@Atheist Jew: It's less niche I imagine, that's not putting down PC gaming, but on a console GTA online will find a much larger audience. So it becomes a big deal. People have been playing FPS online forever on PC yet the whole thing of Halo and COD4 becoming such huge online phenomenon is still a big deal.

TearsandScreams

I haven't tried my copy online yet. Is it as good as it sounds in theory?

My only (potential) issue with GTA online I don't really think the movement in the game is very conducive to great shoot-out type moments. Nikko isn't exactly nimble with his movements and it seems like deaths would occur more by car than anything, or snipers in good position. Fights on foot seem like they would be underwhelming. But hey if I'm wrong, that's great. I plead ignorance because I just haven't tried it yet.

mva5580

@rotcepsurt: " I agree with you completely and I wasn't trying to start a flame war. I just wanted to point out the fact that if console A comes with a headset and console B does not, you will obviously have A LOT more people with communication ability on console A."

Maybe, you misread my post. I wasn't saying you were trying to start any type of a flame war, I was honestly trying to keep anyone from taking what I was saying the wrong way. (it happens...)

Your original post said:

"The PSN isn't too different, it's just hardly anybody has a headset. "

All I was saying was that I still thought that there is a large enough diffrence in PSN and Live to sway me in the direction of the 360. I also agreed that it was true that many didn't have headsets.

Hope I cleared that up.

Caleb

caleb

Yes, and already has. Bought a refurbished spare 360 off a friend (who couldn't wait to get his red-ringer fixed, ran off to buy another, and had this one available) and when I signed up, it came with a free month of Live. I've got at least a half-dozen friends who will be playing Live while I am not much of a gamer, so it's pretty much GTA IV or never.

WWB

@Tepoz:Hell, from what I have seen, console gamers don't get along with each other.

/jk

homernoy

@caleb: I agree with you completely and I wasn't trying to start a flame war. I just wanted to point out the fact that if console A comes with a headset and console B does not, you will obviously have A LOT more people with communication ability on console A.

rotcepsurt

Edit post:year...

caleb

@rotcepsurt: "The PSN isn't too different, it's just hardly anybody has a headset."

Not to poke the fire (and I don't intend for this post to provoke anyone), I purchased it for my 360 because the only thing I'm satisfied with is the price point in relation to the PSN (IMHO). I know, it's to be expected but as an owner of both...it was Live® that sold me. Being able to check on what your friends are doing at the push of a button is huge (while not exiting a game) Game invites and the msg system and friends list... everything just seems more refined on Live (yes, yes I know that PSN is still in it's early years and is starting to crawl) my point is in the here and now, PSN is still lagging and if your really honest with yourself and you have both consoles Live is still setting the bar...and reluctantly worth the 49.99 a year to me. (I would like to note as some other posters mentioned you could pick live up for cheaper, in fact...I can't think of when I haven't seen Live on NewEgg.com for more than 39.99) Again, not trolling in the least...I just think there is still a large difference between the two and hopefully PSN will continue to take note and implement many of the features that I almost feel like are needed now for online gamming. (All of the above is the opinion of Caleb, is to be taken with a grain of salt and when tossing pitchforks please aim from knees-below because I have a fear of sharp objects hitting anything I consider Vital)

caleb

I love gta4 but i think the online mode is utterly boring.

Ett

If I could only get a game going with 16 players.

My friend also kept dropping out everytime we tried to join a match on Live.

OGHowie

@Tepoz: I'm primarily a PC gamer but I own every console and handheld except the PS3...

PC gamers and console gamers don't get along because PC games have things years ahead of console games and then PC gamers aren't excited about those things since they've had them for so long already? That can't be accurate, because that's not the case!

Atheist Jew

@McGoohan: Mine didn't and yes.

rotcepsurt

@El Patricko: I've actually experienced more problems playing CoD4 on XBL than on PSN so YMMV.

When something I paid monthly for (or in advance) goes down. When something that is free (or included in the cost of the system) goes down I am not so angry... But I have yet to see PSN not function while I have been playing on it /shrug.

Derigor

I've begun speaking with an eastern eurpean accent

3inst3in

Did all 360 versions include the one month XBL Gold trial? I was surprised to see it in the case, 'cause usually there's a sticker promoting an offer like that. I'm sure of all those freebies, some of them turn into paying customers.

Also, anyone know if those with an existing Gold account can still use the free month and add it to our year?

McGoohan

@rmeehan17: The problem is when you die, you go back to the place you started.

So if you and some friends are trying to get into the Statue to see the heart, and you die...

BACK TO THE BEGINNING!!

Spoony Bard

@Atheist Jew:
You see, this is the general rule of thumb of why PC gamers and console gamers never get along.

Tepoz

@LongDarkBlues: I've heard that a lot but personally,I've met a lot of good players and very few jackasses on XBL. Maybe it's b/c I do most of my playing at 2AM but still. I don't find it THAT bad and there's always the mute function.

cpmui99

@LongDarkBlues: The PSN isn't too different, it's just hardly anybody has a headset.

rotcepsurt

@stupidfanboy: Uh...yay!

Atheist Jew

@Lixie:
Let's just say that by the time you get it back we'll all be tired of GTA IV.

stupidfanboy

My 360 died on just when I went to first play GTA IV. BTW, how long does it take to get these things fixed?

Lixie

@badasscat: Ehh...I think he meant Xbox 360 copies.

NPlace

I need Fios! I hate having the shared cable modem bandwith experience.

Tepoz

@Atheist Jew:
This one has online multiplayer built in without having to use mods. Oh yeah, and console players get to play onlline now.

stupidfanboy

@badasscat:
I guess PS3 owners who play on XBL.

Tepoz

I don't like how he says "without TRYING to play it on xbox live" as if it might not work.

c'mon dude, it's XBL not PSN.

El Patricko

I thought about it so I could play with my brother, but Live is so filled with 12 year old racist homophobic dicks it's hardly worth it, and one can only imagine that GTA4 will attract every corpse-humper and glitcher possible. It's a shame - cause the multiplayer looks awesome. However, I learned my lesson with Gears and canceled, and I don't foresee ever going back.

LongDarkBlues

I don't think I'll jump online in Liberty City for a while still. Single-player is chocked full of stuff to do (I've never felt busier in a non-RTS game) and CoD4 still rocks for me.

vanderblade

People have been playing GTA online for years on the PC. Why is this so special all of a sudden?

Atheist Jew

The multiplayer in this game is so well implemented that I can't imagine anyone owning a copy without trying to play it on Xbox Live

Great, so XBL supports the PS3 now?

badasscat

I have only messed around on it with a couple of friends in free roam mode, but from what I did play it was incredibly fun.

Tried hooking up on Live with a party my friend was hosting, but it kept telling me that the session I was joining was expired. Clearly it wasn't cause like 5 of my xbox live friends were in the same game playing. I think it has something to do with the crappy network I'm on right now though.

Clamchop

@superHOOKIE:

I paid ~$30 for mine. :P

(Buy.com and Google Checkout $10 off)

Queasy

The top Live spot is calculated by adding players who are playing single-player or multi-player while logged in with their gamertag to Live.

Queasy

I think it's already started; I was having problems logging in to live earlier this afternoon.

the-hypnotoad

16 player online deathmatch over the entirety of Liberty City...need I say more?

rmeehan17

At $50 a pop per Live account, that's some cash money.

superHOOKIE

Well... DUH!

theTOMSTA666

Im not a big multiplayer person, but this game is changing that. I dont even play the single player anymore. The online is truly impressive, technically, and very fun.

JohnnyD57333

@robinandtami: It's sad because it's true. I just use an Ethernet cable.

LowNemesis

@rotcepsurt

And ya know? Sony fanboys will ALWAYS add the cost of getting a wi-fi adaptor the the 360 because the PS3 comes with wi-fi, therefore every 360 owner MUST buy it. You never hear an XBox fanboy adding the cost of a bluetooth headset to the PS3, or an HDMI cable for that matter.

robinandtami

@LongDarkBlues: Oh, but killing annoying yappy twelve year olds online is so much more satisfying than killing normal calm people. Especially if you packing your friends on your side. It always feels good to put them in their place. They get quiet eventually. For me anyways. Its a good laugh sometimes.

Anyways the PS3 will get more and more of that as time goes on and the price comes down and the popularity goes up.

LowNemesis

@El Patricko: I think it stands for "Yams Me Make Vroom-vroom"

okenny :)

It convinced one of my friends to buy a years worth of Live, and he was convinced he would only want the single player game. So yes, what he's saying has some merit.

Touy

@Atheist Jew: Because PC gamers don't count.

/PC gamer
//not as angry as I sound

Gouki4u

@Derigor: Oh. I've just seen all of these stories about issues on the PS3 and haven't talked to anyone else with 360 multiplayer issues yet.

Not sure what YMMV means but I'm sure it is ridiculously cute and clever.

El Patricko

@rotcepsurt: caleb and rotcepsurt sitting in a tree...

okenny :)

@caleb: No reason to apologize, I was just as confused as you were. :p

rotcepsurt

@caleb: "but Live is so filled with 12 year old racist homophobic dicks it's hardly worth it"

I was actually referring to this post when I said Live and PSN weren't too different. I own both consoles and agree with everything you said about the differences between Live and the PSN.

rotcepsurt

@rotcepsurt: After re-reading everyone's post (LongDarkBlues) I think I looked at your post in the wrong light. I hope I didn't cross a line and I didn't want to draw attention to something that really wasn't. In short, sorry.

caleb

Indeed, having been a PC gamer first and foremost with a smattering of SNES, N64, Xbox360 and the like... I don't understand these people who refuse to play online - and at the same time, think that Battlefield 2 represents a mark of online gaming that neither the 360 or PS3 will be able to achieve.

Get online people, and welcome to the year 2001.

crapsh00t

And if it does get you hooked, will you come join some TF2 games? :)

tk.

I've played 10 hours of GTA but only one hour of multiplayer. I've only played free for all and been very meh on it.

I am still working on the controls before I dive into the serious team stuff, where I assume the game will shine. Single player is great though. The physics of hitting people with the car are priceless.

sand0789

I bought my Xbox 360 a month ago...GTA IV was my first multiplayer with it despite having several games that have multiplayer over Live...and I'm absolutely hooked on it (GTA IV multi).

thor79

if you're one of those who routinely doesn't, will GTA IV be the game that finally sends you forth into that strange and wild country?

No. I barely get time to finish the single-player aspect of a game these days. Of all the games I own, Warhawk is the only one I've spent more than an hour online. And that's only because that's the only way you can play it.

Doshu

@robinandtami: And ya know? Sony fanboys will ALWAYS add the cost of getting a wi-fi adaptor the the 360 because the PS3 comes with wi-fi, therefore every 360 owner MUST buy it. You never hear an XBox fanboy adding the cost of a bluetooth headset to the PS3, or an HDMI cable for that matter.

Yep, some tools will do that. I've only used the PS3 wifi once for networking. I've since used it with the PSP for remote play, but I hate using wifi for anything where cat5 is available.

As for the headset? I have a bluetooth headset that came with my phone. I think I used it once on the PS3, and probably won't use it again until LBP comes out. I prefer not listening to crap the other people are talking.

Doshu

@Tepoz: FiOS is great with it online man. get it ASAP, i'm thoroughly enjoying these wicked speeds at such an affordable price (did i just say "wicked"?), although i'm usin the psn i'm sure it'll be just the same with the xbox

on topic: great news for Live. we'll see if the DLC is worth it. if so, i'll have to pick up a copy of gta on the 360 also, once its' released

kw4k

@Cactuar: I gotta say its a blessing. I find that on TF2 I've developed an amazing new skill at reading other players minds and saying hi to them with my taunts pre mission. Likewise over on COD4 I have yet to find anyone with anything worthwhile to say.

Though one guy did nail me pretty good with an amazing war cry and screaming "I'm GONNA STAB YOU!!". Very effective.

Garrison Dean, King Awesome

@BMErdin: Heh, now that's a phenomenon that hasn't changed since first online FPS ever appeared. Everyone always calls others out for their weapon of choice, every gun, other than the one you hold of course, is somehow magically overpowered, and you still stick to yours. : P In MMORPGs it's the same, but with classes.

ara

Argh, i bought the PS3 version to play with my friends(more irl friends on the ps3 than xbox) and have since tuesday only been able to get online twice.

i had planned on getting the 360 version later, when the dlc dropped, but might have to get it earlier, just to play the multiplayer.

though the whole "no one on psn has mics" is both a blessing and a curse.

Cactuar

@OGHowie:

THANK YOU!!! I wondered if anyone else was having the massive issues my friends and I have had getting a decent game together. Give GTAIV all of the praise you want, but the lack of a true lobby system similar to Halo's is a real pain in the ass.

This is a fact: I have yet to play a GTAIV multiplayer game with more than 7 people in the room after many, many tries.

At this point, I say the multiplayer blows...and it's a damn shame.

elpierce

@TearsandScreams: That's a very good point. Consider yourself followed.

@Gouki4u:

D:

Atheist Jew

@crapsh00t: I've been playing multi-player games since IPX/SPX was the protocol that had to be used to play them. Apart from the one MMO that I still play, I've gone totally meh on all online play these days. It just doesn't seem to be as fun as it used to be.

Doshu

"THIS I KNOW ASSHOLE!"

Rebel Without Applause

Regarding the racist homophobes on Live. I particularly find it amusing when I have several on my team talking about how gay the other team is by their choice of guns or placement while at the same time that other team is kicking our collective butts. Happened the other day of CoD.

Idiots: "Man, like their whole f'ing fag team is using the f'ing P90, they are so ghey."
Me: "Um, you do realize they have double our score, right?"
Idiots: "Yeah, they suck"
Me: *mute, mute, mute.

BMErdin

I know that a couple of my coworkers subscribe to Xbox Live Gold thanks to GTA.

"it will likely be the best-selling game launched all year and we expect it will drive a lot of new members to Xbox Live."

That didn't sound too assuring. What other game can possibly outsell GTA this year??
MGS? Not as a PS3 exclusive.
Gears2? Hasn't reached Halo-level
COD5? Not created by Infinity Ward
GH4 or RB2? Hmmm, no.

mcool93

This may sound bizarre, but I just never play online anymore. I'll play online with FRIENDS though, but not just some random match or anything. The only online game I'll ever play is FFXI and I've been playing that for a long time. Halo 3 destroyed online fun for me. Where as at one point, I was always eager to jump into any random game until I kept getting stuck in matches where I was constantly getting called names and such. It would always involve me (accidently) taking someone elses' kill and i would get so much shit for it. After a few months, I stopped playing because it simply was not fun anymore. This also happened on Gears of War. Both games are in a new spot now: GameStop.

I'll try GTAIV Multiplayer if its that good. But it'll be a rare occurrence.

Sigma-D

I hate Aaron Greenberg.

darkstar5555

Meh i disagree, multiplayer isnt going to keep most peoples attentions for that long. Its fun to mess around but ill be going back to cod4 for multiplayer soon. The interface is pretty horrible too and the party system is broken.

ali_g_84uk

Wow, the number of Live subscriptions is predicted to increase due to GTA4? This is truly a bold, earth-shattering prediction. I hope he didn't bet the farm on that one. /sarcasm

Puck

@darkstar5555: That's a powerful statement.

okenny :)

@Spoony Bard: That's why you turn on the option to have players spawn near where the majority of players are concentrated.

Nosignalinput