"Though it won't be released for another 12 days, industry watchers have already projected a massive debut from the next installment in Rockstar North's prized franchise. Last October, Janco Partner's Mike Hickey projected global opening-week sales of more than 9.5 million, with 5.8 million units turning up in US consumers' hands alone. Earlier this week, Variety reported that sources within Take-Two fully expect the game to sell some 6 million units in its opening week, generating revenue in excess of $400 million."
Source: Gamespot
Yes that's right, in a poll made by GamePro.com, more people would buy a Xbox 360 than a PS3, 48% of gamers would buy the Xbox version and 47% for the PS3 but only 5% will not buy it for either meaning that the Xbox 360 wins by 1%.
Popular reasons among site commenters in favor of the Xbox 360 version of the game include Achievement points (i.e. nerd cred), fears the PS3 version might be inferior (as has been the historical case with some games.), or they simply don't own a PlayStation 3.
But could the PS3 version be history, you'll have wait and find out.
Source: Game Pro
According to Computer and Videogame's first magazine publication in 3 years, the downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV will be bigger than just new cars, new models, etc.
"Of course, to call games as vastly ambitious as Vice City or San Andreas mere 'expansion packs' seems childish, but nevertheless, the downloadable content (DLC) coming for the Xbox 360 version of IV has repositioned those games in just this way. DLC so far has meant the odd new car, jumper of bit of horse armour, but GTA IV is set to completely redefine the idea with expansions that are to GTA IV what Vice City or San Andreas were GTA III. Yes, Rockstar is clearly hinting at new downloadable cities; and the chances of them being London, Vice City or SA again are slim to none. So that's new as in brand new. GTA IV's Liberty City is the beginning. Think about that and be excited."
Even though this is still just a rumor and Rockstar hasn't confirmed new cities as DLC, it would make sense. I mean come on, it was good enough for Microsoft to pay up $50 million. However on the other hand, it takes a lot of resources to make new cities, such as artists, designers, programmers, play testers, etc. New cities are possible, but very hard to do especially if it's going to be DLC.
Source: Gamervision
When I woke up this morning, I said to myself "God, I don't think anything can make me laugh today". Well I was wrong. John Lee Riches, an inmate in the state of South Carolina, has filed a restraining order against, yes your reading this right, Grand Theft Auto. Yeah, we're puzzled too at how one can get a restraining order against a disc with data on it. Why is Mr. Riches trying to get a restraining order against a disc? We'll let him tell you why,
"I face imminent danger from violent inmates who played Grand Theft Auto who will knock me out and take my gold Jesus cross..."
By now your most likely thinking this is a sarcastic article. Far from it. This is very real. According to Wired, prior suits attempted while incarcerated include action against dog fighting supporter and NFL quarterback Michael Vick, Martha Stewart, Steve Jobs, President Bush and Britney Spears. This guy highly reminds me of Jack Thompson. Also, according to Next Gen, he is attempting the same things with Activision and Atari.
Thanks to The Smoking Gun for the image of Mr. Riches.
skip, a member of NeoGAF and writer at 1UP has answered a question via the NeoGAF board about Sixaxis and PlayStation 3 when it comes to Grand Theft Auto IV. He says there is optional Sixaxis controls for bikes, choppers and boats. Chopper takes a little practice apparently, but it's all rather straight forward. There is also approximately a 5 minute mandatory install. Terrific news for all those PlayStation 3 owners out their, as you'll remember this was something we didn't think was much of a possibility until now. As a side note, if you have been wondering about rumble, it was confirmed some time ago that GTAIV will have support for Sony's new DualShock 3 controller for the Playstation 3.
A "Mick M" tipped off to PALGN a terrific email today containing the report by the OFLC on their rating of Grand Theft Auto IV. Please not the report does contain some swearing, so be aware of that before continuing. Warning, spoilers follow:
VIOLENCE
Violence is relatively frequent and strong in playing impact.
During the game, the player (as lead character Niko Bellic) is required to undertake various missions, mostly involving criminal activity, in order to develop contacts, make money and protect his cousin Roman. These include pick-ups and drop-offs, killing / protecting various people, stealing, racing, chasing, eating, drinking, going out and dating. A number of tasks involve drugs (for example retrieving a stash of cocaine for a dealer) and violence (for example, rescuing Roman from a kidnapper).
Violence includes hand to hand combat (basic punching and kicking) and more regularly involves use of various weapons. These include knives, baseball bats, a nightstick, pistols, machine guns, shot guns, rifles, grenades and rocket launchers. The player is able to use these weapons to inflict injury on other participants which results in frequent blood spray. Blood spray occurs as victims are attacked and is also depicted on objects such as floors and walls. Blood pooling occurs under bodies that are shot at after death however no post mortem damage (such as decapitation or dismemberment) is possible. These is also infrequent blood splatter on the camera lens as the player manoeuvres their way through missions involving killing.
A less frequent example of violence includes the ability of the player to set an enemy alight causing them to burn. The victim is shown flailing and on fire before they fall to the ground. Bodies remain as long as the player lingers in a particular scene, however after this, they disappear.
As the violence is relatively frequent, causing blood spray and injury detail, the impact is strong.LANGUAGE
Coarse language is frequent. Aggressive and/or strong coarse language is infrequent.
During the game play the characters are heard to use "f*ck" language, primarily in a naturalistic tone but occasionally in an aggressive manner. This, coupled with the infrequent use of the word "c*nt" (as well as some visual use written on a strip club wall) creates an impact which is strong.OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED
In the majority view of the board the game contains drug and sexual references, which although moderate in impact, warrant flagging at the MA15+ classification.
These include a cut scene (with no player interaction) where a drug dealer is depicted implicitly, then explicitly, snorting lines of white powder (implied to be cocaine) from a table and the involvement of Niko in various missions dealing with drugs.
Further, there are sexual references which require flagging at the MA15+ classification. These include a cut scene at the beginning of the game depicting a woman in lingerie whipping a man in his underwear, tied to a bed and the general ability of the player to go on 'dates' and have sex with a 'girlfriend', to pick up a prostitute and have sex with her and the ability to attend a strip club and pay for a lap dance.
So that gives us an idea of what IS in the Australian version of the game, and the uncut version to some degree also.
Big thanks to PALGN and their tipster "Mick M" for this terrific article!
Funny man Ricky Gervais, from the popular UK Television show The Office has announced that he is making a cameo appearance in Grand Theft Auto IV. Playing the part of one of the comedians at a Liberty City stand-up comedy club, which as we know is to contain real comedians, Gervais will be preforming 3 minutes of original material on top of some gags from his recent tour.
"It's a first - which always interests me. It was shot in New York, my favourite place in the world, and I got to wear a tight lycra suit as part of the digital process. No, hold on, that wasn't so good. Unfortunately they captured the whole horror, except I look slightly tougher. It's seriously a big deal, though. Games have outsold Hollywood for the past few years so it's nice to be a small part of that."
Gervais also revealed that he will pop-up at other points of the game, however he would not reveal much more then that just yet. If he is one of many comedians to make an appearance in the game, then boy have we got something in store for us here then, top-level comedians, this is turning from a game into a box office film!
Sources: CVG via Next-GenBIZ
Interested in winning all that pictured above? A Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR4 40" LCD TV, worth around $2,000, an Xbox 360, a PS3 plus a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV for both platforms all in one massive prize?
Well GamesRadar is giving you that chance, in a very unique idea for a competition, a treasure hunt!
As part of our ongoing celebration of all things GTA, GamesRadar has chummed up with the makers of the game, Rockstar, to offer this killer, one-off haul.
And the best part is that the key to the loot is in front of you right now - it’s GamesRadar.
We’ve hidden throughout the site 20 pieces of a GTA IV image, like a jigsaw puzzle. We’ve numbered them to make it easier to keep track. The pieces are hidden within news articles, previews, reviews, cheats and features throughout GamesRadar and CheatPlanet (at the top of the page, just hit ‘Cheats’.)
The first peice of the puzzel is available in the article, free here. The rest are located throughout the site, hints are also given to guide you along your journey:
Clues
1. (FREE! - submit this page's URL)
2. Beyond the box at the amusement facilitator seminar
3. Newest climbing plant gets enhanced upholstery
4. Telestrator guru meets Texas top dog when success came to a gun or a horse
5. Incomparable test at frigid athletics
6. Andrew and Monique’s son is traded
7. Why would you need to find the way home?
8. The fourth thing we think Grand Theft Auto 4 needs
9. Breath deeply at the dentist for a mirthful experience
10. Tara Reid a Wii fan?
11. Stupid Aussie provides ocular inspiration
12. Sunny weather proves unsuitable for youthful aviation
13. Odin’s crib and mail men
14. Ideal lack of light is null
15. Vindicated Echo
16. Unhinged – ethnic group (ing)
17. Awake
18. True, ‘X’ marks the remote location of these mammoths
19. A 360 degree turnaround – sexy?
20. An explosive soiree at an antiquated film house for the price of five cents
Basically how it works is you find the pieces and submit the URL os each page that holds a peice of the puzzle. Of course you can read the full details in the official article. Good luck to anyone who takes part in the treasure hunt, and we do hope you win! Please note this is open to US residents only, sorry guys!
Seems the announcement of the Australian version of GTA IV being edited has struck a cord with not only fans but the Attorneys-General also. The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia has stated that many gamers that pre-orded the upcoming title have canceled their orders and plan on importing the game, regardless of national law.
On top of this, a development has found that many are also angered by the price. $AU120 where as it’s $US60, meaning it should pad out to $AU64, but it doesn’t. These two very important aspects of the game in Australian fans eye’s have made the choice to import a cheaper, uncut version a very easy decision. This is horrible for Australian retails, as most orders were through Australian retailers themselves it means a major lose in profit, more money to overseas markets and less into the Australian economy.
The news of GTA IV being cut has once again brought up the question of bringing in an R (adults) rating for games into the Australian games rating system. Finally, perhaps we will see a result, as at a Standing Committee of the Attorneys-General the censorship ministers agreed to allow public opinion on an R18+ rating for games. Victorian Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls says that there are persuasive arguments to support the introduction of an adults-only games category.
"While computer games have predominantly been considered the domain of children, the most up-to-date research indicates a steadily growing trend in adult consumers of the product, with the current average age of gamers reported to be 28 years," says Hulls.
"It seems inconsistent that in Australia adults are allowed to view adult-only films, which have been classified R18+ by the classification board, but not computer games with an equivalent high-level content. At the moment, Australia is out-of-step with the rest of the developed world on this issue," continued Hulls.
This is terrific news for all Australians, good to see that with a large scale game such as Grand Theft Auto IV it has brought to the attention of the Government the importance of an adults rating for games. Something we have been wanting for some time now.
Something intreaging about the article is it also says that the New Zealand version of the game was rated R18+, which is interesting as it’s believed the New Zealand version of the game was also edited, this may not be the case after all. We’ll keep you up to date on how this goes, fingers crossed Australia will have an R18+ rating and an unedited GTA IV very soon.
Credit: Sydney Morning Herald