Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV (also known as GTA IV and GTA 4) will be the ninth game, and the first in the fourth generation of the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise. It will be released worldwide on Tuesday, 29 April 2008 for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is set in a redesigned Liberty City, based heavily on New York City and New Jersey. The game runs on the RAGE game engine, which also powered Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis. The game is being written by Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser.
Development
According to Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey, a financial consultant for Take-Two Interactive Software, around 150 game developers are working on Grand Theft Auto IV. He also remarked that Rockstar Games is “fully capable of ushering in an entertainment experience categorically superior to the prior cycle’s GTA product”.Rockstar Games initially appeared to be committed to the 16 October 2007 release date. However, Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter suggested that Take-Two may choose to delay the release of the game in order to boost its financial results for 2008 and to avoid competing with the release of another highly anticipated title, Halo 3. Rockstar responded by saying that Grand Theft Auto IV was still on track for release in “late October”.

On 2 August 2007, Take-Two announced that Grand Theft Auto IV would miss its original release date of 16 October 2007 contrary to their previous statements, and would be delayed to their second fiscal quarter (February - April) of 2008. Their stated reason for the date change was “due to additional development time required to complete the title.” In a later conference call with investors, Take-Two’s Strauss Zelnick attributed the delay to “almost strictly technological problems… not problems, but challenges.” It was revealed that the major cause of the delay was that the PlayStation 3 version of the game was behind.

On 24 January 2008, Take-Two announced that Grand Theft Auto IV would be released on 29 April 2008.

Promotion

Trailer 1: “Things Will Be Different”
 
An early screenshot of the game’s main protagonist, Niko Bellic, in the first trailer.The first trailer was released on 29 March 2007 at 22:00 UTC. At the time the trailer was released, Rockstar’s servers for the trailer’s official website became almost immediately overloaded.

The trailer is 1:03 in length and features the main protagonist Niko Bellic, who has a brief monologue: “Life is complicated; I killed people, smuggled people, sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different.”

The trailer features several spoof New York City landmarks. The trailer uses a similar cinematic style to Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 documentary film Koyaanisqatsi and used Philip Glass’s original music from the film (the opening and closing stanzas of the track “Pruit-Igoe”) as well as emulated time-lapsed filming from “The Grid”.

Rockstar has stated that all the trailer’s footage is in high-definition 720p, generated real-time by the game’s RAGE engine, running on “a next-gen gaming console”. Microsoft stated this console was an Xbox 360.
Trailer 2: “Looking For That Special Someone”
 
A screenshot demonstrating the new damage physics in the second trailer.The second trailer was released on 28 June 2007 at 17:00 UTC. The trailer is 1:06 in length and begins with an aerial shot of Liberty City before showing Niko in conversation who replies “We’re all looking for that special someone”. The trailer shows Niko holding on to the backs of vehicles and the skid of a helicopter, displays new gun and explosion effects and demonstrates the increased force of the police. Roman is also partially revealed in the second trailer. El Burro and 8-Ball make cameos as their game art is depicted as graffiti on a building opposite the Bank of Liberty, Vice City motorcycle artwork is also apparent on the wall. Other recurring elements from the GTA series appear in the trailer as well; examples include Binco, Sprunk, 24-Seven, Burger Shot and Cluckin’ Bell. The song played in the second trailer is “Arm In Arm (Shy Child Remix)” by a New York-based band, The Boggs.
Trailer 3: “Move Up, Ladies”
The third trailer was released on December 6, 2007 at 21:00 UTC. The trailer is 2:03 in length and begins with Niko arriving in Liberty City, being greeted by Roman, his cousin. Roman insists that they will soon get a mansion, but need to work their way “to the top” first. Niko is seen entering clubs and bars, where he is welcomed by a man who says “Move Up, Ladies”. In a later scene, he is asked “So, where are you taking me?” by one woman, and kissed on the cheek by another. Niko begins looking for Roman, who is hiding from gangsters; various combat scenes are shown before Niko and Roman are attacked, captured and interrogated. At the end of the trailer, Niko is threatened by gangsters and is forced to join their gang. The song played in the third trailer is “King Ring” (Король Ринга) by Russian rap artist Seryoga.
Box art unveiling
On November 28, 2007 a video was released, labelled “Official Box Art Unveiling”, on the official GTA IV website. The video shows several artists painting the cover art on a wall at a secluded warehouse location.
WKTT Talk Radio
On 13 July 2007, a Liberty City radio station dubbed “WKTT Talk Radio - We know the truth” was launched. The teaser site mentions that people can do their part for the War on Terror by calling in and ranting. The phone number listed can be called allowing the caller to leave a voice mail message of their thoughts on what is wrong with their health, the world, America, or themselves personally. Callers are asked to first read the Terms and Conditions before calling which allow Rockstar to use the voice mail message in GTA IV.
Wanted posters
In parts of Belgium, wanted posters depicting Niko Bellic and Little Jacob appeared. The posters list specific details of each character, such as the characters’ height, weight, and age. Niko is wanted for questioning in an investigation of a grand theft auto incident and Little Jacob for robbery and firearms possession. Other information revealed within the posters were the names of two streets in the game, Lorimar Street and Wordite Street; a possible way of car-jacking within the game via assaulting the driver with a baseball bat and a possible, unofficially released character within the game, “Detective Moeller”. Rockstar Games has indicated that these promotion posters were accidentally released and therefore unofficial. These posters were later sent to numerous GTA fansites as parts of exclusive press kits referred to as ‘Hidden Packages’.
Official website
On February 8, 2008 Rockstar Games launched the official Grand Theft Auto IV website with previously unseen content from the game.

The main content is split into three sections: People and Places, Recreation and Entertainment, and Goods and Services. The new website features five new teaser trailers and several images of in-game characters and locations, as well as a basic outline of the map of Liberty City. There are several advertisements for in-game products and services including a dating site, a mobile phone company, and the return of the drink, Sprunk, which was also featured in the previous game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Within these in-game advertisements are downloads for wallpapers, buddy icons, and MySpace layouts. There is also a mini-game and a personality quiz.

As of February 19, 2008, two sections of the website, “multiplayer” and “music”, are currently unavailable with the message “coming soon”.
Teasers
On February 8, 2008 Rockstar Games released five teaser trailers for Grand Theft Auto IV.

Vlad Glebov: The first teaser shows the character Vladimir Glebov. It is 0:26 in length.
Manny Escuela: The second teaser is about character Manny Escuela. It is 0:31 in length.
Roman Bellic: The third teaser is about character Roman Bellic. It is 0:33 in length.
Whiz Wireless: The fourth teaser is about wireless communication Whiz. It is 0:33 in length.
SteinWay Beer Garden:The fifth teaser is about a bar Steinway Beer Garden. It is 0:47 in length.

Synopsis

Gameplay
Titles in the GTA series have traditionally been heavily mission based (fixed missions must be completed to progress through each game), but the freedom to explore and play outside of the set missions in GTA IV will now be more relevant to progress through the game, according to comments by a Rockstar spokesperson: “We’re really trying to blur the line between on-[mission] and off-mission. So storyline, and what you do outside [it], and how those two things influence each other.”

An Xbox 360 preview of Grand Theft Auto IV published in the May 2007 issue of Game Informer reveals that the storyline begins with Bellic standing inside the taxi depot (which Roman operates in the borough of Broker in a converted industrial garage), working at a cluttered desk in a shabby environment. Bellic walks to a brownstone house in Broker, where he pushes open the door and pulls out his pistol—the living room, however, is not occupied.

He pushes his way through the back door and smashes the window of a red four-door car using his elbow. The broken glass falls onto the street and the seat of the car, as Bellic unlocks it from the inside. He hot-wires the car and sets off to his next destination. The camera angle behind the car is closer to the vehicle than in previous GTA titles, which enables more detail on the car to be seen. After selecting a radio station, Bellic navigates to a section of the BOABO arriving at a dockside. Pigeons and waves can be heard in the distance.

Bellic then pulls out his phone, which has options for phone book, messages, organiser and camera on its LCD screen. He selects phone book, and he is then presented with another set of options: City Contact, Docks Friend, and Cab Contact. After a brief conversation, he informs the receiver to meet him at the docks.

There is a mission previewed called “To Live and Die in Alderney”, which is the second part of “Truck Hustle”. The second mission is called “Jamaican Heat”, and acts as a tutorial for the new cover/targeting system. The third mission is called “Jacob’s Ladder”, and the fourth (and final) mission is called “Harbouring a Grudge”. This mission introduces an Irish character called Patrick McReary, who is related to Francis.
Locations and setting
 
Niko outside Roman’s taxi depot in Broker.Main article: Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto)
Grand Theft Auto IV takes place in a redesigned Liberty City consisting of five boroughs; four of the boroughs of New York City and New Jersey. Broker is the equivalent of Brooklyn, Queens is Dukes, the Bronx is Bohan, Manhattan is Algonquin, and New Jersey is Alderney (after the Channel Island of the same name). A Staten Island-esque area will not be featured in the game for the reason that Rockstar Games believes it would not be fun to play there. Dan Houser states that there would not be any “dead spots” or “irrelevant space” within Liberty City such as the wide open deserts in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

The total area of the map is smaller than Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, but the new rendition of Liberty City will be far more detailed and is the largest individual city in the Grand Theft Auto series. According to the Official PlayStation 2 Magazine (UK edition), “to get from one side of the new and improved Liberty City to the other will take you at least an hour.” Rockstar Games has stated that it is the biggest single city in a Grand Theft Auto game yet, and although smaller than “San Andreas”, it is comparable to it in terms of scope when “the level of verticality of the city, the number of buildings you can go into, and the level of detail in those buildings” are taken into account. Furthermore, developers are still deciding whether bridges will be used to cordon off certain areas, by way of blocking access to cross them. Eventually, the player will be able to lead Niko to cross the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges and explore.

Screenshots reveal that the Brighton Beach area is renamed as “Hove Beach” from Brighton and Hove, the English city from which the area gets its name; Coney Island is renamed as “Carney Island”; Central Park is renamed “Middle Park”. The “Statue of Happiness” is the game’s equivalent of the Statue of Liberty; “Star Junction” is Times Square; “BOABO” (Beneath the Offramp of the Algonquin Bridge Overpass) is DUMBO; the “Thornton Building” is the Flatiron Building; and “Twitchins” is Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar Factory; the “GetaLife” building is the MetLife Building; the “Booth Tunnel” is the Lincoln Tunnel. Other structures include the Coney Island Cyclone, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building.
Characters
Main article: List of characters in Grand Theft Auto IV

Plot
Nikolai “Niko” Bellic is Eastern European, between 28 and 32 years of age and has come to Liberty City to pursue the “American Dream”. Niko was persuaded to move to Liberty City by his cousin Roman, who claimed in multiple e-mails to Niko that he was living a fabulous life, with a mansion, two women, four hot tubs and fifteen sports cars; but he was in fact telling lies to hide his own failures, and in fact, has set up a small taxi business, for which he has plans of a job for Niko.

Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City to begin with, and is one of his major connections in the first part of the game. Niko is a tough character, whereas Roman is friendly. Roman is heavily in debt and a lot of people are after him. He desperately needs Niko’s support, hence the reason he deceived Niko into travelling to Liberty City. They are constantly bickering. It is later revealed that Niko has also been avoiding other, as yet undisclosed, problems at home.

According to Dan Houser, “virtually none of the characters from the previous games are returning, as a lot of them are dead anyway.”
Differences from previous Grand Theft Auto games

After the initial load sequence, there are no loading occurrences when entering/exiting buildings or crossing islands. The extent of the no-load-time expectation in the game has also been commented on; a Rockstar spokesperson claimed, “you can basically play the game from beginning to end without a single load screen.”
Thanks to the new engine, the graphics have been greatly improved in terms of the characters. There are less straight edges on characters and motions seem much more fluid. Rockstar aficionados noted that the game lacked the character’s signature hand design, which many of them described as the “deformed lobster claw”. This was welcomed by many game critics, who claimed that the Grand Theft Auto series did not graphically evolve as much as other titles had with each subsequent release.
Details demonstrated how variations in the terrain cause the way the character walks to change. The way the player moves is controlled by a physics engine instead of pre-written animations, therefore enabling character movements to be more realistic. Rockstar Games announced that Euphoria by NaturalMotion would be used in future Rockstar titles, confirming that Euphoria would indeed be used in the game.
The faster the player taps “X” (Playstation 3) or “A” (Xbox 360), the faster Niko runs. He does not appear to become exhausted.
Stealing a parked car can no longer be done simply by opening the door and driving off. Now, it involves Niko approaching the car, breaking the glass, and hotwiring it; only then can he use it. The way Niko enters the car would look different each time depending on where and how he is in relation to the car. There will be several animation variations to sneaking up to a car and breaking its window. Because of the Euphoria engine, the way the character will approach the car will be completely random. Players will be able to choose from four different camera views while in a car, including a dashboard view. All cars feature a standard GPS device while more expensive vehicles have voice-navigation GPS. Car damage physics have been greatly improved.[citation needed] When major collisions on motorbikes occur, the player’s helmet is likely to fall off. Niko can lose health if he crashes. Vehicles will not explode if they are flipped over.
Police artificial intelligence and star wanted levels now operate differently. When the police are in search of Niko, the player will now have to avoid a certain radius marked on the map in which the police will be looking for him. The size of this radius will increase with the player’s wanted level (the more stars, the bigger the radius) and re-centres itself on Niko’s location if he is spotted by the police. Instead of utilizing the “Pay N’ Spray” as in previous games, Niko has to realistically disguise himself by clandestinely changing vehicles in empty areas such as parking garages, a feature seen in the video game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. Additionally, pedestrians can now report crimes such as car-jacking.
Pedestrians are much more intelligent, realistic, and diverse, using mobile phones, cash machines, eating snacks, drinking soda, reading newspapers, scratching their noses, coughing, smoking, and interacting with each other through laughter and remarks. Homeless people will be seen in alleys rubbing their hands over a flaming barrel, sitting against walls, asking for spare change, and other expected actions.[citation needed] The flow of pedestrians and traffic will be different depending on the time of day.
The gunfight system has been reworked to feel natural by utilising a cover system similar to that of Gears of War and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, the reason being that the combat system in previous games seemed awkward and cumbersome. The player can slide to cover, blind fire, and free aim. When locked on, the target’s health is indicated by eight purple segments on the target circle. Niko’s health is represented by a green semi-circle on the left side of the radar, and a right semi-circle represents armour. You can restore health by resting, by using medical kits, and by eating.
Heavy fire will scar - and permanently destroy - parts of the environment.[citation needed]
The player will not be able to fly any fixed-wing aircraft, unlike in some previous instalments of the Grand Theft Auto series. However, helicopters will be flyable. Francis International Airport (from Grand Theft Auto III) is confirmed to be in the game. The player will also be able to control boats.
The player has the option of hailing a cab in order to travel to any address in the city. When riding in the cab, the player has the option of viewing the journey from the inside, or skipping it to arrive at the destination immediately.[citation needed] The player will be able to ask the driver to change the radio station by pressing D-pad left or right.
Niko will be able to perform a variety of new actions such as climbing telephone poles and fire escapes, pushing people who bump into him, calling women for dates, playing pool, darts, bowling, eating, and drinking. Niko may become intoxicated by which the character stumbles and the blurry camera bounces about.
It is possible to have multiple active missions, due to the fact that some missions will run over the course of several days and will require the player to wait for further instructions, etc. 
The use of mobile phone has been expanded to perform multiple actions. When selecting the mobile phone, a zoomed-in version of the phone pops up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and a list of several commands are made available to the player, such as “meet me here,” etc. Retrying a failed mission can be performed by accessing the menu. The phone can be used outside of vehicles to listen to the radio. The player can take photos with the mobile phone and upload them to the police computer. Niko can dial 911 and trick the police to send a dispatch. He can also contact the paramedics and the fire station.
Niko will make use of the Internet as a means of communication. Although the exact details of the role of the Internet in the game are being kept secret, it has been revealed in a GamesTM Magazine article that Niko can access the internet from various cyber cafes (one of which is called “TW@”) in order to upload a resume for prospective employers. According to Dan Houser, there are over 100 accessible, fictitious web-sites within the game.
Niko’s outfit can be changed throughout the game. However, it will not be possible to customise his physique or hairstyle as in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
It has been revealed that every street in the game will have a name for the reason that some missions will require the player to go to a specific address.
There is now an autosave that activates after completing a mission.
A day in Liberty City is forty-eight minutes long, instead of twenty-four as in previous Grand Theft Auto titles (one game hour lasts two minutes in real time).
Some meetings in the game will take place high in the buildings of skyscrapers, which will subsequently allow Niko to throw people off the buildings. However, Niko will be unable to access all the buildings in the game.

Multiplayer
Multiplayer will be a feature of GTA IV but will not be an MMO, as noted by Dan Houser. It will be accessible from Niko’s mobile phone and is aiming for up to 16 players, with a possibility of open-ended gameplay and exploring the whole city.
Episodic content
During Microsoft’s 2006 E3 press conference on 9 May, it was announced that Grand Theft Auto IV would be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Rockstar Games will offer exclusive episodic content via Xbox Live for the Xbox 360 version. This had been confirmed by Rockstar, announcing two extra, exclusive, episodes. On 28 February 2007 it was announced that exclusive episodic content will be introduced starting in 2008.

Peter Moore, the then head of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business division announced that Rockstar Games is working on two GTA IV downloadable packs exclusively for the Xbox 360, which will be released after the full game. Moore described downloadable content as “epic episode packs”, and not just extra cars or characters. A press release during the conference said that the packs would add “hours of entirely new gameplay” to the game. The official Xbox website states that these episodes will last a minimum of 10 hours. Details on the pricing of these downloads have not yet been revealed, though it would almost certainly not be released for free, as Take-Two Interactive’s former CEO, Paul Eibeler, have said numerous times that these downloads would provide “additional revenue streams” to the company.

As part of a conference call following the release of Take-Two Interactive’s Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 financial results, the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Lainie Goldstein revealed that Microsoft was paying a total of US$50 Million for exclusivity of this content split equally between the two packs. The payments can be found referenced in the company’s Second Quarter Fiscal 2007 financial results as “Deferred revenue”.

Jeronimo Barrera, Vice President of Product Development for Rockstar Games, has said that they “are calling the downloadable content episodes” and added that they are experimental because they are not sure that there are enough users with access to online content on the Xbox 360.

Soundtrack
Main article: Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack
Philip Glass, the composer of the music used in the original trailer, is rumoured to be involved in the production of GTA IV’s soundtrack[citation needed]. The soundtrack was described as “modern and suits the mood perfectly”[citation needed]. Glass’s “Pruit-Igoe” theme from Koyaanisqatsi was used for the teaser trailer.Dan Houser has said that Rockstar is “certainly evolving the way the radio works”. According to Official Xbox Magazine, one of the radio stations includes an “Eastern European-sounding” dancing theme. Other music announced as a placeholder for the press includes Russian and East Coast hip hop. The range of music in GTA IV will span different decades and genres, the first confirmed track shown to the media was “Sorrow Tears and Blood” by Fela Kuti.

Various media outlets have reported on the quality of GTA IV’s advanced sound engine. One describes the realism of the traffic noise on the streets, noting the “varying volume and intensity of car horns and the constant hum of traffic”, as well as “the frequent deafening rattle of trains hurtling through the subway.” As part of GTA IV’s new physics, the player will be able to hear and feel the bass of vehicles passing by with their radio turned on.

There will be eighteen radio stations in the game[citation needed].
Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition
 
GTA IV: Special Edition contents.Grand Theft Auto IV: Special Edition was announced on 21 May 2007 for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. It will contain the following:

A customised metal safe deposit box.
A Rockstar keychain for the safe deposit box keys.
A limited edition Rockstar duffel bag.
Production artwork in the Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book.
Selected soundtrack CD from Grand Theft Auto IV, featuring new material from top artists, only available on this release.
A specially packaged version of the game for either PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
Pre-orders for the special edition were available from 21 May 2007.
Controversy

Jack Thompson
Florida lawyer Jack Thompson stated he would take various measures to prevent the sale of the game by Rockstar to minors. On 16 March 2007, Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, filed a lawsuit against Thompson in Florida in attempt to block him from trying to declare its games a public nuisance. It would be a crime to sell games declared to be a public nuisance, effectively banning such games, which they believe would be a violation of First Amendment rights. Thompson responded by filing a countersuit, accusing Take-Two of violating federal RICO statutes (the charge was later dropped), committing perjury, obstruction of justice, and conspiring against him with third parties to deprive him of his civil rights.

On 20 April 2007, both parties reached a settlement and agreed to drop their respective lawsuits. Under the terms of the settlement Thompson is barred from suing to block the sale or distribution of any future games published by Take-Two or any of its subsidiaries. He will be restricted to communicating through Take-Two’s attorneys on any future matters. Thompson will still be able to maintain his outspoken stance against the publisher’s titles, as well as still being allowed to act as counsel in lawsuits brought against Take-Two by other parties.

For their part, Take-Two agreed to drop its contempt of court lawsuit against Thompson regarding alleged improper conduct during the Bully court hearings in Florida, which, if found to be in contempt, would have resulted in Thompson seeing jail time.

On 18 September 2007, Jack Thompson filed a document with a federal court in Florida that claims that the assassination target of a mission in GTA IV is a lawyer character based upon himself. When the main protagonist enters his office and pulls a gun on him, the lawyer yells “Guns don’t kill people! Video games do!” Thompson has threatened that unless the similarities to himself are removed from the game he will “take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game”.
Mural ad for the game on a wall in New York City, July 2007.
New York City officials
After the release of the first trailer, New York City officials were appalled with the choice of their city as the inspiration for the setting of Grand Theft Auto IV, and said that a game like GTA does not represent the city’s crime levels accurately. A spokesperson for Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “The mayor does not support any video game where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers”. However, Jason Della Rocca, executive director of the International Game Developers Association, accused New York City officials of double standards, for criticising video games but not other forms of entertainment, such as books, films and television shows, which use New York City as the setting.