GTAIV
Latest
Grand Theft Auto IV crowned Game of the Year at Spike VGAs
It seems like Spike Video Game Award judges and Time magazine now have something in common. The Spike VGA Game of the Year was just announced and it was ... wait for it ... drumroll please ... more drumroll, please ... that's better ... Grand Theft Auto IV. The announcement was preceded by the latest Brutal Legend trailer, so we almost missed it basking in the awesomeness of Tim freaking Schafer. Congratulations to Rockstar.Curious which games won – and, by proxy, which ones lost – in the rest of the categories? Find the full list of winners after the break.
GTAIV, Braid top Time's best games of 2008
While gamers probably won't be flocking to Time for its list of the top 10 games of 2008, there's little doubt that the list will wind up under the scrutiny of plenty of non-gamers. The list is part of the "Top 10 of Everything of 2008' feature, which includes lots of top 10s, including things like the top 10 scientific discoveries (LHC FTW!). So what made the number one spot on Time's list? None other than Grand Theft Auto IV. Taking the second spot is the excellent XBLA platformer Braid, followed by Little Big Planet at number three. Heavy hitters like Gears of War 2, Spore and Dead Space also make the list. Alongside them are some stranger picks including a Flash game, an iPhone game and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.Check out the list for yourself and give us your feedback on the list. We're just guessing, but we're betting there are some games in your top ten that aren't on the list.
Time Magazine lists 'Top 10 Video Games' of 2008
On a list of "The Top 10 Everything of 2008" – a list that includes everything from the to-be-expected "Top 10 Olympic Moments" all the way down to the grocery-checkout-glamour of the "Top 10 Fashion Faux Pas" – we find Time Magazine's list of the "Top 10 Video Games." First, a navigational tip to the folks at Time: Maybe it's just us, but we'd probably file this one under "Arts & Entertainment" (next to movies, book, plays, and TV) and not under "Business, Tech & Sports" (next to the "Top 10 Financial Crisis Collapses"). Moving on ...We don't mean to undermine Time games guy Lev Grossman's picks by saying that the mag isn't exactly known for its writing on video games (unlike that other weekly news mag), but we get the feeling that – while Grossman has some solid (and unexpected!) picks – it won't look anything like most of your top 10 lists. Mainstream news-gatherers like Grand Theft Auto IV, Gears of War 2, and Spore make an appearance, but so do indie treats like Braid, an iPhone tower-defense game, and the Flash-based Hunted Forever. Climb through the list and come back to discuss the placement. Grand Theft Auto IV in the top spot? Star Wars: The Force Unleashed in the Top 10? Isn't Braid just for "people who smoke and people who drink"? Discuss!
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' to debut at Spike VGAs
Spike TV must be on a television ratings mission, because they not only have secured a few game debuts for their VGA award show, but we're told that Grand Theft Auto IV's Lost and Damned episodic content will premier at the award show as well. The press release doesn't tell us much more than that, so we're not exactly sure what or how much Lost and Damned will be shown. Then again, it doesn't really matter, because our interest is piqued and we'll be tuning in on December 14th at 9:00PM eastern.%Gallery-37703%[Via Joystiq]
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' DLC available at retail
When Microsoft and Rockstar Games initially announced their partnership to release the Grand Theft Auto IV Lost and Damned DLC to the 360, we were under the impression that it'd be exclusive to the Xbox Live Marketplace. We were wrong. There's a Gamestop.com product listing for "Grand Theft Auto IV: Lost & Damned" and the product is a redemption code card that requires Xbox Live to redeem. We're guessing that retailers will be selling Lost and Damned redemption cards in place of a retail disc to sell the DLC at a retail level. Oh, also note that Gamestop has the DLC listed to release on February 17th for $19.99.[Via Gamesindustry.biz]
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' gets screenshoted
Hot on the heels of their announcement of Grand Theft Auto IV The Lost and Damned (the first hunk of episodic DLC), Rockstar has released four high-res screenshots for your viewing pleasure. You can view the screens in the nifty gallery below and analyze every last detail. You may notice that biker dudes are a running theme in the screenshots and it's for good reason. The DLC's main character Johnny Klebitz is part of a Liberty City biker gang. We're also informed that The Lost and Damned content will feature "new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City," along with new multiplayer modes, weapons, vehicles and music. Really, how can you go wrong?%Gallery-37703%[Via Joystiq]
GTAIV 'Lost and Damned' DLC dated for Feb '09
After a delay or two and nothing but silence from Rockstar, we finally have specific information regarding the release of the Xbox 360 exclusive (and highly anticipated) Grand Theft Auto IV episodic DLC. According to USA Today, the GTAIV "Lost and Damned" episodic DLC will release on February 17th, 2009 and feature main character Johnny Klebitz who's a member of the Liberty City biker gang "The Lost". Rockstar VP Dan Houser describes Johnny as "a very different character than Niko, with a very different background" and promises that "the story will show you a different side of Liberty City." No other story information was revealed and pricing is still up in the air. Just be happy we have a release date.[Via Joystiq]
Achievement unlocked: GTA IV 'Key to the City'
We suppose a physical award is more satisfying than the typical on-screen, pop-up Achievement or Trophy, but then, what use, really, is a giant key engraved with the Rockstar and GTA IV logos? Fine, we admit it! We're jealous. There was simply no hope in us ever completing 100 percent of the Big Apple-sized sandbox (and by May 19th, no less). In fact, we're not certain we even finished a single mission. We just couldn't pry ourselves away from the pool halls, dart boards and internet dates -- just how we always imagined the lazy, urban underbelly of society. Gallery: GTA IV: Key to the City
Presenting the GTAIV key to Liberty City
Way back when Grand Theft Auto IV launched in April, Rockstar hosted a contest to award keys to the city to the most dedicated players, specifically those who could reach a 100% completion rating. It looks like Rockstar is finally shipping out those fabulous keys, and X3F tipster Joe F. was kind enough to send us pictures of his personal key to Liberty City. Check out the gallery below and covet what you cannot have (unless you managed to snag one yourself, of course).%Gallery-36812%
Chinatown Wars in Feb-April; GTA IV DLC end of Jan, tentatively
Speaking at the BMO Capital Market conference today, Take-Two fitness guru Strauss Zelnick posed some new release dates for the next entries in Rockstar's sprawling crime epic, Grand Theft Auto. All signs point to peace in the streets as we approach Chinatown War's previously marked release in late January. Strauss has pushed the downtown conflict into Take-Two's second fiscal quarter, which runs from February through April.Possibly joining the isometric pocket pusher in Q2 will be the overdue GTA IV DLC for Xbox 360. Strauss still has his heart set on January, though, as the total package is "close to completed."
Rockstar 'not sure' about GTAIV DLC release
Talking to Variety, Rockstar's own Dan Houser acknowledged he is "not sure" if the 360 exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content will release this year. "It's going well. But we don't know a date," Houser admitted, adding that "we hope to be announcing that [the DLC release date] in the next few weeks." Quite interesting, seeing that last we heard, the DLC was on track to release in November. Then again, there has always been some confusion regarding the DLC's release and a surprising lack of hype from Microsoft regarding the content's release later this year.All said, we wonder if the GTAIV content is as big of a draw as it was back in the day or if the 360 gaming community has just, well ... moved on.
GTA IV hijacks top spot in Japan sales chart
From Capcom designer Yokshiki Okamoto: "Rockstar is not unsuccessful in Japan, but their success here is on a much smaller scale than elsewhere in the world market. The low Japanese sales of the sandbox-style GTA series simply do not make any sense to me."Well, it looks like that trend has stumbled into a dark alley and been bludgeoned to death. According to Famitsu's weekly charts, Grand Theft Auto IV for PlayStation 3 has claimed the top spot in software sales in its debut week. The Xbox 360 version took the 4th spot. Valkyrie Profile: The Accused One and LittleBigPlanet (PS3) took 2nd and third place, respectively. Exact numbers haven't been released yet. Full top ten list after the break.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Grand Theft Auto IV is number 1 in Japan
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV is making a big splash over in Japan, according to the weekly software ranking published by Famitsu. The big budget sandbox title is debuted at the top of the charts, while LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: Spec III took third and seventh place, respectively. The exact numbers should be released tomorrow, along with hardware sales (unconfirmed word on the street is the PS3 is number 1). It's really refreshing to see games on the PS3 do so well -- we'll keep you updated when the exact numbers are published! Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) Valkyrie Profile: The Accused One (DS) LittleBigPlanet (PS3) Grand Theft Auto IV (360) Wagamama Fassion Girls Mode (DS) Pokemon Platinum (DS) Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: Spec III (PS3) Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS) Chocobo's Dungeon DS+ (DS) Wii Music (Wii) [Thanks, Zack!]
Rockstar: GTA IV PC delayed to Dec. 2
Rockstar has confirmed the delay of the PC release of Grand Theft Auto IV, reflected on retailers' sites earlier this week. The game has been pushed from November 18th to December 2nd. The developer did not cite particular reasons for the hold up, reports IGN, but we can assume it's due in part to typical, last minute bug squashing and system optimization. On that note, Rockstar did finally release official system specs:Minimum System Requirements OS: Windows Vista (Service Pack 1) / XP (Service Pack 3) Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz / AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 Ghz Memory: 1.5 GB RAM; 16 GB hard drive space Video card: 256 MB NVIDIA 7900 / 256MB ATI X1900 Recommended System Requirements OS: Windows Vista (Service Pack 1) / XP (Service Pack 3) Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 Ghz / AMD Phenom X3 2.1 Ghz Memory: 2 GB (XP) / 2.5 GB (Vista) RAM; 18 GB hard drive space Video card: 512 MB NVIDIA 8600 / 512 MB ATI 3870
Retail listings indicate Grand Theft Auto IV PC delay
We know some of you put off playing Grand Theft Auto IV when it launched earlier this year on "video game consoles" – instead, preferring to wait for the inevitable PC port. After all, if there was any chance of some hidden hot coffee action, the PC would be platform of discovery. So you waited. And waited. And finally word came through the tubes that GTA IV would see a PC release on November 18th of this year. Now, if listings on popular online video game retailers like Amazon and GameStop are any indication, we're hoping you circled that date on your Friends of GTA charity calendar in pencil because you may be in for a two-week delay. We put a request out to Rockstar early this morning and have yet to hear back, leading us to believe this delay is the real deal. Look on the bright side: you've got more than enough PC games this fall to keep you busy for the month of November. [Thanks, DssTrainer]
Grand Theft Auto IV PS3 Trophy patch is live
PlayStation 3 owners with Grand Theft Auto IV can now (virtually) carjack with more purpose. Rockstar has released the Trophy patch for GTAIV tonight, technically a few hours earlier than expected. The Trophies are not retroactive, meaning you'll have to play through the game again to earn them all. Between this and the new zombie infestation, it's getting a lot tougher ignoring the game as we try to get through the glut of other AAA titles from this holiday season.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
GTA IV Trophy patch now live
So when Rockstar says "Monday the 27th of October" it seems they actually mean "the evening of Sunday the 26th." The GTA IV Trophy patch is now live and ready to be downloaded worldwide. So if you're not too busy exploring Africa, the Ishimura or Rapture, why not have another go around Liberty City? Keep in mind that you'll have to start a new game as the Trophies are not retroactive. But was anyone really expecting them to be?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Grand Theft Auto 4 Trophy patch coming October 27th
The latest Rockstar Social Club email has finally given us an indication of when we can see the Grand Theft Auto IV Trophy patch. We've known what the Trophies are for a little while now, but we were never quite sure when they'd be coming. Thankfully, we now have a date and best of all, it's soon. You'll be happily traversing Liberty City again (but this time for fun and profit) on Monday the 27th of October. That's only days away. So dust off your copy and have it ready and waiting. We'll be sure to tell you once the patch is live.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
GTA IV multiplayer hit by viral zombie outbreak
Today's earlier rumor about a viral outbreak in Grand Theft Auto IV has borne fruit – icky, decaying, zombie fruit. It turns out that the zombie apocalypse has come to Liberty City, but not in the form of DLC. It's a tweak that's been made to the game's multiplayer modes just in time for Halloween.According to a news update on the Rockstar Social Club site, a virus introduced into the game world turns players into zombies (or at least bestows them with the zombie skin) and "can be contracted in any and all multiplayer modes and is spread when an unsuspecting player kills someone who has the infection." The post also mentions that signs of infection include gaining access to the zombie skin in multiplayer or earning the "Let Sleeping Rockstars Lie" Achievement (on 360).The Social Club site has been updated with a new community feature that lets registered users check to see if they've been "infected," as well as access US and world maps displaying the spread of the "disease." We've contacted Rockstar on the off chance they're willing to spill some details on how long we'll be riding out this outbreak.
Rumor: GTA IV DLC to bring quarantine, zombies [update]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/GTA_IV_DLC_could_be_a_zombie_outbreak'; Update: It most definitely is a zombie outbreak, but it's a multiplayer tweak and not the enigmatic DLC, Rockstar confirms.Original:A new Eugenics Inc. "ad" has appeared on RockStar Social Club, issuing a vague quarantine order locking down the mysterious company's compound due to a contagious disease outbreak. Eugenics Inc. is a physical location in Grand Theft Auto IV, located in Bohan, though it doesn't play into any part of the game ... yet.The quarantine announcement is actually the second Eugenics Inc. display to appear on Social Club, following a "Sperm for Cash" ad posted in April (now removed), which, to date, has never been an actual in-game activity. Obviously, Rockstar is proliferating the company's existence for some purpose, right?Last we heard, Microsoft confirmed the exclusive GTA IV DLC for this fall -- so, any day now. The quarantine posting (unobstructed text after the break) has sparked some speculation that the DLC could be tied to Eugenics' mess. Namely, a potential zombie outbreak! With art assets already in place, what's to stop Rockstar from turning GTA IV into a "28 Days Later" scenario? Keep your eyes peeled.[Thanks, Alexander]
