Gamers Evolved

In light of the recent delay of Grand Theft Auto 4, we’ve got some more news on one of the most anticipated recent game release ever (other than maybe Halo 3). Once again, expect to see it around  February, March or April of 2008, though hopefully we’ll have a more specific date soon.

Here are some of the highlights you can expect in the latest edition in the GTA series, compiled from various sources including blogs, press releases, and the official website.

An article over at Games Industry dot Biz is claiming that Australian band “Airbourne” is set to feature in the new Tony Hawk game, as well as the new Grand Theft Auto. Don’t take this as confirmed though, Rockstar have stressed many times before that the soundtrack is a work in progress, and that anything there just now may or may not make it into the final version of the game.

“Schnur went on to discuss EA’s joint venture music company Artwerk, which has now signed a total of four artists in the past nine months since launch. These include Junkie XL, whose work will feature heavily on the new Need for Speed title, and Jupiter One, based in New York.

“Not only will those artists find telling exposure to key target audiences within EA’s own titles, but some will also find themselves as part of other games as well – Melbourne band Airbourne will also be featured in the new Tony Hawk game, as well as Grand Theft Auto IV.

And some bulletin points:

• The name Niko is short for Nikolai.
• If you double pay a cab fare, the cabbie will drive twice as fast and you are able to speak to the driver while you’re in the cab.
• Of course you can still car-jack people.
• Niko doesn’t have to accept phone calls if doesn’t want to.
• Holding A will make Niko run at a fast pace.
• The music and sound play a major roll in the game.
• While driving, there are different angles and you can move the camera.
• There’s a GPS system.
• Ammu-Nation does not exist in GTA4 but this doesn’t mean there will be nowhere to purchase weapons.
• One of the billboards seen during the demo advertised “Shark Credit Cards,” while others advertised “Pirate Music” and “The Whiz” (“The Whiz” is the type of phone that Niko uses.)
• The HUD is described as “minimalist to its core.” There is a mini-map, a “low-key” cash counter, and they say that the HUD in general looks more clean than in previous GTAs.
• The magazine states that Ammu-Nation no longer exists. A lot of other magazines spoke about new methods of obtaining weapons, but until now, none of them actually confirmed whether Ammu-Nation still exists.
• The rocket launcher will return (what would a GTA game be without one?)
• One of the female pedestrians screams “this s*** is bananas!” from her vehicle.
• A fare meter appears on-screen as soon as Niko enters a cab, and the camera pans around it as it drives.
• The little green guy on crosswalks is crisp and clear.
• Clothing in GTA IV is described as “customizable, and also realistic.” So no more leopard cowboy hats we presume?
• On shooting, the magazine states that: “the cover system borrows elements of Gears of War, and Rainbow Six: Las Vegas.” It also says that “the aiming is a Resident Evil 4, over the shoulder style.”
• The rocket launcher will return!
• When you enter a cab a fare meter pops up showing your mileage and what you owe the cabbie.
• The Sanchez and PCJ motorcycles are both returning.
• Clothing of course is customizable and realistic.
• Some of the billboards that were spotted are “Shark Credit Cards” and “Pirate Music”.

To make things even more impressive, Wedbush Morgan predicts that 8 million units of Grand Theft Auto IV will be sold at full price. This will result in $400,000,000 of revenue!

We do believe that the GTA franchise has a great deal of potential, and think that future versions will sell more than the 8 million units we expect from GTA IV.

This doesn’t even include sales after it goes Platinum or the price drops. It’s set to be one of the, if not the, most profitable game ever. This game is gonna put the “Rock” in “Rockstar.”