Hat, Skull Ring, Leather Biker Gloves, Left Feather Earring, Right Feather Earring Gals: Punk Tee, Black 60's Boots, Leopard Print Leggings, Biker Jacket, Biker Gloves, Skull Wrist Band, Left Feather Earring, Right Feather Earring
New Lost and Damned multiplayer modes detailed
If you're hesitant to drop a Jackson on tomorrow's expansion for Rockstar's magnum opus, a recent UGO preview of The Lost and Damned might have a few tidbits that'll make you renew that studio apartment lease in Liberty City. In addition to the lengthy new campaign, the add-on will apparently ... add on a few chopper-centric multiplayer modes.Some modes are simply bike-infused rehashes of the original gametypes, but a few stick out like a sore, awesome thumb -- namely, Chopper vs. Chopper, in which one player rides through checkpoints around the city on a bike while his opponent chases him down in a gun-toting helicopter; and the revamped Race mode, which arms competing bikers with clubs, which they can use to take out other players in a brutal, Road Rash-esque fashion. We'll let you know if these new gametypes are worth the price of admission once we've had a chance to get lost in The Lost and Damned.[Via Evil Avatar]
Good to See You Again: New 'The Lost & Damned' trailer
Dust off those copies of Grand Theft Auto IV and get ready to join the Brotherhood. A brand new trailer for the upcoming Xbox 360-exclusive DLC, The Lost & Damned, has jumped online and features a few familiar faces. Notable cameos include drug runner Elizabeta Torres and GTA IV's main protagonist, Niko Bellic.Based on the appearance of Torres and her dialog, The Lost & Damned will bring players back to the mission Blow Your Cover, from GTA IV. In the mission, Niko follows Playboy X and Johnny Klebitz (the protagonist in Lost & The Damned) to a heroin deal that eventually goes horribly wrong. Other moments from The Lost & Damned are said to weave into the original GTA IV story, where Johnny Klebitz was a supporting character during a pair of key missions.GTA IV: The Lost & Damned will release on February 17, for 1600 ($19.99 US). The full trailer can be found after the break.
3 months of Xbox Live free with Lost & Damned purchase
If you can stand to wait a few days before partaking in the cycling adventures of The Lost & Damned (stupid shipping delays), then Amazon.com might have an offer for you. They're enticing all GTAIV enthusiasts with a free three-month Xbox Live card with purchase of Lost & Damned.Your other option would be to snag the DLC from the Xbox Live Marketplace on February 17th, the instant it becomes available. For some, having to wait a minute longer to download the expansion in all its 10+ hour, Busta Rhymes music-debuting and Niko-less glory would be unthinkable.[Thanks, Sgt Barone]
Steam Savings: 30% off all Rockstar Games [update]
This weekend Steam is offering 30% off the entire Rockstar Games library, including the recently released Grand Theft Auto IV. Looking to erase the memory of being subjected to the recent Max Payne big screen adaptation? Max Payne and its sequel are among the titles reduced in the sale. Bulk buyers will also be happy to know the Rockstar Collection is now priced at $69.99, which includes everything in the catalog except GTAIV (which has been reduced to $34.99) including Grand Theft Auto IV. If you're looking to add a little chaos to your PC game library, this could be worth your time.Update: Grand Theft Auto IV is included in the complete Rockstar Collection, however Bully: Scholarship Edition is not (on sale for $20.99). The Rockstar Collection is on sale for $69.99.
Rockstar says 'hell no' to Niko voice actor in Lost and Damned
When recently posited with a query as to whether or not Michael Hollick, the voice actor who provided the pipes for GTA IV's Niko Bellic, would make a reprise appearance in the title's upcoming DLC expansion, The Lost and Damned, a Rockstar exec responded rather emphatically -- "Hell no!" This could be because Bellic, while making a few cameos in the expansion, isn't a huge focus in the storyline. Unlike the other major characters of The Lost, Bellic's dialogue can easily be recreated from the original game.However, the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks portion of the response could possibly be due to comments Hollick made in a New York Times article in May of last year. In said article, Hollick expressed disappoinment that his union failed to negotiate anything more than a $100,000 contract for his voice work -- a paltry sum when compared to the game's total sales figures. Then again, that's just speculation. It could just be that the queried party was all hopped up on caffeine when he answered the question, or possibly that he possesses a low-grade case of tourette's.
Lost, Damned, and caught on video
Meet Billy, he's lost. Meet Malc, he's probably lost too. Possibly damned, we don't know for sure. Together, they make for one zany couple. Wonder what kind of hi-jinx they like to get into? See for yourself after break. Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned DLC
Video: Meet Billy and Malc from GTAIV's Lost and Damned
Rockstar has released two new trailers for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV "Lost and Damned" DLC, each showcasing one of the episode's new characters. The first, Billy Grey, is the leader of The Lost, Liberty City's notorious biker gang. A walking bad attitude with a leather jacket, let's just say he's not the kind of guy you'd want hanging around your sister. Or anyone close to you. Or yourself, for that matter. Malc, on the other hand, is a tough customer himself and looks to be a member of a different kind of biker gang. Are we sensing a conflict between these two groups?Yes. Yes, we believe we are. Check out both trailers after the break. Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned
Rockstar officially prices GTAIV DLC 'The Lost and Damned'
Rockstar has confirmed to Eurogamer that the upcoming DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV will be priced for the long-rumored cost of 1600 ($19.99 at retail). The Lost and Damned is said to add hours of game play as players take on the role of Johnny Klebitz, member of the Liberty City biker gang The Lost.The 1600 price-point rumor had been swirling since video game retailer GameStop added a product page for The Lost and Damned on its website. The retail version of the content will not ship on disc, instead it will be made available in the form of a redemption code that will require a connection to Live (Yes, Silver Members too). We've been operating under the assumption that the content would be 1600 for quite some time and comments we've seen don't appear to be too angry at it, considering the amount of content promised. But now that it's official, what do you think about the price to re-enter Liberty City?The Lost and Damned will become available on February 17, exclusively on the Xbox 360.%Gallery-37703%
GTA IV Update: The Lost and Damned achievements, new screen
Above is a brand new screen from the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive DLC, The Lost and Damned for Rockstar North's best selling Grand Theft Auto IV. Not enough, you say? Below is the list of new achievements to be added to GTA IV upon the DLC's February 17 release. The five achievements add 250GS to GTA IV. Get Good Wood (50) – In the Bike Races, whack off 69 bikers with a bat. Easy Rider (100) – Finish The Story Full Chat (70) – Your backup are riding at their best! The Lost Boy (25) – All hail the leader of The Lost! One Percenter (5) – Billy is back on his bike. If you think the new screen shot, starring lead character Johnny Klebitz, is wallpaper worthy, you can find a super-sized version at RockstarWatch. Excited yet?
Video: A Grand Theft Auto IV music montage
X3F fanboy Da Crazy Basta sent us his first Grand Theft Auto IV music montage and, well ... we liked it enough to share. Embedded above is the NSFW musical montage-o-death that's done GTAIV-style and set to a few familiar tunes. Really, we couldn't think of a better way to "waste" over eight minutes of our lives this afternoon. Best part of the GTAIV musical fun? It wasn't created by Soulja Boy.
GTA franchise nabs over $700 million in 2008
Yesterday, following the release of its quarterly report, Take-Two Interactive CFO Lainie Goldstein announced the Grand Theft Auto franchise has brought in $710 million in 2008 during a conference call. According to a report by our second-cousin site GameDaily, GTA's 2008 skrilla accounts for about 60% of the company's publishing sales. In the, ever important, fourth quarter, GTA netted $40 million -- about 17% of the company's total sales.Surprise kids! GTA makes money and Take-Two is bloated like a midnight launch line. Maybe Take-Two should consider locking Rockstar down for the future. Oh, they did? You know what our mothers used to say, "Great minds think alike and fools seldom differ." Hey, we just got that. Someone isn't getting their holiday greeting card this year.[via Joystiq]
Rockstar vets cement long-term deal with Take-Two
For brothers who've become popular creating games starring characters who seek out freedom from society's corporate machine this is a strange move but not unexpected. Take-Two Interactive have announced a new long-term agreement with "key members of the creative team" behind Grand Theft Auto IV, including Sam (pictured) and Dan Houser. Terms of the agreement would see the team locked into an publishing deal with Take-Two until January 31, 2012. The arrangement also includes a new incentive compensation program for the Rockstar Games label and an agreement from Take-Two "to fund the future development of certain new intellectual property to be owned by a newly formed company controlled by key Rockstar Games team members." Our guess? Lemmings Kart Racing. Believe.
New GTAIV: The Lost and Damned screens
The long-awaited downloadable episodes for Grand Theft Auto IV are nearly upon us and, thanks to Spike's Meh-tastic Video Game Awards show, eight new screens of the first chapter have been released. To recap, GTA IV: The Lost and Damned follows biker-gang "The Lost" and its eternal struggle for control over the leather clad, gruff dude stereotype all bikers in Liberty City seem to have nailed down. Or something like that. GTA IV: The Lost and Damned is set to drop exclusively on the Xbox 360 for a reported 1600MS Points on February 17, 2009, and will feature "new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City," along with new multiplayer modes, weapons, vehicles and music. We expect "Bad to the Bone" will be at least one of those tracks. %Gallery-37703%
Grand Theft Auto IV PC patch needs a patch
Continuing in a tradition set forth by Bully, Rockstar's latest Grand Theft Auto IV PC patch may itself be in need of a patch. According to BigDownload, the update has created issues for some gamers' controllers, both Xbox 360 Windows controller and keyboard/mouse combination. For those already experiencing some major issues, it's probably worth downloading now. For everyone else, we suggest waiting until the next patch arrives. Maybe.
Spike VGA Winners: GTAIV snags game of the year
Here you go, a recap of all of last night's Spike TV Video Game Award winners that is viewable (in its entirety) after the break. And if you weren't already aware thanks to this blog's title, Grand Theft Auto IV beat out all other contenders for Game of the Year honors. It's a bit controversial to say the least, but then again, it is the Spike VGAs. Right? Gears of War 2 came away with a pair of the colorful monkey awards, one for best shooter and another for best Xbox 360 game. Fallout 3 also did well and Valve's Left 4 Dead had nothing to be ashamed of either. Clicky the linky below to view it all.
VGA 2008: See God of War 3, Brtal Legend, Uncharted 2 & Lost and Damned
If you missed the VGAs last night, you needn't worry, we've prepared the full virtual experience for you this morning. First, go read our liveblog of the event. Then, watch the delightful batch of trailers we've got for you after the break. Finally, imagine Jack Black is yelling at you in his underwear. You are there!Enjoy this first crop of media from Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, God of War 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Brütal Legend. We'll have the rest of the media for you in a bit.
Video: First look at GTAIV's Lost and Damned
Not only did last evening's Spike Video Game Awards bring Gears of War 2 DLC news, it also brought us our first look at Grand Theft Auto IV's upcoming Lost and Damned episodic expansion. Just as promised. You can view the exclusive Lost and Damned trailer after the break and begin pondering whether 1600 Microsoft points is worth admission into a biker gang. Truth be told, you'll get some fashionable leather apparel, but the motorcycle speeds wreak havoc on the health of your hair. We're talking split ends.
