Some people have noticed that this week Driect2Drive had listed the controversial SecuROM as the copy protection used for Grand Theft Auto IV. This immediately set off alarms for people as most people think that SecuROM is a very limiting copy protection program because of it's use in EA's games such as Spore. What most people don't understand is that it's actually up to the publisher to define what the terms are of the copy protection and not SecuROM it's self. In an attempt to quell people's fears, Rockstar has released an FAQ about the copy protection and it's terms. We have summed up the terms below. If you would like to read Rockstar's full FAQ, hit the link below.

• Activation via Internet (1 activation per system, no limits on activations(retail only), Alternative way to activate for people with out web access)
• The original disc is required for playing (Retail)
• The Direct2Drive version will have limited activations. Rockstar does mention that they will have an application in place for people who want to disallow an activation
• The Steam version will NOT have limited installs
• Special downloadable content will be coming for people that have legit copies
• If you uninstall the game and then decide to reinstall, you will not have to reactivate
• If you change two major pieces of hardware, you will have to reactivate
• GTAIV will have more than one disk
• SecuROM will not limit your ability to resell the game later (Retail)

Source: PC Games Hardware

Last week we reported that Steam was offering GTA: Vice City for free when you pre-order Grand Theft Auto IV for PC. Today, Direct2Drive has presented an identical offer for anyone who pre-purchases GTA IV at their online store. It's odd that both stores have offered the same game. Why are they both offering Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is something we're not sure about. Ideally, Grand Theft Auto 3 would have been the best to offer, since GTA IV is based off it's location. Despite Direct2Drive saying that they decided to offer Vice City, we are inclined to think that the offer is coming from Rockstar, and not something both online stores has decided to offer themselves, to us it seems like the best reason for why both are offering exactly the same thing.

Needless to say, if you don't currently have GTA: Vice City for PC, we would highly recommend pre-ordering Grand Theft Auto IV from Direct2Drive or Steam so you can get Vice City for free. Hit the streets of modern day New York and shoot the place up, then take a relaxing cruise in 1980's Miami. What more could you ask for?

Rockstar has released three new videos of Grand Theft Auto IV.

Super Niko

Get Sprunk

Replay Tutorial

PC Gamer is the first to review Grand Theft Auto IV for PC, and this month they have published a 6-page look at whats different and how they felt the game was returning to the series' original home, the PC. It received a 92% score, which in PC Gamer makes it a "Must Buy" game. Some key points from the review:

• Keyboard and Mouse feels effortless to drive with, there seems no issues with this combo in general (mouse obviously being brilliant to aim with).
• Wall hugging bugs from console has made it to PC - When up against certain walls or cars you still sometimes can’t always peak around to shoot which causes some frustration to the player.
• Bizarre decision has been made regarding multiplayer - You need to log into Rockstar’s Social club AND Windows Live to be be able to log into the game online.
• Game looks amazing with a Dual Core and a 8800 card. It did have some major framerate wobbles, “nothing fatal though” insists the reviewer.
• The game scored 92% and also got the “MUST BUY” badge.

This is, as I mentioned, the first review for the PC port, so there is not enough data to calculate an average score for the port of the game. The end of this month should see some reviews from online gaming websites as well as a few more magazine reviews, at which time we should be able to calculate how the game adds up to it's console alternative. Stay tuned!

Thanks DailyGamesNews for the heads up!

Rockstar has made Grand Theft Auto IV for PC available for pre-purchase (sorry, no pre-loading) via Steam. The best part? When you pre-order, you get a copy of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for free! If you already have Grand Theft Auto: Vice City via Steam, you can then gift it to a friend that doesn't have the game.

Buy Now: Grand Theft Auto IV (Steam)

Rockstar has released two new videos of Grand Theft Auto IV for PC using the in-game video editor feature.

Burgatory

Comrades

Rockstar has officially launched the official site for Grand Theft Auto IV: the Lost and Damned. The site is just a placeholder at the moment but does feature non IGN watermarked versions of the screens IGN released hours ago.

Official Site: the Lost and Damned

IGN has gotten their hands on the logo (above) and some screens from the episodic content pack Grand Theft Auto IV: the Lost and Damned.

Source: IGN

Rockstar has officially announced the episodic content pack that was detailed last night by the USA Today. In the press release, it mentions some new content coming with the pack.

Developed by series creator Rockstar North and set in Liberty City, The Lost and Damned features a new main character and plot that intersects with the storyline of Grand Theft Auto IV; new missions that offer an entirely fresh way to explore Liberty City with new multiplayer modes, weapons and vehicles; and a diverse soundtrack with additional music - all with the incredible production values that are the trademarks of Grand Theft Auto.

New multiplayer modes, weapons, vehicles, new music, and a new story? No wonder why Microsoft bought exclusive rights to the pack! The press release also mentions that the pack will be released February 17, 2009.

Source: Take Two Games

The USA Today has some exclusive details on the first episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV

• The episode will be nammed "The Lost and Damned"
• You will play as Johnny Klebitz, a member of the biker gang The Lost
• Niko will have a small part
• No final price yet

A couple of quotes by Dan Houser

"Johnny is a very different character than Niko, with a very different background," says Dan Houser, vice president of creative development for Rockstar Games. "I can't go into too much detail on the story, because we try not to give away too much plot before the game is released. But I can say that the story will show you a different side of Liberty City."

"The story is not directly impacted by decisions you took in the main game, tons of details and mysteries from the main story get explained, so it will add a lot of color to the main story."

"We feel like we've only scratched the surface in terms of the depth and detail in Liberty City."

Source: USA Today