Internode Games Network has the official word from Rockstar as to why Australian's will be playing an edited version of Grand Theft Auto IV. Word is that the OFLC never saw the unedited version, the game they received for rating in December was an edited version from the start. A Rockstar spokesman told Internode GN:
The Australian version of Grand Theft Auto IV was rated by the OFLC in December 2007 as MA15+. Unlike the US and Europe, Australia still lacks an R18+ rating for video games and as a result many games are edited for release in Australia, including most previous Grand Theft Auto releases. While there are some minor differences between the Australian and US/EU versions, they are not significant and we do not believe they take away from the level of scope and detail that make GTA IV such an incredible experience. We would not release the game in Australia if we believed these differences compromised the quality of the game in any way. We strongly support the OLFC and will continue to work within their guidelines; however we believe the government needs to bring games in line with other media by introducing an R18+ rating, or edits to games will continue to be necessary. We encourage consumers to let their politicians know that they support an R18+ rating for games.
Can I just say, here-here to the last two sentences. Australia has been in need of an R18+ rating for games since the early 90's. With games getting more and more realistic, it's becoming harder for some to be released. It's time Prime minister Rudd showed us just how connected he is with the younger generation, it may not help GTA IV, but we can try and insure future GTA games and Rockstar Games (Manhunt 2 anyone?) get the rating they deserve without editing or lots of hard work on Rockstar's part.
But, this should calm all fellow Australian's down for the moment. Nothing major is changed, and we appear to still be able to connect with our friends from other countries without any problems. 18 days and counting guys, I can hear the tapping of fingers on controllers already...
Thanks Internode GN
German website Webhallen is advertising a Sony PlayStation 3 Bundle containing Grand Theft Auto IV, and of course, the PlayStation 3 with all it's accessories. It's worth it just for the spectacular box in my opinion!
So far this is the first we have seen of this bundle, so it would appear only for German fans at the moment. Most likely other versions will come to light shortly, well, we hope anyway.
For those who are unfamiliar with these "bundles". It's a Sony marketing move, something that they have been doing since the PlayStation 2 (possibly earlier). Basically it means you buy a box with a game plastered on the front for a little bit extra then the normal box, and in-turn you get a game with it for that little bit extra. Usually quiet a significant saving also, for example my PlayStation 3 included Grand Turismo 5 Prologue for only 10 dollars more than just buying the console pack by itself. Past bundles has been the Grand Turismo one I mentioned, and the current one, Metal Gear Solid 5.
Needless to say, I would have rathered this to the Grand Turismo 5 bundle I purchased...
Interested? Read about it at Webhallen...if you can read the fluent Dutch that is. We would offer a translation, but we are yet to find one that actually works. Watch this space just in-case we manage to get one!
Kikizo, IGN, GamesRadar, Spong, Destructoid, CVG, Gametap, Kotaku, GameSpot, TVG, TeamXbox, and GameDaily have all had the chance to play multiplayer in Grand Theft Auto IV. We have summed up Kikizo version as briefly looking over the other previews, they all say pretty much the same thing.
- 15 Multiplayer modes
- 60 hours+ of gameplay
- Kikizo hopes to have a Review of GTAIV on April 20, 2008
- Kikizo details the front-end menu of GTAIV, "Distinctive GTA IV artwork running on slideshow in traditional style, with 'push start'"
- GTAIV has most likely gone gold as reviewers have already been playing the final review build.
- Reviewers played six of the fifteen modes:
- Deathmatch
- Team Deathmatch
- Team Mafia Work (carry out various mini-tasks against the clock)
- GTA Race (racing - with no rules!)
- Cops & Crooks (sort of a bit like CTF)
- Hangman's Noose (a special mission)
- Reviewers were playing on a proper online connection. No LAN or system link. No lag at all even with voice chat
- You can edit the online modes
"In Deathmatch you can define weapon classes, such as 'Powerful', or for example choose to have only rocket launchers (which we found very difficult since the rockets do not lock on to targets) or even 'only knives'. If you're playing with just knives, things are going to become stealthy, so another useful option is to turn off player markers that appear over people's heads and also turn off people's locations on radar. You can also turn the Police on or off and toggle auto-aim on or off - useful as the auto-aim is very merciful and allows you to mow down moving targets with ease, particularly if you have a semi-automatic weapon. In other game types, you have all the options you'd expect, like vehicle type in GTA Race."
- In deathmatch mode, you choose what area you want to start at, regardless of if you unlocked the area in single player or not
- In helicopters, you can lean out of the side in an over-shoulder perspective and shoot at people on the ground
- Race courses are marked out by yellow light beams as way points
- Roads are not blocked off during race, so you can easily go off course
- You can race motorcycles, boats, and of course cars
- You can race at the airport
- Car Jack City is another multiplayer mode, but they never go to play it
- In team mafia work, You're a member of a mafia crew doing contract work. You have to complete a series of tasks as notified by the boss via your cell phone
- Cops & Crooks is similar to capture the flag. One of the four crooks is the boss, and the team is responsible for getting him to safety in order to win
- Each person can choose radio stations independently of everyone else inside of a car
- In Hangman's Noose, you have to get your boss from the airport to a safe zone
- No server browser like in PC games
Previews:
Certainly sounds awesome!
Style.com has just posted a small article featuring artwork of Karl Largerfeld. Who will be the DJ of K109 The Studio. Style also mentions that you won't actually see him in the game. This artwork is most likely for a release of a GTAIV soundtrack. Just like the artwork for Vice City's DJs.
Liberty City is home to some pretty unsavory characters, but the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto IV will welcome at least one polished gentleman to the neighborhood: Karl Lagerfeld. Herr Karl will be contributing to the soundtrack of the game, selecting his favorite dance and electronica tracks and providing off-color commentary as a virtual DJ on one of GTA's many radio stations. Lagerfeld has ventured into the music world before, putting out compilations of his favorite tunes and commissioning Devendra Banhart to record a creepy-genius "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" for his over-the-top Dom Perignon ad campaign, but this is his first foray into gaming. You won't actually see him in the game—at least not yet—which is probably just as well; a city as grimy as this one is no place for Dior Homme.
Source: Style.com
Thanks to Planet GTA for the heads up!
Two pieces of Grand Theft Auto IV news today. First off, computerandvideogames.com has posted an article on some "hidden extras" featured in Liberty City. We have summed up the article below.
-Flushing Meadows (Parody of the New York's World Fair) is featured. Also, a recreation of theme park, Astroland. Rides seen in trailers, such as the Corpse Ride and Cyclone, can be rode.
-Arcade games such as Go Go Space Monkey, which we have seen in previous IV Screenshots and in San Andreas.
-RS Haul, a trucking company from San Andreas, returns with missions. (RS Haul has been seen in previous IV screens)
-The Videogeddon Arcade, an arcade seen in a previous screenshot sent to fansites, allows you to play arcade games.
-The NRG500, a motorcycle, is confirmed to be in. Also, a new motorcycle, the NHG900RR, is confirmed to be in.
-Liberty City contains various photos of Vice City. (A photo from Love Meet also features a guy with Vice City in the background) References to older GTA games, in the form of graffiti, is also in Liberty City.
-Various companies from older GTA games such as Binco, Burger Shot, 24-7 and Clucking Bell will all be making a return. Brands from previous GTA games are also making a return.
-Classic vehicles such as the Stallion and Comet from previous 3D GTA games are in IV.
-Alderney has several strip malls where you can purchase food, clothing, and more. Much like the mall in Vice City.
-As detailed in previous reviews, mini-games such as basketball, pool, golfing, and darts will be in.
-Several references to "Hot Coffee" (The sex mod for San Andreas) will be scattered around Liberty.
-Gruppe Sechs, a securicar company all the way back from GTAIII, will be making a return.It is said that you can steal them and deliver them to certain locations for a reward.
-Sprunk can be purchased. Just like in San Andreas, Sprunk will refill your health.
-Various phone numbers are scattered around the city and you are able to call them.
-News tickers on buildings around Liberty City will be almost constantly updated with news about crimes you commit.
-It is said that GTAIV has references to Crackdown. As most of you may know, it was made by a company called "Real Time Worlds" which was founded by David Jones, founder of DMA Design, which is now Rockstar North.
Also in Grand Theft Auto IV news, GameKult had posted twelve new multiplayer screenshots but their page has since been broken. However, Gamersyde was able to get the same twelve screenshots but with a small watermark. We'll try to track down the un-watermarked screens. (Thanks to Ciaran for the alternative source)
Source 1: Computer And Videogames
Source 2: Gamersyde
Rob Taylor from Xbox World, remember that name, because he is the first ever person outside of Rockstar Games employees to complete Grand Theft Auto IV. He was given the honor of being not only the first person, but the first games journalist to play the complete story missions of the game and write about the experience/s he had.
GamesRadar had an exclusive interview with the man himself and recived some incite into the game and Taylor's prospective of the game overall. Some snippets are below.
How different is the game from the others?It's certainly tighter, both in terms of the way Liberty city is structured and the way in which the narrative feels more movie-like than before. Otherwise, everything feels as if it's been given the next-gen treatment; in particular the driving and shooting are light years ahead of past GTAs. Overall, it's a stratospheric leap forward, beyond anything I'd imagined.
Was the game everything you expected? Or are there some surprises?
That's a tricky question. It certainly exceeded my expectations, while there are so many small, chucklesome Easter Egg-style surprises that you're constantly shaking your head at just how savvy a developer Rockstar really is – light years ahead of its contemporaries. Again though, it's hard to be specific without venturing into the spoiler region... sorry!
How many "Woooaah, Jesus that's amazing!" moments did you have?
Without giving away any spoilers; lots! I think, overall though, it'll be three overall things that entrance GTA fans like never before. The City is one, with a lighting engine that has to be seen to be believed, plus the incredible dialogue and characterisation is genuinely Oscar-worthy and Niko Bellic is absolutely the most amazing protagonist in any game I've ever played. Finally, multiplayer of course!
Did you get a chance to play much multiplayer? Did you get your ass kicked by the Rockstar guys?
Yes, Xbox World 360 actually snagged a whole day playing against Rockstar PRs and devs in a exclusive feature a month or so back. Rather than simply go with the whole Deathmatch and Capture the Flag stuff, they've genuinely taken their time creating some amazing new modes that'll do the business online. Mafiya (a chaotic, mission based affair), Cops 'n' Crooks (one team try to capture the other) and Hangman's Noose (players team up to take an army of AI SWAT troops) were our personal faves...
If you had to pick a favourite out of all the games in the series now which one would it be?
GTA IV. By a country mile. It craps on all the others – even the mighty Vice City – from a height equivalent to the Statue of Happiness. Believe me, GTA IV is even better than the hype suggests!
That's just some of the parts we found intreaging, to read the full two page interview and read about how Taylor found the entire day (not just the game), check it out at GamesRadar. Below are three screens included in the interview, ones we've seen before, but a bit of a refresher anyway:
As most of you may remember, back in December of last year The Office of Film and Literature Classification awarded GTAIV with an MA15+ rating. Well, according to Screen Play, Rockstar had to think of the kangaroos and edit Grand Theft Auto IV to get the MA15+ rating. What was cut exactly? Rockstar isn't telling. We're hoping it isn't something too big. Personally, I'm hoping it doesn't effect online play between Australia and the rest of the world as it would be a bad day for me to find out that I can't get killed by kill Jared and the rest of the staff living in Australia in an online match.
Source: Screen Play
Keeping in line with previous 3D GTA games, Grand Theft Auto IV will have prostitutes. This is pretty much a given to most GTA fans, but now we have some details of the scenes thanks to the BBFC.
"Sex references also occur during cut scenes, including references to strong sexual behaviour. During gameplay the character can pick up prostitutes. What follows is an undetailed portrayal of masturbation, fellatio and intercourse. The character can also visit lap dancing clubs and request a private dance. While the game contains sexualised dancing and the portrayal of sex, there is no sexualised nudity."
According to Digital Spy, there were more details of the game on the BBFC website, but now have been removed.
The current issue facing the release of Grand Theft Auto IV on April 29th is the upcoming Box Office movie, Iron Man. To be opening in cinemas a mer 3 days after the release of GTA 4. Sources at the Entertainment Weekly magazine says the game could pose a threat to the Iron Man movie. The writer of the article posted in Entertainment Weekly, Nicole Sperling, says that the game holds an audience very similar to that of Iron Man. She adds that gamers could end up skipping the movie to stay home playing their newly purchased copy of Grand Theft Auto IV.
The article changed it's tune at the end, using a quote from a analyst saying it was "the dopiest thing ever" and a quote from a Paramount spokesman stating
“It's crazy to think that young males can't carve out two hours for Iron Man,”
TheGlobeAndMail Canadian Newspaper followed the story and said something I think sums it all up:
Well, it doesn't sound that dopey to me. In fact, it seems entirely possible that some younger GTA IV players will figure that, having already spent $60 on a game that week, it might be wise to conserve funds. Perhaps they'll see Iron Man later in its run, or, if the film gets bad word of mouth, perhaps they won't.
It's possible the game could cause millions of dollars in profit loss for Paramount, and it's been shown in recent years that Hollywood has had to start working around game releases to insure maximum profit. With GTA 4 being coined as the best game of all times, of the year and of the century, I don't think having a movie released that close to the game is the smartest move. Lets wait and see how it pans out shall we...?
Source: TheGlobeAndMail
Grand Theft Auto IV isn't even released, yet it is already in the top 10 list of video games sales on Amazon.com. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are in the top 10, Xbox 360 at no. 4 and the PS3 at no. 7.
This was bound to happen, after all the game has been moving up in it's purchasing rank on Amazon for the last few months, but now to be in the top 10, that is a terrific achievement.