Rockstar busts caps in GTA IV PC, releases patch

For those of you who like to terrorize Liberty City within the welcoming glow of a PC monitor, know that Rockstar has gone ahead and made some much-needed fixes to GTA IV on the PC. Some of these enhance the game's graphics, while other parts of the patch fix Xbox 360 controller support and even add support for driving wheels. It's a very big patch, so jack your way past the break for the full release notes.

Download the patch at Big Download

Graphics:

Added "Water Quality", "Shadow Quality" and "Reflection Resolution" sliders in graphics menu.
Added "Definition" and "VSync" toggles in graphics menu.
Rendering optimizations.
VSync optimizations.
Nvidia 7000 series
Mirrors fixed

Fixes:

Direct input device support is now disabled by default and can only be enabled with the commandline: "-usedirectinput"
Supported Controllers:
Logitech Dual Action
Logitech RumblePad 2
Logitech Cordless RumblePad 2
Saitek P2500
Supported Wheels:
Note: Controls are unmapped, user must map controls using Manufacturer's mapping software.
Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
Logitech Wingman Formula GP Wheel
Logitech MOMO Racing
MOMO Force
Driving Force Pro
Driving Force
Formula Force
Added Commandline "-notimefix" which will help some users who are experiencing the fast/slow gameplay issue after patch 1 was applied.
Fixed a bug that caused some users to experience endless looping audio effects after Patch 1 was applied.
Benchmark was disabling sounds after Patch 1 was applied, this is now fixed.

Crash Fixes:

Unable to load game fixed - For some users, a DOS window would open and close immediately upon Game Launch, GTA IV would never launch.
Hang on Initial Game Loading Screen fixed - Some users experienced Character Art Loading screens in an endless loop.
Certain causes of the RESC10 error have been fixed (Alt-Tab, change resolution). If you experience an RESC10 error, you must restart.
Certain Instances of the "GRAND THEFT AUTO IV has encountered a problem and needs to close" error have been fixed.

Video Editor:

Naming clips is now mandatory on Export

Multiplayer:

Legitimate players being kicked from Multiplayer matches has been fixed.

General:

Wireless 360 controllers not functioning - Triggers were full on/off, fixed.
In the Options menu accessed from the Title Screen a "Game" section has been added with the ability to turn Clip capture on/off.

Reader Comments (22)

Does anyone know if this fixes the erratic camera/mouse movement brought on by the last "patch?" I guess I will just try it and find out...

LOL, I had gone to vacation in India earlier this month where they had the PC version of GTA4 for 500 rupees (~$10), I kid you not and its a full legit copy. They also had the PC Left 4 Dead for $20. Too bad it had to be activated in India where I didn't have access to a PC able to run the game so crap. : D

I hear this patch has improved performance quite a bit, it looks like this game on the PC isn't a complete loss after all and I look forward to all the mods to come out for the game and I hope the 360 exclusive episodes will make their way to the PC as well.

The 360 version in particular is a technical marvel, so there's obviously the potential for the engine to be well-optimised for the PC. But compared to releases like Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and even Dead Space/Mass Effect/Devil May Cry 4, this has to be one of the laziest console to PC ports of the year.

Left 4 Dead was made for the PC first, then ported to the 360.

Yeah, so was Far Cry 2, but I couldn't be bothered typing that and ruining the flow of my point.

Clarity > Flow

Lets see if I can run the game past 20FPS now... Cant wait for my new rig.

Unrelated, but ultrastiq FTW !!! (podcast listeners know what I mean, so subscribe)

I'll echo the Ultrastiq FTW! its really nice!

As for the patch.. as long as it actually fixes the issues.. one can hope right?

Increased my performance from 23 fps to 29 fps. It's vaguely playable now, but not really enjoyable. I don't need additional graphics options -- I need a way to tone down whatever is so CPU-intensive about the game.

Pre-patch and post-patch, and with both super-high graphical settings and the lowest possible graphical settings I have CPU usage at 95%.

Not sure what you guys are doing, but the LAST patch made the game very playable opposed to it's original release which had a hatred for my PC with everything at low.

Now I can set it to a respectable level within my video card's RAM limit of 512mb, and things fly normally.

-shrug-

Try turning off the video replay option, that seems to of helped a bit.

new patch lets you adjust more graphic options, so turn off verticle sync it seems to be on by default

it had a huge performance gain for me. finally able to turn on medium textures with a high resolution

Would any of you guys be able to post benchmarks pre and post-patch? As well as give your computer's specs and settings the game is running?

Also, would a Core i7 processor make a significant difference in games vs. a Core 2 Quad? I think the answer is no and that the i7 will help more in things like video editing and encoding but perhaps games will take advantage of this later on. I hear that Crysis only utilizes up to 2 cores. : (

silly gamers, games are for consoles!

You will speak when you are given permission to speak lowly console peasant!

ok...have fun upgrading your PC...again.

I'd upgrade if I had to play at the highest settings constantly but there's no need for that. You don't have to upgrade your PC that much anymore contrary to what you console peasants think. I can keep my current gaming PC for a couple years and just play games at console settings, like a PC from 2006 can run Fallout 3 at console settings with 30fps and 1280x720 resolution. : )

Well I have no choice but to play at the highest settings, which is the way the developer intended.

@mike

Guess something similar to 720p and shitty textures is what R* intended... nevermind my 88GTX @1680*1050 @ high overall :/

Have fun paying for games.

what? my PS3 runs it in 1080p on a 65" LCD...nevermind a little computer monitor...but then again, the smaller monitors make for better resolution.

Hopefully this and my new 8GB of RAM let the game run smoother. the only thing i was having issues with was textures not loading right when the game got "heavy" (like when driving really fast the roads looked goofy and the cars looked like they were floating)

Rockstar busts caps in GTA IV PC, releases patch

Reader Comments (22)

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 1:39PM Ricky Bango said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 1:44PM RKN said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:32PM Haggard said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 3:43PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 4:37PM Haggard said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 6:45PM einhanderkiller said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 1:44PM XGM said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:17PM Deck said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:07PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:21PM jynxycat said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:35PM HighFiveJesus said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:49PM RKN said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:50PM RKN said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 2:57PM mikemaj82 said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 3:23PM RKN said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 5:34PM mikemaj82 said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 9:58PM RKN said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 10:09PM mikemaj82 said

Posted: Feb 2nd 2009 8:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 28th 2009 10:42AM geometricpiss said

Posted: Feb 2nd 2009 9:06PM mikemaj82 said

Posted: Jan 27th 2009 3:08PM kojo87 said

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