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GTA's Lazlow discusses IV on Radio
Posted by Owen Good at 2:00 AM on April 20, 2008
Lazlow Jones, the principal DJ for Grand Theft Auto since it introduced a radio GTA III, went into the studio with Opie & Anthony on Friday and Holy Toledo, the first segment of his talk is shot through with spoilers.
Not the kind of spoilers that ruin missions or stories. This is more like a hands-on discussion of the game's feel and environment. But if you want to go into this game wide-eyed, jaw-dropping at the depth and complexity of the world you'll be living in for the next three to six months, especially if you're employed, then do not follow the jump.
I think you can still listen to this and be blown away by the game, but if you're sensitive to this sort of thing, you have been warned.
Clip one is the juicy spoiler clip. I'm not even going to mark timestamps because there's really no nonspoiler material. You either want to listen to it or not. Here's some highlights:
• Apparently Anthony Cumia appears in this game as an Italian gangster, and even sings in it.
• Pisswasser — "cheap German beer brewed for export only" — is the game's leading beer brand. They play the radio ad for it at 1:40.
• There will be an "in-game Internet" that sounds astoundingly deep, with spoofs of blogs and news sites, including conservative and liberal themed news sources. They'll report directly on the mayhem you cause, and have annoying pop up banners for shows like "America's Next Top Hooker." There is also "Craplist," a Craigslist spoof that emulates CL's notorious personals — right down to hooking Niko up on in-game dates, Lazlow says.
Part II is a little more generic and doesn't really give much away, devoting the opening to hating on the Wii. They're playing it in the studio and calling out some of the gameplay details. Lazlow says there have been discussions of "light concepts" for a sequel but nothing solid yet. O&A, naturally, encourage a rural-based GTA so you can do unnatural acts with chickens.
Some of my favourite Lazlow comments (because they hit close to home).
• "It's OK when you're obsessed with 'The Wire,' but people think it's wrong when it's a video game." (so true.)
• "My problem is, I tend to drink when I play, and playing Call of Duty drunk does not go well, especially when some 15-year-old knifes you in the back."
I've linked the YouTube audio, as the O&A site apparently requires you to listen to the entire show via Audiobooks or something.
Part One (8:57)
Part Two (9:25)
Lazlow Jones Interviewed on Opie & Anthony, April 18. [YouTube user k2dart, via Reddit]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Ulquiorra
Posted 2:48 AM 20/4/08
All hail Lazlow!
Ulquiorra
Elijah Man
Posted 2:47 AM 20/4/08
@RYAMATSU: oooh okay do you know when the full review is coming?? waht sucks though is that this game releases on thee EXACT SAME DAY as my S.A.T testing starts
Elijah Man
DoktorMoo
Posted 2:40 AM 20/4/08
O&A Rock. Love them on XM 202. Great interview with Lazlow. Little Jimmy should be fun to interact with in the game.
DoktorMoo
dagnasty
Posted 2:39 AM 20/4/08
@KirbySS:
Yes, Lazlow has his own station
dagnasty
RYAMATSU
Posted 2:38 AM 20/4/08
@Elijah Man: 1up gave it a preview not full review yet. I believe they don't want spoilers (or allowed to for that matter). Because someone isn't over hyping doesn't mean it's going to be bad though.
RYAMATSU
scotty
Posted 2:33 AM 20/4/08
Always a fan of the radio.
This radio is just going to be amazingly funny...
scotty
Elijah Man
Posted 2:25 AM 20/4/08
this game seems freaking amazing....but why did 1up give it such a vague review?
Elijah Man
parad0x360
Posted 2:24 AM 20/4/08
The fact that its Opie and Anthony is what will keep me from listening...
parad0x360
Shocky
Posted 2:21 AM 20/4/08
This game sounds intense.
Better go to the store and get me some depends before they're all sold out for everyone waiting in line on release night.
Shocky
Rob0
Posted 2:15 AM 20/4/08
Don't want to sound like I'm nit-picking, but Lazlow wasn't involved with GTA1 (if I remember correctly), but there's always been radio stations.
Rob0
Gannoc
Posted 2:14 AM 20/4/08
Opie and Anthony and the rest of the staff had parts in the PSP GTAs, and will also have spots in GTA4.
Lazlow is on the show quite often.
For those of you that don't listen to them now, O&A are on everyday on XM Satellite Radio and various radio affiliates. It is a great show and worth checking out.
Gannoc
KirbySS
Posted 2:13 AM 20/4/08
So is Lazlow in the game? I'm guessing yes, but if he isn't...Oh there will be hell to pay.
KirbySS
KirbySS
Posted 3:01 AM 20/4/08
@dagnasty: Fucking a.
KirbySS
jay427
Posted 3:01 AM 20/4/08
You had me until Opie and Anthony.
jay427
bennifer3000
Posted 3:00 AM 20/4/08
The interview in my opinion wasn't that spoiler-icious, but whatever. One thing is for sure is that it was hilarious.
By the way, the only reviews are from OXM and OPM from the UK. To my knowledge, every other gaming media is under a NDA until the 27th.
And apparently IGN has a "GTA IV Week" planned for this coming week, so we can expect that to include exclusives and capped off by a review on late Thursday night.
bennifer3000
Jomolungma
Posted 3:35 AM 20/4/08
So, kudos for posting these YouTube links, but they don't cover the whole Lazlow portion of the show. Specifically, just before the Wii-bashing, Lazlow said he would get the game on 360 because of the DLC, which is already being worked on, targeted for end of summer, and will include new missions, new characters, and new comedy.
In the XM-only portion of the show (the show has a "local" portion as well) Jimmy Norton, of the O&A show, played through the game. Lazlow pointed out various things about the game as they were playing it, and members of the studio audience were allowed to file through the studio and watch the game for a few seconds apiece.
The full show should be available on Audible.com (it was, then it wasn't - should be back up) for $2.95. Or scour the Internet.
Lazlow left O&A for some radio show in Chicago where he was going to do a similar presentation during the evening rush hour. Anyone have a recording of that?
Jomolungma
dagnasty
Posted 3:34 AM 20/4/08
@KirbySS:
Exactly, although I think I am more excited for Liberty City Hardcore, the hardcore/punk station.
dagnasty
dozerking
Posted 3:28 AM 20/4/08
It was an awesome show indeed. Ron Fez noon to three on the XM 202
Lazlow knows his stuff big time, the guys a genius and it shows in GTA. I can't wait for this game
dozerking
ultraViolence
Posted 3:27 AM 20/4/08
OPIE & ANTHONY FTW
stern wears hairplugs
ultraViolence
Go Team Venture
Posted 4:01 AM 20/4/08
I wouldn't think this was a much as a spoiler as it was more reasons of how EXPANSIVE and DETAILED Rockstar made GTA:IV
Go Team Venture
ShaggE
Posted 3:57 AM 20/4/08
Great interview. I was a little disturbed by one of the "FU calls" at the end of part 1, though. (A listener called in and said something about his "fat ass wife and annoying fucking kids"). I hope his wife heard that and slapped the shit out of him.
ShaggE
StealthMaster86
Posted 4:38 AM 20/4/08
Lazlow has always been apart of the GTA games if they even think about not having him in the game then it might as well not be a REAL Grand Theft Auto game.
StealthMaster86
Donutt007
Posted 4:26 AM 20/4/08
Didn't know there was so many O&A fans on here.
fffffrrrrrrrrrrunnnnkkkkkkkkkkkkiiiiiissss
Donutt007
cactaur
Posted 5:05 AM 20/4/08
Lazlow has nothing on Fernando.
cactaur
Islandkiwi
Posted 5:04 AM 20/4/08
O&A? More like Oh...and meh.
But good for them, this will be sure to double...no, triple their audience.
Islandkiwi
Truepatriot
Posted 5:36 AM 20/4/08
i like that rockstar makes in game products real.i want some pisswater and a swingers shirt =(
Truepatriot
Owen Good
Posted 5:06 AM 20/4/08
Folks, I'm not sure where in this story it implies Lazlow is not in GTA IV, he most definitely is. He's in the Pisswasser commercial played on O&A. Don't worry.
Owen Good
bennifer3000
Posted 5:47 AM 20/4/08
@cactaur: Lazlow has everything on Fernando, considering he wrote every word that he said.
However, alas, vis-a-vis, Fernando is hilarious. I also miss Maurice Chavez from Vice City. He was great. "There's blood and pubic hair all over the studio".
bennifer3000
Zerbrechen
Posted 6:10 AM 20/4/08
I actually heard this interview when it first aired. I was running late for school, but I just had to hear it. I never thought GTA fully deserved all of its hype (for such a large game, SA was still pretty shallow), but that's about to change.
I mean, 100 updating websites and O&A characters? Brilliant.
Zerbrechen
hoezee
Posted 7:05 AM 20/4/08
I complain.
Can't we listen to this with LESS volume? Please, my ears hurt! My heart tells me to run! TO RUN in the empty fields; to find the most secret, beautiful and lonely spot under the oh so pink tree that blooms with every second that passes. And that very place will be full of.. only.. your DREAMS.
Really, I can barely hear anything!
hoezee
Zerbrechen
Posted 7:38 AM 20/4/08
@j.howlett: It's not just you.
Zerbrechen
j.howlett
Posted 7:20 AM 20/4/08
maybe its just me but i'd love a gta wii game.
j.howlett
diggins
Posted 7:15 AM 20/4/08
LINGER LONGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
diggins
underwhelm
Posted 8:18 AM 20/4/08
I can't believe Kotaku spoiled this for me. I wanted to be surpised to hear Lazlow's voice talking about GTAIV on Opie & Anthony, but Kotaku had to go and put that RIGHT IN THE TITLE OF THIS POST! Now everything is spoiled forever.
Sometimes it seems like reading blogs just poses too high a risk of exposing me to information about things that interest me.
underwhelm
Draconis
Posted 8:11 AM 20/4/08
@Islandkiwi: NAAAAAAHT FUNNY
Draconis
YotaruVegeta
Posted 8:11 AM 20/4/08
@parad0x360: You're being a bir ridiculous. It's just a radio show. Don't be a cornball.
YotaruVegeta
YotaruVegeta
Posted 8:10 AM 20/4/08
@jay427: O&A have been in a few GTA games. In short, go screw yourself.You probably don't even know who they are, nor have you listened to them.
YotaruVegeta
M. Lobo
Posted 8:04 AM 20/4/08
looks like it's about time to update the Kotaku GTA4 Compendium again: [kotaku.com]
M. Lobo
YotaruVegeta
Posted 8:42 AM 20/4/08
@Draconis: You tell 'em Draconis.
YotaruVegeta
Orionsaint
Posted 9:49 AM 20/4/08
That was an awesome interview! Thanks for posting this!
Orionsaint
ultraViolence
Posted 10:13 AM 20/4/08
linger longer
tippy tom ftw
ultraViolence
vocalyouth
Posted 1:06 PM 20/4/08
I hope young yyyyyimmy gets himself an xbox to play this lil' treat.
Also, O&A and their pals have been in every GTA since Vice City I think as well as officer Jim Norden in Bully. Sadly he will not be heard in GTA4 after losing a long struggle with AIDS. R.I.P.
vocalyouth
Rammstein
Posted 1:05 PM 20/4/08
In b4 OnA vs Howard Stern--oh too late.
Howard 100 > OnA
Rammstein
bennifer3000
Posted 1:59 PM 20/4/08
I'd like a shotgun blast to the face before any more success comes to Wii.
I love my waggle and motion control but Nintendo needs to be taught a lesson for it's outdated philosophy and refusal to change.
Go ahead and make games for your non-gamers, exercise games, stripped down Mario Karts, and pointless Mario Sports games. Be my guest, I'm done after this one.
"Then my father....err... my Nintendo is truly dead...."
bennifer3000
Trancer
Posted 3:55 PM 20/4/08
I wish Howard Stern still liked video games...
But O&A aren't that bad. I think that they're more suited for video game interviews though, since Stern is more about personal experience.
Trancer
veryape
Posted 3:44 PM 20/4/08
No Kidd Chris?
veryape
Evil J
Posted 6:41 PM 20/4/08
I thought it sucked when O&A got yanked from the air down here in Dallas for some local shit that's literally unlistenable.
Live 105.3 here in Dallas used to be a decent enough talk station, but pretty much after they pulled O&A it's a bunch of gripey idiots for half the day, then Russ Martin (who is fantastic) and then nothing worth mentioning after that. We seriously have a guy on the station called Big Dick Hunter... and he's straight.
As for O&A vs. Stern... I'm not crazy about either O or A, but I like Jim Norton, liked him as a stand-up before he was on the show, so I miss getting to listen to his nonsense.
Stern... is just sad. I started getting annoyed by him when all he did was whine in the year leading up to him leaving terrestrial, then he acts like there's going to be a huge shift to satellite when he gets there... and nothing. I've heard some of his stuff after he moved and it's just pathetic. When Artie Lange, star of Beer League, gets tired of your show and being in obscurity... it's really over.
Evil J
Islandkiwi
Posted 9:59 PM 20/4/08
@Evil J:
Russ Martin is great and I enjoyed Pugs & Kelly sometimes as well, but dear Lord, the commercial load on these shows is just abominable. When Stern was on the radio it was 24 minutes of commercials per hour. My morning commute was sometimes 90% commercials.
I did go out and buy Sirius when Stern moved over (along with several million others) and I've got to say it was well worth the expense. Satellite radio makes regular radio unlistenable...God, there are just so many commercials on AM/FM.
Looking forward to the inevitable merger!
Islandkiwi
Chapel
Posted 1:34 AM 21/4/08
Just a quick correction
the name of the beer is
Pißwaßer
Really excited for this game. I don't normally look forward to games coming out that often, but I'm PSYCHED about GTA4!
PS - O&A rule :) No argument about Stern, just not a fan of him anymore.
Chapel
elpierce
Posted 1:33 AM 21/4/08
Ron and Fez Noon to 3:00!
I heard this segment, and it furthers the idea that this will be the biggest game of all time. (So far.)
elpierce
YotaruVegeta
Posted 3:50 AM 21/4/08
Why does it always turn into O&A vs Stern? Do they pay your bills? Do they watch your children? You're allowed to enjoy as much entertainment you can stand! Like them both, ya jerks.
Ron and Fez noon to- aw, I was beaten to the punch.
Ron and Fez are also part of the GTA IV game. Ron plays the fireman who shows up whenever you, say, overturn a car. Fez plays (shocker) some gay sounding guy. Earl? Too stupid to be part of GTA.
Lazlow also showed up on the R&F show to discuss this.
YotaruVegeta
Juganawt
Posted 10:09 AM 21/4/08
I wonder if there's an underwater fight club hidden away somewhere?
Lingylongeeeeehh!
I was honestly surprised at how many O&A references are hidden away in this. It sounds like the game is filled with little trivia bits like "Thats Terrible, I'm sorry", that most people won't even pick up on.
Juganawt
Evil J
Posted 6:18 AM 22/4/08
@Islandkiwi:
I used to like Pugs and Kelly until a few months ago. Other than the RMS, the whole station gets unlistenable during campaign season...
I'm all for reasonable political debate, but it gets kinda ridiculous when they obviously have no idea what they're talking about and continue to do so. At least Russ Martin admits that he's a know-nothing...
Evil J