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A violent look back at the Grand Theft Auto series
Preparing for Grand Theft Auto IV's April 29th release, our mother ship Joystiq decided to take a look back at the controversy that started it all with a Grand Theft Auto Retrospective. All the way from the original Grand Theft Auto that graced the PC and PS1 back in 1997 to big IV that hits retailers later this month. It's a nice visual recap of each edition they peddled out their developer doors and opened our eyes to a few editions that left us scratching our heads (Grand Theft Auto Advance, was that necessary?) Make the jump and take in all the sweet, delightful and overly addictive GTA memories
MS will spend Halo 3-scale bucks to market GTAIV
The battle for Grand Theft Auto IV console supremacy is getting kicked into overdrive today with Microsoft revealing that their Xbox 360 GTAIV marketing campaign will rival that of Halo 3's. Wow ...Head of gaming for Xbox UK, Stephen McGill has gone on record to say that their GTAIV "campaign is the same sort of scale as our Halo 3 campaign last year so you can expect to see and hear a lot about GTAIV on Xbox 360 over the coming weeks." Microsoft plans on on promoting 360 GTAIV greatness with television ads that kick off this weekend as millions and millions of dollars get thrown into the advertising wind. So, would it be fair to expect limited edition GTAIV Mountain Dew and a Time Square launch too?
Analysts: $400 million GTAIV sales in the first week
Whoever doesn't believe that Grand Theft Auto IV is going to bring Take-two and Rockstar bags and bags of cash should be locked up in a mental hospital, because it's a fact that is guaranteed. But exactly how much cash is the big question and buzz on the streets is pointing towards GTAIV becoming the biggest money making entertainment launch in history.Variety is reporting that sources close to Take-two have come out and said that the company expects first week sales to reach upwards of $400 million as 6 million copies get gobbled up in seven days. A number that Take-two probably forecasted to be pretty accurate after an analysis of pre-orders. A number that, if true, would eclipse Master Chief's record $300 million haul. And a number that makes us realize how painfully poor we are and how gleefully rich some business execs can be.[Via GamesIndustry.biz]
GTAIV Social Club launch pushed back to Thur.
For all the Grand Theft Auto IV fanboys who were eagerly awaiting their chance to get their Social Club pre-registration done today, we're sad to report that such a task will not be possible. According to the newly updated flash on GTAIV's official Social Club website, the launch date has moved from April 15th to this Thursday, April 17th. It isn't a huge delay, but when we're talking about any new GTAIV content or experiences, an hour seems like an eternity. Hopefully we'll be able to survive without the Social Club for the next few days ... we must stay strong for the kids.
Someone has GTAIV early and it isn't you
April 29th can't get here soon enough, because not only do we get to experience a warmer Spring, but that's also the day we get our hands on Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV. Or so, most of us will.One can always expect that street dates will be broken and a select few lucky turds will get copies of a game hours, days or even weeks in advance of its retail release. And that exact scenario has already played out as one lucky turd posted an image of his his super early copy of GTAIV that he probably obtained through questionable (illegal) means. Darn lucky turds. Oh, and to the lucky turd who's pictured, we have some advice for you. Upgrade to a Pro already and shave your console's mustache. The white bezel and facial hair just isn't doing it for us.[Via Digg]
UK retail struggles to keep up with GTAIV demand
GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that most major online retailers in the UK including GAME, Gamestation and Play.com have been waiving their white pre-order flag lately regarding any new Grand Theft Auto IV pre-orders. The infectious demand for GTAIV is just too much and they can't guarantee customers ordering after April 7th will get their GTAIV copy day one. So, to anyone who's looking to cash in on those sweet UK Microsoft points pre-order deals, you'll probably be out of luck. GTAIV is teh hawtness right now and, as a result, pre-orders are getting hammered. Which we're certain Rockstar has no problems with.
Introducing the Joystiq Grand Theft Auto IV page
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Joystiq_s_Grand_Theft_Auto_IV_central_hub'; Need a refresher on Liberty City? Check out our game page for all things Grand Theft Auto IV. Seriously, this is everything we've written on the game. Bookmark the page, as we'll be constantly updating.
Target says GTAIV is available, if only it were true
Browsing the electronics section at our local Target we came across a few copies of Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 just chilling behind a glass barrier waiting to be purchased. Not all that newsworthy until we mention that we glanced up and noticed a GTAIV ad making a very bold claim. The same ad and bold claim that you see in the picture above. Our first response to this GTAIV ad was something along the lines of "HOLY MONKEY ON FIRE! GTAIV IS AVAILABLE NOW! TARGET IS THY SAVIOR! W00T-ACULAR! ZOMG!" Then, in the blink of an eye, our brain decided to actually function, the gears started turning and we came back to reality. GTAIV doesn't release until April 29th. Darn. And after asking a friendly Target employee if they, by a miraculous chance, had a copy of GTAIV (hey, we had to be sure) we were shot down. Silly Target putting up misleading signs a few weeks too early. They should be ashamed. And before you ask or point your pointy fingers, the answer is yes. It is a slow news day.
Grand Theft Auto IV 'Everyone's a Rat' trailer
Moments ago Rockstar Games released the final trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV titled, "Good Lord, What Are You Doing?" (aka "Everyone's a Rat"). In typical Rockstar fashion the trailer teases audiences with free-roaming open-world gameplay where Liberty City itself is as much a character as the people who inhabit the mean streets. Set to hit stores on April 29 for the Xbox 360 and PS3, GTAIV is shaping up to be one of the finest games of this generation. Hopefully when the dust settles from the hype when it hits we'll be able to see if it actually is as good everyone expects it to be.[Thanks, Troy & Tyler]%Gallery-3451%
Track your GTA IV stats with Rockstar Games Social Club
Taking a cue from Bungie's stat-a-riffic Bungie.net service, Rockstar Games has just announced the Rockstar Games Social Club, "a new website that will extend your experience of Grand Theft Auto IV and all future Rockstar Games titles." Line up against the Club's stanchions at rockstargames.com/socialclub and be ready for registration on April 15th. All you'll need is a Xbox Live gamertag and/or a PSN ID and an insatiable hunger for statistics. You've got one of those, right?Once GTA IV launches, the site will offer the usual multiplayer leaderboards, along with a torrent of statistically generated functionality. The LCPD Police Blotter will show the most dangerous areas of Liberty City and the most commonly used weapons, using the "aggregated data of millions of connected players." Similarly, the Liberty City Marathon will catalog the "the amount of miles walked, driven, or swam -- to the number of bullets fired and stunt-jumps jumped" and will hold competitions amongst players using this data. Other sections will track players who complete 100% of the game (they can win an "ultra-rare" bit of swag); a Hall of Fame, tracking the various leaderboard champs; and The Story Gang, a "single-player leaderboard." Consider us interested. You could consider us even more interested if we knew the first thing about the game's multiplayer functionality, outside of the occasional rumor.
GTAIV's new Social Club allows online stat tracking
Seeing that online stat tracking is all the rage among blockbuster titles lately, Grand Theft Auto IV too will feature such an online component with Rockstar's announcement of the Social Club.Going live on April 15th (plenty of time before GTAIV's release), the Social Club will be a website for GTAIV gamers to analyze, keep track and compare their stats and accomplishments with other Liberty City residents. Xbox Live subscribers will be able to register their gamertags at the Social Club and be able to instantly compare their multiplayer stats with gamers from around the globe. Not only will multiplayer stats be tracked, but Rockstar will post leaderboards for five other accomplishments (listed and described after the break) including a Hall of Fame and 100% Club that's reserved for only gamers who 100% complete what GTAIV has to offer. The first ten to complete the game 100% will even be rewarded with a key to the city. Nice. Hopefully, we all get an official Social Club membership card so we can flaunt it at the local bar or bowling alley.
Grand Theft Auto IV first 'leaked' multiplayer screenshots
Dutch site Xboxworld.nl accidentally leaked the first images of the upcoming multiplayer portion of GTA IV. Although the site pulled the images, the internet has an incredibly good memory. The folks at GTAForums promptly grabbed, and re-uploaded these lucrative images. The rumored list of online features reads like a wishlist: 16 players, 15 modes. With its release only a few weeks away, it won't be long before the world truly understands how ambitious Rockstar's online offerings will be.[Thanks, Enfo!]
Bully's Xbox 360 patch may need another patch
EuroGamer reports that a patch released five days ago, which intended to fix the issues in the Xbox 360 version of Bully: Scholarship Edition, may have caused more problems than it resolved. Reported problems include freezes, along with audio and graphic glitches. Rockstar explained that the issue is with older consoles, but EuroGamer states its (relatively new?) office Elite locks up.We're still waiting to hear from Rockstar about what's really going on, but the company seems to have locked itself in the teacher's lounge and refuses to come out. So, what's the word on the virtual streets? Are people still having problems with their copy of Bully on the Xbox 360?
Rumor: Sony no longer funding L.A. Noire
The Rockstar-published L.A. Noire has been off our radars for a while, and possibly for good reason. Though the title was originally being developed by Team Bondi exclusively for PS3 -- and with full funding from Sony Computer Entertainment America -- rumor diva Surfer Girl believes that Sony may be no longer funding the film noir-esque title. According to Surfer Girl, the potential decision to cease all funding may have come from Team Bondi's inability to meet deadlines. If the funding has in fact been stopped, there would be nothing stopping a release of the title on Xbox 360 as well -- if the title ever actually gets released. SCEA was the only source of funding for the game's development, meaning rough times could be ahead for the team if this rumor is true. Surfer Girl also supplies a few more (possible) details about the title. The soundtrack is comprised largely of jazz music, and is comparable to GTA in terms of quantity. The developer hopes to fill the 1940s Los Angeles with a variety of NPCs, each entirely unique and featuring unique personalities and knowledge. The game's core mechanic comes from detective work, of which reactions are reportedly mixed. It all sounds very interesting, to be sure. We wonder if it'll ever see the light of day.
Bully patch now on Live, but does it fix anything?
A patch for Bully: Scholarship Edition has been released on Xbox Live in lieu of the "broad worldwide announcement" expected today. But what does it fix? We don't know for sure, and various readers have reported the technical problems are either not fixed at all or in some cases worse. We've contacted Rockstar for more information. If you've downloaded the patch yourself, feel free to give your impressions below.[Thanks, Mark]
Sign up for Xbox.com's rather large GTAIV giveaway
Hurry up children and make your way over to Xbox.com and sign up for a huge Grand Theft Auto IV Sweepstakes giveaway. A hugely huge giveaway that includes over 20,000 prizes ranging from Microsoft points to Xbox Live subscriptions to a a trip to New York to experience the GTAIV launch. A prize packages that comes complete with guns, scantily clad women and drugs ... or so that is what's expected. We're not entirely sure if this giveaway is the same one that was supposed to be "exclusive" to purchasers of the GTAIV Special Edition, but we really don't care all that much. We're satisfied by the fact that we can enter this massive giveaway with the click of a mouse button. And speaking of clicking. Be sure to click your mouse over to the official GTAIV Sweepstakes page and register by April 14th when this whole sweepstakes thingy wraps up. Good luck!
GDC08: 2 new GTAIV trailers released
Hot of the heels of nine new screenshots, Rockstar released two new trailers for their upcoming GTAIV. The first trailer above is titled Phil Bell and is shows how Philly-boy solves his problems - with a baseball bat. After the jump you'll be treated to the second trailer, Dilettante Hybrid Trailer, which attempts to sell you on the future of Hybrid cars in Liberty City.
GTAIV, 9 new screens to put on your 2008 collage [Update]
Update: We've added 30 screenshots to our GTAIV gallery including the nine discussed in this article. Nine new GTAIV screens have been spotted at Xboxygen earlier today for you to whet your appetite. The images for the upcoming open-world title vary in quality from a beautiful sunset grab to another close-up of, lead character, Niko's grotesque hands. As hawt as the game looks, zooming in on the details makes of think of two major things. First, the game features such a large adventure that we can't wait to give it a spin when it hits on April 29 and second, Niko's paws are so strange looking they look like he's wearing uglier hands as gloves. Did we mention that already? [Thanks, gaetge. Via Xboxygen] %Gallery-3451%
Official GTAIV website gets an update and is go!
With Grand Theft Auto IV's April 29th release date getting closer and closer by the hour, Rockstar decided it was probably a good idea to fully launch the official GTAIV website. So, that's what they did.If you take a gander through the freshly updated GTAIV website you'll notice a bunch of new content waiting to be read, new media to be viewed and downloads to be ... downloaded. Rockstar just placed links to GTAIV News, Videos, Screens, Downloads and two "coming soon" sections including Multiplayer and Music. But possibly most read-worthy is the information you can gather from the the Peoples & Places, Recreation & Entertainment and Goods & Services sections. In these three sections of the website you'll learn about Liberty City, some of the characters you'll meet as well as some of the city's hot spots. We're especially fond of Liberty Swingers. There's so much to view and so much to take in we advise making the jump and browsing. Because, at this point, any GTAIV news is good news ... we crave updates.
GTAIV trailer 3 gets analyzed
With the release of GTAIV still months away, what are bored geeks to do but analyze the hell out of every scrap Rockstar throws our way? That's exactly what the folks at GameVideos have done, posting a nine minute analysis of the two minute trailer that was released yesterday. Naturally, we're not going to learn too much more than we already knew, but there are a few interesting points made. In particular, we get a look at some of the recurring characters in the story through some careful scrutiny of the footage in the trailer. Other than that, we get a closer look at some of the graphical effects gamers may have missed on the first viewing. You know, things like pasties covering stripper nipples. We totally missed that the first time. Check out the video to see what else you might have missed.
