Well, this may be considered old news that has been left unreported, but here you go guys - GameStop, a video games retailer in the United States, is really getting generous! They are having a Grand Theft Auto IV contest where the grand prize winners stand a chance to get $10,000 and a trip to New York City!

Well, which Grand Theft Auto fan would not want to win a trip to the city Liberty City is based on? Or, a trip to where Rockstar Games’ headquarters are located? Visit here for more details on this contest!

Also, someone has left a digitalized screenshot over at GrandTheftAuto4.net. You may recognize it from the Spanish pre-order box containing two new screenshots we covered a few weeks ago. It basically shows Niko Bellic being arrested by the Liberty City Police. Credits to GTA4.net for the heads up and the screenshot.

Here’s an update guys! If you look closely at the top right corner of the screenshot, you may see 5 black stars. If you have played a Grand Theft Auto game before, you should know what are they - Wanted Stars! If you don’t know, they are “stars” on the corner of the screen that represents your wanted level in the game.

That’s right, the wanted stars have secretly made its appearance in one of the screens. However, there is some debate as to whether it is real or fake, with some people saying that someone had edited the screenshot with Photoshop. Perhaps it is also something Rockstar Games sneaked into the screenshot?

Don’t forget, guys - leave a comment, and be stay tuned to us for more Grand Theft Auto news, media and information! April 29th 2008 is nearing us really soon, do remember to pre-order your copies of Grand Theft Auto IV! Till then, we wish you had a good time! Ciao!

Rockstar Games’ really giving out the goodies nowadays. Day after day we get Grand Theft Auto IV news, and today’s no exception. Here’s some massive online Multiplayer information regarding Grand Theft Auto IV.

PSM Spain has a whopping 20 new images and rather massive multiplayer info, however in Spanish. We were able to get a rather neat translation of the important points mentioned in the article, and you can read them below.

The magazine reporters, however, only played 7 out of 15 of the online multiplayer modes available in Grand Theft Auto IV. Let’s not waste any time, shall we? Savour the screenshots - click here to view and download all the scans of the article!

The online multiplayer modes mentioned in the magazine are namely Hangman’s NOOSE, Car Jack City, Bomb da Base and Bomb da Base II (from Grand Theft Auto III), Mafia Work and Team Mafia Work, Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, Turf War, Cops N’ Crooks, Race and GTA Race, Deal Breaker, and lastly, Free Roam.

• In Race and GTA Race, you will race illegally till the finish and do anything to get there. For example, throwing a grenade at your rival’s car, perhaps even stealing another car because yours was wrecked.
• In Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, you blast your friends away in a free-for-all. The staff at PSM Spain tried a match, all of them armed with rocket launchers, and they had great fun.
• In Mafia Work and Team Mafia Work, you play as one of Kenny Petrovic’s mafia henchmen. Complete assassinations (given over phone) before other players in the game to score points.
  
• In the mode Cops ‘n Crooks, one team plays as cops, while the other criminals. As you’d expect, the cops must stop the criminals from escaping. The cops has an added advantage of monitoring the position of the criminals on their GPS’s, the criminals have no such option available.
• The mode Hangmans Noose will be a co-op mode. In the mission, you and your friends are to escort a Mafia gang member, while being ambushed by the SWAT, in a helicopter.
• The 15 online multiplayer modes can be accessed through your cellphone’s multiplayer option.
• You will be able to customize your character before playing the online multiplayer modes, for example, changing his race, sex, skin color, hair and clothing. A total of 16 players can play simultaneously online.
• You can stop a NPC car from coming your way if you point your gun at them.
• The host sets the rules for each game, for example the number of peds and traffic in a multiplayer game. There are some exceptions for some modes too. For Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, you can also choose whether the police will intervene and types of weapons too. For Race and GTA Race, the host can choose which vehicles are involved and the number of laps to be played.
• Liberty City will be on your feet. Forget the other closed maps; here you have to whole map to play on, laugh and run with your friends.
• The map will be the same as the one in single-player, when you select the multiplayer modes, it will be a smooth transition.
• Some stuff about when the reporters first got there: “We were back to the Rockstar Games offices in London to play the Multiplayer modes. During the four and a half hours we played against a good part of the team with a huge 65″ inch plasma screen TV, headsets on our head and the sensation of experimenting with something revolutionary. The multiplayer was selected from Niko’s phone just like that, one click away. We were allowed to play 7 out of the 15 modes under the watchful eye of a Rockstar Games representative. We started out with Deathmatch (free for all). If players choose to work as a team in Team Deathmatch, up to four can get in a vehicle, from a taxi to a helicopter.”

Plus, the “Updates” section of the Official Grand Theft Auto IV site has been updated. This time, we have some great stuff to look forward to… Coming March 20th 2008, we have a “Music”, “Screenshots” and “Downloads” Section Updates. Coming March 27th, we have a new trailer - “Good Lord, What Are You Doing?” aka “Everyone’s a Rat“, it will be the fourth and final trailer before the game is released.

Credits to nevermikel from GTAForums for the heads up and the magazine scans. Do not forget to check in regularly to -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-’s HQ for more Grand Theft Auto IV news, media and information! Also, you might want to subscribe to our RSS feed! Until then, ciao, have fun!

Guys, the information on Grand Theft Auto IV are pouring in real fast! Well, surely Grand Theft Auto IV’s going to beat out the Iron Man movie. Plus, MTV has just scored a very exclusive interview with Sam Houser and a special chance to test-drive Grand Theft Auto IV. Let’s have a look at what they had to say…

“On Wednesday morning at the headquarters of Rockstar Games, we took Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers in hand and spent two hours with "Grand Theft Auto IV," trying both. The result: a better understanding of what "GTA" rendered on cutting-edge video game hardware feels like and how it might impact fans and nonfans of the series in a whole new way.

"Grand Theft Auto IV" is only six weeks away from release, but only recently have the developers at Rockstar let reporters get their hands on the game. During MTV News' session, we explored the depths of the game's missions and the randomness of simulated city life that makes every tour of a Rockstar gaming metropolis a sandstorm of surprises.

We flew helicopters, we returned an in-game text message on our cell phone, we crashed lots of cars, we wondered if the game's version of the Statue of Liberty was supposed to look like Hillary Clinton (not intentional, Rockstar says), and we earned a five-star wanted rating on the series' newly expanded six-star police-alertness meter.

First we followed rules, or at least tried to. A Rockstar rep working the MTV News demo turned the lights out and loaded a two-week-old build of the Xbox 360 version of the game, displaying it on a large flat-panel TV. He used a developer cheat to warp the game's protagonist, immigrant Niko Bellic, to a mission called "Jamaican Heat." This mission is available early in the game and involves Bellic escorting a gun dealing Rastafarian named Little Jacob to a drug deal gone bad.

These "GTA" games are certainly still not for kids. Little Jacob names the drugs he likes. The game's improved aiming controls offer smooth, precise techniques for shooting enemies in any body part. The radio stations still lampoon current events and skewer sacred cows. As ever, "GTA" is a crime story, unapologetically profane, irreverently sarcastic.

Following the rules had us pursuing a few more "GTA IV" missions, one involving a shoot-out in a brownstone in the game's stand-in for Brooklyn, another a shoot-out at a dock, and another that wasn't a shoot-out. This last mission, named "Call and Collect," featured Niko helping a dirty cop by shaking down a blackmailer. We did this — almost — without firing a shot, relying instead on the power of cell phone technology. The blackmailer was hanging out near a fountain in a small park, though the game didn't indicate exactly which person milling about in that area was him. Instead, Niko received a text message on his ever-available cell phone. With a few presses of the controller, we could call the texted number, causing the blackmailer's phone to ring. Once the call commenced, the goal was to walk Niko through a crowd of people, looking and listening for someone talking on their cell phone. We heard him first and eventually stood face to face, with Niko's and the blackmailer's phones to their ears, their voices echoing through the phones and the virtual thin air. The blackmailer almost ran. Niko's gun stopped him. And then Niko ran from the cops. Mission just about complete.”

Read the rest of the article here…

Also, another part of the MTV exclusive preview mentions about the “Days of the Week” technology in Grand Theft Auto IV, which isn’t even new technology. However, one thing that’s a notable new feature in Grand Theft Auto IV is the slow-motion driving mechanics. Here’s for you to read…

“Days Of The Week - “GTA IV” has days of the week. It doesn’t have seasons. It doesn’t have months. But this cutting-edge power-house of a game has days of the week. All seven? Unconfirmed. But I can report it has Thursdays and Saturdays. Let’s assume it has the other five as well.

I discovered this while pausing a two-week-old build of the Xbox 360 version of the game and spotting the word “Thursday” near the map. I asked the Rockstar PR rep who was overseeing my session to explain what exactly this could mean. He told me about a mission called “The Final Interview,” in which the game’s protagonist, Niko Bellic, will need to assassinate a lawyer. Niko will be able to apply for a job at the firm from the game’s Internet cafes, but will only be called in for an interview on a Saturday. That’s when Niko can show up and take care of business. On any other day of the week he won’t have access.

Now don’t you worry, “GTA” has not gone all “Animal Crossing” on you. You won’t need to wait until an actual Saturday or start tinkering with your console’s internal calendar. The days change in the game with the sunrises an sunsets that the series has had for years.

What more will be done with the days of the week? I don’t know. But I’m sure you can dream up plenty of possibilities: Niko going to a football game on Sunday, getting his laundry picked up on Wednesday, watching his favorite TV shows on a Tuesday. Actually, let’s hope for none of that.

Slow-Mo Driving- You can drive slowly in “GTA,” even while driving fast. Yes, indeed, the laws of time and space need not apply as the game will borrow a little from “Max Payne” or “Burnout” and let you drive in slow-motion. I learned this near the end of my demo as I drove a Hummer-like truck through part of “GTA IV”’s Manhattan stand-in, Algonquin. The Rockstar rep suggested that I hold down the B button on my 360 controller. This changed the camera view to an elevated, cinematic perspective. I could still drive in this camera view.

While driving from a cinematic perspective I was then encouraged to click the 360 controller’s left thumbstick. This slowed things down. I was thinking of “Burnout”’s after-touch system and stopped directing my truck. But the Rockstar rep told me I could keep driving. It was a little awkward to steer with the left stick while keeping it clicked in, but it seemed manageable.

I’m not sure why this feature was added. It seems to go against the vibe that I reported in my piece today of Rockstar making “GTA IV” feel less like a game than the “GTA” predecessors. But it will allow the game to be viewed in a more stylish, cinematic context.

I did not have a chance to test the limits of the slow-mo driving, to see if it would help during a high-speed chase or make me more capable of landing a stunt jump. But those seem like safe bets.

After I saw those two features I played the PS3 version of the game and flew a helicopter. But you read about that already. Didn’t you?

What more do you want to know about “GTA IV”? I played it for two hours, but I certainly didn’t see it all.”

Well, I know this is a super-long news article. But don’t worry, it’s worth it. Head over to MTV right now for the full article and details! Still, don’t forget to give us your comments and be stay tuned for more Grand Theft Auto IV news!

Sam Houser, co-founder and president of Rockstar Games, has talked a little bit on what some of the downloadable XBOX 360 episodic content might be, and how does it play.

“In the game, you might be walking around and then someone will come up to you and say something like, ‘Hey, I need your help’, and you’ll be like, ‘What? this isn’t a story mission’, and he’ll be like, ‘You see that room up there? That’s my wife and she’s f*cking some bloke, and I need you to go and do…’ and this little story will unfold from there just randomly,” he explained to Edge magazine.

The opportunity for things like that I would say is enormous. Really, though, for the downloadable content in general, it’s about seeing how people get turned on by the game, and then we will tailor the production. We are very tuned into the reactions of the audience and we will go a certain way or another.”

Sam Houser also stated that the Grand Theft Auto IV ‘episodes’, as they are called, would be “pretty deep, offering another full-on adventure in this world” and that “you’ll get a lot of content for your money”, just as you should do with a fully-boxed game, and we should really think of it as the next-generaton versions of Vice City and San Andreas.

So, what do you think? Don’t go away - stay tuned to us for the newest Grand Theft Auto IV information and screenshots, right here! Why not sign up to our RSS feed? Also, do give us your comments! Have a good day!

Rockstar Games have just sent out a package of goodies to webmasters of major Grand Theft Auto fansites. Well, Jordan of Planet Grand Theft Auto was one of them who recieved Hidden Package #4 via mail.

The Hidden Package #4 package includes two New Screenshots, a beer glass for PIßWASSER, and a Chihuahua Hot Dogs T-Shirt. The first screen shows Niko Bellic with the Irish-American character Patrick “Packie” McReary, and the second one shows Niko Bellic enthusiatically firing away his weapon.

Sure, more screenshots will always be popping up now and then. With just only a little bit over a month’s time to Grand Theft Auto IV, expect more information and hot news on the front page. Also, do remember to leave a comment and don’t forget to be stay tuned for more!

Recently, Men’s magazine KING interviewed New York DJ and hip hop artist Green Lantern, in which he revealed some information on his involvement with the soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV.

He also mentioned collaborations with other artistes such as Styles P and Uncle Murda, and some other unnamed hip-hop artistes.
In regards to specific songs that will appear in Grand Theft Auto IV, he mentioned about a song from Maino entitled “Getaway Driver” will be featured in Grand Theft Auto IV.

“We sat down and it ended up like a whole radio show. This particular show, there’s a little bit of a budget involved. It’s not the normal licensed-out music. When you jump in the car, you’re going to be able to hear a whole Green Lantern radio show filled with nothing but exclusive music I produced for the game.”

Thanks to Jordan from Planet Grand Theft Auto for catching this. Don’t forget to give this post your comments! Stay tuned for more pieces of Grand Theft Auto IV news, media and information - right here!

Rockstar Games has done up some nice high definition shots on the walls of New York City. These high definition New York Graffiti art pieces of Grand Theft Auto IV were first spotted by a LiveJournal blogger, and he took some photos of the Niko Bellic art piece.

Several locations which spot these amazing pieces of Grand Theft Auto IV graffiti artwork include Williamsburg - Bedford & N5th, Harlem - 112th Street & 1st Ave, Lower East Side - 2nd St. & Ave A and SoHo - Lafayette btw Spring & Prince Street.

Well, this sure is a very wonderful marketing technique that Rockstar Games used, just like the WANTED posters. What do you think of these really cool pieces of Grand Theft Auto IV graffiti artwork? Give this post a comment, and don’t forget to be stay tuned for more Grand Theft Auto IV news!

Edge Magazine had just scored a brand new 16-page article on Grand Theft Auto IV and the legacy of the Grand Theft Auto series.

This includes many new screenshots and an exclusive interview with Sam Houser. You can read a summary of the new informaton below. Click Here to view all the new pictures that were released with the magazine article.

• Comedy Clubs have a big role in Grand Theft Auto IV, as Strip Clubs did in previous Grand Theft Auto titles.
• Jets and planes fly through the Airport, and have visible pilots in them. The tester drove alongside a jet, only to have a 4 star wanted level appear.
• One encounter face-to-face with a cop got the response “I’m a cop…… and you’re a dickhead!”
• On the topic of multiplayer: Houser isn’t able to discuss in detail today, but he does mention being able to get together online in the game with no other goal other than using it as a meeting place. “I’ll meet you in a car and we’ll hang and just drive and listen to music, chilling in the car, with your 3D model sitting next to me,” he says.
• The car paintjobs are noticeable from newer cars being gleaming and spotless, to old cars being rusted and dull.
• Bulletholes are permanent, as is dirt on the cars.
• Interior walls can be greatly damaged, “ripping chunks out of the plaster with gunfire.”

Thanks to noxiousd for posting thie information over at GTAForums. Plus, two new screenshots have been spotted in a pre-order box in a Spanish game store. One shows Niko being arrested at Hove Beach while the other is a nice preview of the Empire State Building in Algonquin at night.

Don’t forget, stay tuned - we will be posting more and more irresistible information of Grand Theft Auto IV. More screenshots are bound for release pretty soon, as well as the Multiplayer information. Cheers to everyone!

Rockstar Games has just updated the Grand Theft Auto IV Official Website with new screenshots, soundtrack info and new features. There are also new videos and interactive flash applets with regards to Liberty City.

• IF99 International funk music, hosted by Femi Kuti.
• Vladivostok FM Post-communist community radio to rock the Eastern Bloc.
• All-new videos, featuring hard-living Irish-American Patrick “Packie” McReary and a message from the LCPD’s recruitment division.
• Scenes from Burger Shot, one of LC’s most ubiquitous fast-food chains.
• Celebrity news that matters from Our-Own-Reality.com
• Find out how much you know about Liberty City, with the History of Liberty quiz.
• Learn more about the BitterSweet mobile device. Be everywhere. And nowhere

Thanks to Grand Theft Auto HQ for the heads up and the screens. Also, do remember that there will be more information and multimedia on Grand Theft Auto IV coming soon! Stay tuned to -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-’s HQ! Till then, ciao!

 It’s been a short time, since I posted Episode 1 eh? I hope you like Episode 2.

Richie walked down the street to a payphone, and inserted a quarter in the slot. He dialed his home phone number to call his wife. The phone rang for a few minutes until she finally answered.

“Hello?”

“Sara? Guess who.” Richie replied playfully.

“Richie? Is that you? When did you get out?” Sara replied with excitement.

“Today, I got some business to take care of and then I’ll be home. I just called to tell you that I love you and I’ll see you tonight.” Richie answered.

“Ok honey, I love you, hurry home I can’t wait to see you.” Sara replied lovingly.

“Alright, see you tonight babe. Bye.” Richie said as he hung up the phone.

He loved his wife and kids more then anything, but business comes first. He walked down the street some more till he reached Fred’s Sporting Goods. Richie walked inside and began looking around. With in a few moments he heard his name called out from behind the counter, “Richie?”

“Yeah it’s me Freddie, and before you ask, I got released today.” Richie responded.

“Wow it’s good to see you, but why are you here?” Freddie asked curiously.

“Well I thought I would check your shop out and see how it’s doing. It’s a nice place; you might want to think about getting some protection from the local gangs, because this neighbor hood can be quite dangerous.” Richie answered.

“That’s why I have Omar working for me.” Freddie said as a big 6’6 three hundred pound African American man walked out from the back storage room. “I hired Omar as a salesman, but he comes in handy when having to deal with the resident thugs.”

“Well Freddie you should really let me handle your protection, because I’d hate to see someone get hurt or something in your shop get damaged.” Richie replied.

“No, I’m good Richie. You want to buy something?” Freddie responded.

“Yeah I need a baseball bat for my apartment. Sara wants me to get one so we can feel safe at home. Omar would you mind helping me pick out a good bat?” Richie asked.

“Ok, what kind you looking for?” Omar questioned as he came over to the bats section and reached for one.

“How about the old fashioned Louisville slugger?” Richie answered.

Omar reached up high and grabbed the wooden bat off the rack. He handed it to Richie and waited for his reaction. Richie gripped the bat tightly and gave it a few practice swings.

“Maybe I’ll go with that aluminum bat, could you hand it to me?” Richie said as he finished his last practice swing with the wooden bat.

“Ok I’ll get it.” Omar said as he reached up to grab it.

Richie swung the bat fiercely and slammed it against the back of Omar’s head. Omar fell to his knees and Richie swung a few more times, beating the hell out of Omar. Omar fell onto the floor faced down finally and Richie gave one last swing, BOOM! The bat broke into pieces, leaving wooden fragments all over the floor and an unconscious Omar.

“It looks like I’ll go with the aluminum bat.” Richie said as he grabbed the aluminum bat.

He walked coolly over to the counter; Freddie was in shock that his muscle bound body guard had been taken down so easily.

“Now I’ll be back in each week on Friday to pick up my money, because I think you want me protecting you. Am I right?” Richie asked nicely.

“Y-Y-Yeah your right, I’ll have the money ready each week for you, and you can keep the bat, no charge.” Freddie replied with a stutter as he handed Richie this week’s payment.

“That’s what I like to hear, cooperation.” Richie responded with a cold face.

To be continued…