The Australian edition of Zoo magazine recently published an article on their recent hands-on experience of GTA IV . Within that article, there are photos showing the journalist playing the game on a television. The only visible HUD object on-screen is the radar, and we presume other things such as wanted level and weapon choices will pop up on screen when neccasary.

The latest issue of ZOO has a short preview on the game..

For more information, head on over to GTA Forums.

The British Board of Film Classification today confirmed that Grand Theft Auto IV will carry an 18 certificate when it is released in the United Kingdom. The rating is identical to that given to almost every other GTA title released, and the BBFC awarded the rating without making any cuts. The game has now cleared its final hurdle before the planned April 29th release date.

As you will recall, a Rockstar Games spokesperson gave us a rough estimate of about 100 hours in order to finish Grand Theft Auto IV. However, at that time, it wasn't confirmed whether that was just for the single-player campaign alone or not.

Now if it's still lingering at the back of your mind, Rockstar senior developer Jeronimo Barrerra has this to say about this source of itch: "It takes testers playing 4 hours a day, a good 2 weeks to get through the whole single-player game."

Doing the math, that's about forty hours of dedicated gaming for the single-player mode alone . I'm not even talking about side quests yet. So the 100-hour game length remains a possibility. And mind you, forty hours is not a mere walk in the park. That's a lot of gameplay right there.

But really now, it's up to you if you're in for a Guinness speed-finish or a slow, Zen-like game experience. Now that the fourth trailer is up, it really is just a matter of time before Grand Theft Auto IV hits the shelves this April 29 for the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360.

Link : PSU - Thanks goes to PS3updates for this information

With the Xbox 360 version of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV getting quite the downloadable content pack (i.e. episodic content), it's a bit hard to figure out how the Sony PlayStation 3 version would catch up in that department. Well, it seems that while PS3 owners may not be getting the same kind of extra goodies as their Xbox 360 counterparts are, they WILL be getting some. Just what exactly, they don't quite say.

This comes from a scanned page of the latest issue of the PlayStation World Magazine. In the scanned page, an article talks about how the GTA IV development team's own Jeronimo Barrera let slip the deal that the Sony PS3 will be getting its own downloadable content. The buck stops there - everything else that follows is pure rumor.

But since this article itself is filed under the rumor category, let's indulge ourselves. In the scanned article, they mention two possible outcomes: one is that Microsoft only paid for time exclusivity and not outright exclusivity, so that what Xbox 360 owners can enjoy right off the bat, PlayStation 3 owners will also be able to enjoy, but in a later date. The other outcome is a bit more realistic: that the PS3 downloadable content is in fact PlayStation Home unlockables.

Considering the fact that PlayStation Home will be one of the biggest online communities ever when it hits the world stage, Grand Theft Auto IV -themed goodies do make a whole lot of sense. How about GTA IV -themed apparel for your avatar? Vehicles? Posters, trailers, or soundtracks from the game you can listen to inside your own digital home - it's definitely one that would fit into the framework.

Of course, I do have to remind you that while the downloadable content is pretty much confirmed, what sort of content will we be able to get isn't. So until Sony puts out official word, we'll just have to wait.

Link : PS3Forums - Thanks goes to PS3updates for this information

Three new [official] GTA IV illustrations have emerged on GameWallpapers.com.

Full-size wallpapers available at GameWallpapers.com

For the full size versions you have to be a paying member, once I manage to get my hands on unwatermarked versions, I'll post them here.

Thanks goes to gta4.net for this information

We all know that just one memory stick isn't enough for our PSP gaming and multimedia needs. That's exactly why a group called Team Xecuter came up with this UMEMD carrying case that can hold up to four memory stick pro duos.

The case is shaped like a UMD. The reason for this is that it will save pocket space by fitting right inside the PSP where the usual UMD game would go. Only drawback is that the case is only good for PSP-1000s. Also, it is obviously not as useful if you're planning to play a UMD-based game. It is, however, great for playing PSN downloaded games saved on the memory stick, storing that humongous music library of yours, and/or keeping your entire photo album with you on the go.

Shipping begins in 2 weeks - prices and stockists will be announced shortly.

Link : Team Xecuter - Thanks goes to PSPFanboy for this information

I've got some good news and some bad news regarding the upcoming DLC for Call of Duty 4. The good news is that Infinity Ward's Robert "fourzerotwo" Bowling confirmed on his personal blog that the PS3 variety pack will indeed be coming to the PSN next month. The bad news? Owners of the PS3 version will be getting the DLC on April 24 -- three full weeks after the Xbox 360 version goes up.

Now those extra three weeks shouldn't be too hard to stomach, right? After all, shouldn't you be used to this kind of treatment by now? In any case, it won't be difficult to make enough money in time to purchase the variety pack; it'll only cost a measly US$10. For those who are not aware of what's inside this DLC update, let it now be known that it's comprised of four maps: Creek, Broadcast, Killhouse, and Chinatown.

Link : Joystiq - Thanks goes to PS3Fanboy for this information

Over on the IGN boards, a forum poster uploaded pictures of the Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD and stated that these pre-order bonus discs were ready for pick up. However, we gave several local Gamestops a call yet none of them have the discs up for grabs. Chances are your local Gamestop wouldn't have them either, so don't bother calling. For those who don't know what this DVD is, it's a documentary highlighting a part of Metal Gear Solid's history; it is only available to those who have pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4 from US retailer Gamestop.

The DVD covers the series and the main characters of the story, it also includes all of the trailers that had been previously released.

The dvd goes as follows:

Chapter 001 - Prologue
Chapter 002 - Metal Gear 20th Anniversary
Chapter 003 - Big Boss - The origin of Snake
Chapter 004 - Liquid - The Second Snake
Chapter 005 - Solidus - The Third Snake
Chapter 006 - Solid - The First Snake

The poster also revealed some information on the upcoming beta test for Metal Gear Online. According to a slip within the DVD case, the beta will be available for download on April 17 and will run from April 21 through May 5 .

On a related note, teetering fans anxious to get their hands on the bonus DVD might want to double check Gamestop's website. They've been listing a scrumptious limited edition version of MGS4 for quite some time now. Better check that one out if you're a real hunter of all things collectible.

View : Metal Gear Solid 4 Overview

The Rockstar webmaster has just been in touch with gta4.net and they have sent over ten additional screenshots from the montage near the end of trailer 4. These aren't direct captures from the trailer - they are the original high-resolution screenshots.

View over 200 other screenshots in my gallery

View : Grand Theft Auto IV Overview

When Rockstar Games announced earlier today that they'd soon be launching a community site called Social Club, we thought it would only be for tracking scores. Yahoo Games has now revealed even more about the website, which launches on April 15.

Registering at the site will allow you to access an in-game menu whereby you can earmark individual tracks you hear on the radio for download later on your PC. The reason you need to be registered is that Social Club will automatically send an email to your registered account with a link to Amazon to buy the track.

As it's being provided by Amazon, the service will (initially at least) be limited to United States users. The bonus for qualifying users is that the tracks downloaded will be DRM free MP3 files which you can transfer to any device you like.

Apparently many of the tracks featured in the game will be exclusive to this service, so if you hear something in the game, you won't have much luck finding it with iTunes or BitTorrent.

"GTA IV's soundtrack is "the biggest in the history of entertainment," and with over 200 tracks, we're not prone to argue. In addition to high-profile tunes from popular artists, the developers are aiming for music geeks by handpicking rare, hard-to-find songs such as Electrick Funk's 12-inch treasure "On A Journey" and Elton John's "Street Kids" off his relatively unheralded Rock of the Westies. Some artists have even contributed brand new songs written exclusively for the game, including "Vagabond (Liberty City Mix)" by the Greenskeepers and "War is Necessary" from iconic rapper Nas."

It's all shaping up to be a very complete online experience indeed. There's still plenty yet to be revealed, with a number of multiplayer modes still shrouded in secrecy.

Thanks goes to GTAGaming for this information

The fourth and final trailer called "Good lord what are you doing?" ( AKA "Everyone's a rat" ) for Grand Theft Auto IV has been released and Jordan Liles has confirmed that the song is "Real McKoy" by Mavado. I have also added all 93 screencaps from the trailer into a new gallery, just click on the link below.

Download: GTA IV - Trailer 4 - HD - 74.7mb
Link : GTA IV - Trailer 4 - Screencaps