A Grand Theft Auto IV primer

by Ross Miller { Apr 28th 2008 at 10:35PM }

Heading out to a midnight launch? Grand Theft Auto IV is just hours away from launch (on the East Coast, at least); if you need to catch up on all things Liberty City, hit up our primer for a retrospective on the series, a collation of all the games' reviews (protip: they range from "awesome" to "so awesome"), and a listing of all the midnight launch locations which might prove useful tonight. Check it out.

Tags: grand-theft-auto, grand-theft-auto-iv, gtaiv, rockstar, take-two

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 28th 2008 11:03PM

Thank God I have enough self control to get this game after finals. Ironically the wait for this game is burning a hole in my brain.

It's ironic because I need a brain for finals.

Yea irony

........!!!

peteH @ Apr 28th 2008 11:12PM

That's not irony.

Zeus.:God @ Apr 28th 2008 11:16PM

YES IT IS.

peteH @ Apr 28th 2008 11:31PM

So, gamespot gave GTA IV a 10 as well.

http://digg.com/gaming_news/Two_Perfect_GTA_IV_Scores_a_Perfect_10_from_Gamespot

You heard it here first!

Joystick Hero @ Apr 28th 2008 11:31PM

Ironic like raaaain on your wedding day.

mikezila @ Apr 29th 2008 5:37AM

He's holding back on getting the game so that he can perform for his classes.

The wait for the game is burning a hole in his brain, reducing his academic performance.

The expected outcome of holding off on buying the game is increased academic performance, but in reality it is worsening it just as much as buying the game would, an unexpected effect.

Irony.

Tim The Enchanter @ Apr 29th 2008 12:12PM

Oh, I thought his finals were for ironing class.

@Joystiq hero: lol

Arno @ Apr 28th 2008 11:04PM

Yea I'm gonna head out in a bit, maybe try and get some food before I pull a all-nighter.

I played this baby on Saturday, at my friend, the pirate, and it is GOOD! I can't wait, com'on MIDNIGHT!

UltimateQ @ Apr 28th 2008 11:08PM

HOLY FUCK. These constant GTA4 posts are getting really stupid.

"OMGWTFBBQWITHJESUS IT'S A NEW GAME! LET'S GO HUMP IT!"

rTwelve @ Apr 28th 2008 11:31PM

HOLY FUCK these Brawl posts are getting stupid.

HOLY FUCK these Halo 3 posts are getting stupid.

HOLY FUCK these Mario Galaxy posts are getting stupid.

HOLY FUCK these (insert important game release) posts are getting stupid.

SHUT. UP.

UltimateQ @ Apr 29th 2008 12:06AM

I agree shutup about the game, it gets annoying.

rTwelve @ Apr 29th 2008 12:11AM

someone please go fetch my point, it flew over his head :S

riggs @ Apr 29th 2008 12:36AM

*STFUPPERCUTS*

GiantHaystax @ Apr 28th 2008 11:11PM

Be on your guard. Word is from the UK midnight launches hundreds of people turned up at each 24hr supermarket across the country and wasnt enough stock. Reports on xbox.com forums of a stabbing and eurogamer forums report 2 brawls.

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Apr 28th 2008 11:24PM

"Stabbings and beatings over a game? And you witnessed this?"

"No we didn't witness it, we are just reporting it."

riggs @ Apr 29th 2008 12:37AM

were the brawls.....super smashed?

DesertPyrate @ Apr 28th 2008 11:12PM

The game is great, I'm not even that big on the GTA series but I enjoy this one. I havent played the PS3 version yet to compare the two.

I do have a question, how many PS3 owners will be buy GTA4 and DualShock3? I see that as a 55.00 expansion pack lol not fair. Anyone wanna mash it up online tomorrow drop me a line, I've yet to test that, in fear of XBL giving the boot for having the game before launch. You can never be too careful. Everyone be safe tonight at your respective locations and remember this is about fun, not crazy shit.

Zeus.:God @ Apr 28th 2008 11:19PM

You can't get banned for having a game early- only if you pirate it. Only in the case of the early versions of Halo 3 has this happened, and thats because those versions were downloadable- they had been "stolen" and used on unauthorized accounts. A legit copy won't do anything.

rTwelve @ Apr 28th 2008 11:32PM

http://twitter.com/majornelson/statuses/799103172

Einhanderkiller @ Apr 28th 2008 11:16PM

Wow, I'm sick of GTA IV even before the game has released.

Zeus.:God @ Apr 28th 2008 11:19PM

Yeah, it is getting a bit ridiculous.

el serpiente @ Apr 28th 2008 11:29PM

NEXT UP ON JOYSTIQ:

GTA: Meet the Prostitutes

Hit up our primer on the latest hookers to be featured in GTA IV and a retrospective on all prior whores throughout the series (protip: they range from "skanky" to "schwing!") and a listing of where you can find actual whores in real life!

rTwelve @ Apr 28th 2008 11:33PM

What's the next game release? MGS4? Man I'm getting sick of the MGS4 posts around here.

ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 28th 2008 11:38PM

Same here...

Its pretty bad when you're exhausted before you've even put the game into the freaking console...

At this point I'll probably buy the game go home, pass out for a hot hour or so in order to mentally prepare myself for the "Perfect 10" rated "masterpiece" that IGN claims it is...

tmacairjordan87 @ Apr 28th 2008 11:46PM

Hang on guys while I find someone who cares

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 29th 2008 2:35AM

@tmac

That will take awhile.

ffvii is the sweetest evar @ Apr 28th 2008 11:34PM

I really hope to god this is the last post about GTA 4
Every website and gamestore is over advertising this damn game, way more then smash bros and halo 3.

i played it today at gamestop in the mall today, and is just like every other damn gta4.

get over it, kthxbai

kvp1192 @ Apr 28th 2008 11:46PM

you mean theres more than one?!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 29th 2008 2:37AM

NO WAI THERE'S ANOTHER GTA 4?

But seriously, use your brain a bit. Why do you think people are going crazy for this game? Because it is a GTA game. And that's what we want.

ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 28th 2008 11:44PM

Imagine Joystiq when Final Fantasy comes out...I mean after all we're not just getting 1 FFXIII game...by golly Square Enix has decided to gloriously bestow upon the masses its Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII! As in 3 (4 if a certain rumor is to be taken as fact) different FF games which I'm sure Joystiq will post 100 times about...

I'm sure I'll go insane at that point.

Christopher Exantus @ Apr 29th 2008 2:38AM

No they won't. Because no one really cares about Final Fantasy.

mr nimblewick @ Apr 28th 2008 11:46PM

Remember when everyone considered GTA3 a game for casuals.... Those were good times.

"Man, I can't wait to do some drunk driving hit and runs! Hurray for mature games!"

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Apr 28th 2008 11:58PM

im standing in line at GameCrazy right now. they had the news crew out here and the lady was talkin about some 7 year old in FL that stole his grandmas Escalade and it was who's fault? u guessed it, GTA lol. we're in MD anyway lol.

anyway only 3 minutes left and i will have this beast.....so i can play it for like 20 minutes and then do homework for the rest of the night.....

Zeus.:God @ Apr 29th 2008 12:23AM

It was a Dodge Durango he took, if memory serves; not an Escalade... Either way, thats ridiculous- people need to take responsibility and own up to their own faults.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Apr 29th 2008 3:58AM

lol how did that story get twisted like that? how did i hear Escalade when it was a Durango? damn word of mouth. oh well, the game is rated for a reason, if your going to blame a 7 year old stealing a car on GTA then you have to blame the parent for buying it for him.

the manager at GameCrazy is real cool and we were getting a kick out of all the phone calls he was getting. he was keeping track of all the older sounding women (moms) inquiring about the "Theft 4 Grand Auto video game", which they would more than likely come and "unknowingly" purchase for their under aged child. i mean if parents dont know what Grand Theft Auto is by now, then they arent doing a very good job of protecting their kids. even my mom knows what GTA is and shes pretty far out of the tech loop.

Matt B @ Apr 29th 2008 12:08AM

I'm just happy to get the superior PS3 version.

Better frame rate
Hardly any pop in comparatively(thanks to install)
Less load times
No custom soundtracks(360 custom soundtracks play over top of dialog,LOL)
Greater AA
Free online(no XBL=incomplete version)

Even if the 630p is true, it basically unanimous that PS3 is the best looking version.

It begins.

ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 29th 2008 12:12AM

Lol good attempt...except everyone knows you're full of sh*t.

Matt B @ Apr 29th 2008 12:22AM

Sure "they" do.

I guess we'll see come Wednesday.

rTwelve @ Apr 29th 2008 12:37AM

This is the cancer killing Joystiq.

riggs @ Apr 29th 2008 12:40AM

wtf is greater AA? is it better than just one A? fuck letters.

el serpiente @ Apr 29th 2008 12:56AM

This is the rich, red blood that pumps through joystiq and keeps it alive.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 29th 2008 2:39AM

And no one cares.

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Apr 29th 2008 4:04AM

AA is Anti-Aliasing. its a technique to get rid of jaggies i believe. apparently it works but it's noticeable if its there.

moises ramirez @ Apr 29th 2008 12:12AM

ive had the game for about 6 hours east coast time...most of the small mom and pops stores had the game friday saturday and some got them monday afternoon and sold it so mostly everyone that lives around here had it for a while...but theres still tons of people on line at gamestop and all those places

Jake @ Apr 29th 2008 2:51AM

daaang i forgot all about GTA4 came out like 10 minutes ago! What a shame that tomorrow the state tests for texas are taking place. That means few of the younger gamers in high school will have the oppertunity to attend the launch. rockstar shouldve done their homework for the launch day! but whatever, im not too big on launches; its not like there will be a shortage, will there?

PSN: KillaKornbread (the shirt is a lie!) @ Apr 29th 2008 4:11AM

the store i went to had 300 copies and its small as hell. i think maybe 70 people came to the midnight launch. now that is just one case but i would still get there ASAP just in case. if not then i would try to go to a store people may forget about like Sears or K-Mart or something.

TheHuntIsOn @ Apr 29th 2008 4:27AM

WE WANT A NEGA-REVIEW.

After a few people have played it, of course.

Knight D3mon @ May 3rd 2008 5:43PM

like I said before,I already traded mine in,didn't like it really at all.I got the people at gamestop calling me insane.I was dissapointed to be honest.Played both versions on both systems and well same thing happened.Oh well I got 30 bucks back for when gears of war 2 comes out (thats half of the cost).But hey,look at the bright side, now someone that actually likes the series can take it and enjoy it now.Grand theft auto died after vice city to me