GTA IV

[dbdynsty25]

Me, easy going?

What forum have you been frequenting lately?

[greggsand]

I actually had to turn up the brightness on my LCD to read it...which was a first. The contrast is just bad. Once I did that, it was perfectly legible.

See, you're a much younger and more easy-going human being than I. Me, being a crusty old f---, am not inclined to change a setting on my TV for one f'in game. I'd rather just squint and b*tch about it on an internet forum.

There's brightness/contrast settings in the game itself. You don't need to touch your tv settings.

[ScoopBrady]

I actually had to turn up the brightness on my LCD to read it...which was a first. The contrast is just bad. Once I did that, it was perfectly legible.

See, you're a much younger and more easy-going human being than I. Me, being a crusty old f---, am not inclined to change a setting on my TV for one f'in game. I'd rather just squint and b*tch about it on an internet forum.

There's brightness/contrast settings in the game itself. You don't need to touch your tv settings.

You can also change the font size to large like this crusty old f*** did.

[JRod]

See, you're a much younger and more easy-going human being than I. Me, being a crusty old f---, am not inclined to change a setting on my TV for one f'in game. I'd rather just squint and b*tch about it on an internet forum.

There's brightness/contrast settings in the game itself. You don't need to touch your tv settings.

You can also change the font size to large like this crusty old f*** did.

Where do you do that?

[MACTEPsporta]

Since Rob already spoiled the "brick in the window" scene, I feel I can interject. Rob, you can break it any way you want to. I, for example rammed a car into it, I am sure shooting it out is an option as well. I do agree with you, however, that once you get used to the awesome openness and ability to do whatever in the world, following directions (sometimes ridiculous in their detail) can feel a little frustrating. But, when I think of how much this part of the game has improved compared to GTA III, I can't really get up the nerve to complain.

Rob, I think it's your TV settings. You were complaining about night games in FIFA as well, and I must say, I have no problem reading the cell phone. Plus I love the old Ericsson look to it. Don't worry, your phone will get an upgrade.

I do have gripes with the game, though. Here they are:

I am not totally accepting of the way cover system works.
I am also not too thrilled with the fact that everyone in Liberty City has a sixth sense that puts Haley Joel Osmond to shame. You can aim at someone's back from two blocks away, and the minute the reticule is on them they run away. Or shoot at you. Common.
I think that ped and vehicle generator could be tuned up, so that you don't see a block full of the same people or cars. Also, I don't like the fact that the game re-randomizes the peds and cars, when there is any type of loading. You enter a short cutscene and when you get back outdoors the street is full of different cars, than when you were coming in just minutes ago.
I'd love to see an option, to have a cabbie wait for you when you go inside as well.
I wish there was a way to differentiate which interiors you can walk into, because I am sure that 90% of people playing the game won't take the time to explore those on their own, which is unfortunate. I found that you can do a lot of good from rooftops if you scout the area of your missions and find an accessible high point.
And finally, I wish that there were checkpoints in missions, because the further I advance in the game, the longer they get, and getting killed when you've completed the tough part of your mission, and are just trying to lose your wanted level is quite possibly the suckiest thing ever.

Algonquin is cool.

[Naples39]

I think that ped and vehicle generator could be tuned up, so that you don't see a block full of the same people or cars.

I was pretty disappointed to see this still happening like in GTA3. I hate when you have a good car and it's like Xmas with all the nice vehicles to steal, but then if you have a crappy car all you see is other crap on the roads. Should be more geographic sensitive and less dependent on the vehicle you already have. You'd think they could manage that with these next gen systems.

[ScoopBrady]

You can also change the font size to large like this crusty old f*** did.

Where do you do that?

If you bring up the cellphone scroll down and you'll see options. Select that and you can change the ringtone and the text/font size. Maybe it says display size. I forget but that's where I did it.

[greggsand]

Anyone else really miss the "custom soundtrack" radio station (basically whatever u're playlist was called)??? That was great in San Andreas on the old xbox. I know I "stream" music over the game with the media player, but then it plays over all the dialog & such. not ideal.

[JRod]

The one liners in this game are great.

The humor is this game is top notch and why I think I'm still playing it. In past GTAs, it was more about going to point A, driving to point B and killing something. It was more dark and more about videogame violence.

Now with the lawsuits, I think Rockstar has found an avenue to make fun of people. They've always done it in their games but it so much better in this version.

For me, past GTAs were about the videogame objectives, which I found to be boring and repetitive, here I find unlocking more in the game brings about new material. That's a first for me, to actually want to see more cutscenes and listen to characters say stupid things.

[JRod]

I think that ped and vehicle generator could be tuned up, so that you don't see a block full of the same people or cars.

I was pretty disappointed to see this still happening like in GTA3. I hate when you have a good car and it's like Xmas with all the nice vehicles to steal, but then if you have a crappy car all you see is other crap on the roads. Should be more geographic sensitive and less dependent on the vehicle you already have. You'd think they could manage that with these next gen systems.

It is related to where you are on the map. It's also dependent on the time of day; which I think is a nice addition.

One tip, if you've opened up Algonquin, right around the corner from Roman's safehouse is a Ferrari (whatever the are called) dealership. You can walk in, if it's between 8-6. I went there at 7:15, and they were closed. I had to shoot the windows to get a car.

I found a Burghetti (spelling) clone. f*** that was a sweet car. I've only found it once in the game. There have been some other sweet rides but I never stole them.

Right now my favorite car to drive is the Cadillac clone. It might be a Bentley clone but I don't think it is.

[Spooky]

Is there a way to save cars in this game, like a garage?

[Teal]

Is there a way to save cars in this game, like a garage?

If you park your car in the yellow zone at wherever your living quarters are, it will be there when you load up. As far as I've gotten, there's not a garage yet, but the zone is supposed to act as a garage. You can fit two vehicles in it, as well...

[Gurantsu]

The brink through the window thing drove me nuts. First I tried to throw it through the glass door, which must be made of a space age polymer because that baby would not brake. Eventually the brick I threw ended up on the floor inside the store, with me outside and no broken glass. Once I figured out to break the window not the door all was well in the world again. Well, except for the shop owner...

[Spooky]

Is there a way to save cars in this game, like a garage?

If you park your car in the yellow zone at wherever your living quarters are, it will be there when you load up. As far as I've gotten, there's not a garage yet, but the zone is supposed to act as a garage. You can fit two vehicles in it, as well...

Thanks Teal. Not sure I've ever noticed a yellow zone but I'll look for it.

[JRod]

Wanted to respond to Fanatic's post in another thread (Okami).

This is a violent game but I think Rockstar finally learned how to pull it off. Nike the main character is your hollywood "good" villain. You know the one in westerns that robs, kills, chases women, but at the end of the movie he's doing something good.

Niko doensn't drink, do coke, murder good people or rape. Where I have some issues is the senseless way he takes down cops in some missions. I'm sure our law enforcement people don't like that and neither do I. But I can differentiate between video game and not going around killing cops.

There are some missions where you have a choice and one I remember you can kill someone who cheater on another main character. That's your choice. So Rockstar has moved the choice of video game killer from their responsibility to yours in a way.

I thought past GTA were violent just for the sake of being violent. That's why people bought them. Now since GTA is a brand name, they had to offer something other than shock value in their game due to the recent lawsuits and because of sales.

It's much more humorous this time around; and much more good villain.

[webdanzer]

The scripted nature of some of the missions is starting to grate on me a bit. Part of the appeal of these open-world sandbox games is the freedom they supposedly allow, but in this game more than others in the series, (IIRC) you just aren't allowed to catch or kill someone until the game gets to show you things like the kewl trucks spilling their payloads during a chase or until you are in the part of the city where the game wants the shootout to take place.

Sure, set the beginning scene so it makes it difficult for the player to catch or kill the villain before these parts, but do it fairly. Don't have me pumping dozens of rounds into a guys head during a chase without having him die yet because 'it's not yet time.'

[MACTEPsporta]

[quote="JRod"]
Niko doensn't drink...quote/]

Really?

[fanatic]

Wanted to respond to Fanatic's post in another thread (Okami).

This is a violent game but I think Rockstar finally learned how to pull it off. Nike the main character is your hollywood "good" villain. You know the one in westerns that robs, kills, chases women, but at the end of the movie he's doing something good.

Niko doensn't drink, do coke, murder good people or rape. Where I have some issues is the senseless way he takes down cops in some missions. I'm sure our law enforcement people don't like that and neither do I. But I can differentiate between video game and not going around killing cops.

There are some missions where you have a choice and one I remember you can kill someone who cheater on another main character. That's your choice. So Rockstar has moved the choice of video game killer from their responsibility to yours in a way.

I thought past GTA were violent just for the sake of being violent. That's why people bought them. Now since GTA is a brand name, they had to offer something other than shock value in their game due to the recent lawsuits and because of sales.

It's much more humorous this time around; and much more good villain.

Thanks Jrod...I like the idea of feeling like I'm part of a Hollywood blockbuster rather than some violence simulator. Ok, forget the rental, I'll just buy it.

[sportdan30]

Niko doensn't drink...quote/]

Really?

Yeah, what are you talking about? Niko drives drunk, which I'm surprised hasn't created more of an uproar from the critics.

[Spooky]

Niko doensn't drink...quote/]

Really?

Yeah, what are you talking about? Niko drives drunk, which I'm surprised hasn't created more of an uproar from the critics.

I think what JRod is referring to is that none of the missions or cut scenes really have Niko doing anything 'bad' just for the sake of being 'bad' or shock value. I have noticed this multiple times, especailly when I decide to go on a complete crazy rampage outside of a mission and I seriously feel like it is out of character for Niko.

Niko is like a Tony Soprano. Sure he kills and does 'bad' stuff, but you get an understanding of why (doens't make it right of course) and it's much less gratuitous.

[RobVarak]

Niko doensn't drink, do coke, murder good people or rape.

No, but he is Serbian. I try to keep my kids away from that kind of influence.

[JRod]

Yeah, what are you talking about? Niko drives drunk, which I'm surprised hasn't created more of an uproar from the critics.

I think what JRod is referring to is that none of the missions or cut scenes really have Niko doing anything 'bad' just for the sake of being 'bad' or shock value. I have noticed this multiple times, especailly when I decide to go on a complete crazy rampage outside of a mission and I seriously feel like it is out of character for Niko.

Niko is like a Tony Soprano. Sure he kills and does 'bad' stuff, but you get an understanding of why (doens't make it right of course) and it's much less gratuitous.

Ya I meant in cutscenes.

[JRod]

The scripted nature of some of the missions is starting to grate on me a bit. Part of the appeal of these open-world sandbox games is the freedom they supposedly allow, but in this game more than others in the series, (IIRC) you just aren't allowed to catch or kill someone until the game gets to show you things like the kewl trucks spilling their payloads during a chase or until you are in the part of the city where the game wants the shootout to take place.

Sure, set the beginning scene so it makes it difficult for the player to catch or kill the villain before these parts, but do it fairly. Don't have me pumping dozens of rounds into a guys head during a chase without having him die yet because 'it's not yet time.'

True, in one bike sequence, I shot out the back tire and the guy rode around the city on a rim.

I would argue though, I've noticed that if they let you kill them right away missions wouldn't last but 10 seconds. You fire three shots and they are dead. Better design here is needed to not hamstring the player until you get to a certain point.

[XXXIV]

Hey Niko! My cousin!

People at work just wonder wtf is he talking about....

ii-deee-its...

[dbdynsty25]

Interesting info about what is in the multi player games that you may not know about:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs. ... ultiplayer