The question of whether Grand Theft Auto IV will make it to PC or not has been asked and debated many a times before. However with the release a mere 66 days away the question is on more lips then it was previously. Our friend at RockstarUncut this week posted an article about the GTA series in respect with the PC platform. He notes that all Grand Theft Auto games (excluding those on portable platforms) have made it to PC at sometime or another, and most importantly that Grand Theft Auto started on PC, so their is some history there that really wouldn't be right not to fulfill.
Most PC conversions after Grand Theft Auto 2 where ported between 6 and 8 months after the PlayStation release. If Rockstar stick to this tradition, which I think many people are hoping for, we could be seeing a possible October release for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, which as I discussed in an article not long ago, is 'the month' for game releases at Rockstar.
History shows us it's possible, and with Windows Vista being coined as an Xbox 360 in your computer as well as Windows itself having a larger market then all the gaming consoles put together it looks like a terrific option. Fingers crossed we'll be navigating Niko around Liberty City with a mouse by 2009.
Rockstar has again updated the Grand Theft Auto IV page. There is a bunch of news images, videos and files for your enjoyment, here is some of the stuff we have found in the new update:
Screens:
These two images were used in the Weazel News Widget, so they are only available in a small size:
Cars:
One new car is now identified. The Delettante by Karin is a new hybrid car. In addition to the two shots of the car below, there is also a video of the car. Check the videos section of this article.
Movies / Videos:
Two new videos have been released with the site update. One video is for a person called Phil Bell and the other is for the new car, the Delettante.
Phil Bell
Delettante
Wanted Posters:
Remember those wanted posters fan sites got a while back? Well Rockstar has now made them public to everyone in the form of PDFs. There is also an additional never-before-seen one for Vlad.
Niko
Little Jacob
Elizabeta
Vlad
Teaser Sites:
Remember a while back when we spotted a link to "www.weazelnews.com" in a screenshot? Well the site has now gone active. The link to the site is below.
Site: Grand Theft Auto IV
Teaser Site: Weazel News
Our friends from PlanetGTA have recieved Hidden Package #3. Most notably is the two new screenshots that came with it, see below:
The first installment of the exclusive downloadable content for the Xbox 360 console will be coming in August.
Microsoft confirmed that the first downloadable "episode" for GTA IV will be coming this August, exclusively to Xbox 360.
Grand Theft Auto IV: Episode One, as it's being called, is presumably the first in the previously announced two downloadable episodes for Rockstar's sequel. They've been rumoured to have cost Microsoft a fair few pennies too.
Source: CVG
Mumol from GTAForums posted up a new preview of Grand Theft Auto IV. The original article is located at our friends, MundoGTA. Check out some of the highlights from the article below or the scans below that, note though that the scans are of a Spanish magazine, so they aren't in English.
- Using the R1 button you can break car windows
- They drive a helicopter and fly very high. There is no popping and the scenario looks like a photo.
- With the digital up button they use the phone (the phone is like a Sony Ericson)
- When they are driving, they count around fifteen cars and many pedestrians
Plus there is a new image from the scans, check it out below (sadly only a low quality version is available):
Animation software company Image Metrics today announced that there facial animation solution is being used by Rockstar in upcoming titles Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Grand Theft Auto IV.
The animation solution is a newly developed software that allows realistic facial movement on game characters faces without the need for markers or makeup. Basically, turning something that once took days, week and months to perfect into a 10 minute job. Below is a short demo reel by Image Metrics showing off it's possibilities:
Xbox 360 owners rejoice! Microsoft have just announced that if you pre-order GTA IV who will receive:
- 4 exclusive GTA IV gamerpics
- If you pre-order it at retail stores (Not online) you will receive a GTA game case.
- Information on a competition
Yeah we know, it's nothing that spectacular. But hey, you can't argue with free stuff, can you?
Thanks for letting us know X3F!
Our friends over at GTA4.TV are telling us of some new hands-on previews to emerge before the end of February. Word goes Kikizo along with an array of "very" select (suggesting very high-profile websites only) received new hands-on plays of Grand Theft Auto IV just two days ago.
The previews are expected to hit the internet on the 27th of February, but that isn't official. As with the last batch of previews, we'll be the first with all the previews information and images in one place, so be sure to check back!
Thanks to information super-stage GTA4.TV!
A new piece of character artwork of Little Jacob has surfaced, showing him firing an AK-47. This piece of artwork came from MattyBlog, presumably taken from a magazine scan. More to be revealed when Kiziko and EGM hands-on previews get released! Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day!
GamesRadar has posted a nice little article about the controls of GTAIV, check it out below.
As that April release date creeps ever closer, the latest issue of UK mag GamesMaster has got a hands-on report of Grand Theft Auto IV - and it still sounds fantastic.
"It's during a cab ride that we realise just how good the new GTA is," the mag says. "There's as much traffic as you'd expect. But you can see people actually driving their cars and hear what they're playing on their stereo as you drive past.
"Major changes have been made to the [vehicle] handling," GM continues. "So it's much more difficult to chuck a top-of-the-range motor around a right-angle by jamming on the handbrakes.
"It's much more realistic, making the faster cars and bikes more difficult to control and the difference between models more noticeable. It still felt fun but don't rely on that handbrake when cornering."
Car combat sounds like a much more enjoyable experience behind the pad, as well: "If you get a wheel shot out you'll be able to tell from your car's handling, but also by the thumpa-thump of the rubber flapping around the rim.
"Niko can lose health when your car takes a pounding but unlike in previous games, they won't always explode after being flipped onto their roof. Another nice touch is that Niko can now lob grenades out of the window if he's got a tail and you can lock onto targets, making shooting while driving and absolute pleasure."
Xbox 360 controls (the PS3 version is running "a week behind" according the mag preview) seem to be made up of the following:
A = Run
B = Push pedestrians/Car Camera
X = Jump/Grab ledge
RB = Cover
LB = Call Taxi
LT = Lock-on
RT = Shoot