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GTA IV PC exclusively on Games for Windows
Author: Joe MartinPublished: 23rd September 2008
Microsoft has announced the Grand Theft Auto IV will be heading to PC exclusively under the Games for Windows brand.
Which wouldn't be so bad of course, but the Games for Windows Live system has drawn flak in the past for being difficult to use and often unreliable - Gears of War PC anyone?
The good news though is that the release of GTA IV PC ties in with a wide array of updates for the Games for Windows Live system, including a new marketplace and interface. Still, it's a shame that the exclusive nature of the release means we won't get a release on Steam, or even a standalone one.
“We’re incredibly proud of the deep, customizable multiplayer experience that Grand Theft Auto IV offers players, “ said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games in a public statement.
"The Live service is a natural fit for the platform and we strongly believe it will help in building a strong online community around GTA IV PC.”
Microsoft would also like to take the chance to remind you that there are other games on the brand, including Fallout 3, Quantum of Solace and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II.
If you still haven't checked out our Grand Theft Auto IV review, we suggest you do before...um...nevermind. Or you can just head to the forums and tell us what you think about GTA IV PC and other interesting acronyms.
Comments (30)Stats: 0.057 seconds
Its BAD like the 360 MP then? :p
I'll stick to physical media I can sell on when I'm done thanks (my only gripe with steam and so forth).
I much prefer GTA4 to San Andrias because of its more basing in reality and its far superior story line. San Andrias was just a little immature in its humour for me. Also I have not had a single issue with GTA4 on or off line on my 360.
I second that opinion though i don't want valve to turn into something it isn't.
:(
Anyone else geting increasing frustrated with gaming in general?
Not with the games itselves but with the restrictions/impositions/limitations/etc that come with the games?
This is now the fourth game in 2008 I am not buying and would have bought.
were the other 3 EA games?
Pretty much.
Not sure what to do about Red Alert 3 - I don't want to support the Spore-style DRM, but equally I'd rather like to play RA3. ;) I already own GTA4 on the PS3, though, and while it's fun in short bursts, I find the only GTA game I can actually go back to and play in fair sized bursts is Vice City.
Mass Effect, Spore and Warhead.
Warhead might pick it up eventually.
On a brighter note, I was told that the Live service has undergone a redesign, so I will wait and see.
PS:
On RTS my concern now is with Starcraft2. Lets see what Blizzard imposes as DRM.
I think most of us are on to the little game these sites and playing with these reviews, game reviews are the most corrupt in the industry, no other industry reviews it products that they directly benefit financially from, it si no coincedence the bigger the hype the bigger the score seems to get, is MGS4 and GTA 4 really worth a 10/10? Most GAT fans thought San Andreas was the best GTA, not 4.
...
Lepermessiah:
Not sure about 'most' GTA fans, but I thought San An was fairly bland and aside from a few interesting ideas, uninspired.
Good games SELL
BAD games come with drm
mass effect was overated
spore was never good
we shall see about RA 3
Microsoft can really show the good side here if they are serious about the Games For Windows brand and Games For Windows Live system. Granted some problems in the start I'm sure they will fix it.
The PC needs a strong standard so it can be more like a console. We need a unified way to play online games. And yes many see this as being VALVe's Steam, but Microsoft can't embrace a platform like Steam where VALVe has all the control. And it's not their product either. Steam is a stand-alone system and always will be. I just don't see why GTA IV can't be on Steam. Yes the game uses Games For Windows Live, so what? That's just a framework. Not a online marketplace like Steam is. Steam has plentiful of games that only uses Steam for the proof of purchase part and not for the online community and server browser. Call of Duty 4 anyone?
Agree and then combine it with Starcraft written on the box and you get guaranteed sales no matter what.
RROD
sorry, was too hard to resist.
So far Games for Windows has been nothing more than words written on the box, will be interesting to see if they actually manage to make something positive out of it.
every game i put onto my PC just works. no hassle at all. just like consoles, you need to upgrade. you won't be able to play PS3 games in PS2 system.
No there's no good standard. Each game is different and has it's own quirks. games for consoles have to follow tight specs and behave the same when it comes to the community and server browser part. Every game has it's own kind of copy-protection (please stop using "DRM", it's just a acronym they invented to make it sound less bad), installation program etc.
Games For Windows Live provides for a XBOX like experience on PCs. A unified community and server browser system for all it's games. Yes this is the same as what Steam provides, but you have to understand that Microsoft is the only one to really push forward a standard here.
competition is good, and it should be encouraged. the only reason games seems to work very well is that consoles have a set spec, if there were PS3-lite, PS3-enthusiastic and PS3-mainstream. there'd be all the confusion and complains.
besides, Games for Windows Live browser sucks, Halo 2 PC failed in so many ways it's not even worth the disk its burnt on. Steam is very good, but it doesn't mean every game should use it. would you be happy if World in Conflict uses Steam's browser?
as for DRM, Stardock is in the right direction, though no standard required, just need more common sense.
Not true, unless you can please tell me how bit-tech benefits from Orange Box game sales? Journalism is a seperate industry from game development, shure there's the occasional bribe but we can historically see what happens to journalist that are a little bit shady, ie: the ign nintendo editor who nearly lost his job. And hype effecting the score, i think not. bit-tech has run several articles on games that where great, that got great reviews, yet no one's ever heard of them, "beyond good and evil" for example. As an oposite example I offer "stalker: clear skies" which was tremendously hyped and recived a 6 out of 10 or something, not just here but at IGN, 1up and other notable companies. GTA 4 got 10/10's across the board because it broke all sorts of boundries, and still maintained the depth and feel of prior games. Shure people where disapointed by the loss of airplanes and the gang controll abilities, along with the questionable RPG elements from SA. But many more people welcomed these losses, thus it got a just review of 10/10 wich doesn't haveto reflect every single individual.
FYI- I'm still waiting for a response from you here ;)
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=157682