GTA IV

[Davey_Pitch]

I finished off Packie's missions last night, the last one was really enjoyable and very profitable. Opened up the last island too now, though I've not been over for a look yet :)

[Joe 90]

Just finished the main story line, still tons of stuff to do though!

think i'm getting close to finishing the main story line. i think then i'll get better at maintaining these relationships!

[petemc]

I've just made it to the 2nd island. Oooh its nice. Really long roads. Stole a helimocopter and went to date Michelle. She used her magic and made it disappear!

[Haly]

I love that this game is so easy to just drop into for a little while at a time. :)
I'm probably not progressing as fast as others due to lack of time but really enjoying what I've played so far.

[Desmo]

Same here Jen. I just pop on before work, do a couple of missions then turn it off again. My progress isn't rapid and I keep reading about things that I want to do. But I'll get there eventually and the game is going to last a long long time :)

[Wossi]

I loved driving around Manhattan, kept driving around going "ooooh I remember that, I've been there!" :D

[Daz]

Some of these ads are great:

On the weekend I like taking off my PVC underwear and just relaxing, away from any crude euphemisms. I also enjoy gardening, I just find that getting down on my knees and really going at it til I'm all dirty and sweaty is so satisfying.

[Veteran Tyke]

Almost escaped a 4 star rating, well almost got out of the highlighted area, till some silly women reversed her car into the side of another, just as I ran past... and crushed me against it, instant death :)

[Wossi]

The game crashed on me last night :( was doing a mission for Dwayne at the strip club, when I got there the door was funked up and I couldn't go through, the message "The disc is not readable" came up on screen followed by it crashing :(

[Belmit]

Whilst no-one can deny the game is awesome, does anyone else find minor things getting on their nerves? Just little things that they probably could have ironed out quite easily? For example, I love the fact that you can hit a button and slide into cover, and move around whilst in cover, but the targeting needs to be tweaked a fair bit. After you've killed a bad guy sometimes you can't switch to the next target, you have to come out of target mode and go back in again which is a real pain when there's lots of enemies. Also, in crowd situations, civilians get targeted just as easily as enemies. The mission where you take back the strip club took me three goes simply because I couldn't target enemies for all the civilians running about, and both times I failed were because I got hit point-blank by someone standing next to me whom I couldn't target at all.

As well as that, I find I get stuck a hell of a lot on tiny things when running, which again can make all the difference in a life or death situation. The worst was the first safehouse, which for some reason they decided to give a couple of steps up to the door. A few times I got stuck next to the steps, tried to back out and got stuck on the other side. It really shouldn't be easier to score a 180 in darts than it is to aim the character through a door!

Finally, the camera when you're travelling always lines up behind you the second you take your thumb off the movement stick. This has to be the most annoying thing of all. When I turn left or right I want to be able to move the camera first then turn into the field of vision I open up. Instead I look left or right with the camera and have to somehow hold the movement stick in place whilst turning the character with the other. I can't find an option to turn this off. There's a similar issue when in a vehicle that they haven't changed since the previous games; the camera always angles quite shallowly so that the car is in the way of what's coming up ahead. It's particularly noticeable when going up a steep hill that's about to level out - you can't see what's over the crest of the hill because the car blocks the view. None of the set camera angles seem to improve on this so I'm constantly having to raise the camera angle above the car. Again, as soon as you release the movement stick it defaults back to the pre-set view.

Of course these are all minor things that I've learnt to adapt to, and it takes little enjoyment away from the game, but it does tend to remove some of the immersement (is that a word?!) for me.

It still makes me laugh lots though - some guy was giving me grief for driving into him so I fired my gun. He started to run... straight under an oncoming truck! Also, is it just me that can't drive past a motorbike without flipping the rider over the top of my car? :D

[Davey_Pitch]

Well that's the story finished. Most enjoyable, though the story was a little predictable, I would never expect it to have multiple twists as the game is more about the variety of missions than the actual story. Now to go and do everything else I've missed and start getting some extra achievements :)

[Daz]

Did you finish it in under 30? Dont think I've got a chance for that now, been spending too long dicking about - though I'll probably be able to load up an old game and pick it up half way through.

Also,

Is the mission where you go after Dimtree on the boat (well, thats what I chose to do anyway) the last one? Had a stab at that last thing last night and failed after I pulled the lever on the bridge.

[Belmit]

There's two achievements that are pretty much mutually exclusive; finish all missions in under 30 hours, and finish with all your friends liking you more than 90%. I've gone for the latter and I'm frankly getting fed up of keeping them all sweet. After you've taken them out enough to get them up to 100%, they keep calling you to see if you want to go out again and if you turn them down their liking of you drops by a few percent. The advantage of it though is that you get all the perks (and associated achievements) of being able to call on your friends to supply you with guns, bomb cars, taxi cabs and helicopters.

If I have to take Brucie powerboating again though I'm going to go spare.

[Davey_Pitch]

Yup, I managed it in a little over 28 hours. After about 20 hours I was consciously aiming for under 30 so I've done nothing but missions for ages, using taxis to get around so I can instantly skip to where I want to go. At one point I thought I stood no chance (there are 94 missions, and with 20 left I figured out I needed to average 16 mins per mission) but I blasted through some of them so I was okay.

That mission you mention isn't the last one for you. I chose that option and there were 2 more missions for me after it, which will probably take you around 20 mins or so if you do it right. If you're aiming for 30 hours, it might be best to reload the autosave if you fail, rather than retrying. That's what I did :)

[Davey_Pitch]

There's two achievements that are pretty much mutually exclusive; finish all missions in under 30 hours, and finish with all your friends liking you more than 90%. I've gone for the latter and I'm frankly getting fed up of keeping them all sweet. After you've taken them out enough to get them up to 100%, they keep calling you to see if you want to go out again and if you turn them down their liking of you drops by a few percent. The advantage of it though is that you get all the perks (and associated achievements) of being able to call on your friends to supply you with guns, bomb cars, taxi cabs and helicopters.

If I have to take Brucie powerboating again though I'm going to go spare.
Yeah, I'm not looking forward to keeping them all happy. Getting everything 100% is next on my list and I know for that I have to take all my friends out to every activity, and then beat them at every game. That's going to take a while on it's own, let alone finding every jump, package, etc etc.

[Daz]

If you're aiming for 30 hours, it might be best to reload the autosave if you fail, rather than retrying. That's what I did :)
That's the plan I think, along with the Taxis - I do that now because I'm rich and lazy ;D

Not even been thinking about the friend achievement - and you're right, thinking about it that will be a bugger.

I'll tell you what's harder than you'd think it'd be as well - blowing up 10 cars in 10 seconds. You ineveitaby get the cops after you, and if some guns get fired cars go everywhere and it's difficult to even get 10 cars close together let alone blow them up quickly. 5 rolls was also fiddlier than I thought it'd be, had o persist with that one.

[Davey_Pitch]

I think the best way to get the 10 cars achievement will be to steal the bus that's opposite Clucking Bell in Star Junction, and use it to block off one of the lanes on the expressways. Wait until 10 cars pile up behind it, then rocket launch the hell out of them :D Perhaps start with a grenade to the front cars then launch a rocket at the back cars to take them all out as quickly as possible.

[Belmit]

Although I'm not at the stage yet where rocket launchers are freely available, I'd imagine you could blow four or five cars up on the road near somewhere with a car park, then turn your sights on that. The strip club often has five or six cars parked up there. So I hear.

[Daz]

No chance, they've got to be bumper to bumper (it's called Chain Reaction for a reason I learned!). You can just about fire and deliver 3 rockets in 10 seconds and even when you squish up a load of bonnets they dont all blow together - they domino. Try it, it's quite fiddly :) Either that or I suck :D

Best attempt I've had so far was hitting a used car dealership, but I ended up being taken down by some random guy who's car I nicked. My health was quite low :$

Davey - It's just not worth trying when the cars aren't empty - the buggers find a way of sneaking off!

[Davey_Pitch]

Davey - It's just not worth trying when the cars aren't empty - the buggers find a way of sneaking off!

Get a whole load together then, and fire a few warning shots in the air. Should be enough to send people running for their lives leaving their precious cars behind :D

[Belmit]

Ah, didn't realise it had to be a chain.

[Davey_Pitch]

It doesn't *have* to be a chain, but you won't fire enough quickly enough to do it without some chaining I think.

[Goose]

Could the cars already be on their last legs?

[Matblack]

Two vehicles which prove a lot of fun for handbraking; The limo and the little baggage trucks form the airport, yesterday I had a three island pursuit with 2 stars which lasted for about 20 minutes on a baggage truck :D

MB

[Belmit]

There's a small car I found once that doesn't look like much but handles like a dream. Quite nippy too. It has some really boring name that makes it sound like it's not up to much. Might do a quick search for a car list and see if any of the names rings a bell.

[Desmo]

...finish with all your friends liking you more than 90%. I've gone for the latter and I'm frankly getting fed up of keeping them all sweet.
I have read about something you can do although I'm not 100% it works as I've not done it much or looked at the figures but apparently you can accept the invite or phone them and ask them out. You then get the thumbs up. Leave it a while and then cancel the date. Apparently you don't then get the thumbs down.

[Belmit]

I've only done that once and indeed it didn't drop the percentage as far as I could tell. Maybe I'll try it again!


Edit: I have devastating news and wonderful news.

The former; if you go out and get drunk, you aren't able to get back in the helicopter you parked outside the bar.

The latter; if you go out with Packie and get drunk, he makes you drop him off two islands away, with the screen more blurred than I ever thought possible, cops chasing you over the bridge, while he serenades you with the entirety of 'Danny Boy'. :D

[Davey_Pitch]

I got the achievement for blowing up 10 cars in 10 seconds, and it was really quite easy in the end. I went to the prison and there were around 12 cars in the car park. I used the biggest to push all of them nicely together, then simply lobbed a couple of grenades in the middle. Job done, achievement unlocked :)

[Daz]

The latter; if you go out with Packie and get drunk, he makes you drop him off two islands away, with the screen more blurred than I ever thought possible, cops chasing you over the bridge, while he serenades you with the entirety of 'Danny Boy'. :D
Ahaaa! I'm so doing that ;D;D

[Creature]

Ahaaa! I'm so doing that ;D;DLikewise ;D

btw Daz, finally GH2 goal done ;)

[Daz]

I got the achievement for blowing up 10 cars in 10 seconds, and it was really quite easy in the end. I went to the prison and there were around 12 cars in the car park. I used the biggest to push all of them nicely together, then simply lobbed a couple of grenades in the middle. Job done, achievement unlocked :)
Thats not a bad idea you know - stay in one car and brute force them together. Cops never seem to bothered when you bash other peoples cars :D

Took Packie to get '**** canned' and ended up talking about poetry, no singing :(

[Belmit]

Yeah, this was the second time we'd been out. We got even more leathered than the first! I'd parked the helicopter down the road when I was trying to get back in it after going drinking and we had to cross the main road. I finally made it, turned round, and Packie was flat on his back in the middle lane! I just burst out laughing!

[Matblack]

Managed to get $250,000 and open the third island yesterday :)

The new 'friend' from the old country is hilarious, especially going jogging with him, that was brilliant :D.

I need to sort out Packie's brother and a few more missions I think.

The extra stuff is really well hidden and I think I'll have to get the guide if I want to get them done. I shot a glowing pigeon the other day and it said there were a load more, I've been everywhere and its the only one I've seen!

MB

[Belmit]

All the hidden stuff is pretty well concealed. I've only found three things so far; Molotovs near the beginning at the dockside, grenades in an area on the middle island where the road is shut off for roadworks between blocks, and armour on the third floor of a derelict building near the second safehouse. Frankly it's easier to call Little Jacob and buy off him than it is to go out of your way to get free stuff.

I've only found three or four pigeons so far, and always seem to come across them when I'm on the run from the law and don't have time to stop. :(

[Daz]

The new 'friend' from the old country is hilarious, especially going jogging with him, that was brilliant :D.
Oh completely, we were in histerics when he started off. Reminded me of bloody Marco from BB a couple of years back, was all I could do not to kill him there and then :D

[leowyatt]

I found 2 pigeons the other day and some armour behind a fence :)

http://penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20080502.jpg

[petemc]

I spent ages trying to work out how to pickup the pigeon, then shot it and was like "Ahhhhhhh."

[leowyatt]

Yeah I found one when I finally caught up with Mikhail. Just wish I could remember where the damn armour is :(

[Haly]

Haha excellent comic :D

I've got stuck on a stupidly simple chase which is very annoying for me :p

[Creature]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/zeropunctuation/4902-Zero-Punctuation-Grand-Theft-Auto-IV

That my local town at the end \o/

[Joe 90]

fantastic - awesome review. he seems to agree with me. some of its a load of timewasted crap (social aspect) but i'll still go back to it.

[Desmo]

I got a couple of achievements last night. Got the 6 star rating and managed to stay away for the time limit (think it's 5 minutes) without even realising I was doing it. Also got Under the Radar which is flying the helicopter under all of the bridges. Last one was a bit hairy as I had the cops on my tail including helicopters shooting at me whilst trying to get under the lowest bridge :D

[HollyThirtyFive]

I want this game so bad!!! Can't wait to get a go on it at some point. I read yesterday that it sold 3.3million copies in its first 24 hours and made something like £164 million.

[leowyatt]

Holly has a 360? :shocked:

[Wossi]

I got to the point last night where you have to make a the desicion to kill either X or Dwayne. I decided on X for some reason, although I do have a really sweet penthouse now :D also does Kate ever put out?

One thing that has been annoying me is the comedy club, I keep trying to get in there when out with Kate, but I can never get in, so end up either bowling or eating.

[Daz]

Got the Chain Reaction achievement - got fed up with arranging cars (failed *again* in the airport car park, despite no police attention!), and just went postal on the busy streets around time square. Blocked up a couple of junctions, climbed up high and went nuts. 5 rockets later and twas done :D

[Belmit]

Re the decision regarding X/Dwayne, mine was also solely based on real estate!

[Davey_Pitch]

Same here, it was the only decision that made sence to me.

[Wossi]

I didn't make the decision because of that, I just disliked X more :D

[HollyThirtyFive]

Holly has a 360? :shocked:

Goddamn I wish :( I mean if I had any console I'd love to play it lol

In my poor saving to go away spare time I've entered loads of competitions to win a console lol so maybe one day soon I can get my xbox points up! :D

[iCraig]

Rhiannon's (girlfriend) cousin is on one of the radio stations in this game. His band, Deluka. :cool:

[Goose]

Had a quick play this morning. Was in a chopper at FLA3000gazillion feet. Collided with the police chopper (bit embarrassing, considering I should know better!), the rotor blade of the police helicopter cut the tail of my helicopter clean off. It was a long way to fall.

Made me smile though. :cool:

[Daz]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=244089879&dealer_id=62558733&car_year=2002&num_records=25&model=M3&systime=&make2=&start_year=2001&engine=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&search_type=both&d

:D

[Belmit]

"GET IN!"

[Belmit]

Spoilers for final mission within!


Did anyone have to redo this one? After driving halfway round the city listening to Jacob and Roman whine like bitches, I battled my way through the yard, and the building, then down the dock, and it says 'Get on the bike'. Because I took too long getting there it failed the mission there and then. Luckily you restart at the beginning of the gun battle but of course my armour and ammo are running low. Nevertheless I made it through again, managed to stay on the bike, and hit the jump. I got the message that says to use X to fire the minigun, which I did, only to find that the boat was fast getting away. Cue a moment of realisation - I'm the one flying the damn chopper! Too late, it's now a submarine. Roman and Jacob - useless. I guess after you've fled a gun battle to get a helicopter you've done enough. Sod flying it when it counts!

Couldn't be arsed with it after that - because I was in the water I couldn't answer my phone to replay the mission so it would have meant doing the driving bit again, as well as going to get armour and ammo. I'm all for having to replay the missions if I died because of my own mistake, but to fail simply because of how the game works is a bit tight.

I'm sure I'll get it done tonight, unless Roman executes me or something.

[leowyatt]

One cool thing I noticed the other day was when driving an emergency vehicle with the blues and twos going cars do pull over to the side of the road to get out of the way :D a small thing but cool all the same.

[Belmit]

They tend to shift if you hold the horn down too, but it's not quite so effective!

[Joe 90]

One cool thing I noticed the other day was when driving an emergency vehicle with the blues and twos going cars do pull over to the side of the road to get out of the way :D a small thing but cool all the same.

aye, that can be great until you get some 'tard that just pulls out in front of you!

[Belmit]

One of the most annoying (and funny) things in the game is when you're bombing it over a bridge inbetween lanes of traffic and people just change lanes for the hell of it. Even the cops do it, and not one of them indicates. Inevitably, you tend to knock their rear bumper slightly. ;)

Can be pretty irksome though if it is a cop and you're in the middle of something important. Fleeing one-star wanted ratings really is a chore.

[Pickers]

I like how the cops give a short siren if you cut them up, or are seen driving stupidly infront of one.

[Desmo]

You seen this stunt jumps vid? :shocked:

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1817390

[Chuckles]

I've finally nailed Michelle :D

[Desmo]

You know you can't add that to your real life tally ;D

[Wossi]

You know you can't add that to your real life tally ;D

Beat me to it :(

[Haly]

This new episode, available Feb. 17 via download exclusively for those who own the Xbox 360 version (no price yet), stars Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City biker gang The Lost.
From: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2008-11-19-gta-damned_N.htm

[phykell]

I've finally nailed Michelle :D
Wait until Borris sees that :evil:

[Justsomebloke]

Got this cheap yesterday & played an hour or so last night. Loads of great things to do but I am still getting used to it. Me mate was round so we was just messing about jacking motors, Best motor so far was an Ambulance we jacked. Got to the strip club & found out on the 3rd private dance another Doris comes in to play & we get a little spanking action going on, We liked that bit ;D
Not to happy with the fighting though as it feels like I have very little control, Not found a gun yet so I am hoping that'll help as I can just shoot everybody in the face.
Been in hospital about 6 times & nicked 4, Damn those filthy Rozzers ;D Talking of Rozzers is there a Cop convention on or summit as the place is teaming with 'em :confused:
I thought a Full on console game would be good for me so I will do my best to get into it even though I do have the feeling that I am completly ******* lost most of the time :D Yes I am using the GPS :p

[NokkonWud]

Even with the GPS you do get lost quite a lot to begin with. Your best bet is just sticking to the story for a couple of hours - wait til you unlock another 2 islands, then you really do have an excuse for really getting lost.

Loads to do, and yes, fighting is very poor, but as long as you have a gun it's not too bad. I completed the game twice almost back to back when it came out including a 100% run-through (all 200 birds, 50 super jumps, missions, sub-missions done), so if you need any help just give me a shout.

[Psymonkee]

I liked the fighting :p

And no GPS is the way to go - makes you really learn the city :)

[Davey_Pitch]

including a 100% run-through (all 200 birds, 50 super jumps, missions, sub-missions done),

How long did that take you? When I get it again it's something I'm considering going for a 100% playthrough :)

[NokkonWud]

How long did that take you? When I get it again it's something I'm considering going for a 100% playthrough :)

36 hours and 12 hours IIRC.

[phykell]

...all 200 birds, 50 super jumps...
What was wrong with the other 150? :D

[NokkonWud]

There aren't 200 super jumps are there?

[Daz]

Bumpage for DLC news!

New achievements:

* Get Good Wood - 50G - In bike races, whack off 69 bikers with a bat.
* Easy Rider - 100G - Finish the story.
* Full Chat - 70G - Your backup are riding at their best!
* The Lost Boy - 25G - All hail the leader of The Lost!
* One Percenter - 5G - Billy is back on his bike.

*chuckles at Get Good Wood *

[Davey_Pitch]

Just saw those myself, all seem fairly easy. I need more points though, this DLC will give me a reason to get back into GTA4.

[Haly]

So much DLC coming out soon. Not sure if I'll get this immediately though, still got plenty to do in GTA4 as it is :)

[leowyatt]

I need to get back to the game myself as I'm still only on the 2nd island.

[Justsomebloke]

Damn this game, I really want to get into it but it just won't grab me, About the only real fun I have had with it is playing on line with a mate I know irl & just wandering around wasting people & causing havoc, I just can't get my head around the single player long enough to achieve owt :(

[NokkonWud]

Looks pretty good. Sold my copy ages ago, so would have to borrow someone elses. Is there a definitive release date yet?

[Davey_Pitch]

Mid Feb, can't remember the exact date off the top of my head. Fairly soon though :)

[NokkonWud]

Oooh, I can afford this and Fallout 3 DLC! :D

[Psymonkee]

OH FFS :(

Fallout 3 DLC?! I've not even started playing yet :(

[NokkonWud]

Out in a weeks time!

[Psymonkee]

<james may>

COCK!

</james may>

:(

[Daz]

Come on then, who's buying it (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-GB/games/offers/0ccf0001-0000-4000-8000-0000545407f2)?

[Justsomebloke]

Kin Typical I only have 1300 points :angry:



*Storms off to get hoody & pistola*

[Davey_Pitch]

Very tempted, I've been looking for a while to get back into GTA and this would certainly do it, but I think for now I'd rather save my points for the next 2 Fallout DLCs and get the GTA DLC at a later date.

[Haly]

I'm tempted which is daft because I've still got to complete the main storyline anyway! Think I got indoctrinated by discussions about it on Friday :o

No money though so that always helps me resist ;D

[leowyatt]

don't have the points so I'm safe ;D

[Daz]

I'll def get it, just need to decide if I get it now or play some more Lost Odyssey first!

.. I'll definitely be getting The Maw DLC on Wednesdat though for 100 points ;D

[cheets]

I will pass dont even own GTA 4, I can wait till it drops in price.

[Psymonkee]

D/L'ing now :D

Guess I'm the BD guinea pig :D

[NokkonWud]

Absolutely gutted I don't have points for this. Even Major Nelson hasn't given any codes away :(.

[Daz]

The amount they've already spent on it I'm not surprised!

[NokkonWud]

True, but he gave away a load of Operation Anchorage codes for Fallout 3.

[Haly]

Planetxbox360.com were giving away some codes a few days ago so they are about.

[Psymonkee]

I'll just say it's awesome :D

Only downers I've got so far is I think I've lost my bike :( and the game just locked up on me :(

[cheets]

Absolutely gutted I don't have points for this. Even Major Nelson hasn't given any codes away :(.

He did http://12seconds.tv/channel/majornelson/93883

:angry:

[NokkonWud]

Yeah, he did it whilst I was AFK :(

[Psymonkee]

All finished :D

Worth every point and definitely worth a replay or six to get the most out of some of the gun fights :D

The crossovers with Niko's story are brilliant if a little confusing at times (timeline stuff) but work very well and brings the story together nicely :D

Some of the set pieces are fabulous and lead to some very entertaining chases.

The mission retry system has been reworked usually delivering you to the start of the action which is a blessing and a curse at the same time. Cuts down on driving to a mission start (which some people find tedious?) but equally doesn't give you a chance to re-arm/collect more armour if you got quite far into the mission before dying.

New weapons are very cool too: Pipe Bombs are another type of grenade and brings back far too many memories of Duke Nukem, Grenade Launcher is amazing fun if a little slow on the reload, Full Auto pistol is a riot giving you some serious CQB firepower and the Assualt Shotgun is pretty much a god mode cheat :p

Huge thumbs up from me and worth every MSPoint :D

[leowyatt]

Expansion has been announced!

http://www.rockstargames.com/theballadofgaytony/