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Second GTA IV Patch Released, Early Look At DLC
IllusionMPN notes that a new patch has been issued for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV. It primarily contains bug fixes and optimization changes, though it's created an issue with some input devices. We're also starting to get hands-on previews of the upcoming downloadable "episodic content," The Lost and the Damned. Trailers and an achievement list are available as well. The original game's Niko Bellic won't have much of a role in the new content.
Damn, man.. Yet another patch and yet again it manages to screw something up?! We're either talking some major bad luck or an assinine QC.
I was actually looking forward to playing it on my brand new machine, until it finally came out and everyone started bitching about all the problems they were having. So instead, I took that money, and with the perfect storm of coincidences (huge amazon uk x-mas deal, plus near parity between the sterling pound and the euro at the time) and bought 3 games for my (also brand new) PS3.. And that included the ps3 version of GTAIV.
As for the DLC.. We're probably still talking about Xbox360 exclusive and, not having one, wouldn't make any difference to me. But looking at what's available as DLC on other platforms (mainly the ps3 store) I really don't see myself paying 20-30-or even-40% of normal retail prices for relatively minor additions. But that's just me: when I actually pay for/buy a game at these ridiculous prices (and I actually do that more often now than I did a few years ago -- IF the game is good enough) I feel ripped off if the devs "saved" some stuff that should be included by default, only because they thought they could milk some more green from me.
I'll admit that in some cases, DLC actually does bring a lot to the table (well thought-out episodic releases, for one -- and I mean the real sort, just because they _call_ it episodic, it doesn't mean it is), and I found that the cases where it did work for me, the original game wasn't priced so high, and the DLC is equally priced at a lower point.. But still, seems like every game studio out there at the moment are turning to this, and not thinking it through. Let's see what happens to Gran Turismo 5 when it comes out. Somehow I get the feeling that when they said over 900 cars would be available, they didn't mean _with the actual game_. And being a long time gamer, that really sucks.
Overall some nice improvements, but disappointigly, the major issues of the game remained untouched (DRM and consoley UI).
That's not "an issue with some input devices". It's basically just a xbox360 controller or nothing. Microsoft decided that its new XInput libraries will only support "next gen" controllers. That is only the xbox360-like ones. Any PlayStation-like controllers simply won't work.
I'm mighty pissed because I bought my Thrustmaster 3-in-1 recently and absolutely love it. Tough luck, they say. And I'm stuck with the mouse&keyboard combo.
Damn you MS and your Games for Windows crap :/
You can cheat in GTA IV. Just google it. It's done by dialling numbers on your phone.
I bought GTAIV from Steam when it was first released and I'm playing it on a very new PC (Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM) with a Radeon HD4850 video card running Vista 64.
Despite the constant bitching here and elsewhere, the game actually runs well on my machine and looks nice. I turned off the PC-specific shadow feature for a small bump in fps. I did encounter a few minor bugs here and there, but overall there was nothing major and nothing that prevented me from playing the entire game.
I'm not doubting there are problems people are having, just saying that it is, in fact, possible to play and enjoy the game. The only caveat I should mention is that I happen to have purchased an Xbox360 controller for use on my PC. I actually bought it before GTA4 was released and before I knew it was the only one supported. I would have been far less pleased if I had been unable to play with a controller. My understanding, though, is that this is *supposed* to be fixed by a current or forthcoming patch.
Elrond, Duke of URL
"This is the most fun I've had without being drenched in the blood of my enemies!"-Sam&Max
Not trying to fan the flames of fanboyism, but I bought it on release day for PS3 and don't remember having a single issue with it. I know there were some freezing/lockup issues, which I fortunately never had. Game looked and played great.
:)
Too bad Saints Row 2 is the game that GTA IV *should* have been.
I don't see the issue with the Games For Windows Live thing, it logs in transparently while displaying the legal screens, and doesn't interfere much with anything, not even modding (I write some LUA scripts for GTA IV). The one real downside is that it makes it pretty hard to play multiplayer on a cracked version.
You just got troll'd!
Comment removed based on user account deletion
That our 'custom for the pc' gta iv experience they hyped about... Supports ONE controller. The xbox controller.
...
I'd like my money back, but i know that wont happen. I'll just have to forget about buying from them anymore.
Right, because those developers who DO actually put games out on the PC need to be boycotted until they get it 100% right.
PC gamers often seem picky at a time when more and more games are bypassing their medium of choice. It wouldn't be right of me, but if I made a game and bothered making it available on the PC and read complaints like this, maybe after finding out the game was being pirated (or as is often the case, the game's flaws being used to justify the piracy itself), my temptation would be to say "Fine, fuck it, I'm not going to make anything for the PC anymore." And that would be that.
I should point out again that would be a stupid reaction, and I'm not saying accept flawed games, but I can empathize, and it's stupid to take offense to imperfect games as if they're an insult to you personally.
They can cry about being the only big fish in that pond as long as they want, a broken product is a broken product no matter how rare products in that market are (though I'm getting the impression that the number of console games with PC versions is increasing a lot or maybe it's just PC games becoming console games and native console gaming dying out...).
Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
You can create an offline GFWL account. Now if only they got rid of the RGSC nags, we'd be able to launch the damn game with a single click...
I won't buy it until I see a patch that removes, in entirety, *any* reliance on anything to do with SecurROM.
I'm personally ashamed that I ever forked over money for GTA 1 and 2, which gave them the budget to launch GTA 3, which made them the success that they are now. They shouldn't forget where they came from- the PC gaming community.
Belief? Hope? Preference?The Existential Vortex
As soon as you give up your crappy consoles and play FPS's on the platform God ordained them to be played on: the PC. (I am kidding, I like both platforms...I don't understand people who have to belittle one or the other. Maybe they are too poor to afford both or something and are bitter, angry little people)
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
New patch resolved my crashing every 10-15 minutes problem, redoing the first missions over and over again is good recipe for insanity!
I don't know when to say the you too phrase... I can't handle it.
I just have to mention this...
If you play gta iv offline, you have to download the patch, and it's in .rar format.
I am dumbfounded as to how this came about.
Windows cannot natively recognize or open a .rar format file.
What's even sillier is what happens next. "How do I open/install a .rar file?"
try googling "gta iv rar". These results do not mention winrar.
sigh.