Today in Joystiq: May 2, 2008
Joystiquery
Counting Rupees: Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and the Prisoner's Dilemma
DS Fanboy Lite: Apr. 26 - May 2
Joyswag: Win Grand Theft Auto IV on your platform of choice
News
SuperStardust HD devs planning split-screen multiplayer update
Walmart pushing Wii Fit pre-order for Mother's Day
Save the Sixaxis: New MGS4 'Welcome Box' bundles announced for Japan
Breaking: Activision and Vivendi discontinue ESA membership
Take-Two's GTA IV freezing 'fix' for PS3
IGN responds to concerns over exclusive GTA IV review
Capcom promotes former Atari vet as new COO
Rock Band Weekly: Fall Out Boy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Angels & Airwaves
Dead Rising star shows up in Lost Planet Colonies
Lego Indiana Jones gameplay video swings into our hearts
NCsoft, Foundation 9, Atlus also skipping E3, other attendees confirm
EarthBound rated by ESRB for the Wii
Westin Hotels add Wii, Wii Fit to their exercise rooms
Rock Band ships 3 million 'bundled' units, 10 million songs downloaded
Double Euro PSN update next week
Wii pole dancing plans confirmed, fitness to blame
This Week in Review gets hijacked
Rumors & Speculation
Rumorang: Xbox 360 Blu-ray console shipping Q3
Culture & Community
Obama talks Grand Theft Auto at campaign stop
Halo 3 celebrates Cinco de Mayo with double XP
Aussie military using games to attract recruits
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Misfit Toy @ May 3rd 2008 12:05AM
Grand Theft Auto....wheeeeeee!!!
BananaBoat @ May 3rd 2008 3:06AM
If they don't release this as a standalone skin/decal pack, they are idiots. I'd pay...hell...10 bucks? 15 bucks? for a combo GTA IV faceplate/decal set. Mama Mia that's a sexy meataball
ScottyGEE32 @ May 3rd 2008 12:26AM
Man...I really don't see why MS didn't release a bundle aswell. Especially with that glossy special edition PRO bundle.
I'd rather that one than say, the yellow simpsons one or the green Halo one (Coulda made that one look a lot better)
What I'm saying is, that looks really kool and I wish I had one.
Ninjakamster (PSN: Chin-Poh) @ May 3rd 2008 1:24AM
I'm pretty sure that Sony managed to snag a deal that only they could have official GTA4 bundles.
But what on Earth are you complaining about? I'm saying this as a PS3 owner/fanboy, we get a lame bundle, you get exclusive DLC and so far better online. In fact, I think it is cheaper for us to buy the PS3 and game separate anyways.
: /
Ubercharged @ May 3rd 2008 12:38AM
what happened to this weeks joystiq podcast?
Donald @ May 3rd 2008 1:06AM
Chris and Justin got whacked and a random cheetah ate Ludwig's internets.
Which sucks because I was going to mentally wordfilter "GTA4" to "Pac-Man".
Korova @ May 3rd 2008 6:34AM
Yes, I need to know where the podcasts is. gimmeee
chris king @ May 3rd 2008 1:53AM
gta4...
facts
#1 i'm playing it on 360 (for the future dlc).
#2 i've purchased & played gta, gta2, gta3, gta3:vc, gta3:sa, gta:liberty city stories
#3 i've never completed a gta game - man, sometimes the missions get stupid hard, and i enjoy cruisin' and killin'
#4 i'm about 5 hours in on the new one
and...i'm not all that impressed. especially for the accolades it's gotten. am i missing something, or is this a prettier version of the exact same game with more cutscenes (man, i hate longass cutscenes...the reason why i will never buy another metal gear game)
i can think of at least 2 or 3 more enjoyable/playable games in the past few months. honestly (and i'm a big fan of pretty much everything rockstar does) - - burnout3 + crackdown = two much more fun game experiences.
please tell me i'm missing something other than a big ol' plateful of HYPE!
in all honesty, i've had at least 5 moments that made me smile b/c of cool little things. i've had exactly zero "wow" moments.
ScottyGEE32 @ May 3rd 2008 2:24AM
From what I've played, yes it is a fairly similar game in terms of what you do. I think the "wow" moments are the realism, immersion, physics and NPC behaviour.
I'm very thankful they have multiplayer in there though. Man, is that the most fun experience ever. I found Crackdown to be the best online multiplayer types last year. So many possibilities! I find that GTA has given me what crackdown did but also include much much more enjoyment. But that might be because I can do it with so many more people! =D
But I do understand what you're saying.
Geist @ May 3rd 2008 2:56AM
I played at my friend's place for about 5 hours or so, and I feel the same way. I mean, after you get past the fact that civilians now react realistically to getting driven over, I feel like I could play San Andreas and get the same result.
Trippy Haps @ May 3rd 2008 3:47AM
First off, props to you, Chris, for voicing your opinion about the game without being an asshole about it.
It's a shame you don't enjoy the cutscenes, because ((as the hype-machine suggests)), the storyline in GTA4 far surpasses the other. The "GTA Formula" is very tried and true, so I'm not disappointed that Rockstar didn't stray away from it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Build on it.
Which is what GTA4 is. From the story to the game mechanics ((though I seriously hate driving in this tone)), it is an evolution of the previous games.
Five hours? It is a lot of time, by all means, but you're not even knee deep in the pool yet, man.
Hang in there and just keep an open mind. The "wow" will come.
Trippy Haps @ May 3rd 2008 3:58AM
That console is sexy. So sexy.
If it were a woman, I'd want to take her out on a date. I'd take her to Honkers for "Touchy Tuesday", only she wouldn't enjoy herself and would tell me to take her home.
On the way home, I'd probably accidentally ram us head on into a parked car, on account on the rain...((And FUC-stephen-KING is it hard to brake in the rain))...ejecting her from the vehicle.
And she wouldn't return any of my calls or messages, always claiming "It's too late, I get up early, call me after six" when really she's avoiding me because because she is a stuck up bit-...
...What was the topic again?
Korova @ May 3rd 2008 6:42AM
That black screen that pops up between joystiq pages is advertising! 'Stiq! Not only are you dumping advertising on me when I am upvoting stuff and following links to a story, but its completely f'n broken.
Fix it.
Lord Bowser @ May 3rd 2008 7:24AM
GTA is about as ugly as that Xbox.
Justin @ May 3rd 2008 7:53AM
That's one nice 360...
Gromitron @ May 4th 2008 11:44AM
I hear you about hoping the Xbox doesn't break! I have an unplayed copy of GTA4 waiting while I deal with Microsoft customer service. Details at http://www.gromitron.com