Rumor: GTA IV DLC may include entirely new cities
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Apr 19th 2008 at 9:00PM }
We're vehement followers of the logic that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is -- still, in cases like these, that doesn't stop us from wishing and hoping hard enough to make our noses bleed. The latest, Microsoft-endorsed, Grand Theft Auto IV special edition issue of Computer and Video Games magazine suggests that the 360 DLC is to the perfect scoring GTA IV as "Vice City or San Andreas were [to] GTA III," and later, in simpler terms, "Rockstar is clearly hinting at new downloadable cities" for the title.
While this infinitely awesome feature might be technically and fiscally possible, we must keep a firm grasp on our cynically-tinted monocles until official confirmation arises. Still, it's tough not to wonder what cities Rockstar could build knock-off replicas of to add to their latest title -- perhaps an Atlantic City clone? A geographically-appropriate rendering of New Jersey? A mock-up of the bustling metropolis of Mud Lick, KY? The possibilities are endless!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Markez @ Apr 19th 2008 9:06PM
Whee!!! Wouldn't this be a monster download tho? Don't know what to think here. Is there going to be general availability on the DLC @ launch?
Being prepared to finish this game finally compelled me to beat The Darkness.
Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 19th 2008 9:08PM
Couldn't be more than a few gigabytes considering they could simply reuse assets already on the disk/hard drive. The game itself can't be more than what the 360's DVD can hold, which is, what, 9-18 gigs?
Fernando Rocker @ Apr 19th 2008 11:12PM
They should male a Gran Theft Auto: Texas... =p
Fernando Rocker @ Apr 19th 2008 11:13PM
*make
Eh @ Apr 19th 2008 11:19PM
Not any bigger than the Oblivion Shivering Isles expansion which added a whole new country.
fischju @ Apr 19th 2008 11:20PM
They would probably use everything already on the disk (8.5GB) which means you would just download a map file that tells the game where to put everything. All the models and textures would be the same, and it doesn't really excite me because of this.
potato @ Apr 20th 2008 1:29AM
It would be smaller than a regular DVD for sure - if you've taken a look at the structure of an Xbox game disc, there is TONS of duplicated data - mostly so that your load times aren't so long (data that is loaded together is kept together).
So I'm thinking maybe 6-7GB... reasonable, I'd do it for like $40 or something, if it's as big as another game.
MarkHawk @ Apr 20th 2008 3:39AM
Well in GTA 3 there was a tunel that was collapsed that lead to the outside world ... to bad it never fixed itself.
I am hoping for a GTA London Expansion.
upz PSN: heypaul @ Apr 20th 2008 7:44AM
"They should male a Gran Theft Auto: Texas... =p"
Freudian slip?
SoulBlade @ Apr 20th 2008 10:53AM
It's going to be more than just maps. You need the game logic for the missions, game triggered events, and a whole lot of other stuff. It's a bit more involved than just placing a building asset here and a tree asset there.
That is of course, unless the city is just something you drive around in. Now that I think about it, what if the DLC for the entire cities are just multiplayer maps?
Marrvia @ Apr 20th 2008 12:14PM
A lot of people don't realize that the 3d GTA games are actually pretty small size compared to most other games even those the game world is some much bigger. GTA 3 and GTA Vice are both only about 1 gig - 1.5 gigs including audio, and GTA San Andreas is about 4.5 gigs, with 3.5 dedicated completely to audio. So based on that, it think the expansion pack could be pretty small. It all depends on all the new audio, and that can be always be compressed to make the file size smaller. Given that the data will already be on the disc, I bet they could release a whole new small city plus missions and new compressed audio for 500mb or maybe even less if they wanted to.
Alex @ Apr 20th 2008 12:16PM
Oblivion's Shivering Isles expansion was less than 1.5 GB
Fatass of Kickassness @ Apr 19th 2008 9:07PM
That would be unbelievably awesome.
SoulBlade @ Apr 19th 2008 9:07PM
Holy old news. If only gaming sites would look for actual news instead of stories that incite fanboy wars.
But yes, upon hearing this news, it sounded awesome and totally makes the 360 version worth it. I wonder how Sony intends to respond - didn't they say they were getting some DLC as well? Just not the same as the 360?
Ordeith @ Apr 19th 2008 11:11PM
No, that was just Sony fanboy wishful thinking.
Part fo that $50 million gave MS two exclusive DLC episodes and an obligation to release all future DLC on the 360 at the same time as it is released on other systems.
It is possible for Sony to get other DLC, but the 360 will get that other DLC as well. There is no possibility of PS3 exclusive DLC.
tylersmyler @ Apr 20th 2008 12:46AM
Ya, but maybe that DLC didn't include CITIES!
HOLY FUCK. DOESN'T ANYONE UNDERSTAND HOW AMAZING THIS IS?
Imagine. Downloading entire Cities, Countries, Ghettos, Continents, Hemispheres!
Fuck, DLC THE MOON!
anyways yeah, this isn't really a respond i guess.
But Hey! Maybe PS3 DOES have something like this up their sleve
BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 20th 2008 1:24AM
I'd totally play GTA: Moon.
Moffka @ Apr 20th 2008 1:46AM
When DLC was first announced for GTAIV, Rockstar said there would be DLC for the Playstation 3, but ever since Microsoft paid that 50 million dollars, they haven't said about it.
SoulBlade @ Apr 20th 2008 10:51AM
I couldn't care less about the ps3 or 360 in this debate. I was just wondering about the DLC moffka mentioned.
Lone Starr @ Apr 19th 2008 9:12PM
Microsoft, if you want me to buy more DLC, you really need to drop the prices of your HDDs. Ridiculous.
ruibing @ Apr 20th 2008 4:21AM
Maybe it's because they get especially made to order. I mean where do you even go to buy 20GB HDDs anymore? It's like buying DDR ram, it's older but more expensive than DDR2 because no one makes them anymore.
Schmobu @ Apr 20th 2008 5:30AM
I think the cost is associated with the fact that they are Laptop HDDs, but even then I think MS is ripping us off, can't you get like a 200 GB HDD for under $200 NZ (like $150 US) I certainly seen them go for around that price (not laptop regular, but surely a 100 GB would be similarly priced)
playwhutyalike @ Apr 20th 2008 12:31PM
I hear that. I bought the Pro because, at the time, it was the only one I could find in-between Fargo and Minneapolis (bought it in Fergus Falls). This was at the time of the 360 shortage. So wish I could've found an Elite, but, oh well. $180 ain't gonna break me, but it is just a tish high.
Zeus.:God @ Apr 20th 2008 2:05PM
The prices for the hard drives are ridiculous... Definite price gouging there if ever there was any. Thats one of the few things that attracts me to the PS3 is the non-proprietary hard drive. Then again, I don't download too much shit to my hard drive, so aside from downloadable content, updates, and game saves there isn't much else and I've got 8.4GB left (also have 2 demos). If you've got music on your hard drive and videos and such, I suggest deleting it and just streaming from your computer.
Anthony @ Apr 19th 2008 9:13PM
At $50 million for exclusivity it isn't very financially restrictive at all. Hell then you throw in the $10 for every DLC download and it really stops being a financial issue.
John McPoop @ Apr 20th 2008 2:02AM
yeah for sure ... I think Microsoft really needs to be pushing this DLC and telling us what it is ... As of now I am not to excited about it because I am sure the core game is so deep ... If they were telling us for sure its downloadable cities and the cost of it then maybe so ... I will probably buy the PS3 version because my real life buddies all have PS3's and will be playing on that platform ... However, if I knew for sure what the DLC was I might just pick up the 360 version ... However, I am not going to pick it up just because there is exclusive content ... just my opinion ... I think Microsoft needs to be a little more forthcoming with what the DLC actually is ... Episodic Content does not sound to me like new cities but then again that term also seems very vague ... we shall see
a.j. @ Apr 19th 2008 9:17PM
welcome to tuesday, last week joystiq.
Cesaria (SSBB: 3136-6466-5083) @ Apr 19th 2008 9:32PM
Yay, you knew about it before some other people. And yay for you to taking the time to point it out. Are you happy or do you need some kind of compensation?
CB @ Apr 20th 2008 2:35AM
If it really bothered you that much, aj, you could have sent in a tip earlier so everyone would've known this sooner. But you had to be a jerk.
I Love Bowser @ Apr 20th 2008 6:45AM
I can't see you AJ.
a.j. @ Apr 20th 2008 5:07PM
man, you guys are like, the angriest people on the planet. i wasn't attacking joystiq (i love the site) but i also read other sites (i assumed you all did too) sorry. this info was on at least 6 other sites in the past week. sorry to offend all of you.
Ethan @ Apr 19th 2008 9:16PM
I thought it was like 'new missions,' in the manner preceded by Mass Effect.
Might I be the first (and last) to suggest Dundee, where the game's made! Although Aberdeen or Glasgow would be better fits for the game's 'tone.'
tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 19th 2008 9:18PM
While I seriously doubt this will happen, I'm still praying that it does. If this is true I'd really like to see the people who claim DLC doesn't matter to them try to say that this wouldn't matter to them, having a whole new city with tons of possibly new things to do.
OTAM @ Apr 20th 2008 3:35PM
I "claim" DLC doesnt matter to me. You know why? Because i'm not paying $90 for a video game. If I pay $59.99 for GTA4 and then another $29.99 on top of it for extra shit? Hell no. That $29.99 could get me a brand new game.
If you love GTA enough to spend almost 1/4th the system's original cost then more power to you,but don't bash us people who say DLC doesn't mean anything to us.
tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 20th 2008 3:39PM
$29.99 will you get nothing but old games. If the NEW content is even half as good as the real game is supposed to be then the DLC >>>>>> then old games.
But if for some odd reason you prefer old games over new stuff for great new games then knock yourself out
Natural Cauzes @ Apr 19th 2008 9:22PM
Milford? Grand theft tri-state area?
tmmoore_nc @ Apr 19th 2008 9:34PM
I highly doubt it will include new cities because it'd basically be a new game. A new city would mean almost no re-used assets. And with no re-used assets, they'd be huge file sizes.
Vidikron (FU) @ Apr 19th 2008 10:00PM
Why no reused assest? Sure, they would have to do a lot of new buildings, but no need for a lot of new textures (which is where the real size comes in). And smaller things like people and vehicles could all be reused.
KeenCommander @ Apr 19th 2008 9:39PM
Boston! We want Grand Theft Boston! And when will they finally make GTA Finland, complete with missions involving the kidnapping of (thinly disguised versions of) Nightwish members?
embassy @ Apr 19th 2008 9:41PM
wasnt thier a borrow rockstar "left out" of the game?
couldnt it just be that "missing" borrow?
JaggedToaster @ Apr 19th 2008 10:41PM
The reason it isn't in there already is due to the fact that there isn't anything to do in that part of the city. It would be boring.
embassy @ Apr 19th 2008 11:18PM
but its a *video game*, im sure they could put something interesting to do there.
JaggedToaster @ Apr 20th 2008 12:10AM
Not if they're trying to make the game as realistic as possible.
Strike Man @ Apr 20th 2008 12:33AM
"Wasn't there a borough Rockstar "left out" of the game?"
Fixed, so others can actually understand the question without using their trusty Babel fish.
embassy @ Apr 20th 2008 3:15AM
wow, that's what happens when you write a comment and click "add" before proof-reading.
ouch.
...thank you strike man.
ob1979 @ Apr 19th 2008 9:45PM
What doesn't make much sense, though is: if this is really true, why is MS keeping this a secret? Why aren't they saying: 'Buy the 360 version, you'll be able to play in exclusive cities not available in the PS3 version.'?
I know that if I heard something like that, it'd probably lead me to buy the 360 version, and I can't be the only one.
Now, if the DLC is just 'here's 10 new missions', then I won't be nearly as interested.
Exo @ Apr 19th 2008 9:53PM
well if that were the case, rockstar probably has a clause in their deal that they cant talk about the content now since it could piss people off enough that they wouldnt buy it for ps3 or maybe not at all if they dont have a 360.
komamura @ Apr 19th 2008 11:42PM
I figure it probley hard to promote something that wont be coming around for 6 months
ob1979 @ Apr 20th 2008 1:19AM
Still, it's odd. Microsoft can't promote something that, essentially, is only there to give the 360 version a leg up? Why would they agree to something like that, being that exclusive DLC is primarily a promotional tool? (Actually, I find it odd that MS isn't advertising the DLC more aggressively, period.)
And komamura, you mean that Microsoft doesn't know what they bought? That's hard to believe. It's probably a safe bet they know what their money got them. There may not be screenshots, but not even a blurb? 'And in the 360 version you get exclusive access to downloadable content: get with new missions, totalling over hours of exclusive gameplay! Only on Xbox!'
For anyone who's on the fence, or those who are moderately game-savvy but still haven't gotten a next-gen console, it'd be invaluable information. I, for instance, would be willing to pay for something like fake Atlantic City, but not for fake Staten Island (though hijacking the ferry could be neat).
ob1979 @ Apr 20th 2008 1:22AM
Whoops, I stupidly put in > and < in. Let's see if this gets through.
"And in the 360 version you get exclusive access to downloadable content: get < citynames > with < xx > new missions, totalling over < yy > hours of exclusive gameplay! Only on Xbox!'"