Grand Theft Auto IV Comments by Tom Bramwell

I fear for humanity when eurogamer does it's inevitable 360 vs PS3 face off...

Bring. It. The. Fuck. On. Already.

There's nothing worse than a chugging framerate to destroy the feeling of immersion and 'being there' .. the fact that it hasn't been mentioned and that reviews are only surfacing very close to release make me believe this will chug along at times. I really hope it doesn't, i'd happily sacrifice detail for a perfectly smooth experience. Infinity Ward have managed a fantastically detailed and smooth game with COD4, i hope Rockstar have too.

7/10

@Rirekon

Yes you can call emergency services as well as other random phone numbers you may happen to see on various ads around the game. However, you are aware that they took this feature straight from Saints Row, right? :) Considering Saints Row was often critisised for being nothing more than a clone, I find it ironic how many features from GTA IV were clearly "inspired" by what SR did.

Not that I have a problem with that, if both games can benefit from what each of them does well, then all the better for us.

Just 14 more days to go!

... and I'm off all that week! :)

IronGiant: I'm sure CoD4 is very smooth and nice, but you're comparing an open-world game to an on-rails shooter. Kind of pointless, don't you think? Not exactly on the same level of technical complexity.

@Wintersnowblind

Considering Saints Row was often critisised for being nothing more than a clone, I find it ironic how many features from GTA IV were clearly "inspired" by what SR did.

And I would almost bet money that not one reviewer mentions this fact.

@ Wintersnowblind

I don't think the criticism of SR was for being nothing more than a clone, it was being a clone with no humour or character and a "ghetto" theme that took itself too seriously and was cringe worthy far, far more so than the satire of San Andreas.

I think it's fair that GTA can use the best ideas from SR, payback is a b***h!! :)

I like when people's first question is: "How's the framerate?!?!?" Who gives a crap! You know the game is going to be perfectly playable.

I want to know about the different things I can do in the game to keep me occupied for months.

To joint PS3 and 360 owners its not unreasonable to point out the merits and deficiencies of each version to help those of use who have a choice. Such discussions only seem to worry the narrow minded or biased.

I had only booked Tuesday off but this morning I booked Wednesday off as well - I am glad I did!

Sounds awesome. :-D

If I knew where Tom lived I'd be trying to squeeze through the letterbox by now.

@ peter

I agree, but in a simple preview like this? I've never seen a preview whose intended purpose was to detract you from buying a game before it's even hit the streets. That would be bad business all around.

Wait for the review for talk of framerate issues, not a preview of Liberty City and what it has to offer.

I only interested in the gimmick gameplay mechanics of San Andreas is gone, Simon-Says button pressing means I am not even going to bother.

won"t read *evil laugh*

14 days, oh my

I thought GTA 3 was the best of the bunch in terms of mission design, story, humor, and the overall world design. The gigantic world of San Andreas was often devoid of anything so what was the point? Worse, the story and missions stop having a relationship to each other about half way through. The motivations of the main character make no sense at the same point. I like how everyone in the gangs are at least 22 years old when most should be teenagers. A good-ish game but it felt rushed and haphazard.

The framerate is far more important than fancy graphical bling, since it is not only seen, it is felt.
Maybe I should wait for the PC version like I did with the previous games. Poor framerate in console games is unforgivable, since you can't upgrade.

I like how everyone in the gangs are at least 22 years old when most should be teenagers.

@dryden555

Not true...I can tell you don't know much about the Crips and Bloods. They go to jail as a teenager and come out around age 22 :)

I'm buying to complete the collection. Can't stop now...

@ bigo

Worryingly, I read that kind of fun has been restricted due to the cops not giving you the chance to let loose :(

I want to know which version has the smoother framerate... X360 or PS3?

/own all the consoles, just want to make sure to get the "smoothest" experience.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36401
Not a bad lil write up there, suuure they aren't games jounalists, but it goes into a bit more detail on the MP aspects of the game.

from what I've read it only "chugged" in 8 player multiplayer when everyone fired rocket launchers at the same time... So I wouldn't worry too much.. its pretty obvious its not 50fps, probably benchmarked at 25-30fps.. Which is perfectly acceptable - look at rsv2....
as for which is better console wise, didnt rockstsr say that the colours are slightly better on ps3 (if i remember correctly) but not very noticable at all...however the dlc is another 10 hours of gameplay so ive gone with 360 on this one...

Hadn't planned on getting it... or atleast not now, but after reading about multiplyer modes like the "save the VIP" I just can't help it, will be ordering tomorrow. go read the multiplayer part of http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36401 bloody genious!

who cares bout the fucking MP? -.-

Maybe to take a break from SP.

/doesn't get GTA :)

"and now, the PC version announcement please!"

+1. GTA on a pad is unpleasant.

@white westie...

Rockstar said both games were identical, one not being any better than the other. But developers always say that. They also said the PS3 colour palette was warmer because of the graphics card... in other words the same textures have a slightly different hue depending on the platform. Which one looks better will be a matter of taste I guess. If true, then the only difference will be the DLC available from August for the 360 which adds some new storylines.

"To joint PS3 and 360 owners its not unreasonable to point out the merits and deficiencies of each version to help those of use who have a choice. Such discussions only seem to worry the narrow minded or biased."

It's really an easy choice for me. My 360 sounds like a mix of a blowdryer and a jet turbine (I'm always playing with headphones on, and it still gets on my nerves in quiet parts of games) - my PS3 is close to inaudible even when the fan is running at max speed, and the disc drive is obviously always quiet.

Even if the 360 version of GTA4 proves to have a more stable framerate, better antialiasing etc. - in addition to the promised DLCs, plus its, in my opinion, superior controller - I'm still buying the PS3 version :p.

I bought Frontlines: Fuel of War the other day, but aside from that I haven't had my 360 turned on for over three weeks now. I really, really hate unwanted and excessive noise :p.
But hopefully future revisions of the 360 down the line - in a year or two or so - will be built with more consideration towards placement in a regular living room, and the sensitive ears and sanity of its owners :).

Realistically I'm expecting it to be what I would class an 8/10 game. Lots to see but, ultimately I'll probably have actually done every ambient thing by day two. Then it's simply rinse and repeat or do the missions
Wow, Penhalion, you're planning to have lots of fun with this game, eh?

"Rinse and repeat or do the missions"??? If you can't have fun tooling around GTA cities just arsing about, you are dead inside!

The PS3 version is going to massively outsell the 360 version in Europe. No matter how much marketing MS is gving it.

GTA is a playstation franchise and MS will realize that when GTA4 sells millions of PS3's while 360 will hardly see a rise in sales.

First impressions!? That whole article was nothing more than a nice wet arse lick.

Why do people always state what they want to happen as facy?

lets just wait and see what sells.

Miths: what PS3 type? mine makes a bloody racket when it gets hot.

Miths: what PS3 type? mine makes a bloody racket when it gets hot.

+1

99% of the time it's a LOT quieter than a 360 I agree (although my one is a lot quieter than my friend's older ones), but on full blast the PS3 can get pretty noisey!

I learned this when I explained to the GF how to control the central heating :$

Okay, 150 comments and Krudster didn't come in to defend the framerate. It now officially chugs.

has there actually been a single gameplay vid of this yet?

"To offset that, the new "wanted" system is less intensive; when the police are onto you, they establish a search radius around your last known location, indicated on your mini-map, and if you can escape that bubble without catching their attention, you're free, no matter their interest in you."


Nicked from Scarface. A very safe review. Well played. Not over gushing. Are EG and Rockstar fwends again now?

Sounds like a really bad game
Bad graphics
Bad gameplay mechanics
Poor choice of consoles
Strange control schemes
So on



If you have managed to come this far without exploding in a fit of rage, congratulations you have passed my troll attempt!

Despite not being a massive fan, it certainly sounds good! Although, why-oh-why have Rockstar persisted in keeping just one save location that you have to trek to every time you want to save?! And people complained about there only being 5 junkyards in Burnout!

Meh. So bored of GTA.

If your bored of GTA why are you posting in a comments section for GTA?

To comment that he's bored of it. Seems as valid a comment as people saying they think it's great.

I've never understood why people think a comments thread is the same thing as a fan site.

@trebell: "Miths: what PS3 type? mine makes a bloody racket when it gets hot."

The 40 GB model. Though I have seen reports of some people apparantly having 40 GB PS3's that are just as or almost as noisy as many of the 60 GB models supposedly were.
Looks like MS isn't quite the only company that can be blamed for hardware issues - or in this case what appears to be a different fan types even in similar models.

Still, while the fan in my 360 is certainly noisy as hell, the DVD drive is the worst offender - and I think I've yet to see anyone complain about noise from the PS3 Blu-ray drives (unless they were actually faulty).
I'm not sure about read speeds and stuff like that from Blu-ray discs, but considering regular PC DVD drives also tend to make a terrible noise when they are spinning around at those 40-52x - just like the 360 drive during gaming - I have a feeling we can actually thank Blu-ray for not having to suffer the same drive noise on the PS3.
And did I mention I hate noise? :p

PS3 blu-ray drive is only a 2x or something close, not going to get much noise with it spinning at such a slow rate. It can be slow beacuse the data transfer rate per second is so much higher than you get on a dvd drive.

@zerolight

Yes you are quite right about the colour palette

They can take away our ps3, they can take away our xbox360, they can take away our lives but they can nev er take away our....

pre-order copy of Grand Theft Autoooooooooooooooooo IV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!! * dramatic music *

* dramatic music stops *

Damn! Now what.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AF95c1QPIT8
Fake? Real?
If it's real I guess the question ''Which version will be advertised more prominantly? has just been answered.
It looks strangely fake to me though, I'd imagine it's fanmade.

Those worried about FRAME RATE.....
Read this preview as well .... http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=31...
To Quote.... ..

You'll likely notice the same graphical "quirks" that the series has dealt with since the jump to 3D. The same filmlike, grainy framerate exists and usually holds steady, but it can momentarily dip when things get frantic. There's some long-distance graphical fade-in as well as some street-level hazards that appear only after you hit them. Traffic will be nonexistent one second, then three cars deep when you rotate the camera back around, and then completely disappear when your wanted level gets to two or three stars (which is oh-so-fun when you desperately need a getaway vehicle). But even these problems have been "upgraded" in a sense for GTA4: An artistic application of filters hides some of the uglier character models, there's more types of cars to choose from, and overall, the feel of the city trumps any of the shortcomings we're familiar with by now. But you'll be able to see that in the screenshots and eventual videos.