Yes… the screenshots are here, and they’re awesome, albeit low-resolution. From what you can see on the left, Grand Theft Auto IV seems to sport a new wanted sytem where Niko Bellic can surrender to the police. Also, another screenshot (see below, right) from Yahoo! shows the amazingly realistic bullet holes on the car.

Those two screenshots, spotted by the ever-vigilant Grand Theft Auto fan community, comes with the Official Xbox Magazine and Associated Press’ Grand Theft Auto IV interview with Rockstar Games’ Dan Houser. Click here to read the interview. Plus, one more new screenshot!

The new screenshot is right below, on the left - it has just been released. It’s a fansite-exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV screenshot from Rockstar Games - a Chinese New Year gift? Look at the background of the screenshot - it is set in Liberty City’s infamous Chinatown, the Triad turf. Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year!

Also, in the Associated Press interview, a mission was mentioned, which involves assassinating a character who’s laid up in hospital. “How gamers achieve this goal is completely up to them, whether they decide to quietly sneak in through a window, boisterously bust through the front door guns blazin’ or don scrubs and simply turn off the mark’s life support.”

Players have more control over their own destiny. “They even have a choice at the key moment in the whole story. I don’t want to go into too much detail about it, but I think putting that into the hands of the player is very fun,” said Houser.

As Grand Theft Auto IV information fill the hype bottle up to the brim, there will be more new and exciting stuff in the coming days! The days leading up to April 29 2008 will be an eventful one, hopefully. Stay Tuned for more Grand Theft Auto IV news - Cheers!

Remember this? It seems that a new batch of similar Grand Theft Auto IV WANTED posters have been launched in New York City as part of Rockstar Games’ marketing effort.

They are similar, but somewhat different compared to the ones seen in Belgium. Also, besides new WANTED posters being pasted all over New York City (and Belgium), Rockstar Games have also released a new LCPD artwork as part of the Grand Theft Auto IV Liberty City Police Department advertising campaign.

High-resolution scans of these three Grand Theft Auto IV WANTED posters, together with the two earlier WANTED posters found in Belgium, can be found here. You can still view the original images of the WANTED posters that have surfaced below, however.

The artwork can be seen when sending an e-mail off to the address provided by Rockstar Games directly under the WANTED posters, tips@libertycitypolice.com. The related LCPD teaser site, http://www.libertycitypolice.com , linked to this campaign is still down at the point of writing this.

Thanks to Flickr user freshyill for photographing this, and GTAGaming for providing us with the promotional artwork included in the e-mail. Here, I would like to wish all of you an early Happy Valentine’s Day! We will have more screenshots and information on Grand Theft Auto IV when they come out - stay tuned!

IGN seems to be getting the juice - they have an article on Grand Theft Auto IV’s combat system, entitled “Grand Theft Auto IV - A New Breed of Action”. It is based on the 90-minute demo that was shown to reporters last week that comes with 10 brand new screenshots.

However, this article gives us even more details. We’re learn that we can now not only use Sub-Machine Cars to drive-by when in a vehicle, but also Pistols and Grenades without the help of a lock-on system that will be present int he on-foot combat system.

Plus, IGN elaborated that the intuitive trigger-based lock-on system gives the ability to move from target to target or make subtle changes to aim for different body parts which can, of course, be disabled by the user for a greater challenge. Niko Bellic also has agile movement and quick reflexes.

“Niko was able to turn in a split second to take out a cop that stepped out of a car right behind him”

Also, Niko Bellic has the ability to slide into cover behind large objects, quickly move to and from cover locations, lean from cover to attack an enemy, and throw grenades from cover with relative accuracy. It is also important to note that the system is very similar to Gears of War where you can take cover behind almost anything.

New Grand Theft Auto IV previews will be coming for the Playstation 3 version, and information on the multiplayer mode is yet to be revealed to us. Click here to read “Grand Theft Auto IV: A New Breed of Action”. Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on April 29th 2008, so stay tuned as we uncover more!

Great news come after one another. Yes, North American electronics retailer Best Buy has three previously unseen Grand Theft Auto IV screenshots on theirproduct page for the game. Yes, they are of low quality, but high-resolution versions will come soon, fret not!

These three pictures boast of something - Grand Theft Auto’s shiny new interiors (yes, we are referring to both the game’s features and the enormous number of explorable interiors in the game) and the series’ new direction. If you haven’t learnt about Grand Theft Auto IV’s enormous list of features, you might want to read the recently released previews for more juice.

The three screenshots don’t reveal anything much, but we will have to wait till the high-resolution versions come along. They will look great in high-definition, definitely. Other retailers, magazines and gaming websites are also expected to feature more new exclusive screenshots in the next few months, so be on your look out.

Don’t worry, as the high-resolution versions of these much-wanted Grand Theft Auto IV screenshots shall be posted here as soon as they get released. Don’t forget, stay tuned for more Grand Theft Auto IV news here when they come out - Cheers!

Hey guys! I have been busy recently, with the announcment of the Grand Theft Auto IV release date and all the new previews and screenshots. There was a small piece of news that I missed: new Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition images have been released!

From the newly released photos, it seems that the cover of the Soundtrack CD, “The Music of Grand Theft Auto IV”, has changed. It now includes the artwork of the trains that run around Liberty City as seen in the beginning of the first released Grand Theft Auto IV trailer.

Besides, the photos were also updated with the finallized box art of Grand Theft Auto IV which was released November last year. This is in fact, nothing new, although the box art still bears the ESRB’s “Rating Pending” logo, meaning the game isn’t rated yet.

The game’s still on track for its April 29th 2008 worldwide release, and you can pre-order Grand Theft Auto IV from the plentiful authorized retailers out there. Click here to order the Playstation 3 version and here to order the Xbox 360 version of the Grand Theft Auto IV Special Edition from the Rockstar Warehouse now!

It’s been long, huh? Well, I’m back with Episode 10, the final episode of Skit Volume 1…
After planning this for a few months, it’s finally here.
Enjoy the Grand Finale!
[Algonquin docks]
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:Where the f*ck is my Jetmax!? Sh*t…
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- :There’s my Jetmax!
*Steps into the Jetmax …
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=: Better get going. What the- I feel someone pulling my leg…
Before he knew it, he got smacked in the head by a glass bottle, blood literally pouring from his head.
[11 hours later…]
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:Ugh….Wh..where th..the..f*..ck..am I…
“Welcome…to the place…where you…die.”
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- got up his bed…only to see a man in a track suit.
Man: Should I just introduce myself? I’m Niko Bellic, and I’m working for Jack. I overheard your conversation with Jacob, thats why I captured you.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:What the-
Niko tugged -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-’s shirt, giving him a damn serious look.
Niko: You better not f*ck with me, Jack, or anyone I’m working with, you hear me? You are just a small timer, working with that b*tch Jacob…and trying to kill Jack? No hope. You see, Jack may be just a person stuck in a city under water, but he does what your high-class gangster does: Smoke weed, uses Cuban cigars and uses tons of drugs. And yes, I deal big business with him…usually we trade about $5 mil worth of coke each month… by sea of course.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:Whatever, b*tch. I’m not gonna kill you, but since you’re working with him, why not I kill you first?
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- takes out his AK47 and starts shooting at Niko, but he doesn’t budge.
Niko: Are you done already? Good. I’m just wearing a bulletproof vest, so yeah, bullets can’t f*ck me up. I’m giving you one last chance. Wanna stop f*cking with me and Jack or meet your ultimate doom right here.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- :F*ck…I admit defeat. I’ll just stop f*cking with you and Jack…
Niko: Good! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to go and watch the waves.
Niko, at this time, had his back facing -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- and would be unaware of any attacks against him.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- picks up his shotgun and pumps it straight at Niko’s head, blowing his brain and skull into many pieces, then watching him collapse onto the cold, solid marble, with blood just flowing everywhere onto the floor from his head.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:F*ck, better go get that b*tch Jack…
He discovers a Jetmax lowered at the back of the yacht he was captured in, and quickly escaped in it.
Meanwhile…
[Rapture, 2007]
Jack: Ah f*ck, got nothing better to do. Better turn on my transmitter… just to check on any news.
Gangster:Bzzt..bzzt…Jack..Niko’s..Niko’s dead!
Jack: What the f*ck? How did you know then?
Gangster: We tried to contact Niko but he didn’t reply, when we paid a visit to his boat, his head was…was…basically BLOWN OFF! The Jetmax was gone…most likely an attacker came and killed Niko.
Jack: It MUST be that jerk -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- Niko was telling me about!
Suddenly…
“Jack. You better get your stinking as* right here NOW!”
Jack: What the f*ck do you want, bit*h?
“Never mind, I saw you.”
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- emerged from the cloudy waters, landing onto the underwater city known as Rapture.
Jack: Lemme guess…you’re the bit*h Niko was talking about… -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-!
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-: Correct. And now, I’m gonna send you to your watery grave. Any last words?
Jack: Change that to any last Monsters. Boys?
Two Big Daddies appear out of nowhere, standing right behind Jack.
Jack: You killed Niko. Now, its time to kill you bit*ch!
The two Big Daddies charge at -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- at full force, with the latter barely managing to dive away from the two.
Jack: Whats wrong? Scared? I thought you were that brave guy who killed my best friend Niko Bellic?
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:No….ARGH!!!!
A Big Daddy ripped off a portion of skin from -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-’s chest, with the lad screaming in excruciating pain.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-: N..never…I..will….never…give up…
He reached for his bazooka…and just shot it straight at Jack.
Jack: Oh f*ck…
BOOM! A explosion just destroyed the building they were fighting in, with -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- barely managing to swim out of the blast radius. He found himself on the Jetmax after swimming for a few minutes..
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:F*ck, my chest…
He ripped off his soaking wet, blood stained and partially torn shirt and placed a bandage on top of it.
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-:Damn…I feel good right now…better go back to Lil’ Jacob…
-=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- rode back to Liberty City on his Jetmax, with the sense of accomplishment after completing a painful and difficult mission…for the first time.
Well, I’ll just have to end it here! Comments will be greatly appreciated, and I’ll start work on Skit Volume 2 soon. See you!

Four new screenshots have emerged from the website of Dutch magazine Power Unlimited. Also, IGN Australia has posted a new preview focusing on some of the ways Euphoria helps to bring the Grand Theft Auto IV to life, touching on elements such as crowd dynamics and environment awareness.

“Niko Bellic, the central antihero, is injected with surprising physicality thanks to his freeform movements. In the most basic examples, Niko’s stance adjusts depending on the grade of the ground he’s standing on, and he is seemingly spatially aware of his environment.”

According to the article, the physics system will be noticeable in both character and vehicle control. Characters will now stand appropriately depending on the terrain with a stance on a hill seeing knees bent realistically.

The bodies of characters will also be dynamic inside of vehicles and if hit hard enough then a person can be ejected from a vehicle through the windshield. Most importantly, this can also happen to the player meaning that intense head-on collisions will see Niko flying out of the vehicle and potentially then becoming an easier target for chasing enemies.

“During car chases, this also comes into play pretty spectacularly. Niko, as well as enemies in the game, are affected by inertia – to the point where rear-ending a car causes people in the front to fly through the windshield and into the air, arms in a controlled flail. The impact is sickening and realistic; bodies don’t just ragdoll in GTA IV, they roll end over end or side-on, before coming to a natural pause.”

Nice? You bet! Stay tuned for more updates!

Links: Power Unlimited, IGN Australia Preview

It’s the time to finally rejoice! The time has finally come - Rockstar Games have just announced that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released in stores on April 29, 2008. This is a worldwide release date; it will be available in every country at the same time. Read the Take-Two Interactive press statement below to find out more!

New York, NY - January 24, 2008 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV, the new title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise. Developed by Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and will be in stores worldwide on April 29, 2008.

“We are so excited to be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV,” said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. “We’ve pushed ourselves very hard to make something incredible and hope the game sets a new benchmark for interactive entertainment.”

Links: Grand Theft Auto IV Official Site | Take 2 Interactive Press Statement

Cheers, guys! Rockstar Games has recently provided reporters with another batch of previews of Grand Theft Auto IV. A number of websites and magazines have attended the game demonstration and all of them have got the details. Also, ten brand new screenshots come with the previews. Click here for the preview summary if you don’t want all the details that will be elaborated below.

See all ten new screenshots in our gallery!

The full previews can be read off IGN UK, IGN USA, Computer and Video Games, GamesRadar, Kikizo, Team Xbox, GamePro, Gamespot and VideoGamer.com. However, we have been kind enough to provide all the details below for your enjoyment. Here it is…

Grand Theft Auto IV Preview 3 - Details:
In the previews, it was confirmed that the previously speculated game map is an accurate representation of the new Liberty City. Kikizo has expanded on this map by providing a more complete representation from what they saw. Basically, it takes five minutes to get half way around Algonquin island on a boat.

Yeah, that was a mammoth list of features (click here for a summary). We really needed that, Rockstar Games! We were also informed that there will be another preview, as well as a Playstation 3 version demonstration coming up before the release of Grand Theft Auto IV itself. Have fun inspecting looking at those ten screenshots above!

However, Grand Theft Auto IV still has no release date confirmed yet. Hopefully, the new previews that will be released in a month’s time will reveal something. GamePro claims that the game’s online multiplayer mode will be revealed in “mid February to early March”. The game is still expected to be released sometime between March and April. Stay tuned for more!

Holla, guys! The news of Grand Theft Auto IV are going slow, but new previews of the game are expect to appear in due time. I know I have not updated my blog with any post recently, but here it is, a video for you to enjoy!

I’ve been busy with School for the past few weeks, so I will give an update with a summary of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV previews, as well as all imagery when I get my hands on it. In the mean time, let’s just relax and enjoy this little video I am going to share with you soon.

Basically, it’s a semi-professionally done Grand Theft Auto Vice City Tribute Video. It’s a pretty good form of entertainment right now, but it sure doesn’t beat Bortha’s amazing work on emulating those Grand Theft Auto IV trailers. Watch the video here, and let me hear your opinion too!

Aslo, do stay tuned, as we are going to post a new batch of Grand Theft Auto IV previews, including all the screenshots and details, when I finally get my hands on it. It will be released at 5:30 PM GMT on the 23rd of March (yes, it’s tomorrow!). Don’t forget, stay tuned!

Watch Video: Grand Theft Auto Vice City Tribute by GTARyder