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Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV - Official News
Date : 12/07/2007 | Time : 13:10 BST | Posted by Matt Stanyon

Rockstar Games, Microsoft and Sony have released Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 29th April 2008 in the United States and in 2008 in Europe.

Rockstar Games, Microsoft and Sony are bringing Grand Theft Auto IV to PC on 18th November 2008 in the United States and on 21st Novemebr 2008 in Europe/UK.

Much of the details on these pages come from GTAGaming and GTA4.net and to them I say thank you for this information

GTA IV Overview
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GTA IV General Information

 

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Title:
Grand Theft Auto IV
Developer:
Rockstar North
Publisher:
Rockstar Games (Parent Company: Take2 Interactive)
Multiplayer:
Yes
Platforms:
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Website:
http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/
Release Date:
April 29, 2008 (Worldwide)
Rating:
Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)

Grand Theft Auto IV ratings list
1. ESRB in the United States (M for Mature)
2. BBFC in the United Kingdom (18)
3. The OFLC in Australia rating is MA 15+
4. The USK in Germany rating is 18+
GTA IV Pre-Orders

Here are the list of pre-order prices for Grand Theft Auto IV:

Game Name Version Format North America Europe Australia UK
GTA IV Standard Xbox 360 $59.82 €59.99 $119.95 £39.99
GTA IV Standard Playstation 3 $59.82 €59.99 $119.95 £39.99
GTA IV Special Xbox 360 $89.99 €89.95 $149.95 £59.99
GTA IV Special Playstation 3 $89.99 €89.95 $149.95 £59.99

More Prices to be announced and confirmed

GTA IV Official Plot Synopis

What does the American dream mean today?

For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope that he can escape his past.

For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity.

As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.

GTA IV Wanted Posters

Wanted Poster 1 - PDF Format - Download
Wanted Poster 2 - PDF Format - Download
Wanted Poster 3 - PDF Format - Download
Wanted Poster 4 - PDF Format - Download

GTA IV About the Game

Grand Theft Auto IV was announced on May 9, 2006 at Microsoft's E3 press conference. Peter Moore (who was Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business division at the time of the announcement) rolled up the left sleeve of his t-shirt to reveal a GTA4 tattoo on his arm. He announced that GTA 4 would be available on Xbox 360 in 2007, and revealed that Microsoft and Rockstar Games had formed a strategic alliance in order to provide exclusive episodic content for Xbox Live, giving the community ever-expanding gameplay experiences.

Take2 Interactive then issued a press release which announced that GTA IV would be released simultaneously for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2007. However, the game was delayed on August 2, 2007, because some elements of the development were proving to be more time-intensive than originally expected. On January 24, 2008, a worldwide release date of April 29, 2008 was announced by Rockstar Games.

GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas were considered to be part of the GTA III trilogy (same graphics engine, similar characters, similar mission style, etc.) which is why this title is called GTA4 and not GTA6, as many had originally anticipated. With the GTA3 trilogy having now ended, Grand Theft Auto IV marks the beginning of a new era in the series. It follows the release of the hugely successful GTA: San Andreas, which was released for PlayStation 2 in 2004, and then later for PC and Xbox during 2005. GTA IV marks the 10th anniversary of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

It was announced on May 21, 2007, that GTA 4 would be available as a special edition on the same day as the regular edition. It is presented in a customised Grand Theft Auto metal safety deposit box, and includes the game, a limited edition duffel bag, an exclusive keychain, a selected soundtrack CD, and a Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book, featuring never-before-seen production artwork from GTA4.

In Grand Theft Auto 4 you play as Niko Bellic, an immigrant from Eastern Europe who was persuaded (by his cousin, Roman) to move to Liberty City in order to live the "American Dream." However, it soon becomes apparent that he was misled, and the nice life that Niko was expecting is not there. According to Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey, a financial consultant for Take2 Interactive, around 150 developers are currently working on GTA 4

Main GTA IV Info

Here is a short list of information tidbits regarding the game:

  • Main Character: Niko Bellic
  • Other Characters:
    • Roman
    • Elizabeta
  • Single Player: Yes
  • Multi-player: Yes, confirmed but no details yet
  • Episodic Content: Two pieces of content for Xbox 360 in 2008, possibly PS3 later on
  • Graphics: Uses Rockstar Advanced Graphics Engine (RAGE)
  • Physics: Uses NaturalMotion euphoria
  • Location: Liberty City, broken up into five areas:
    • Brooklyn is Broker
    • Manhattan is Algonquin
    • Queens is Dukes
    • The Bronx is Bohan
    • New Jersey is Alderney
  • Sea/Air: Helicopters and boats but no planes
The Character: Niko Bellic

Niko Bellic is the main character and is described by Rockstar as "tough." His home was in Eastern Europe, and he likely may never have traveled to Liberty City if it wasn't for his cousin Roman who is described as a "friendly buffoon" by Rockstar. Life wasn't going well, and Bellic turns up in Liberty City because he's been receiving e-mails from Roman that are full of lies about how great he is doing in America. Roman is actually in trouble.

However, Niko knows that Roman is the only person he knows in America. Roman serves as one of his main friends, motivations, and connections at the start of the game. Unlike San Andreas, players won't get a chance to see Bellic in his homeland. You will see his life unfold from the moment he steps into Liberty City.

Why Go Back To Liberty City?

Dan Houser, the creative vice president of Rockstar Games had the following answer when asked why Liberty City was chosen for GTA IV:

"[New York City] is an environment we felt had never been done to the level we were envisioning it in a video game. From looking at all of the locations, this was the one that really stood out to us, and really had that impact. It has all of these iconic things that you couldn't put into a game before."
In another magazine article, Houser explained again with this:

"We've always wanted to do New York properly. With GTA III, we were dealing with so many technical issues and design issues about making a game like that, that we didn't really think that trying to make somewhere like a real place was important at the time and then we discovered later that that gave an added element of content to the place.

We've got a full time team of researchers and photographers in the office in New York who get emails from the artists in Scotland saying, "Hey can you find out what this building's like, or what the traffic flow's like around here?" or the designers want to find out how the law systems work. We wouldn't be as confident doing a next-gen game the way we wanted, somewhere we didn't have a base."

Chronology of GTA IV Events

December 16, 2004 - The January 2005 issue of Game Informer releases with an interview with Rockstar Games President Sam Houser. He hinted at details for GTA IV.

May 17, 2005 - At E3 2005, Rockstar Games President Sam Houser discussed plans for the PlayStation 3 prior to making a deal with Microsoft.

May 9, 2006 - Grand Theft Auto IV is announced for PS3 and Xbox 360. Exact release dates are given. We also learn that the Xbox 360 version will have episodic content via Xbox Live. The website is launched with a basic splash page at rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto4.

September 27, 2006 - Microsoft announces that there will be two pieces of episodic content for the Xbox 360 version.

December 12, 2006 - An investor with Take-Two confirms that around 150 developers are working on the game.

February 22, 2007 - PlanetGTA predicts a GTA IV announcement in early March.

February 27, 2007 - Rockstar Games makes an announcement that NaturalMotion's euphoria Motion Synthesis Engine will be used in future games. All signs point to it being incorporated into GTA IV.

February 28, 2007 - An official announcement is made that the episodic content will be released in 2008.

March 1, 2007 - Rockstar Games announces a release date for the first official trailer: March 29. The official website changes to rockstargames.com/iv and a new logo is launched.

March 8, 2007 - One of Sony's British executives, Phil Harrison, explains why GTA IV isn't a PlayStation 3 exclusive. "I don't think the PS3 [currently] has the install base to support Rockstar's investment in GTA IV on its own."

March 29, 2007 - The first trailer is released along with screenshots.

April 10, 2007 - The first magazine preview is released by Game Informer.

April 23, 2007 - The Game Informer Q&A released on this day.

April 27, 2007 - The OPM UK preview is released, and a subscriber gets the details online.

May 9, 2007 - The Official Xbox Magazine preview reaches subscribers, and the details make their way online.

May 10, 2007 - OPM Italy magazine preview tidbits are pulled from the preview and released online by subscribers.

May 10, 2007 - PSM3 UK magazine is released with a preview and tidbits are pulled from the preview.

May 11, 2007 - OPM Australia magazine preview released to subscribers and tidbits are pulled from the preview.

How Was GTA IV Announced?

The game was announced at E3 2006 by Microsoft at their press event. Here is part of the press release:

Microsoft and Rockstar Games have entered into a strategic partnership to provide exclusive episodic content via XBOX live. Two full downloadable episodes will be available a few months after the release of the game for the XBOX 360 version only, each with hours of new gameplay content. It will not be "just a car or player skin" and Microsoft claims it will be the "best downloadable content experience ever. We're talking about hours of entirely new gameplay."

"Through Xbox Live, we have a unique opportunity to reach out to our audience in new ways," said Sam Houser, executive producer and founder of Rockstar Games. "This strategic alliance allows us to craft experiences that fully leverage the on-demand distribution power and sheer size of Xbox Live." Microsoft's Peter Moore announced the game at the E3 2006 Microsoft press event by rolling up his sleeve to reveal a GTA IV tattoo.
Sam Houser's E3 2005 Speech

Sam Houser, President of Rockstar Games, spoke at the E3 2005 Sony Conference on video. While he didn't mention that he was necessarily talking about the GTA franchise, it was fairly obvious that he was.

"I think what we're most looking forward to creating in a PlayStation 3 game is a truly-realized, truly-immersive living, breathing world. This is what we live for. You know, every five or six years, these amazing companies like Sony comes along and gives you this wonderful new piece of equipment that allows you to start unlocking your vision and unlocking the dream that you've been having for however long. With Cell and with PlayStation 3, we feel very excited and very confident that we're going to be able to absolutely push the limits of what can be created and the experiences that we can immerse our audience in. We really know that we're going to be able to go to the next level in terms of realistic simulations and realistic immersion combined with incredible narrative...incredible storytelling, and those two elements combined are what are going to create the experiences of the future."

This page is updated often. Announcements will not necessarily be made when this page is updated, so check back often.

GTA IV Main Features

Gameplay

  • Niko can use a mobile phone to recieve calls and phone his contacts. He can also use it to call taxis and purchase weapons. The options presented on the phone's LCD are Phonebook, Messages, Organizer, and Camera.
  • Pedestrians smoke cigarettes, read books and newspapers, drop litter, talk on mobile phones, walk in and out of buildings, and generally act like any normal pedestrian would.
  • It is possible to climb and descend telephone poles, and exterior fire escapes.
  • There are many different animation sets for breaking into cars. One of these involves Niko smashing the side window with his elbow, climbing into the car, and then hotwiring it.
  • Niko is able to manage his funds at ATMs.
  • GTA IV features multiplayer, but it's "not a massively multiplayer game," according to Rockstar's creative vice president Dan Houser.
  • It is possible to surf the internet in GTA4 via internet cafés. It is available from any computer in the game, and provides a hub for all sorts of interactivity within Liberty City.
  • The camera angle behind the car is closer than it has been in previous GTAs. This allows you to see more detail on the cars, and more of the verticality of the city.
  • In GTA IV, you will gain a police wanted level for any crime that you commit, providing there are witnesses present. The police can only chase you if they know where you are, and they need to see you to know where you are. If you escape the search area marked on the radar without being spotted, your wanted level will disappear.
  • In terms of scale, GTA IV is about the same size as GTA: San Andreas, but the map size is considerably smaller. This is mainly due to the fact there is no desert or countryside in Liberty City. Liberty City in GTA4 is the biggest city R* have ever created.
  • Every street in Liberty City contains a street sign with a name on it.
  • It is possible to do more than one mission at a time. For example, some missions take place over several days and may involve waiting for phonecalls or attending interviews, and you are free to carry out other business during the waiting period.
  • The story can be told in a number of different ways. Rockstar are trying to give people greater freedom and sense of control over their destiny. You now have a lot more choice in what you want to do.

Technology

  • Grand Theft Auto 4 runs on Rockstar's proprietary next generation game engine, R.A.G.E., allowing for an unprecedented level of realism and interactivity.
    • New sunlight and weather effects which give the city a whole different appearance as the time of day progresses.
    • Volumetric lighting effects allow sunlight to stream realistically into dusty interiors. Police spotlights will likely benefit from this effect as well when helicopters kick up debris.
    • Normal (bump) maps will provide much more detail in models than the underlying polygons, as well as giving materials more texture and depth.
    • Road and building textures are more varied than in previous GTAs. On some roads you will find potholes, metal plates (etc) where the road has been dug up.
    • Modern pixel shaders give water, glass, cars, etc.. more realistic reflections and shininess than the earlier games. In cars, you can see real reflections on the rear and side-view mirrors.
    • There are no load times in GTA4, not even during exterior-interior transitions (and vice versa.
  • GTA IV uses euphoria, a fully procedural animation package created by NaturalMotion. The core technology is the Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) system.
    • Variations in the terrain are met with realistic changes in the walking animation.
    • Unique game moments. Animations are created on the fly, so each player's experience will be unique. Gamers are no longer subjected to pre-recorded animations.
    • Characters will react realisticaly to being hit with gunfire, cars, and melee weapons or fists.
    • Players will be able to push people out of the way, rather than "floating" past them as in older games.
    • Falling/thrown characters will react as in real life- They won't simply be limp, lifeless ragdolls. Nor will they use a canned "super hero" animation like before.
    • Characters (and players?) will be able to hang on to helicopters and trucks, which will swing them around as the vehicle moves.