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Google Maps Can't Resist Liberty City [Gta Iv]

Thu, 01 May 2008 09:20:00 -0400

Liberty City's a big place. Huge place. Lots of roads, lots of places to see, lots of ways to get lost. Lucky, then, that your woeful Liberty City navigation skills can be bailed out just as easily as your real-world navigation skills, with Google Maps helping set up an interactive map of GTA IV. On it, users can post the exact location of stuff like restaurants, ATMs, easter eggs and strip clubs, should you ever feel up to driving around Liberty City while checking the laptop perched precariously on your lap.
Grand Theft Auto Big Map [Google Maps & IGN]

News: GTA IV: Most expensive game ever developed?

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:25:00 -0400

Producer estimates price tag of $100 million and notes criticism comes mostly from people who haven't played the game

Rockstar Makes A Grand Theft Auto IV Fan Of Jack Thompson [Gta Iv]

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:40:02 -0400

Looks like someone was hitting the local GameStop midnight launch in his best cabana wear, as that puffiness and scruffiness is clearly indicative that the self-promoting attorney was pulling an all-nighter. Jack sent the above pic into tips, I presume, to fanboy out with us. We don't know your Gamertag, Jack, but would love to Bomb Da Base with you. PM me!

News: Portal was offered to XBLA, but rejected

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:55:00 -0400

Multi award-winning title unsuitable for download platform due to size, and other reasons

Is Ubuntu usable enough for a non-tech-savvy girlfriend yet?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:30:01 -0400

The author asks his girlfriend to perform simple tasks using a fresh Ubuntu installation. It's surprising how some of the simple things we assume to be easy are actually hard for someone who's never used Linux. Interesting insight into how ready Linux is for the desktop.

Metareview -- Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, PS3)

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 09:45:00 -0400

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, Metareviews

Carjack a vehicle and call your favorite escort, it's time for the GTA IV reviews to start flowing in. The embargo on non "exclusive reviews" is over and media outlets are chiming in with initially glowing reviews. Here are some of the first we've seen, we'll add more after the break.

GameInformer (100/100): "There so much more to appreciate about this game. Its dynamic mission structuring, remarkable sound design, wealth of side content, amazing animation, the list goes on and on. Long story short, I never thought I would see this much content in a game. Grand Theft Auto IV doesn't just raise the bar for the storied franchise; it completely changes the landscape of gaming. Once you play it, you won't look at video games the same way again."
GameDaily (100/100): "Finally, the wait for a true GTA multiplayer experience was well worth it, and the online game modes (mostly variations on deathmatches, car races, car races and self-contained co-op missions) add a lot of value to an already jam-packed game. Multiplayer is not as integral part of the game as it was to, say, Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4, but the ability to play over the entire city map is brilliant. Online matches are accessed right from the game via the call phone, and we'll have a more in-depth take on the game's multiplayer offerings once the game is released and the servers are fully populated."
GameTrailers (98/100): "Grand Theft Auto IV is the sex, drugs, and rock and roll of video games. It's a little less brave and intimidating this time around, but it's also the most refined and polished game in the franchise's history. This kind of sheen is generally reserved for titles with a much smaller scope. It's been one of the marquis games in the industry for years and the addition of a killer multiplayer component puts it over the top. Few games manage to deliver on the hype, but this is one that does." (GT video review after break.)

Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV

Continue reading Metareview -- Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, PS3)

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File Sharing Site Offers 250GB Storage Free to Diggers

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:00:01 -0400

This story is geared towards Diggers and I just signed up for it and liked the interface, and the ability to make files either private or public and send someone a download link rather than emailing a big file. 250GB free online storage...wow.

Self-diagnosing Fanboyism [Fanboys]

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:00:00 -0400

Destructoid has a handy list, on the heels of TechRadar's "Signs you are no longer a hardcore gamer." Now, Kotaku is an open environment where fanboys are ~~very evidently~~ welcome. But fanboyism is, like terrible driving and owning yap dogs. In case of the former, no one admits to it. The latter, well, you're just a better owner of a more well behaved yap dog. Or some other bullshit.

Among the 10 signs:
• Any criticism of your chosen love is a result of bias
• Call everyone else a "fanboy" before they call you one
• Justify even the stupidest decisions/games

Well, I think we can all safely agree that none of these apply to any of us! And btw, I am toats not in the bag for Xbox 360, Rockstar sandboxers or any western-themed game.

Ten Golden Rules of Video Game Fanboyism [Destructoid]

Assassin's Creed, I Can't Quit You [Oh Come On Goddammit]

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:00:00 -0400

You know, I don't play Assassin's Creed, I don't own a PC, don't game on PCs, but every time I watch this video I feel a mixture of amusement, sympathy and outrage. Plus I love the jolly music. I imagine it as an accompaniment to some poor bastard stepping on rakes and skateboards cleaning out his garage. Or a Rube Goldberg contraption gone horribly wrong.

And Rube Goldberg describes this Mousetrap of a quit process to a T. The comments on the YouTube vid page helpfully point out he can Ctrl-Alt-F4 on this but, really, unless this is a sick joke, what goddamn imbecile speced out this process? Two load screens. 11 steps. A buck-thirty on the clock. "Loading?! No! I want to quit! Fine ..."

Assassin's Creed, I Can't Quit You [YouTube]

GTA IV multimedia updates

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:03:09 -0400

Gameplay videos and new screenshots have been popping up all over the internet this morning to go along with the online reviews:

IGN have addded 15 new screenshots to their GTA IV gallery.
In addition, IGN have also uploaded 13 new videos of miscellaneous gameplay action.
GamesRadar have added 18 gameplay videos to their gallery, featuring most of the multiplayer modes.
4 Gameplay videos over at GameTrailers.
10 new Gameplay videos added on GameSpy video gallery.
GameSpot have added 6 random gameplay videos.
G4TV have uploaded 9 gameplay videos to follow their exclusive live demo of GTA IV in action early this afternoon. If you aren't waiting out at your local gaming retailer tomorrow night, perhaps you'll want to tune into X-Play at 8:00pm for more GTA IV coverage featuring their video review, interviews, and general discussion on the series.
WikiCheats has put up their GTA IV walkthrough as well as pages for an incomplete cheats list, quick strategies, side missions, secrets, city maps, and more!

GTA IV technical Q&A

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:41:38 -0400

One of our members, PHiLCORE, has posted a very informative Q&A for GTA IV concerning technical limitations and features as well as some extra bits of information. Something that stood out was that if you're not liking the sound of the new control scheme from what you've heard so far, you can switch to the classic control scheme by pausing the game and scrolling to Controls and toggling Classic Mode on. Read the GTA IV Technical Q&A. Thanks, Phil!

GTA Talk

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:08:24 -0400

Several webmasters of Grand Theft Auto fan sites will be broadcasting live at 8:00 p.m. EST tonight, discussing our trip to New York City as well as several aspects of Grand Theft Auto IV. To listen in, click below

The Grand Theft Auto IV video dump

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:45:00 -0400

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Driving

With today's dissolution of the embargo on all things Grand Theft Auto IV, came a veritable deluge of reviews and media related to the game. By now, we've seen all the teasers released by Rockstar, and read the write-ups which were hidden behind the floodgates just a few hours ago. However, in this maelstrom of perfect scores and cinematic trailers, there hasn't been much in the way of actual gameplay footage -- until Gametrailers cracked open their secret stash, revealing a bevy of cutscenes, car chases, and call girls just aching to be viewed by the impatient crime drama enthusiast. We've got some highlights after the jump; those purposefully trying to remain in the dark would be well advised to steer clear. You've been warned!

(You probably don't need us to tell you that some videos are NSFW.)

Continue reading The Grand Theft Auto IV video dump

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Reminder: Mario Kart Wii has voice chat, it's called XBL, PSN, Skype, etc.

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:30:00 -0400

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving

We thought it'd be best to reprint our advice from the Super Smash Bros. Brawl release: if you want to chat up your friends while doing laps in Mario Kart Wii, here are five options we found -- harnessing the power of other consoles or a com-pu-ter -- for chatting up your friends. (Looking for a place to share your Kart friend codes? We'll set up a über-list post closer to tonight's US release.)

Xbox Live: Or as we've come to know it -- Kart LIVE(R). Just set up private chat and off you go. Got more than one friend? Go into a Halo 3 lobby (you do have Halo 3, right?).
PSN: Start up a new chat under the "friends" section of the XMB. Invite all the friends you want and wait for them to join. Works and sounds exceptional! USB and Bluetooth compatible.
Skype: Set up a conference call.
TeamSpeak or Ventrilo: Guilds, clans and other computer types know these services. Perfect for guildies brawling together.
Nintendo DS: Use Metroid Prime Hunters or Pokémon Diamond or Pearl. Warning: More inane codes required to pull this option off. There are also homebrew options.

Of course, if none of these options are viable, might we suggest using a classic: The phone.

Need a Kart fix? Check out all our coverage of Mario Kart Wii!

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GTA IV achievements revealed ... can you kill a Rockstar dev?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:15:00 -0400

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

The folks at Xbox 360 Achievements (warning: minor spoilers in link) have posted what they're saying is the official achievement list for Grand Theft Auto IV. There are 50 gamerscore-increasing tasks you must accomplish for a total of 1000 points. The list is what you'd expect: complete all missions, do well on the minigames, and various other tasks that to reach 100% game progress (which itself is an achievement).

There are about ten achievements related to multiplayer, with one particularly interesting task to "Kill a Rockstar developer in a ranked multiplayer match" worth 10 points. Achievement completionists, you may need to boost your stalker skills for this one.

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