GTA IV briefing in Game Informer, multiplayer and more

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 11th 2007 at 11:35AM }

Game Informer gets the scoop on GTAIV in the May issue (not on "newsstands" yet), getting a peek at the Xbox 360 work-in-progress running on a debug unit. So, what's new besides what we saw in the trailer? Lots.

Setting: re-created Liberty City (better mirrors real-world NYC; smaller "geographical mass" than San Andreas, but more densely populated)

MetLife building = "Getalife"
Statue of Liberty = "Statue of Happiness"
DUMBO = "BOABO" (Beneath the Offramp of the Algonquin Bridge Overpass
Area includes an adaptation of four of NYC's boroughs (no love for Staten Island), and a section of Jersey:

Manhattan = "Algonquin" (The Lenape did speak an Algonquin language from which our word "Manhattan" is derived)
Brooklyn = "Broker"
Queens = "Dukes" (a duke ranks just below a prince)
Bronx = "Bohan"
New Jersey = "Alderney" (also named for one of the British Channel Islands -- or a breed of cattle)

Main character: Niko Bellic; "Eastern European" ('cause who really keeps track of the countries over there?)

Lured to Liberty by cousin Roman's suspicious emails (Roman claims to be living the America Dream: 2 women, 4 hot tubs, and 15 sports cars); Roman actually operates a rundown taxi depot in Broker and has gotten himself into a "load of trouble"
NEWS FLASH: "Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal"

Miscellaneous:

NPCs: lots of "non-American" characters, varied behaviors (e.g., shopping, drinking, smoking, chirping, hurrying, or just maxing on the stoop), "context sensitive," and dependent on environment; more freaks: "angry yuppies" and "lunatics"
Dynamic storyline: "A big part of the game is delivering story in new ways and allowing the player to plot their [sic] own destiny"; less of a sense of being a slave to NPCs' demands; communication is also dynamic (in person, by celly, etc.)
No planes; but motorbikes
Improved physics; characters' movements are influenced by weight and variations in physical terrain
Emphasis on night and day lighting
Seamless loading after initial boot (even between indoor and outdoor environments)
No details about targeting system -- but Rockstar claims to have found the new "sweet spot"
Voice casting will not focus on big-name stars; soundtrack will reflect 2007
Crime experts and ex-police have helped Rockstar create a realistic contemporary criminal atmosphere (i.e., it's not the 80s or 90s anymore; crime and crime-fighting have evolved)
Multiplayer confirmed; not MMO
Both Xbox 360 and PS3 version will 'likely' be identical; Xbox 360 version will include exclusive episodic content (what about PS3?)

Read - GTA4.net
Scans - Xboxic (also peep: The Last Boss)

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Tags: gameinformer, grandtheftauto, gta, gtaiv, libertycity, multiplayer, psn, rockstar, scans, taketwo, xboxlive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

RYAN @ Apr 11th 2007 11:38AM

no planes? gimme a break. I mean i UNDERSTAND...but dammit. As long as I can base jump off the statue of liberty I'm cool.

Nate @ Apr 11th 2007 11:46AM

I love that the land area is smaller...that was my one big issue with GTA: SA and more recently, Just Cause...WAY TOO BIG. I like the more intimate, smaller setting akin to GTA 3. You can remember all the pathways and shortcuts, and if you have to trek it on foot for some reason, it's definitely not as bad. One of the best things they could do with the new game, IMO. Sounds like it's going to be great.

baby sea tuna @ Apr 11th 2007 11:49AM

NEWS FLASH: "Many of Niko's activities revolve around being a criminal"

I was actually kinda hoping he'd be more of a hero this time around. Not like it's a dealbreaker or anything, but it would have been a nice change.

Then again, if it gives me the chance to pop a couple of ignorant Nextel bitches, it'll be well worth the cost of admission.

Konny @ Apr 11th 2007 11:52AM

Sooooo, how much is the episodic content gonna cost?

colby @ Apr 11th 2007 11:52AM

Agree with Ryan. Ugh ... feels like someone just sucker-punched me in the gut. Perhaps they didn't want anyone rehashing Sept. 11th.

Hope they don't faithfully recreate NYC traffic : P. One of the bonuses of San Andreas was the empty highways between cities. It allowed for a lot of high-speed cruising.

Last note, for as "buggy" as it was, I actually enjoyed True Crime: NYC ... immensely. The idea of making Liberty City in vein of NYC should prove to be VERY fun.

Seedy @ Apr 11th 2007 12:02PM

Hmm... So this is what the anti violent game press will be complaining about corrupting the youth next.

sheppy @ Apr 11th 2007 12:04PM

Personally, I wanted a crime drama game to finally give me a choice of working with the criminal element or the police to bring it all down. Neither side trusts you, you walk a precarious path and at any minute, suspicions could lead to violence. But in the end, I want to be a good guy for a change in a game like this.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Apr 11th 2007 12:05PM

Should not have cut the planes, but otherwise sounds sweet.

Jack of No Trades @ Apr 11th 2007 12:06PM

They better add more shit than that. Right now it would be a downgrade from San An.

Give me a realistic city.
Give me any form of tranportation I want to use.
Give me realistic gore.
Give me side quests that alow me to be a musician on the side, a skateboarder or a drug dealer.

I WANT FREEDOM.

mushiking @ Apr 11th 2007 12:07PM

blame Microsoft for the planes. this is what happens when the leading development platform has limited space capacity.

captain_duck @ Apr 11th 2007 12:08PM

No planes? Bah :(. Also i loved SA with its big outdoor areas. They better atleast keep some forest around the city to cross through :(

Konny @ Apr 11th 2007 12:09PM

Jack.. if you want all those things.. just get a life rather than playing a pretend one.

Sidepocket @ Apr 11th 2007 12:10PM

Um yea, all the GTA fans I know do not care about that shit.

Tell them what they can do, how many cops they can piss off, and how many people they can kill.

They do not want realistic, they want stupid fun.

Trying to add deep story and shit to GTA is like trying to add a more complicated plot in 300. If you were looking for an engauging plot in that movie, then you missed the point about all the blood in slow-mo.

Paul @ Apr 11th 2007 12:11PM

Dont blame anyone for the lack of planes... there is no need for them... other than getting on a high building and jumping off you dont need a plane in a city that is on an island. Planes were only needed in San Andreas because it was so damn big. Fun? Yes. Would it be fun flying around a relatively small world? Not so much.

WTangoFoxtrot @ Apr 11th 2007 12:12PM

@10. blame Microsoft for the planes. this is what happens when the leading development platform has limited space capacity.

wat the heck is that supposed to mean ? i will be surprised if the game even crosses 8 gigs and on a side note will be happy it does not buffer too much on my Hard disk ( my poor friends PS3 was missing 4 of his available 10 gigs after he installed oblivion ) so i can immagine how much they will have to buffer to the PS3's HD because of crappy Blu-Ray read speads.

Paul @ Apr 11th 2007 12:12PM

Sheppy - cool idea - almost The Shield esq.

Ralidore @ Apr 11th 2007 12:14PM

Statue of Liberty = "Statue of Happiness"

I was hoping for Statue of Homeland Security

MosquitoControl @ Apr 11th 2007 12:17PM

The aiming "sweet spot" has already been found - Saints Row.

If the aim takes a step back from there I probably won't be able to play it. It'd just piss me off. Aim was so perfect in Saints Row, but every similar game since has gone back to autoaim. It feels like going back from mouse control in FPS games to keyboard...

wait in the car @ Apr 11th 2007 12:21PM

The lack of planes is inexcusable. They were definitely one of my favorite aspects of previous GTAs. I was dreaming of dogfights over the big apple. Why would you take away content included in previous games? They were finally getting the flying right with San Andreas.

Mike @ Apr 11th 2007 12:22PM

@10. blame Microsoft for the planes. this is what happens when the leading development platform has limited space capacity.

No, thank the terrorist for the lack of planes. Wouldn't want to train more radical Muslims how to fly around New York crashing into buildings. I think Rockstar is just trying to dodge a bullet in what's sure to be a controversial game.

stick_man @ Apr 11th 2007 12:24PM

Bah... GTA sucks at this point. It's the same tired crap over and over again. cutting the planes is a huge step backwards. Downloadable content is a great idea, but will the extra content be worth the cost, and will the extra content actally enhance the game? Will I actually get to purchase a developer hot coffee mod? probably not. Probably just make us pay extra for planes that were free in the last game and probably charge us 5$ for a "stick" weapons add on. GTA was fun but by this point it's a predictable yawn-fest that makes me sleepy just thinking about it. Time for a late morning nap.

Jonathan Tran @ Apr 11th 2007 12:24PM

"Lured to Liberty by cousin Roman's suspicious emails (Roman claims to be living the America Dream: 2 women, 4 hot tubs, and 15 sports cars); Roman actually operates a rundown taxi depot in Broker and has gotten himself into a "load of trouble""

Ummm this is the plot to the movie "The Guru" except that was a romantic comedy

Kyle @ Apr 11th 2007 12:24PM

I totally understand why they aren't including planes. This decision very well could have saved them tons of money and lawsuit problems. Very very smart decision. Who would let a criminal drive a plane in New York? Exactly. I do wish they had some sort of flying involved like a hang glider.

As for the rest of that information, It's pretty standard. I was literally just thinking about when they would unleash some information about the game, considering it's only about 6 months from release. One thing I'd like to know though, do we *have* to eat like in San Andreas? Its not a problem really, it just felt out of place because of how infrequently you had to do it.

I'm really looking forward to this one, I've never been to NYC and if I don't get to visit this summer, I'll have a "virtual visit" some time this October :)

chenry @ Apr 11th 2007 12:26PM

This is what pushed me to finally buy an xbox 360.

yo @ Apr 11th 2007 12:29PM

most americans are such fuckin' idiots... Just...Find a map quickly...

Mike @ Apr 11th 2007 12:30PM

@24. This is what pushed me to finally buy an xbox 360.

You won't be disappointed with your 360...assuming you have a 50" HDTV with 6.1 surround sound like I do. ;)

EihBeir @ Apr 11th 2007 12:37PM

Aww, no helicopter? But it always made getting hidden packages so much easier.

UpIrons @ Apr 11th 2007 12:59PM

No planes? Ugh... No Copters? Yuck....

They'd better at the very least give us a jetpack!

KiraXD @ Apr 11th 2007 1:00PM

Smaller than San Andreas? thats hugely dissapointing seeing as this is supposed to be the "next evolution" of GTA series. Kinda irritates me that its being squashed to fit on a dvd... say whatever you want.. when it comes down to it... full use of blu-ray would have made this a much better, and bigger game...

John @ Apr 11th 2007 1:03PM

okay...so no "planes" but how about helicopters??? and how stupid to include dirty jersey and not dirty staten island?

GCNH87 @ Apr 11th 2007 1:08PM

No planes? No thanks. :(
Well.. what about helicopters..?

nedfrog @ Apr 11th 2007 1:09PM

staten island sucks.

Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 11th 2007 1:15PM

For those of you that are "sad" (you love to find something to gripe about) about GTAIV being "downsized" for the 360 I just have to say...HA!

Anyway, if your convinced of that and are not going to be convinced otherwise, (even though in MY humble, putrid opinion I think it's total BS) get used to it and deal w/it. Haaaaaaa, haaaa...

fyreblazer @ Apr 11th 2007 1:15PM

Removing the planes is a great step forward. It made the game too large and with Saints Row (and Crackdown) were pure fun without the need for planes. The aiming needs to be close to if not the same as Saints Row. If it is, I'll finally be able to get back in to GTA. GTA:SA just wasn't fun to me.

dantebk @ Apr 11th 2007 1:16PM

I'm not sure what people are getting upset about. Sure flying planes was fun in San Andreas but this is a different game with different priorities.

For me, GTA is all about the storyline and the big action setpieces, and I know that Rockstar can deliver that stuff in spades, so I trust them. I'm sure the roller coaster and the Statue of Liberty and everything else will be involved in some kind of craziness.

greatslack @ Apr 11th 2007 1:19PM

The map may be less expansive than San Andreas, but if you've ever been to New York, you know just how much crap there is to do there. Given the same amount of content, I'd prefer a compact map to a sprawling one. The summary here doesn't say how much of New Jersey will be seen (haven't read the original article yet) or even how much of the rest of the state of New York will be seen, but there could be enough land there to satisfy the free-roaming among us.

Jon @ Apr 11th 2007 1:22PM

So GTA IV is basically like all the other GTAs (including spin-offs), but with better graphics?

I think I will stick with last-gen for now.

Intentless @ Apr 11th 2007 1:24PM

multiplayer............. nice.....

JohnMazz @ Apr 11th 2007 1:33PM

Planes are literally HALF the reason I play GTA. No planes means I am HALF as likely to buy the game. Now add to that, the fact that I dont have xbox360, and I was counting on GTA 4 to be a system seller, forcing me to get 360, I think the outlook is gloomy.

Planes are such a crucial part of GTA for me that I'd sooner buy a PS3 and the ps3 version if planes were some kind of ps3 exclusive, rather then saving the $X00 on xbox360.

I hope this is a mistake or will change.

zli @ Apr 11th 2007 1:37PM

Well, the main character is probably from one of the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia). "Niko" = nobody, "Belic" = Whitey ('cause he's, you know, not black)...

John @ Apr 11th 2007 1:46PM

Just fucking call it new york, the city is already pissed so why not go all the way

Gin @ Apr 11th 2007 1:48PM

Clearly there aren't planes because of illusions to 9/11. With all the flak Rockstar gets from the media, I'm sure 'foreigners flying planes into buildings in an NYC-esque world' is one threshold they DID not want to cross.

Otherwise, looks pretty great.

Randy @ Apr 11th 2007 1:52PM

"Sooooo, how much is the episodic content gonna cost?

Posted at 11:52AM on Apr 11th 2007 by Konny"

According to the post on Joystiq from Monday, the price is up to Microsoft. If PS3 actually gets episodic content, I wonder how the prices will vary?

Jonathan Tran @ Apr 11th 2007 2:05PM

**"allowing the player to plot their [sic] own destiny"

I hope it wasn't you guys that put that 'sic' in there.**

I hope it was. It is technically gramatically wrong to say that ONE player has THEIR destiny. Since "they" means more than one.

Intentless @ Apr 11th 2007 2:13PM

Couldn't player in the structure be not only singular as would be assumed in the strictest sence also be translated in the "assumed" plural?

Scot Evel @ Apr 11th 2007 2:14PM

42. Well, the main character is probably from one of the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Serbia/Croatia/Bosnia). "Niko" = nobody, "Belic" = Whitey ('cause he's, you know, not black)...

Posted at 1:37PM on Apr 11th 2007 by zli

that would be the shit
id love playing someone from my country

perfectchaos @ Apr 11th 2007 2:40PM

am i the only one who found flying planes in san andreas to be one of the most frustrating things ever? i couldn't wait to get past the damn flight school tests. whoever thought they should be a mandatory part of the game should have been dragged out back and shot.