GTA IV set in Liberty City, stars Russian

[SymetriX]

The trailer has arrived...

Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlF6fbIFiCM)
Gametrailers High-def (http://download.gametrailers.com/gt_vault/t_gta4_trailer1_720p.wmv)
High-def Mirror (http://ersan.us/t_gta4_trailer1_720p.wmv)

Or if you're feeling lucky:

Rockstar Website (http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/trailer_splash.html)

We know from the trailer that the game takes place in Liberty City (numerous "Liberty City" references, plus the usual NYC-inspired scenery including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, etc.)

We also know that the main character is Russian, and from his monolog in the trailer he appears to be coming to Liberty City to escape his past:

"Life is complicated. I've killed people... smuggled people... sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different."

Lastly, the game appears to be set in the present day and there is no indication that it is in another timeframe. Cars and buildings are all modern.

So, what's the verdict? Foaming at the mouth, or a let-down? From internet buzz alone, it appears to be another best seller in the making.

[jervo]

After the furor over San Andreas had subsided, I wondered how they'd ever top it - my guess was that they'd basically create a virtual England, with lots of "Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" / "Sexy Beast" etc. references (not to mention the greatest potential for the greatest videogame soundtrack of all time).

That said, a virtual, 5-borough New York City (I know it's Liberty City, but, I mean, come on) is still pretty goddamned sexy. I like the story angle, I love the locale, I can't fucking wait.

[Rafer]

I don't think it's certain he's Russian, but it's a reasonable guess.

I would of liked England too, the Shaun Rider parody was my favourite part of San Andreas.

[karak]

...Internet buzz? From all the posts I am reading and the large list of people from websites poking in, I have seen very very little buzz. Don't get me wrong I want it to be good. But every single thing i have seen has labeled this a large waste of everyones time and that it doesn't look that special.

[schizoslayer]

A distinct "Meh" from me. It doesn't tell us anything at all except that Rockstar have run out of ideas artistically (woo devils advocate).

San Andreas was imo the weakest of the GTA games and moved too far away from what made 3 and VC so much fun by trying to "Realism it up". If the game design has followed the art style then what we can expect isn't a return to the GTA roots but a further departure down the road of predictability.

Until there is more infomation about the actual game bit I'll reserve final judgement.

Some eye candy and a Russian voice over doesn't really say anything about the game.

[VTMarik]

I was hoping that it would be set in the GTA-verse's analog to Chicago, Carser City. With all of the constant mentions of Carser City in San Andreas that's what I was expecting.

As long as this Russian can swim, I'm happy.

[TRiLoGY]

I really liked the trailer, I thought it looked great graphically :)
I'm interested in hearing more about features and gameplay

[The T30]

The new graphics are HAWT! Other than that, there's not much to say about the trailer. I mean, it really didn't show anything else. That doesn't mean I'm not excited about it, because let there be no doubt, I am.

[John Mirra]

I thought it was good, as far as teasers go. It gave a glimpse at the setting, and hinted at more than a few things.

The buzz around the trailer depresses me greatly, however. How can so many people think he's middle-eastern? His accent is quite clearly Eastern Bloc.
The rationale behind this seems to be that if someone isn't white, black or asian. they MUST be middle-eastern.

[SymetriX]

...Internet buzz?
Like it or not, people are going crazy for a peak at this game. Fake videos on gametrailers.com were getting half a million hits before people realized it was LA Noir. Entire sites are getting hammered.

And people are already hard at work dissecting every frame. Some early examples:

- Billboard: "Visit Vice City $300"
- One of the old fake screenshots posted on a billboard for "Sprunk"
- Billboard: "America's next top hooker"
- The "MetLife" building is called "GetALife"
- Several locations from GTA3 appear in the trailer such as the apartments where you run the Yakuza missions
- The market district from GTA3 is in the trailer.
- "I (heart) Liberty City" sign
- "Liberty Tree" (Lending tree)
- Chrysler building replica is in the game

Imagine when a full-length trailer is posted!

Edit: More observations:

- Church of St Patrics is in the game
- A "Scramer" rollercoaster is visible, and there is speculation over the game containing a version of Coney Island (rollercoaster minigame?)
- The Liberty Ferry heightens speculation that the game contains full-blown burrows away from downtown Liberty City
- Grand Central Station is visible in an early shot
- A Times Square replica is clearly visible towards the middle
- Pedestrians look more detailed but still cartoony enough so that violence shouldn't be excessively gory.
- Soundtrack is a cut from Pruit Igoe from Koyaanisquatsi

[JazGalaxy]

I think it's interesting that so many people are suggesting that it takes place in Liberty City when San Andreas set a precedent for a much larger area of play.

Should we expect it to feature just ONE city?

They have to do something to shake it up.

Also of interest, that I have yet to hear discussed, is the fact that the main character says "perhaps here will be different". I've seen people exrapolate that to mean that he's an immigrant, but interstingly I haven't heard anyone yet say that it suggests that he doesn't WANT to be a criminal.

[Heretic Machine]

Graphically, that was awesome, I didn't expect even half of that. The shadows on the bridge were particularly well done. I also like the idea of playing a Russian, that is a bit different at least. Liberty City doesn't seem that appealing as far as a setting goes though, and I absolutely hate the mission-based gameplay and prefer the more free form style of Crackdown. I'll still end up with a copy of this sitting on my shelf though, hopefully the day it comes out. If nothing else, I always enjoy driving around a new sandbox.

One thing they could do to really make it extra-hot would be if you can actually go into most of the buildings, and have them actually be decent looking rather than one-room boxes or blank-walled shooting galleries.

[privatedonut21]

Personally, I've always been somewhat lukewarm towards the GTA series in general...don't get me wrong, senseless violence is fun for a while. But I've never really thought the game was entertaining enough to hold my attention, and in a genre where GTA has been superseded by the likes of Crackdown and to a lesser extent Saint's Row, is it really worth it to get another sandbox game?

[Odyzen]

I think it's interesting that so many people are suggesting that it takes place in Liberty City when San Andreas set a precedent for a much larger area of play.

Should we expect it to feature just ONE city?

They have to do something to shake it up.Episodic download content.

I think the game have a lot of promise but it'll fall short because of the future ability of downloading new content. What I mean is that in the long run, having the ability to download new episodes will be great to the game but really when the game first comes out, it'll have the same Half-Life 2 response.

[randir14]

I thought it was good, as far as teasers go. It gave a glimpse at the setting, and hinted at more than a few things.

The buzz around the trailer depresses me greatly, however. How can so many people think he's middle-eastern? His accent is quite clearly Eastern Bloc.
The rationale behind this seems to be that if someone isn't white, black or asian. they MUST be middle-eastern.

Since when are eastern Europeans not white

[Anthony W]

Nice trailer. I have a confession to make. I have never played a GTA game. I avoided sandbox games because I knew I wouldn't have any time to play them. But now that I have more free time I bought Crackdown...which has ruined me for GTA because GTA will never let me pick up a truck and hurl it at someone.

[Mortis]

The graphics are better than I expected, which is a very good thing. That's really all I wanted to see, I expect the gameplay to be GTA with a few new features and tweaks which is ok with me. I will be pre-ordering.

[mpsmith]

It'll be awesome. Does anyone know if there will be multiplayer? Imagine an MMOGTA... Impressive graphics. And I recognized the Koyaanisquatsi music. How many people have seen that movie?

[Zanzibar]

Nice trailer. I have a confession to make. I have never played a GTA game. I avoided sandbox games because I knew I wouldn't have any time to play them. But now that I have more free time I bought Crackdown...which has ruined me for GTA because GTA will never let me pick up a truck and hurl it at someone.
Excellent point. Nor will I be able to carry a body to the top of the tallest building and hurl it off.

Damn you, Crackdown.

[Sloth]

GTA just doesn't do it for me. I think its just the crappy ass save feature. I like to save whenever i want.

[Kelegacy]

Graphically, that was awesome, I didn't expect even half of that.
You didn't expect half of that? I thought GTA3 looked great back when it was first released, running on a PS2. I never doubted that Rockstar wouldn't dump tons of resources into making their best-selling franchise look as good as possible in the next-gen. And after playing Saints Row, all it really did was make me yearn for a GTA game that much more. Saints Row felt too "samey", even if it polished up some of GTA's flaws.

It's GTA IV. It has to look amazing. Otherwise, it would just be GTA3: Subtitle for the umpteenth time. But I don't care about looks as much as others, I just want a brand spankin' new GTA! The king returns this fall.

[crashedout]

I expect an evolutionary game: fun, worth my time but overall nothing amazing.

[PsychoticVile]

They really should change the name of this series it really hasn't been about Grand Theft Auto since the second one. However looks like it will be another great if not a little similar addition to the series.

[laggerific]

Damn...when are they going to have a female protaginist...that would rock.

[Abash Alarmist]

Wow. I am stoked. I absolutely despised San Andreas. I don't care about gangsters, rap, thugs, or anything like that.

I adored Vice City for what it was, but out of all the cities that they have done so far, Liberty City has been by far my favorite.

It had a unique and gritty feel to it. TAll it needed was to be redone and given the same extras that Vice City and San Andreas got. This is perfect. I love the mafia, I love russians, I love italians, and I love the look and feel of this Liberty city. Bring it on!

[DeejayKnight]

MOAR, plz.

[laggerific]

I loved the massive environment of San Andreas...nothing thrilled me more about that game than taking a bike or Sanchez through the tree filled hills and mountains...

I'm really hoping we aren't stuck in a concrete jungle throughout the entire game...

[Mac]

Sheesh, a lotta folks at EA will complain about over-hyping something and then...

"So, what's the verdict? Foaming at the mouth, or a let-down? From internet buzz alone, it appears to be another best seller in the making."

[Moatman]

I hope they take quite a few of the features from Saint's Row in making this. The save feature was a happy medium(save anywhere, but when you load you are back at the closest save spot) and the way any car you put in your garage would respawn over time, you could have one of every car and customize them.

I'm not sure what to think, the graphics were great at least. Going to be weird going from the massively huge San Andreas map, with 3 cities and everything in between, to(probably) a single city.

The grand-central station there looked great, with the sunlight coming in and changing through the day, impresisve stuff. Hoping that means many more interiors and with more variety/sizes.

[Dag-Sabot]

Oh great GTA IV: Borat -Reloaded. Whoever said this was a waste of time was right. This guy is clearly Armenian.

[Ravana]

Damn...when are they going to have a female protaginist...that would rock.
Don't even joke about that shit.

The rules clearly state that in this kind of game with this kind of setting the female protagonist can only be a scantily clad schoolgirl, a gruff latin-american woman, or the hooker with a heart of gold.

Do any of these options sound appealing to you? no.

[eth3rton]

I liked it. Now gotta decide on the PS3 or X360 versions...?

[laggerific]

Don't even joke about that shit.

The rules clearly state that in this kind of game with this kind of setting the female protagonist can only be a scantily clad schoolgirl, a gruff latin-american woman, or the hooker with a heart of gold.

Do any of these options sound appealing to you? no.

I'm talking about having a character like Haley from oots!!!

[fable2323]

Visually the game looks like standard next gen fare. The ped characters are of a nice detail but still contain a semi cartoony look. For a city that is a replica of NY, there was very little traffic. The bottom line for me is Rockstar needs to address the control scheme, the draw distance and then I would consider this game. As it stands, this does nothing that Crackdown nor Saints Row hasnt already done. Some people will give this game a pass simply because its GTA. Dont get caught up in the hype.

[Commissar Rob]

I've enjoyed each of the other entries so far, so I'm assuming I'd enjoy this one. Not sure what they'll do different, but sometimes the comfortable is good.

[EternalGamer]

I'm still waiting for one of these open world games to do indoors as well as outdoors. It would be awesome if they accomplished large shopping malls, office buildings etc. all to scale inside. They just need a different camera system for inside vs. outside. The inside sections in Crackdown made me want to pull hair out the camera was so terrible.

Also it looks like maybe they are putting more emphasis on the story this time, which would be great.

[Shodan2020]

I thought it was a pretty good trailer. I'm probably gonna wait a year or so before I purchase it though, just like I did with all the other GTA games. I didn't like San Andreas that much, but that mainly had to do with the draw distance on the PS2. That and the girlfriends system was sorta annoying and seemed broken in places.

I'm pretty excited about GTA IV though.

[Disgustipated]

Looks awesome, first day purchase. I think there'll be lots of preorders on for $40...

[Boris]

Microsoft should buy Take2 and cancel the PS3 version for massive damage to Sony.

[Serapth]

Never really understood the GTA hype. I mean yeah, one of the better Sandbox games ( but by no means the best ), and otherwise a mediocre driving game and a mediocre third person shooter. Graphics cant be claimed to be a killer reason for greatness as most GTA games have looked average at best. Good soundtrakcs, I give credit there, but frankly I view GTA games as greatly overhyped.

[eth3rton]

Microsoft should buy Take2 and cancel the PS3 version for massive damage to Sony.

Not gonna Threadjack here but : if Microsoft was to push Sony out of the Gaming Industry it would be bad... Very BAD..!

[Kamalot]

It has been a long, long time since I first tried, and hated, GTA. But this trailer makes me want to try again. My mind is open.

[Mortal Moxie]

1: GTA is known for being amazing. Every one of them.

2: Graphics sell.

3: This game has great graphics.

4: This is GTA4

= Sure fire hit. This game will sell like nothing we've seen before.

[Mr.Green]

Like I said in that other thread:

All the haters can die from a particularly vicious and painful cancer for all I care, this looks awesome. Can't. Fucking. Wait.

Don't blame the industry if you haven't learned how to deal with hype by now for crying out loud. They're trying to sell you games that cost millions to produce. Of course they're gonna pull any trick they can to get your attention. I don't know, use common sense, 4D ain't gonna happen. Whatever.

Never really understood the GTA hype. I mean yeah, one of the better Sandbox games ( but by no means the best ), and otherwise a mediocre driving game and a mediocre third person shooter. Graphics cant be claimed to be a killer reason for greatness as most GTA games have looked average at best. Good soundtrakcs, I give credit there, but frankly I view GTA games as greatly overhyped.
Oh there's ton of highly popular stuff that I don't particularly like too Serapth, but don't you think that calling something overhyped or overrated based on your own tastes is a little much? Anyway, to me, the GTA games are by far the best sandbox games out there and I won't even argue with you on the controls. It does control like shit and there's a lot of room for improvement but still, best sandbox games to me.

[Headcase]

Looks like my guess of Liberty City in 2040 was wrong.

Based on the trailer, I wouldn't be surprised if this one features the whole USA (in a much smaller scale. Liberty City, San Andreas, Vice City, and 2 or 3 other large cities, all interconnected with (reportedly) no load times.

Either that, or a really, really expanded and improved Liberty City & Vice City.

... Well that pretty much covers all the possibilities :P

[thecrazyd]

As it stands, this does nothing that Crackdown nor Saints Row hasnt already done. Some people will give this game a pass simply because its GTA. Dont get caught up in the hype.
How the hell do you know that? Do you work at Rockstar? All that we have seen is a teaser to show off the graphics.

[absolut taco]

Visually the game looks like standard next gen fare. The ped characters are of a nice detail but still contain a semi cartoony look. For a city that is a replica of NY, there was very little traffic. The bottom line for me is Rockstar needs to address the control scheme, the draw distance and then I would consider this game. As it stands, this does nothing that Crackdown nor Saints Row hasnt already done. Some people will give this game a pass simply because its GTA. Dont get caught up in the hype.
GTA's (San Andreas especially) driving controls are so much better than SR or Crackdown. And that is what makes the game so much fun.

[Gedd]

PC gamer here.. uh, how long do I gotta wait for a port this time? :-/

[prym_0ne]

Just because you saw a few "clues" doesn't mean "you know". The boat might have come in from Liberty City. Besides, don't you think that a game placed in Liberty City might not be deserving of the 'IV' moniker?

You may be right, but I'm just not liking the fact that it might well be in Liberty City. ANOTHER Liberty City Story is not GTA IV.


but I still want it...

[eth3rton]

As it stands, this does nothing that Crackdown nor Saints Row hasnt already done. Some people will give this game a pass simply because its GTA. Dont get caught up in the hype.

This comes from a guy with Fable in his username. If thats ANY reference to Fable for the Xbox please don't be preaching the Hype Train.... ;)

[Flatpicker]

I was hoping that they would have gone into a sci-fi future setting.
Different world, new races etc. That way the JT's of the world would have less to scream about.

Alas, it seems we get GTA SA with a new coat of paint.
I'm going back to Crackdown or wait till Mercenaries 2.

[Serapth]

Oh there's ton of highly popular stuff that I don't particularly like too Serapth, but don't you think that calling something overhyped or overrated based on your own tastes is a little much? Anyway, to me, the GTA games are by far the best sandbox games out there and I won't even argue with you on the controls. It does control like shit and there's a lot of room for improvement but still, best sandbox games to me.

Personal opinion, but I would say most RPGs like Elder Scrolls titles are better sandbox games. Maybe its being an RPG fan that makes me think so little of GTA games. Everything its praised for, is basically standard convention in many RPGs.

I almost wonder if GTA's popularity is from people enjoy the RPG aspects, because this is their first exposure to such gaming convetions?

Secondly, its the shit controls that exactly make me regard these games as overrated. Frankly, no game deserves as close to perfect review scores when they have such poor controls. In my world and opinion, a game lives or dies from its controls.

[Mdot23]

I didn't read everyone's posts, but the impression I got from the monologue the protagonist gave was that you may be preventing the stuff he mentions. Could this be the whole "things will be different" twist? you'll be a classic good guy instead of "bad" like the past games??


EDIT: On the 1up Show, Shoe stole me idea lol! you heard it hear first if it's true! haha

[Blue]

I've always enjoyed the GTA games as I really like the sense of humor and, despite being mostly outside, detail put into something that is so freeform yet story-driven (and, come one, who could honestly say that doing a drive-by in a Hawaiin shirt to Animotion isn't maybe the best thing ever), so it should be no surprise that I'm really looking forward to this.

I might be completely off base, but a while back after GTA: SA, I thought I read somewhere that the "trilogy" was at an end and Rockstar was looking to something else to jump start the story. Is it possible that this takes place in New York rather than Liberty? I know, I know, most likely not as that doesn't fit their "universe", but this seems like such a jump to me from what I remember LC looking like that I'm most likely not going to find them being the same place until I really get in there.

I agree on the need for a female protagonist at some point though the new guy has me curious as to what his story is. A part of me wonders if, to open it up, you might be able to travel countries and get out of "America" at some point in the same sense that you could move between the various cities in SA. I'll still be impressed if they fully open up Liberty City/wherever and make it one gigantic city, but having been able to roam the countryside on a dirt bike in the last installment, it would be hard to have to stay confined to a city-space.

Who knows.

So yeah...graphically it's beautiful and I can't freaking wait. Looks fantastic and they have yet to disappoint me.

[Blue]

I didn't read everyone's posts, but the impression I got from the monologue the protagonist gave was that you may be preventing the stuff he mentions. Could this be the whole "things will be different" twist? you'll be a classic good guy instead of "bad" like the past games??

That's not a bad idea - would make for a pretty interesting/new take on the series. Only concern would be the good guy running crazy with a rocket launcher as we know we're all going to do at some point in this game. I mean, what are cars there for if not to blow up?

Though I suppose good guys can blow things apart for...justice.

[Utils]

Maybe it was the presentation but I'm almost certain that was realtime

[Mdot23]

Maybe it was the presentation but I'm almost certain that was realtime

Rockstar confirmed that.

[vivafletcher]

Looks good to me. GTA never had the greatest graphics anyway. It's all about the gameplay-- either you're sick of it or you aren't. I'm not sick of it, so I'm looking forward to this.

Plus, let's be honest: The first game on the new systems won't push them as much as they could later in the development cycle. This should be a fun game and I'm looking forward to it (and going next gen in the process), but I'm REALLY waiting for them to make a top notch Vice City. That was my favorite locale anyway.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

I think Liberty City (or NY) fits this concept perfectly. NYC was the gate to America. This was the first thing immigrants saw when they came here in an attempt to start a new life. Here we have a Russian with a dark past who seems to have come over to try and reboot his life.

While I was never a fan of the missions in GTA, I always enjoyed the narrative (I feel the same about God of War). I would play just to see where the story goes, as I thought the production values were always high. So far I have no reason to think this will be any different ... here's to hoping we all have something to smile about when this comes out.

[Mdot23]

this and halo 3 within 2 months of each other = happy.

[Utils]

Plus, let's be honest: The first game on the new systems won't push them as much as they could later in the development cycle.

Who are you talking to? This game looks great. Or, to put it another way, GOOD ENOUGH. I really don't care for the uncanny valley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley) showing it's ugly frightening face in my vid games. More games should be like Okami, Wind Waker or God of War. Stylized. I don't understand going for the photorealism unless it's a driving game or something else with prominently featured inanimate objects. I like the videogame look!

Oh, it takes you out of the game? It's not engrossing?

The stuff that takes me out of a game are doors I can't open or INVISIBLE BARRIERS. Not necessarily the look. If I bump into an invisible wall or my character suddenly does a U-Turn or for some reason I can't jump over that cliff, THEN I'm taken out of the game.

2 pennies

[PXG 360]

That was pretty fucking cool. It looks great. I can't wait to see more!

[laggerific]

GTA's (San Andreas especially) driving controls are so much better than SR or Crackdown. And that is what makes the game so much fun.


!!!!!

This is absolutely true, in my opinion. The driving in San Andreas is so refined, I haven't seen any other copycat game come close to the awesomeness of vehicle controls in the GTA series...

[AntB]

Oh I'm gonna be all over this. But, being an Easter European living in NYC, this might be a little bit too close to the truth.

[Doctor Setebos]

Never really understood the GTA hype. I mean yeah, one of the better Sandbox games ( but by no means the best ), and otherwise a mediocre driving game and a mediocre third person shooter. Graphics cant be claimed to be a killer reason for greatness as most GTA games have looked average at best. Good soundtrakcs, I give credit there, but frankly I view GTA games as greatly overhyped.I don't get to say this very often, but I agree with Serapth. :D

I played GTA3 and had some fun stealing cars and doing some bad guy jobs. But it was fun for a few minutes. While GTA4 certainly looks graphically impressive, playing the Wii has taught me that graphics aren't everything. I don't understand how people can play the exact same game over and over again with a pretty new package covering the same old tired cliche of a story and gameplay style.

To each his own, I guess.

Hey, Serapth -- I didn't use the rolleyes this time. ;)

[Gpig]

Personal opinion, but I would say most RPGs like Elder Scrolls titles are better sandbox games. Maybe its being an RPG fan that makes me think so little of GTA games. Everything its praised for, is basically standard convention in many RPGs.

I almost wonder if GTA's popularity is from people enjoy the RPG aspects, because this is their first exposure to such gaming convetions?

Secondly, its the shit controls that exactly make me regard these games as overrated. Frankly, no game deserves as close to perfect review scores when they have such poor controls. In my world and opinion, a game lives or dies from its controls.

I got burned out on GTAIII after the first one, but the first one was a huge breakthrough for its time. There was absolutely nothing else like it. Did you not play it until it was on the xbox and not as impressive or something?

The difference between it and a game like oblivion is that in Oblivion you can't go and create havoc, the combat is shitty (really, extremely, inexecusably, atrociously shitty), etc. You pretty much have to do quests. In GTA type games you can be like my friend who prefers to steal cars and run over people and just try to drive from area to area causing as much havoc as possible or you can be like me and wipe out whatever area I'm in before moving on until I'm forced to make a final stand (which was seemed to be a parking garage more often than not). I've never gotten past the first island in a GTA game, and have done less than 10 missions but I've played 40 hours taking turns causing mayhem. I also only played with cheats on (man when we found out moonjumping with cars that was another 5 hours of fun right there) and it's cool to try the ones that cause the people around you to do weird things.

Whether GTA IV will be more fun or not I have no clue, but driving along the sidewalk before doing a trick jump and then hitting the moonjump button to jump an overpass is not something that you find in RPGs. Gameplay in general isn't what you find in RPGs. I mean Oblivion may have had sword combat, but I'm not going to compare it to Ninja Gaiden.

So maybe it's the modern setting, the fun gameplay, and the huge open ended setting that appeals to a different group of people. Elder scrolls is a fantasy setting, boring gameplay, but still huge open ended environment so it appeals to a different group of people (D&D players?).

[Krom]

Hopefully you play as Mirko Cro-Cop.

[KingGorilla]

Obviously they are just aping GSC.

[Ultima Thulian]

I dig the protaganist so far, but overall I was kinda bummed. It looked like it was taking itself WAY too seriously (reminded me of some Lord of War/Devil's Advocate shit) and I'm not crazy about having the same setting for the third time. Sure, it'll be different and bigger, but basically it is the same thing. It still looked cool though.

[Philonious]

I don't get to say this very often, but I agree with Serapth. :D

I played GTA3 and had some fun stealing cars and doing some bad guy jobs. But it was fun for a few minutes. While GTA4 certainly looks graphically impressive, playing the Wii has taught me that graphics aren't everything. I don't understand how people can play the exact same game over and over again with a pretty new package covering the same old tired cliche of a story and gameplay style.



My initial impression of GTA was along those lines, but after giving it a chance I got hooked. There are tonnes of things to do and the missions can get pretty challenging. It's actually a much deeper game then it gets credit for... The sequels were awesome in their own right, Vice City especially which just OOZED cheesy-retro-style and added even more variety to gameplay. Granted it probably isn't for everyone.

But as for people playing the same game over and over? Notice the next gen games people get excited about are mostly sequels? Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy... I mean GTA is guilty of saturating itself quickly, but it is not different than any of the major series. And given that the three GTA3s sit on the top ten selling games of all time suggests that there was a demand for that many.

[Abash Alarmist]

I was thinking about it and I had an idea. What if there is more than just 1 character to play? Here, they show a Russian, but what they have different storylines that revolve around the city and the other characters. What if they have characters that are part of different crime families: irish, russian, italian, and home brewed americans. Should be great.

[DaXIthR]

This, trailer and premise of the game revealed today, is probably the single most intensely 'meh...' moment in the history of videogames.

...and this post is the same in my post history....OR IS IT?

[Abash Alarmist]

This, trailer and premise of the game revealed today, is probably the single most intensely 'meh...' moment in the history of videogames.

...and this post is the same in my post history....OR IS IT?

Really? Wow. You even bolded your statement. You are bold sir, too bold! Go to hell.

[Shodan2020]

I hope the environment is more fleshed out. One of the things that I absolutely love about Saints Row is the archetecture and lay out of the city. I can spend hours just driving around and enjoying the sites, the bridges especially. :)

[Gpig]

I hope half of the game takes place in St. Petersburg or Moscow before you come to America.

[JazGalaxy]

Really? Wow. You even bolded your statement. You are bold sir, too bold! Go to hell.

well... frankly it was pretty lame.

I don't know what I was expecting, but with the buildup of a freaking INFOMERCIAL I was let down. Basically all we got to see is that the graphics engine is looking quite nice.

But, as bizarres as it is, the only GTA news that is ever exciting is when it's commentary on the game engine. Like VC supporting motorcylces or San Andreas supporting better interiors.

[laggerific]

My initial impression of GTA was along those lines, but after giving it a chance I got hooked. There are tonnes of things to do and the missions can get pretty challenging. It's actually a much deeper game then it gets credit for... The sequels were awesome in their own right, Vice City especially which just OOZED cheesy-retro-style and added even more variety to gameplay. Granted it probably isn't for everyone.

But as for people playing the same game over and over? Notice the next gen games people get excited about are mostly sequels? Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy... I mean GTA is guilty of saturating itself quickly, but it is not different than any of the major series. And given that the three GTA3s sit on the top ten selling games of all time suggests that there was a demand for that many.

And with San Andreas they just made it that much better by giving your character levels and stuff...brilliant. I bought SA on a whim after Vice City left me a little bored, but when I saw the depth they added to SA I was convinced that these people knew how to make games. I'm just hoping they keep the depth, and really I want to be able to play more than shoot hoops and pool...I want some bowling, baseball, maybe football, curling, and or fencing in the next one.

[sol740]

While GTA4 certainly looks graphically impressive, playing the Wii has taught me that graphics aren't everything. I don't understand how people can play the exact same game over and over again with a pretty new package covering the same old tired cliche of a story and gameplay style.



He says as he pops in the new Zelda. If anything Nintendo are the guilty-est rehashers of them all. Flame on fanboys !!! Go on ... JUSTIFY IT !

(That said I love the Wii.)

[Wyrm]

Leave the Sim stuff out of this one please. I liked GTA3 well enough, and Vice City was my favorite of the bunch. San Andreas left me really wishing they would have made the actual game play a bit more meaty and left out the eating, working out, and other stupid stuff that made the game lose it's charm rather quickly.

That's just a personal thing though. I think those elements are fine in some games, but I honestly don't believe they belong in a game where the primary objective is to damage the city whenever and wherever possible. I think they should add some minimalist RPG elements like Crackdown had. Nothing as over the top, but things like driving and shooting skill, or skill with certain kinds of vehicles. It would be neat to get more depth out of the game without making us babysit the main character, because that kind of stuff is only fun when you're playing a game where that is the objective.

As for the announcement, I was honestly hoping for something a little more revolutionary. My hope was a spaghetti western themed game set in tons of little towns all over the old west. You could steal horses, rob banks, rob trains, blow shit up, fight giant mechanical spiders, and perhaps even join in on civil war battles or something. Hell, you could help build up new towns and shit like that. I remember Rockstar did a western game, and I never played it, but I always thought a creative skin for the GTA construct would be the western thing. Imagine online play where you could gather a posse and ride out into the desert to rob a train or a carriage! That shit would be sweet. Afterward, you get to find a cliff to throw the safe off of and then ride down to collect the money. That shit would be awesome. Or, if someone with you had skills in lockpicking, they could open it that way. I need to write this shit down.

I've always thought the games had such potential. Vice City showed that they could really recreate an atmosphere (one that I remember pretty well), and present it with a reasonably engaging story, some memorable characters, a great narrative, and the perfect sound track. It ended up really coming together and forming one of the better gaming experiences of the last generation. There wasn't much in Vice City that wasn't fun.

With games like Crackdown doing the GTA thing, but in many ways, doing it much, much better, it's hard to justify the next title as an initial must buy. I will most definitely pick it up because Rockstar does know how to craft a game with the most important ingredient of all: fun.

[Xerxes]

Can you go back to GTA after crackdown. Having powers just changes things.

[Manzy]

I was a huge fan of GTA 3, but I feel that Vice City and San Andreas were just the same game in different settings. Sure, there was some new things, but I didn't really feel them to be new to the gameplay. Hopefully, for IV, they will implement some new ideas instead of tacking on souped-up variations.

[Vandenh]

Russian Maffia? The scum of the earth... always nice to glorify them in a video game. NOT!

Other than that.... engine looks pretty good. Good trailer.

[JimmyDanger]

Wasn't too psyched before.

That definitely looks nicer than I expected - and I will be having a look.

Oh yes. I am actually slightly excited about going nuts around NYC...

[Savok]

I dig the protaganist so far, but overall I was kinda bummed. It looked like it was taking itself WAY too seriously (reminded me of some Lord of War/Devil's Advocate shit) and I'm not crazy about having the same setting for the third time. Sure, it'll be different and bigger, but basically it is the same thing. It still looked cool though.
I suspect it's got a lot of Russian humor, an extreme version of Eastern European humor, "bleak" would be an understatement.

I remember an ad on one of those "World's Funniest Ads" shows many years ago, it was this really bleak, scratchy cartoon animation, lots of thick black lines. There was a middle aged man, packing a suitcase while his wife and child looked on in tears. Nothing was said, but you could tell he was leaving them. Finally he finishes and stands in the doorway out, one last look at his family, still crying.

He proceeds to shut the door and walks down the hallway. But he stops and thinks, looks back then returns to the apartment. His family upon seeing him, light up, thinking he's had second thoughts and isn't leaving afterall. Instead, he turns out the lights. A message comes up on the screen reminding people to turn off their lights when they leave the house to save electricity.

It was the funniest god damn thing I've ever seen. Put simply the game will be funny because it's serious.

The Russian Mob is that most amazing of things in which they're wonderful in fiction as murderous lunatics and utterly terrifying in reality as murderous lunatics. Probably the most extreme example you'll find of fiction and reality diverging.

[Scramble]

Wow, this looks awesome. Liberty City was my favourite city out of all of the GTA locales. Although small, the design was absolutly brilliant. A return to a more fleshed out version of the city will be magnificant.

As it stands, this does nothing that Crackdown nor Saints Row hasnt already done. Some people will give this game a pass simply because its GTA. Dont get caught up in the hype.

Says he who hasn't even played the game. You also forget that GTAIII started this whole sandbox crime caper. Stupid, stupid comment.

[ElectricMonk]

I don't understand the naysayers, rockstars record for the gta series is pretty good, always improving. I didn't expect the graphics to be this good either, gta3 was a pretty ugly game from still shots but it was impressive because of the scope and variety of the art (open countryside vs city).

Anyway I'll get it on some console when it comes out.

[Tricky Thumb]

I find it funny that people are saying what GTAIV has or hasn't done when we don't know anything about it beyond this tiny teaser trailer.

[vivafletcher]

Who are you talking to? This game looks great. Or, to put it another way, GOOD ENOUGH. I really don't care for the uncanny valley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley) showing it's ugly frightening face in my vid games. More games should be like Okami, Wind Waker or God of War. Stylized. I don't understand going for the photorealism unless it's a driving game or something else with prominently featured inanimate objects. I like the videogame look!

Oh, it takes you out of the game? It's not engrossing?

The stuff that takes me out of a game are doors I can't open or INVISIBLE BARRIERS. Not necessarily the look. If I bump into an invisible wall or my character suddenly does a U-Turn or for some reason I can't jump over that cliff, THEN I'm taken out of the game.

2 pennies

I said it looked good to me. But no matter how great it looks now, we'll look back on it in three years and marvel at how much better the next one is. GTA III was really fun, and it had unequalled impact on the gaming world-- but San Andreas is just so much more. Development teams get more familiar with the machines, and they start to push the boundaries more.
Over time, we'll really see some amazing things. If I have to chose which one comes first, I'd rather get the first shot at Liberty City and let them really hone their next gen skills and nail Vice City. That was my favorite.

This assumes, of course, that this one is Liberty City and they would actually go back to Vice City eventually. Right now I'm playing Vice City Stories for the PS2 after beating all the previous GTA games, so this is as close to "fanboy" status as I'll get with a series. I can't wait for GTA IV but I know the one after that will be even better. That just means my expectations aren't necessarily sky high for me to be satisfied with this one. I'll elbow the 10-year-olds at Best Buy to get it, too.

Edit: I forgot tomention how great the radio will probably be.Not for the music, but for the funny, original programs and commercials. The talk radio stations are always my favorite, and I'm sure there will be hours of stuff to hear.

[Jesse James 27]

Don't get me wrong, I'm dieing to play this and the trailer looks gorgeous! I'm just waiting to get gameplay information before I run and call this a pre-made classic.

[Kelegacy]

I'm still waiting for one of these open world games to do indoors as well as outdoors. It would be awesome if they accomplished large shopping malls, office buildings etc. all to scale inside. They just need a different camera system for inside vs. outside. The inside sections in Crackdown made me want to pull hair out the camera was so terrible.

Also it looks like maybe they are putting more emphasis on the story this time, which would be great.
Good point. Indoor areas should be a priority as the tech evolves.

I love these types of games because I can simply lose myself in them and accomplish nothing for hours. San Andreas was like crack in this respect. A world so huge, I would have fun just driving my 4-wheeler or dirtbike across the wilderness areas. I still never beat that game because I kept getting sidetracked with the freedom within.

[Kamalot]

I was thinking about it and I had an idea. What if there is more than just 1 character to play? Here, they show a Russian, but what they have different storylines that revolve around the city and the other characters. What if they have characters that are part of different crime families: irish, russian, italian, and home brewed americans. Should be great.
While a good idea, what are you basing this on? I didn't see anything to indicate there would be multiple characters.

Wild-eyed speculation will lead to disappointment.

[squiggyranza]

These graphics are the same as the Table Tennis game Rockstar released, so I suggest if people want to get acquainted with what to expect graphically to check that out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockstar_Advanced_Game_Engine

And I also love how people are questioning the buzz - THE SITE WAS DOWN WITH HOW MANY MILLION PEOPLE TRYING TO LOOK AT IT? We are watching a trailer for a game that is almost a half a year away and there is already that much interest. Of course it will be huge. And with the new graphics, it will cause even more controversy because of the 'realistic violence,' and in turn have more media attention. That alone will make people want the game.

I just hope Lieberman doesn't ever see the game...

[IRONGUSTAV]

.

San Andreas was imo the weakest of the GTA games .


no way dude

[wezlypipz]

Next-gen GTA. What's not to like? I usually get bored with these games in 20 hours of gameplay, but the improved graphics and AI will probaly keep me going.

[digitalErich]

More overuse of the bloom effect...awesome.

[CrashCart]

While I'm undecided on whether or not that was in-game footage or not, the music made it sound way too epic. It sounded like a trailer for like, Batman or something.

Speaking of which, it would be kind of awesome if you decided instead to fight crime now that you've come to America and became some kind of a badass superhero like the Batman. It would certainly live up to their claim that "this time, things will be different."

It also seems very unlikely, but it could be sweet. Considering how successful giving you superpowers while fighting crime was in Crackdown, it would be interesting. Certainly a new twist on the GTA franchise, if not a completely original idea.

[Savok]

Think less Batman and more Punisher.

[Telefrog]

More overuse of the bloom effect...awesome.

I'm with you. Bloom has become the new lens flare.

That being said, I'm pretty excited for GTA IV. Really, if Rockstar put out a new GTA using the same graphics as San Andreas, but just making a new story, they would be guaranteed a hit at this point.

[CrashCart]

Think less Batman and more Punisher.
I can dig it. That would work without being too comic book-y for anyone who would be turned off by a superhero GTA.

[Dakar]

I don't understand the naysayers, rockstars record for the gta series is pretty good, always improving. I didn't expect the graphics to be this good either, gta3 was a pretty ugly game from still shots but it was impressive because of the scope and variety of the art (open countryside vs city).

Anyway I'll get it on some console when it comes out.

Some people just enjoy being contrarian in order to be different.

Also as far as the "maybe the main character is a good guy" thing. I have to disagree. The feel I got was he's tired of selling his own people out and hope to be able to make money from say... shooting italians in the face and stealing truckloads of TVs, instead of selling young Eastern European girls.

[CptTripps]

I never really played any of the previous GTA's. I will sooooooo rent this, maybe even twice.

[jpc_theoneandonly]

The graphics look beautiful. I am defiinitely looking forward to the idea of the game containing the seperate "burroughs". But I dont think that is going to do it for a lot of people. I have a feeling its going to be the same go and kill this guy, save this guy, blow this up, just on a larger and a bit more beautiful scale. I would like to see a lot more interaction within the city. Being able to interact more with the environment. I think their is going to have to be a lot more to this game than just eye candy to impress me.

[Kamalot]

More overuse of the bloom effect...awesome.
That's what makes it next-gen! :rolleyes:

Oh and brown. Has to have lots of brown.

[atariv8]

I think Saint's Row looked better but I've been playing GTA since the first one (not III) and always enjoyed myself. Some of the textures look a little weak and the characters look a lot less stylized than the other GTAs, but Rockstars strength is in the details and little extras. But this being the true successor to III, there better be something more than updated graphics. The trailer didn't do much for me, but I'll buy it on release day due to their track record for enjoyable games and I'm a sucker for a sandbox.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

I think Saint's Row looked better

Yikes! Well, opinions are a wonderful thing

[atariv8]

Yikes! Well, opinions are a wonderful thing

I'm just able to take off the rose colored glasses. Someone needs to put a fake GTA IV trailer together using generic Saint's Row footage to see if anyone can tell the difference. :D

Hopefully this is an early build. Also, this trailer was pretty lame, so I'll wait to see something more substantial before passing final judgment. This was, after all, supposed to be the big GTA IV reveal and it came out more like a sputter. I miss the stylized graphics of the old GTA.

[imgneevrythng]

i personally like the direction the game is taking. like some have said, it's moving away from the "cartoony" look of the previous games and is stepping up to the plate with some impressive lighting affects, not to mention the water looks damn nice (cant wait to hit the river with a jetski). i feel a more realistic looking gta would make for a better gta. however, im not sure if i would like it if the gameplay elements were overally realistic example: one shot = dead kinda deal. i like the freedom gta3 had.

another thing im not sure if anybody mentioned but i dont think the game is going to be limited to just liberty city. i can see rockstar bringing the game back to where the "new era" of gta started, but keeping it confined to that area, in my opinion, wouldnt really be in their best interest. with a new look, you have to have a new idea...and i think they have it. having a foreign main character opens the possibility of taking a trip "across the pond" to europe...which is exactly what i think they will do (maybe cuz thats what i want them to do).

just remember this is the FIRST trailer. there will be more...more that would show different locales.

[DaXIthR]

Some people just enjoy being contrarian in order to be different.

Also as far as the "maybe the main character is a good guy" thing. I have to disagree. The feel I got was he's tired of selling his own people out and hope to be able to make money from say... shooting italians in the face and stealing truckloads of TVs, instead of selling young Eastern European girls.

Not trying to be contrarian. Just disappointed.

This very much what I expected. Rockstar North was pushing boundaries by giving us a black protagonist in San Andreas. To give us another white male in GTA4 is backward, unless that white male had a ethnic background that didn't have a huge diaspora in the US.

After, San Andreas, giving us a white male in GTA4 of Irish, Italian, Russian, British, German (or even Polish) origin when race is such a big deal in the game....is disappointing.

[Shifter]

After all the furor in Mexico over GRAW2, I think the whole thing should be set in Mexico City. Or maybe GTA Medellin? How about GTA Yakuza set in Japan? That would have been cool.

[Dag-Sabot]

Not trying to be contrarian. Just disappointed.

This very much what I expected. Rockstar North was pushing boundaries by giving us a black protagonist in San Andreas. To give us another white male in GTA4 is backward, unless that white male had a ethnic background that didn't have a huge diaspora in the US.

After, San Andreas, giving us a white male in GTA4 of Irish, Italian, Russian, British, German (or even Polish) origin when race is such a big deal in the game....is disappointing.

I can't believe noone else one has called you on this B.S.

Im disappointed as well but not because some weird racial agenda isn't being promoted by R* games. The game should be fun no matter what color you choose to be. Dissapointment at GTA.* 's inane story line, boring repetitive missions, constant pop-ups and poor draw distance is something that crosses all racial divides.

[atariv8]

I was wondering who's played Saint's Row on an HDTV setup and still finds this trailer graphically superior or different. There are some nice lighting flourishes but the blurry texturing on some of the objects is annoying. I'll restate that this could be an early build, so I'll hold judgment until later, but other than the GTA brand name, what should make me excited after seeing this trailer? I'm not being a smart ass, just curious. Was anybody expecting more from a month long countdown? Give me trailer 2 where every building has a full interior and I'll forgive the textures if I know the resources are going somewhere else.

I'll finish by saying, I am a huge GTA fan (especially Dreamcast GTA II), so don't freak out on me.

[SuperMonkeyFighter2]

I'm just able to take off the rose colored glasses. Someone needs to put a fake GTA IV trailer together using generic Saint's Row footage to see if anyone can tell the difference. :D


That would be pretty damn funny! :)

[Stryfe01]

I'm interested, but then again I haven't enjoyed GTA since 3...

[Utils]

More overuse of the bloom effect...awesome.

OVERuse? How so. It didnt look out of place. As a photographer I can tell you lighting is VERY important to how something looks. Lighting can change everything. I'm loving it so far.


Edit: I forgot tomention how great the radio will probably be.


The radio is where I can see the PS3 having an advantage over 360 what with blue-ray storage. But who's to say they just can't have downloadable music through live to fit what they can't on DVD? Either that or compress it to fuck.

[t3kl3r]

I don't understand how people can play the exact same game over and over again with a pretty new package covering the same old tired cliche of a story and gameplay style.


Jesus... what about all the people who are willing to play the same stupid FPS games over and over again. Why does a game that offers so much varied gameplay get picked on when people are still getting excited about the next FPS or the next Japanese RPG, or the next racing game, etc.?

Do people really expect them to redefine the entire freakin' game into something completely different? Enough new gameplay elements and improved tech made Vice City and San Andreas worthy additions to the GTA3 line.

GTA IV will undoubtedly have new elements. And yet, the basic gameplay will probably be similar in that you're a criminal with a ton of different things you can go do in a huge virtual city. The question will be if there are enough new things to do and if they show off what next-gen gaming is capable of. I'd be surprised if they don't.

That said, Rockstar hasn't showed us anything new yet. Yet. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

[ferrarimanf355]

Looks nice, IMHO. :)

[Manzy]

Not trying to be contrarian. Just disappointed.

This very much what I expected. Rockstar North was pushing boundaries by giving us a black protagonist in San Andreas. To give us another white male in GTA4 is backward, unless that white male had a ethnic background that didn't have a huge diaspora in the US.

After, San Andreas, giving us a white male in GTA4 of Irish, Italian, Russian, British, German (or even Polish) origin when race is such a big deal in the game....is disappointing.


Pushing boundaries?

http://microscopiq.com/2007/02/first-black-videogame-stars/

They didn't push shit. Plenty of african american's came before. It was just a natural evolution of a new criminalistic stereotype. First it was italian mobsters, then hispanic druglord, then the hood thugs, and now the Russian mafia.

If this trend continues, we'll wind playing as Martha Stewart doing insider trading scandals and tax fraud and other white-collar crimes.

[Kamalot]

If this trend continues, we'll wind playing as Martha Stewart doing insider trading scandals and tax fraud and other white-collar crimes.
I wanna play the game where you get to lie to the public and invade countries.

Grand Theft Weapons of Mass Destruction

[Manzy]

I wanna play the game where you get to lie to the public and invade countries.

Grand Theft Weapons of Mass Destruction

Well, coding the AI for the 'public' shouldn't be hard at all.

[DaXIthR]

I can't believe noone else one has called you on this B.S.

Im disappointed as well but not because some weird racial agenda isn't being promoted by R* games. The game should be fun no matter what color you choose to be. Dissapointment at GTA.* 's inane story line, boring repetitive missions, constant pop-ups and poor draw distance is something that crosses all racial divides.

Pushing boundaries?

http://microscopiq.com/2007/02/first-black-videogame-stars/

They didn't push shit. Plenty of african american's came before. It was just a natural evolution of a new criminalistic stereotype. First it was italian mobsters, then hispanic druglord, then the hood thugs, and now the Russian mafia.

If this trend continues, we'll wind playing as Martha Stewart doing insider trading scandals and tax fraud and other white-collar crimes.

Dag-Sabot:

The pop-ups and poor draw distance are excusable because of the massive scale of the game. The boring and repetitive missions can be a problem, but as has been highlighted in this thread, you can drop dozens of hours into this title without doing a single mission. That is to say, a lot of people who purchase these games tend do that.

Manzy:

That link is shit.

Shaq, Jordan, Michael Jackson, Spawn and Blade do not count, because they are cultural icons outside of videogames. Those are all essentially licensed properties. It would be like saying the LOTR games by EA featured hundreds of black characters because of all the Orcs and Uruk-hai featured in them. Secondly, Jade is not black.

But mostly, what's important is how massively successful the GTA series is. The GTA games featuring a black protagonist is very different from Shadow Man.

That is the crux of my point.

Manzy and Dag-Sabot:

Forgive me, but you both sound like a white dudes.

That Rockstar is still relying on stereotypes after Vice City is a shame. Dismissing Rockstar's design choices as far as the player-avatar is concerned as a series of stereotypes is - I hope - unwise and unfair.

You don't feel like you're stepping into a different - more provocative - parallel universe when you're given control of an unconventional ethnic minority.

What I was hoping Rockstar would have done was given us a female protagonist. That would opened up some very different design choices for the game creators and some very different game modes for the player.

But Rockstar didn't have the balls to make a female protagonist.

[Manzy]

Manzy:

That link is shit.

Shaq, Jordan, Michael Jackson, Spawn and Blade do not count, because they are cultural icons outside of videogames. Those are all essentially licensed properties. It would be like saying the LOTR games by EA featured hundreds of black characters because of all the Orcs and Uruk-hai featured in them. Secondly, Jade is not black.

But mostly, what's important is how massively successful the GTA series is. The GTA games featuring a black protagonist is very different from Shadow Man.

That is the crux of my point.


The link I sent had an addition at the end that included 25 more games (without licensed icons), but I don't think that's very relevant considering your point about the success of the GTA series. I suppose it doesn't really seem to push any boundaries to me because I'm a hardcore gamer that has seen different ethnicities in videogames before, but when you do put it in perspective of the general gaming public, I guess you could say it did.

I just never thought Rockstar went to the design table looking to push any boundaries. I think they just think up another crime-related setting they can put their next game in.


Manzy and Dag-Sabot:

Forgive me, but you both sound like a white dudes.


Haha, you are forgiven (I am white). I just hope that doesn't mean I sound racist.

[EL CABONG]

Wow. I remebering reading lots of rumors about vegas and LA in the 40's or 50's. Which I thought might be cool but was not super thrilled about.

GTA in a NYC or NYC like setting is awesome. Aslong as the update the combat controls to be more like Saints Row or Crackdown's this is now the most wanted game I want to play(sorry Mass Effect).

[DaXIthR]

Haha, you are forgiven (I am white). I just hope that doesn't mean I sound racist.

Not at all. Not racist or bigoted or ignorant or anything else negative by any means...perhaps unaware.

The fact that people are comparing GTA4 to Saint's Row and Crackdown, I feel is a very, VERY bad thing for Rockstar.

Rockstar could have set the game in Tokyo. They have moved away from the cartoony look and gone with something stylized, like a Max Payne vibe.

But I'll say it again, what really could piqued my interest in GTA4 is a female protagonist, especially considering the amount of womanizing the the previous titles have allowed (even encouraged).

[Savok]

I hold rather strongly the opinion that race and gender simply "are" in a story. Making someone black simply to "push boundaries" is counterproductive, the either is, or isn't black. GTA4 is about the Russian Mob it seems, it makes no sense for him to be black.

That said a woman would be interesting, not for the sake of a woman but the stories which could come out of it. Problem is, so few criminal organizations in the world seem to allow women to rise to the top, which is effectively what you do in every GTA game.

[vivafletcher]

It's been a while since I played III, and I don't remember it in LCS...but was there a Staute of Liberty in either of those? I thought I saw it in the trailer but don't recall it in Liberty City before. Maybe I just don't recall it.

In other words...what if it takes place in New York, like the actual city? Would that enhance, detract or have no effect on the game to everyone? I'd rather have the fictional city myself.

[Disgustipated]

Not at all. Not racist or bigoted or ignorant or anything else negative by any means...perhaps unaware.

The fact that people are comparing GTA4 to Saint's Row and Crackdown, I feel is a very, VERY bad thing for Rockstar.

Rockstar could have set the game in Tokyo. They have moved away from the cartoony look and gone with something stylized, like a Max Payne vibe.

But I'll say it again, what really could piqued my interest in GTA4 is a female protagonist, especially considering the amount of womanizing the the previous titles have allowed (even encouraged).

As long as there's a lesbian Hot Coffee, I'd be game.

[Rommel]

To me, the thing that makes Liberety city the best setting for a GTA game is how easy it (NYC) is to navigate. The majority of the town is a grid pattern. Seeing as how I have now lived in two (Possibly all three soon) of the GTAIII cities, I know my way around them in real life fairly well, but it actually seemed to help in Liberty.

[Dr.Finger]

To me, the thing that makes Liberety city the best setting for a GTA game is how easy it (NYC) is to navigate. The majority of the town is a grid pattern. Seeing as how I have now lived in two (Possibly all three soon) of the GTAIII cities, I know my way around them in real life fairly well, but it actually seemed to help in Liberty.Except the first time someone tries to drive below Houston (prounounced house-ton) Street and their heads explode.

My bold prediction - in addition to an analouge of New York there will also be cities resembling Boston and Washington DC, with suburban/rural areas based on Long Island, Cape Cod, the Poconos/Catskills and coastal Maryland.

[Tel Prydain]

'Meh' is right.
I liked the look of some of the bigger buildings, like the church and the roller-coaster. And I was hyped about it for about half a moment, and then I remembered I wouldn't be able to climb to the top of them.

Crackdown had some great indoor areas, but more importantly it let you treat all the buildings like monkey-bars. I'm not sure I can go back.

[Dag-Sabot]

Manzy and Dag-Sabot:

Forgive me, but you both sound like a white dudes.
Hah. I wonder what prompted you to share with us such an assumption. My usual response to this would have likely skated the fine line between internet hillarity and a banhammer drop.
GTA series is a paper mache of sterotypes of all kinds, lionizing one stereotype above others and specifically bitching that they've gone back to "white" is beneath contempt. For instance: I didn't enjoy playing gta : SA as a "gangsta" not because i dislike black people but because i did not identify with the protagonist. That why I like saints' row, i can change the appearance of my character to what i want, not what is deemed fashionable or acceptable as this years stereotypical hood. Moaning about relying on stereotypes for this series is just missing the point entirely: The game is a complete caricature of all; it has to be in order to be fair to everyone.

[Savok]

Most of the "gangsta" stuff of SA ends when you leave Los Santos, god I love The Truth...

[Dag-Sabot]

Most of the "gangsta" stuff of SA ends when you leave Los Santos, god I love The Truth...Yeah thanks thats why i bought a friggin suit, holmes.

[DaXIthR]

GTA series is a paper mache of sterotypes of all kinds, lionizing one stereotype above others and specifically bitching that they've gone back to "white" is beneath contempt. For instance: I didn't enjoy playing gta : SA as a "gangsta" not because i dislike black people but because i did not identify with the protagonist. That why I like saints' row, i can change the appearance of my character to what i want, not what is deemed fashionable or acceptable as this years stereotypical hood. Moaning about relying on stereotypes for this series is just missing the point entirely: The game is a complete caricature of all; it has to be in order to be fair to everyone.

That you didn't identify with CJ from San Andreas is precisely my point. I think Rockstar knows that a lot of white boys buy and play their games. The decision to use a black protagonist in such a massive game on the premiere platform (that is, not copping out and making the PSP GTA protagonist the one with the black guy) tells me that the designers knew they would be making some of their gamers uncomfortable.

That's also an opportunity for them. When you play with a player's expectations, interesting things happen.

Playing and controlling CJ wasn't as attractive a proposition as one where you control a white character or are allowed to create your own (presumably) white character. Well, imagine gaming is like for someone who isn't white.

What should people of color so marginalized that they just have to make the personal adjustment to enjoy the hobby?

With all due respect, and believe there is quite a bit, this is exactly the mentality of an 'unaware white dude' I was talking about earlier. I hope you try to see what I'm trying to say.

I don't know what I said that gave the impression that I wanted a female protagonist simply because it would make her a woman. I believe I've already said that it opens the designers to interesting choices and players to interesting choices. For a woman to kill a streetwalker and take her money is very different on SOOO many levels for Vercetti or CJ to do the same.

I know the GTA series exploits stereotypes. That's fine, but the dialogue often makes for interesting social commentary. That's what I look forward to, and that's what I enjoy.

[Dag-Sabot]

That you didn't identify with CJ from San Andreas is precisely my point. I think Rockstar knows that a lot of white boys buy and play their games. The decision to use a black protagonist in such a massive game on the premiere platform (that is, not copping out and making the PSP GTA protagonist the one with the black guy) tells me that the designers knew they would be making some of their gamers uncomfortable. And i submit to you that legions of North American suburban [white] males, dressed up as gangstas, throwing down gang signs would beg to differ. Stop by any food court next time you're stateside. They're commonly referred to as "Wiggers". Young suburban males are buying wholesale what the music industry and the gaming industry are selling as "Black culture" these days.

[DaXIthR]

Cot damn.

Hell of a valid point, but I still don't feel it renders my thoughts here as completely idiotic.

I mean, by the time GTA:SA came out, GTA was a global phenomenon, right? Do you really think Rockstar North (based in Scotland, need we remind ourselves) is pandering so hardcore to the wigger population?

[Savok]

I give you the Chav (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chavs).

The black man is the most emulated person in the world, 99% of the time it's done poorly, but that doesn't stop them.

[DaXIthR]

I concede.

I am, all of a sudden, a little disappointed in Rockstar. If this is all they were looking to do... If this is all they had in mind when they decided to move to the Italian-American and then the African-American protagonist...

Then I've been giving them way too much credit for way too long.

[Xerxes]

For instance: I didn't enjoy playing gta : SA as a "gangsta" not because i dislike black people but because i did not identify with the protagonist. That why I like saints' row, i can change the appearance of my character to what i want, not what is deemed fashionable or acceptable as this years stereotypical hood.

I wouldn't have been gaming as long as I have if I had to identify with the protagonist. Not many good black protagonist around to identify with and all. Probably the same for most girl gamers as well with games that cast one main character. And changing the appearance(skin color) in some of these games don't help cause they'll give some of the same corny line much like I bet Saint Row gave the same "chav" dialog/context. You probably looked "different", but were still just a stereotypical hood. :rolleyes:

[Savok]

I concede.

I am, all of a sudden, a little disappointed in Rockstar. If this is all they were looking to do... If this is all they had in mind when they decided to move to the Italian-American and then the African-American protagonist...

Then I've been giving them way too much credit for way too long.
They deserve credit for that most elusive thing, real equality. It doesn't matter who you are, they will hang shit on you. They aren't insulting you with affirmative action either, racial backgrounds simply aren't there as some token appearance, they're there because of the story. For a game so full of stereotypes, when it comes to race they're the fairest of them all.

And this is why GTA is the continuing powerhouse that it is.

[Dag-Sabot]

I wouldn't have been gaming as long as I have if I had to identify with the protagonist. Not many good black protagonist around to identify with and all. Probably the same for most girl gamers as well with games that cast one main character. And changing the appearance(skin color) in some of these games don't help cause they'll give some of the same corny line much like I bet Saint Row gave the same "chav" dialog/context. You probably looked "different", but were still just a stereotypical hood. :rolleyes:Normally I would agree, except in this instance the GTA series attempts a storyline, and as such it's much more enjoyable when you identify with your character. I wish games such as this would have alternate personality types available to go with pigmentation choices.

[Xerxes]

Normally I would agree, except in this instance the GTA series attempts a storyline, and as such it's much more enjoyable when you identify with your character. I wish games such as this would have alternate personality types available to go with pigmentation choices.
Saints Row has no story?

[Dag-Sabot]

Saints Row has no story?It does, but it also has choice of character models. Hence (I maintain) you can better identify with your choice of protagonist. Even though, as has been pointed out, you still use the same script.

I feel that forcing you to be some greasy russian or <insert racial or ethnic group to be lampooned here> They're limiting your choices and risking people not adopting the storyline. Not to mention, the "features" feature its a really neat customization in Saints Row. Obviously GTA is not going after any sort of innovation with this latest title. And if they are, I demand to know what it is. The trailer they released was too short/small/inadequate, they should have called it a mini-caravan, or a tent-trailer. I was expecting a double-wide so impressive that it would attract errant hurricanes...

[Xerxes]

I feel that forcing you to be some greasy russian or <insert racial or ethnic group to be lampooned here> They're limiting your choices and risking people not adopting the storyline.
People have been playing games stuck as characters they can't identify with for quite sometime. Another difference is the game is stuck in a setting with a story. It's like trying to slap a Create-A-Character in GTA:SA would seem a white dude running around the hood and doing everything and such. Surely not everyone identified the the homosexual bully. :rolleyes: