GTA IV DLC: First Impressions

I downloaded The Lost and the Damned GTA IV DLC today. It clocks in at 1.78 GB but only took about 45 minutes to download. It costs 1600 Microsoft Points($20). I've only played a few missions(I'm apparently 8.6% done), but I thought I'd give my initial impressions.

First off, maybe there should be a little onscreen tutorial or hints as to how to play because I have apparently forgotten how to control my character in GTA IV. I died a few times in the first gunfight because I had to relearn how to do things in the game.

Secondly, my character seems extremely slow. Even when I hold down the run button. Was Nico this slow? He didn't seem to be, but maybe Saint's Row 2 spoiled me.

I also seem to have a problem being in a gang. My problem being that all the bikers look the same to me so when I'm in gang warfare, I sometimes shoot my own guys or I don't shoot the enemy because I think they're in my gang. I'm a lone wolf, baby! I can't handle this gang life! (And when I spend time looking for the red carrots above enemies I tend to get shot a lot more.)

The bikes seem to control better in the DLC than the game so my character isn't flying off every two seconds. You can still get thrown pretty far, but I think the handling for bikes has improved.

So far, it does have a pretty good GTA IV feel to it. The areas are the same. I have contacts. I have a base of operation. When I sleep, it saves my game and advances the timeline six hours. I can watch TV or surf the web.

I think I'll like it when I play more, but the beginning definitely didn't suck me in.

GTA IV DLC Release Date Confirmed

Microsoft has confirmed the rumors that the new DLC "The Lost and Damned" for Grand Theft Auto IV will be available on the Xbox Live marketplace beginning February 17th.

This addition will allow players to play the character of Johnny Klebitz, a member of the motorcycle gang The Lost. It will also introduce new multiplayer modes, vehicles, weapons and music.

No official word yet on the price for this DLC, but I wouldn't expect it to be cheap.

The DLC will be exclusive(at least for a time) to the Xbox 360. DLC is expected for the PS3 in the future, but it may not be the same. Microsoft paid to get the first DLC for GTA IV.

Rumor: GTA IV DLC

The current rumor on the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content is that it will be released on Xbox Live in October or November and cost 1600 Microsoft Points($20).

What exactly the DLC will entail has never actually been confirmed, but most believe it will be very big like an expansion.

The rumored release time seems about right to me because that's when Saint's Row 2 will be coming out, and everyone knows there's no love lost between the games.

GTA IV DLC Delayed

Take Two has announced that downloadable content for Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360 will be delayed from 4th quarter fiscal 2008 to 1st quarter fiscal 2009. What does that look like in real people time? Probably somewhere from November 2008 - January 2009.

No word on DLC for any other systems or what the DLC will actually be.

"Niko" Cries About Unfair Pay

Michael Hollick, the actor who voiced Niko Bellic in GTA IV and did some motion capture work for the game, is upset that he is not getting royalties and residuals from the top-selling game. He "only" got paid $100,000 for about 15 months of work.

He's not mad at Rockstar or Take Two in specific but feels like the industry itself needs to change. The problem is that the Screen Actor's Guild doesn't really deal with residuals and royalties for video games. It's a gray area for them. There probably will be changes to this in the future, but for now, video game companies only have to pay for work rendered. Whether the game does well or not, the actors are paid the same.

Now, Hollick was paid about 50% more than the standard daily fee. And honestly, he did a great job. But he's not the reason people play the game. They could have found someone else to read the lines and it would most likely be the same. After all, you never heard the voiceover guy for the main character in Saint's Row complain. (<-joke) I believe this is the reason that video games are such a gray area for SAG. The game drives consumers, not who the star is.

Meanwhile, Jason Zumwalt, the guy who voiced Roman, has his own little parody about not getting paid on YouTube.

GTA IV First Impressions

So I picked up GTA IV after work today and played it for about 7 hours. Overall, I am enjoying it and will waste a lot of time on it. Here are some of the problems I've had though...

Every once in a while it freezes. Usually on a loading screen. If the letters are still flashing, it's not actually locked. Sometimes it just takes a LONG time to load. However, if the letters aren't flashing, it's locked.

Sometimes Niko loses his hat. I believe it's when he gets into a car. Sometimes the hat returns. Other times you have to go home and put the hat back on. I paid $8 for that hat! I want to wear it!

Tried to play one game of deathmatch and the loading screen after the host started was up for so long I gave up.

I also spent a couple hours with Charlie in party play free roam. Now, hopefully this is not the "co-op" of the game. It's just running around with a bunch of free weapons and vehicles. While we enjoyed ourselves, it won't have lasting entertainment value.

I actually don't think the co-op is working right now. I couldn't find an option for it on my cell phone(how you access multiplayer). The manual says to consult Rockstar's website about multiplayer. And their website under co-op says "Coming Soon."

GTAV IV DLC Revealed

Microsoft has finally revealed what they paid Rockstar all that money for in GTA IV. Apparently, the downloadable content that will be available for Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360 only is the size and scope of Vice City or San Andreas.

I think this makes the 360 version the clear winner. If the DLC really is equal to a whole other game, that's pretty impressive.

I know that even without the DLC, I'm looking forward to GTA IV's release on April 29th.

Edit: This story turns out not to be confirmed by Microsoft. It is based off of the musings of a blogger at the GDC who made it appear as if this was fact when it was just his speculation.

XYBA Podcast Ep 18

Andy, Jeff, and Josh come together for the 18th episode of the XYBA Podcast. We are trying a new format where we keep our podcast a little shorter. Let us know what you think. Be sure to leave us a review on iTunes and check out a machinima we are working on. Enjoy.

00:00 - Introductions
00:33 - Games We're Playing :|: Half-Life 2, Stuntman: Ignition, and Ghost Squad
13:36 - Gaming News :|: GTAIV in April, Little Big Planet in beta, Orange Box games for PC, EA announces Rockband for Wii, and some other gaming news
37:06 - Roundtable :|: The Child-Man debate
48:25 - Games We're Looking Forward to :|: Ninja Gaiden DS, GTA IV, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, Army of Two, Star Wars: Force Unleashed, Fable 2, and Culdcept Saga
53:24 - Rant :|: Games with flashlights suck

Download XYBA Podcast Ep 18

GTA IV Coming in April

Rockstar Propaganda has sent out emails and press releases that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released April 29th, 2008.

Want to Be in GTA IV?

The first radio station has been announced for GTA IV: WKTT Radio, which stands for We Know The Truth. And developers are giving the fans a chance for their voices to be heard... literally.

In what can best be described as a contest, developers are letting anyone call in and voice their opinion on what "is wrong with Liberty City, America, Liberals or your health."

The number is (212)360-2368, but I suggest going to the website to get all the details. And you'll probably want to read the terms and conditions as well. I scanned through the terms and conditions quickly and mostly they state that Rockstar can do whatever they want with your voice recording and you won't be compensated.

The developers will pick their favorite calls and include them in the game. So there's your chance to be an angry caller on a GTA talk radio station. Bring out the funny, people!

GTA IV Trailer 2 is Out

GTA IV has released their second trailer: Looking for That Someone Special. This trailer has a LOT more to get excited about. There's a lot more action and dialogue. The graphics are very nice, and it looks awesome.

But one thing bothers me. Niko Bellic's facial hair.


At some angles, it looks fine, but then at others it looks like there's too much space between the facial hair and his mouth. Is he shaving around his mouth? Usually it just seemed distracting to me when he was doing a lot of movement.

Halo 3 Sets Trend - GTA IV Follows

In what may be a disturbing trend, GTA IV has announced what will be included in its Limited Edition. The Limited Edition will include GTA IV (with special boxart), The Art of Grand Theft Auto: IV book, The Music of Grand Theft Auto: IV CD, a Rockstar duffel bag, a Rockstar keychain and all of this will be contained in a Grand Theft Auto IV safety deposit box(with key).

Now, that's not the disturbing trend. In fact, I think that stuff is cool. The disturbing trend is the price. GTA IV Limited Edition will cost $90. Now, this is not the ungodly price of $130 like Halo 3's Legendary Edition (which I still refuse to buy), but it is still higher than the normal $10 more for a limited edition. Sadly, I will shell out the extra $30 for this edition. Damn you, cool merchandising!

And in a related note, GTA IV's next trailer comes out June 28th.

XYBA Podcast 07

So we are up to our 7th episode now. I got a mixer and we have 4 mics, but the audio still sucks. I think I got phased out because my audio is really low for having my own mic. We recorded it at Chuck's place. Here's the breakdown.

00:00 - Intros with Josh, Andy, Eric, Charlie, and Grant
00:42 - Games that we're playing: Princess Peach on DS, Halo 2, LOTR online, GoW, Paper Mario, Guitar Hero II, Hotel Dusk, America's Army, and Farcry
04:17 - News which is mainly 360 news
27:47 - Roundtable about fanboys
44:00 - Slamming controllers
44:40 - PS3 Home Beta Invites: Chuck didn't get in
46:10 - Games We're Looking Forward To
53:15 - Counter Strike
54:20 - No Rants
55:00 - Gaming Magazines and their contribution to gamers
59:25 - Shout Outs and Satan makes an appearance
1:01:00 - Outro



Download XYBA Podcast Ep07

Why the 360 Needs a Required Harddrive

Rockstar Veep Dan Houser told the Official Playstation Mag that the Xbox 360s without harddrives is creating limitians and challenges for GTAIV. Thank god a developer is saying this. I don't know how many times Chuck and I have had this conversation at lunch that Xbox made a big mistake by offering a sku that didn't come with a harddrive.

Will Rockstar dumb down GTAIV to make it easier for consumers who don't want to buy the harddrive? Only if they want to see a shelf full of GTAIV at local stores.

GTA IV dated

GTA IV is scheduled to be released for the Xbox 360 and PS3 on October 16th.

And supposedly exclusive episodic downloadable content for GTA IV will be released for the Xbox 360 in 2008. Of course, rumors also exist that the PS3 will get entirely different exclusive downloadable content for GTA IV...

Hopefully with all the great sandbox games lately, GTA IV will step it up even more.