The new Hip-Hop song, I'm So Fly by DJ Green Latern (who has a confirmed radio station in GTAIV), Ft Fabolous, Akon, and Fat Joe has been confirmed to be in GTAIV's soundtrack.
You can listen to the song here by clicking the play button below.
Source: Def Sounds
Rockstar Games have updated there Social Club page with a notice saying 'Pre-Registration Begins 4.17.08'. SC was originally going to be open to the public today but instead the flash front page came up with that.
If you don't know what Rockstar Games Social Club is, here are a few snippets of what going to be in-store for us.
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The LCPD Police Blotter will feature a map of Liberty City that tracks the criminal activity of the many players connected to the internet. It will feature information such as the more dangerous areas of town and which weapons are more common the others.
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The Story Gang will be a leaderboard that will not only show who completed the main story arc of the game first, but also how long it took. People who become a member of this club will receive special online widgets and merit badges.
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The 100% Club will be extremely popular as it will show who out of the millions of players will reach 100% completion first. The first 10 people to do so will be sent an ultra-rare commemorative 'key to the city' to mark their accomplishment! Later on it will rank members based on who will be able to get to 100% in the shortest amount of time.
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The Hall of Fame will recognize those elite players who have reached the top of various different statistical leaderboards, and will also contain a personal awards display of awards earned in Social Club competitions and via reaching various in-game achievements.
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The Liberty City Marathon will be a ranking of special physical milestones achieved in the game, from the number of miles walked, driven, or swam to the number of bullets fired and stunt-jumps jumped. Other events will be added as time goes on.
But that's not all that will be added, in the future there will be more added by Rockstar to cover other games respectively. Our guess is Midnight Club: LA will be the next to use the site along with some features coving it.
Source: Social Club
The Official Xbox Magazine is the first to review Grand Theft Auto IV, the mag will be released on to shelves on 18th April 2008 although subscribers are beginning to get there copies today.
“It says something that even at the end of a three-day session, with every island and a substantial chunk of the sidequests unlocked, I was still ploughing on because I wanted to see how the story ended. And I was still finding new stuff: the way a police klaxon goes strangled and gargley if you dent the light bar, the pedestrian who had the original GTA theme as their phone ringtone, the way that headshot drivers can fall on the horn and accelerator so you’re run over by a dead man…This sets the standard for what you should expect from a truly next-gen game. You owe it to yourself to play it.”
The magazine has also revealed the HUD, you'll remember we saw it in the Zoo Magazine a few weeks ago, this time we can see it more clearly.
The rest of the pages which include new screen shots. but you will have to buy a copy to look of course or look at the link below.
OXM's Verdict:
- Amazing Realistic World
- Stunning Set Pieces
- Genuinely Engrossing Storyline
- Hugely Entertaining Multiplayer
- Vast In Every Respect.
Official Xbox Magazine gave the game a rating of 10/10. So be sure to buy a copy.
Scans (9 total/high-quality):
Plus Two More Digital Screen shots
Source: OXM and GTAGaming (thanks to RAWRferal of GTAGaming for the scans).
All the hype over Grand Theft Auto IV has been great so far, all pros, which is good. We don't doubt the game will impress all fans and most likely new players as well, but what flaws could make things a little less terrific? Nothing is perfect, and with all great things comes a few things people aren't going to like. Specifically hardcore fans. Well GamesRadar has taken a step backwards and looked at potential flaws in the game, something nobody has yet done.
Now it's certainly not just an article bagging the game, no not at all, it's a very well-written article covering 12 potential flaws with reasoning as well as arguments against why the flaw won't be a major issue. All 12 potential flaws can be read on GamesRadar or you can read our small overviews of each below:
#1 - The sandbox has shrunk
Reason: We went from a city in GTA3 and Vice City to an entire State in San Andreas. Now we're back down to a city again.
Argument: It may be smaller, but the city is so detailed who cares about it being smaller?
#2 - Liberty City... again?
Reason: Back to Liberty City for the 5th time. Why not an entire new city, there are more than 5 cities in America after all.
Argument: This isn't the same Liberty City we've seen many times before, this is an actual recreation of the real New York city.
#3 - You won't recognize the music
Reason: Unlike Vice City with the 80's music we all knew and loved, and San Andreas with the 90's gangster rap, GTA IV has entirely original tracks we will not recognize or be able to sing to straight away.
Argument: It's all about helping new artists, and support future hits.
#4 - You won't recognize the controls
Reason: Controlling cars may be more realistic and true-to-life, but it is also more difficult. Don't be expecting to turn a corner easily at first.
Argument: Driving in previous games was nothing on this though, it was horrible. GTA IV is all about realism, and although it's difficult it's loads of fun!
#5 - The plot's not as fun
Reason: Unlike past games you don't work your way from rags to riches, you work your way from rags to slightly cleaner rags.
Argument: Once again, it's about realism. The past games were mere fantasy, GTA IV is all about the real-possibility of striking it rich through the life of crime.
#6 - The protagonist's not as fun
Reason: Past protagonist's were fueled by something, Tommy, rage, Carl, protecting his family and Claude, scorned love. Niko has nothing like that, which makes him less fun.
Argument: Niko isn't a cardboard cutout or cartoon. He is meant to be like a real person. Not a Hollywood story basically.
#7 - The canon has been erased
Reason: Past characters are a no show. Nothing relates to them in anyway, you won't see them, hear them or hear of them.
Argument: A new series of events, a new series of people. It's not all about reseting the console, it's about replacing the game disc with a new game and starting it up. All new, no old. Removing the old, starting over fresh.
#8 - You've been grounded
Reason: No more planes! No more jetpacks! No more parachutes, mountain bikes or tractors! No more swimming underwater, climbing mountains, hiking through forests or off-roading through deserts! No more freedom!
Argument: The basics are perfect, and fantasy has been removed for realism.
#9 - The multiplayer is limited
Reason: Multiplayer doesn't offer what other next-gen's do. It's limited, and not exactly what we expected or wanted.
Argument: No but thats whats unique about Rockstar, making something completely new an interesting. For what it does have, it's damn fun!
#10 - The customization is limited
Reason: San Andreas let you create your player the way you wanted him, physics and styles of hair. GTA IV only allows switching of outfits.
Argument: Many people hated the San Andreas exercise regime, and hey, this isn't about role playing, it's about playing the part of Niko. Not the part of John Doe.
#11 - What happened to all the celebrities?
Reason: Sam Jackson, David Cross, James Woods, Peter Fonda, Ice T, Axl Rose, The Game, Andy Dick, George Clinton, Chris Penn. They put other games and even movies to shame with their appearance in past GTA games. San Andreas had more celebs then any other game, and even movie. Why has GTA IV got celebs this time, and thats not because they wouldn't take part.
Argument: Rockstar wanted unknowns, similar to how the music in the game is.
#12 - The violence is no longer funny
Reason: In the past violence was fun, yeah? This time it's more realistic, and running over little old ladies can make you go "oh, thats not really right, why did I do that?!"
Argument: The realism can be funny, if not, than you shouldn't be playing GTA IV. Stick to the little kiddies games.
Read the entire article at GamesRadar.
When I saw the dummy covers at my local EB Games, I was surprised to see how detailed they were. In fact at first I mistook it for being the finished copy, obviously I was wrong as I soon realized. However a lucky GameSpot user has discovered the official back cover for the games box at Curry's (UK gaming store apparently).
The back of the cover says:
What does the American dream mean today?
For Niko Bellic fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and get dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.
The cover also reveal that the PlayStation 3 version of the game can run at 1080p, which means a HD experience, just like a movie, only playable. (Click the image below to see what were on about here.)
Most likely you have seen the back cover already, word goes most UK and American stores have got the final cover out on show. For those elsewhere, this is a little treat.
UK retailer Shopto confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the bundle which we reported last week will also be available to UK fans.
"We know for a fact it is coming out in Europe and we are expecting an announcement in the UK any time,"
Their is some confusion as too who will be distributing the bundle however, Gem has an exclusive distribution contract with Take-Two Interactive, but Centresoft handles distribution of Sony products.
"We are not sure if Gem or Centresoft are distributing it yet, that seems to be the hold up,"
The recomend retail price is set at GBP 299, which from what we hear is the going rate of bundles in the UK. So it's simple, if your just dieing to get your hands on Grand Theft Auto IV, live in the UK, but do not yet have a console to play the game on...get out of your chair, and put an order down on this little package of joy.
As always, thanks to GIbiz.
Rockstar has just updated the official Grand Theft Auto IV site. We have collected some of the new stuff below.
Screenshots:
Artwork:
MySpace Layouts:
Dmitri
Elizabata
Faustin
Lolipop
Niko
Sniper
Vlad
Young Lady
Videos:
PlayboyX
Liberty City Gun Club
Radio:
Liberty City Hardcore - A hardcore rock radio station hosted by Jimmy Gestapo
Electrochoc - A modern electro and dace rock radio station hosted by Francois K
The Men's Room - A men's advice radio show
Multiplayer:
Rockstar has finally launched the multiplayer section of the site detailing some multiplayer modes. More mode information to come in another site update.
Official Site: GTAIV
Rockstar games has sent out hidden package #4 to fansites. The hidden package includes a foam hand doing the "Shocker" gesture with the Liberty Swingers logo on one side and the Grand Theft Auto IV logo on the other. Definitely something I'll be taking with me to my local GameStop's GTAIV launch party!
Thanks Rockstar!
(Thanks goes to GTAUpdates for the picture. My personal camera hasn't been working the best as of late. I have plans to replace it soon.)