Ever wanted to be a QA tester for Rockstar Games? Well Jochen Till is one of them, part of the Rockstar Games QA Team he is responsible to testing upcoming games, giving feedback on game play elements and reporting on issues. Recently he was interviewed by Dutch gaming website 9lives.be and discussed some of the features to be seen in GTA4.

Some points of interest:

• Loading is done in the background, as discussed many times before. It's confirmed that only cutscenes will require loading.
• Liberty City will be gradually unlocked, as seen in the GTA3 series.
• As with all past GTA's, you can have small discussions with people on the street. However, now relationships can be started, similar to that of the storyline characters.
• Car's damage is more realistic than in past GTA's.
• Your car will no longer explode after several intense crashes, rather the car will fail to start.
• Vehicles will not disappear as much as they did with past games, although they still will disappear if you leave the area for a large period of time or are a large distance from the area the vehicle was left.
• Extras like hidden packages and stunts we all know and love will return.
• All well-known real world weapons are available, although this was done in San Andreas originally anyway, however many new melee weapons have been added.
• He was unable to discuss details about the Multiplayer mode, however he did confirm that there will be a multiplayer mode.

Translation of the article is below or it can be read here.

9lives: In Grand Theft car IV strived you there more than ever to of Liberty city a realistic, living and very large make city, based on the real New York. Have you have had do for that no technical toegevingen in the field of laadtijden?
JT: No, just like in San Andreas there are no laadtijden at travelling between the different islands. Charging goes dynamically and on the context. Only at cutscenes you loading still some time can experience.

9lives: Is the complete city of at the beginning of the game accessible?
JT: You immediately complete Liberty city are able explore, gradually new parts are unbolted.

9lives: It is communicate possible to with the other inhabitants of Liberty city; ordinary guides which have do nothing with the tale?
JT: Like usually there small interactions are possible in the form of short disputes. You can however no relations build with each random guide, such as you that is possible with the story characters.

9lives: Slightly unrealistic kantje to previous Gta-games were that cars exploded always if you had damaged them heavily. Is that now differently?
JT: Yes, vehicles can give now also in other manners the spirit. If you are a scrap pilot, it is for example perfectly possible that you engine it breaks down after course of time and you can drive therefore no longer further. Also the damage models of the carriages are as a matter of fact much more realistic become.

9lives: And what if you car comes on its roof rightly? Does he fly then still immediately in fire?
JT: No, but a car really tips over entirely a lot will occur less in GTA IV, thanks to the improved physics engine.

9lives: Do those vehicles now also what continue stand longer? Sometimes you twisted your back in earlier GTA's and you car had already disappeared...
JT: That was especially to the technical restrictions of the PlayStation 2. now we with a new generation blame consoles works, we that inconvenience thus has been possible limit. Natural disappearing vehicles still if you are from the buurt far, but the area which remains in the memory charged much have, however, become larger.

9lives: There also still are submissies, such as hidden packages, unique stunts present beside the tale missions, etc.?
JT: It are that small, leuke solicit those Grand Theft car make what it is, therefore you can there certainly of its that there barrels side wrong ion present will be!

9lives: How does it sit with the weapons? In demonstration we saw all what old acquaintances such as the uzi, the rocket launcher and the sniper rifle to emerge. Also will new schiettuig in GTA IV sit?
JT: In principle zowat all conceivable fire weapons were already present in the previous games, therefore really large innovations do not have expect you here. However, new types mêlée-wapens will find be in the surroundings.

9lives: Rather touched already confessed that the main personage can move himself Niko, however, by helicopter, but no longer with planes. From where that decision?
JT: Although there for the completeness is, however, an airport in Liberty city and planes there in ventilates being to see, you them himself are able indeed no longer control. That is not necessary, because you are yourself always in the same city and everything therefore perfectly with a carriage, boat or helicopter is reach. And if you yourself do not want drive this way far, it is now also possible at all tijde take a taxi, which you bring then to the desired location. You the complete ride can sit out and as a real tourist to sightseeing or ordinary immediately skippen do to your end destination.

9lives: Finally still the question which burns on everybody's lips: how will the multiplayer see?
JT: There I can say you still nothing concerning except that it is certain that multiplayermode will be present in Grand Theft car IV. For more details you will have still just as tolerated must.

9lives: On the next presentation then but! Thanks for this conversation!