Custom Radio stations

[TruXter]

Since the info has been released, I can't believe no one has posted this.

Ebgames descript.

 

 

 

# Tune into the new radio station, Independence FM, and customize a playlist with your own songs

 

 

Anyone else been wondering all this time?

 

 

I will just transplant teh same radio stations I made with gtaiii ported to vice city ported to san andreas. Now ported here to iv

 

 

pc is good. it's great to wait.

 

Have Fun Good Luck.

HFGL.

[PestilenceJM]

Hmm, thats like the news "you can drive cars" or something for me. I didnt expect it not to be a feature of the PC version.

I think thats also the reason why noone posted about it. But ill be glad along with you for this feature

[CharmingCharlie]

Actually this is a surprise too a lot of people. The history of the custom radio station obviously starts with the PC version of GTA 3. However it was also included in the Xbox 1 version as well. The only console that didn't have the custom radio station was the PS2 version. It was common belief at the time that the PC and Xbox only got the custom radio station because they had the hard discs to make it feasible (the PS2 had no way of storing MP3's).

 

So fast forward too today with this "generation" of consoles both the 360 and PS3 have no restriction on storing MP3's (even the arcade 360 version can store them on 512mb memory cards). So it was quite a shock when GTA 4 console version came with no custom radio station. The technology was most certainly there so no one was sure why Rockstar didn't do it.

 

My own pet theory is down to this Zit thing they were doing and hoping to sell music via it (you could book mark a song in the game with your phone and were supposed to be able to buy it). Obviously with such a feature it doesn't help if your audience says "sod this I will listen to my own music". That is why I don't think the console version has a custom radio station.

 

Yes it is a surprise the PC version is getting a custom radio station (a most pleasant surprise) and it is just another example of Rockstar going out of their way to make GTA 4 that extra little bit special on the PC. I can't wait to bomb over too Broker listening to the 80's song by Red Box called "America".

[TruXter]

I pretty much expeceted it to be a "by purchase only" kinda thing for media.

and it would be a format that only can be played in gtaiv... and on the rockstar mp3 player they sell you

 

Actually I kinda gave up on the whole custom radio station thing.

 

I am in no way disappointing or depressed or underwhelmed by the pc release.

[CharmingCharlie]

Oh it would be great if you could walk around liberty city with mp3's on your mobile better still have a mp3 custom ringtone option but I get the feeling I am probably asking for way way too much .

 

I am highly delighted we are getting a custom radio station, I never thought much of the stations in the console version and there appears to be a bug where it only plays a few songs (remembers listening to Jarre's Oxygene over and over again). It was a bit silly of Rockstar to leave it out of the console version, but hey who gives a f*ck for them they are including it in the PROPER version of GTA 4.

[TruXter]

LoL I was talking about in real life mp3 players.

 

Kinda like Itunes and ipods. You can't

play their media on anything other than mac crap.

 

 

Remember, the guys who first hooked up gta

where in it for the music to begin with LOL

 

 

I dunno, I think I would buy a gta mp3 player

and actually buy their media JUST TO HEAR NEW MUSIC!

 

I mean that's what they where all about, getting new music out.

[GTA_Godfather]

I thought for sure this was a given and I don't see it as R* going out of their way. Is it that difficult to implement? To not include it would be foolish.

 

From the announcement to the 2008 release, nothing has really been unexpected for me. Features wise I haven't heard anything that has blown me away. The editor is nice, but probably won't use it that much and they aren't really adding much from what was already in the console version. I've heard too that they've taken some songs out of the playlists too (not good).

 

The only thing that hasn't come about that I thought would is the collectors edition/special edition. It could still happen, but it's getting close to launch. Seems like they would do it because it means higher profit margins for R*.

 

 

[CharmingCharlie]

I don't know so much The_Godfather when this all first started nearly everyone just expected a straight port and probably a shoddy one at that. Now I appreciate I am jumping the gun here and it could still turn out to be a shoddy game.

 

We have since learned that this is not a port it is a direct PC build, they committed significant resources to the project (if they are to be believed). The game is being enhanced in practically everyway. I remember when we were discussing this in the "will it come thread" all we expected to get was higher resolutions. Now we are learning that the graphics have been done to a standard that make the next gen consoles look "obsolete".

 

Then on top of these enhancements we are also getting features included for the PC version that the console version never got (and may never get). I mean sure I can't say I lie awake at night thinking about all the hard core porn I am going to create with the replay editor and I can't say it interests me all that much. But I take it for what it is, it is Rockstar trying, they appreciate that to sell GTA 4 to us after 7 months they have to do more than just give us a carbon copy of the game.

 

The same could be said with this custom radio station it is a feature that should have been standard even in the console version. But it wasn't so there was really no reason for us to expect it in the PC version. After all the original xbox version had the custom radio station but the xbox 360 version didn't. So I am glad to see it's inclusion in the PC version and it just makes the PC version that lil bit extra special.

 

I could equally go into a rant about all the things that Rockstar have of course done wrong since the launch of GTA 4 and the pure mess they have made of the PC version but I kinda don't want to spoil the moment . Yes I am pissed we have had to wait 7 months, yes I am pissed we have had a 2 week delay, yes I am pissed there is no special edition, yes I am pissed that they are using GFWL instead of steam and yes I am pissed there will be no steam release of GTA 4.

 

Rockstar have a long long way to go before I am "properly appeased" but I recognise their efforts to try and mend some of the bridges they burnt. After all these days you get more with a carrot than you do with a stick. Having said all that if GTA 4 turns out to be a complete turd then expect me to have lots of threads lambasting them

[mkey82]

 

(not good).

Yes good. Especially if it's some of those crappy songs. Believe me, GTA IV soundtrack is nothing to look for, it's not good. I don't know what kind of music you like, but this soundtrack is just awful. Anyway, you can prove me wrong in about a fortnight .

 

TruXter, you gave me a great idea for my first GTA mod. Even though I listened to that SA soundtrack until my ears bled, I think this could work well.

• rip out some of the SA and/or VC radio stations (stuff like K-Dst, K-jah West ad Radio-X but not game specific like Radio LS) with commentaries and put them (along with commercials) in separate folders
• make a little proggy which will link files to the custom tracks folder (linking previously worked if not then it will just copy the actual files). The trick is to have that program change the station/folder every every time you press a specific keyboard key (I'll have to look into this, but it should be doable via some keyboard hook, right?)
• fire up GTA IV and change the radio station to "Custom"

WOOOTTTT!!111!!

[Brawly]

(not good).

Yes good. Especially if it's some of those crappy songs. Believe me, GTA IV soundtrack is nothing to look for, it's not good. I don't know what kind of music you like, but this soundtrack is just awful. Anyway, you can prove me wrong in about a fortnight .

 

TruXter, you gave me a great idea for my first GTA mod. Even though I listened to that SA soundtrack until my ears bled, I think this could work well.

• rip out some of the SA and/or VC radio stations (stuff like K-Dst, K-jah West ad Radio-X but not game specific like Radio LS) with commentaries and put them (along with commercials) in separate folders
• make a little proggy which will link files to the custom tracks folder (linking previously worked if not then it will just copy the actual files). The trick is to have that program change the station/folder every every time you press a specific keyboard key (I'll have to look into this, but it should be doable via some keyboard hook, right?)
• fire up GTA IV and change the radio station to "Custom"

WOOOTTTT!!111!!

Agreed, the GTA IV soundtrack does not stand out to me at all. It's one of the crappiest in the GTA series.

[Moustacheo]

I too am glad that this has been confirmed finally. Upon the confirmation that we would be getting a PC version I thought that the custom station would be a given, but more recently I was worried that we wouldn't get it since it was curiously not mentioned in any of the previews (or at least the ones I read). It was good to hear about the graphics and replay editor, but considering you only need one line to say "yes, the user station is back", the lack of info was conspicuous by its absence.

 

Never mind that though, turns out we get it after all. So far it looks like we'll be getting a decent game indeed, so roll on Dec 3!

[HomoUniversalis]

You would call a soundtrack that includes Miles Davis 'just awful'? Philistine!

[GTA_Godfather]

Charlie,

 

My point of contention is that with past GTAs we've heard before the PC version would have improved textures, improved smoothness/frame rates, and improved sharpness and color. While this was true, it didn't make me think for a moment that the game wasn't a port. It looked like an OK port (not terrible), but a port nonetheless.

 

Now we know this GTA is still a port, but it is promised to be a better one as they tell us R* has invested more time and effort into making it better than past ports - with higher resolutions (you could get the same resolutions on past GTAs), better frame rates, and improved textures. Sounds too familiar (just like with GTA III, VC, and SA).

 

We have a custom radio station, but we had that before, since GTA III. The only tangible difference I can tell (and I'm referring to features that weren't included in the console versions) is that we get an editor to go along with our replay feature. Can you see where I'm coming from? I'm reserving my final judgment, but I think we should temper our expectations a bit. This is why I think it's a good idea to expect only a decent port (on the same level of past GTAs), you know, temper the emotions/exuberance. "Greatly enhanced"? Hmm...

 

I admit I'm a bit encouraged with what I hear about R* putting more time and effort into this port. If they are serious about making strides in the PC department, I would like to hear: this GTA will be easier to mod, the episodic content is coming to the PC, R* is putting out a collector's edition (more symbolic than anything), more positive PC press coverage from R* (no more bashing), no more delays, the next PC GTA will not be any kind of port, they are doing away with the delay, and so on. THAT would impress me. More action, less words. I'll take more words though, because that too is hard to get out of R*.

 

Oh, and it's great we can have up 32 players in multiplayer (though 64 would have been better), if that's what it ends up being. This is much appreciated!

 

 

 

Edited November 18, 2008 by GTA_Godfather

[S1LV3R_W0LF]

Why do people keep calling this a port? If the games for itself works since January it means the main was ready before the console release, and for all that I've read and saw ... I'm almost 100% sure the CONSOLE versions are a port from PC. Why the hell a console capable of HD, got a game with low resolution, full of filters to avoid slowdowns? Why so many people got their Xbox360 with RRD's because of GTA4? The games was too strong for them to handle.

 

Also you don't get a port where you can switch quality to very high and where the textures are way better then the original.

 

I say once again ... go check the first trailer in HD, then watch the others that came out ... tell me if you think they are from the same game. I did it over and over and theres a lot of differences.

 

It might be my desire, but I've seen Xbox 360 version and the Xbox went crazy while playing it ... the games was made using PC's with PC quality then compressed and ported to consoles, thats why PS3 got delay because Xbox code is very similar to PC, but PS3 isn't (my guess).

 

Also has for the 32 players I think it's more then enough, I'm a usual multiplayer gamer and I get very annoyed with laggers, with the demand of this game the lag will be crazy. remember the lag isn't only for the connection, is also by the others people PC. I tried GTA SA MP, ok it wasn't official, but when you empty a machine gun in someones body and he slides away from you and you realize you were shooting a "Ghost" ... the game loses all its mean.

Edited November 18, 2008 by S1LV3R_W0LF

[Tomern11]

I have major plans for the user track player muhahahaha!

[TruXter]

 

(not good).

Yes good. Especially if it's some of those crappy songs. Believe me, GTA IV soundtrack is nothing to look for, it's not good. I don't know what kind of music you like, but this soundtrack is just awful. Anyway, you can prove me wrong in about a fortnight .

 

TruXter, you gave me a great idea for my first GTA mod. Even though I listened to that SA soundtrack until my ears bled, I think this could work well.

 

rip out some of the SA and/or VC radio stations (stuff like K-Dst, K-jah West ad Radio-X but not game specific like Radio LS) with commentaries and put them (along with commercials) in separate folders

 

make a little proggy which will link files to the custom tracks folder (linking previously worked if not then it will just copy the actual files). The trick is to have that program change the station/folder every every time you press a specific keyboard key (I'll have to look into this, but it should be doable via some keyboard hook, right?)

 

fire up GTA IV and change the radio station to "Custom"

 

WOOOTTTT!!111!!

LOL, call me goofy, but I think I would enjoy listening to chatterbox and flashback and flash and flash (both vc and sa) and vrock and radio X and yes even krose while cruising through LCIV!!!!!

 

 

Heck I would even buy downloadable copies from rockstar if it was available.

[TruXter]

 

I too am glad that this has been confirmed finally. Upon the confirmation that we would be getting a PC version I thought that the custom station would be a given, but more recently I was worried that we wouldn't get it since it was curiously not mentioned in any of the previews (or at least the ones I read). It was good to hear about the graphics and replay editor, but considering you only need one line to say "yes, the user station is back", the lack of info was conspicuous by its absence.

 

Never mind that though, turns out we get it after all. So far it looks like we'll be getting a decent game indeed, so roll on Dec 3!

I figure the reason they didn't announce it, is because it was not new. but knew we would appreciate it so they kept it a secret and then BAM gave it to us quietly.

 

 

 

 

 

ewps..

 

 

sorry for the DP

[mkey82]

 

LOL, call me goofy, but I think I would enjoy listening to  chatterbox and flashback and flash and flash (both vc and sa)  and vrock and radio X and yes even krose while cruising through LCIV!!!!!

 

 

Heck I would even buy downloadable copies from rockstar if it was available.

I'm working on it, mate

 

Simple scenario

• Hook some unused key (in game) on your keyboard (I chose key F5) for changing radio stations. You can have one more key for changing back (F6) and one more for unhooking (F12) without actually exiting the program.
• Have all the music/stations sorted in folders (best in game dir).
• Pressing F5 to change stations when in game will link the files to "Custom" folder or copy them directly.

Problems

• When you press F5 while in game the station DOESN'T change immediately, but only AFTER the current track ends.
• You need to turn switch to custom manually.
• I'm not sure if GTA IV will allow changing tracks on the fly.

Possible fix but a more complex solution and more problems

• Setting up an emulated radio station player. This would grab the files from the old radio stations folders and combine them in much similar way as previous GTA's did. You have four types of files - commercials, body of each song, endings and intros for each song without and with various commentaries. Combining them in some (random) fashion and playing them back through speakers should be doable.
• Getting our grubby little fingers on that place in memory where the game tracks if you're in car or on foot. This must be in some variable in a structure somewhere as SCM uses it.
• Alternatively, get hold of the location where the distance traveled by car is counted. If that one increases, you are driving and the music should start. Of course, if your aren't moving, then the counter stands still so f*ck me.

This requires more thinking. Also having the game would be nice

[thaCURSEDpie]

(not good).

Yes good. Especially if it's some of those crappy songs. Believe me, GTA IV soundtrack is nothing to look for, it's not good. I don't know what kind of music you like, but this soundtrack is just awful. Anyway, you can prove me wrong in about a fortnight .

 

TruXter, you gave me a great idea for my first GTA mod. Even though I listened to that SA soundtrack until my ears bled, I think this could work well.

 

 

rip out some of the SA and/or VC radio stations (stuff like K-Dst, K-jah West ad Radio-X but not game specific like Radio LS) with commentaries and put them (along with commercials) in separate folders

 

 

make a little proggy which will link files to the custom tracks folder (linking previously worked if not then it will just copy the actual files). The trick is to have that program change the station/folder every every time you press a specific keyboard key (I'll have to look into this, but it should be doable via some keyboard hook, right?)

 

 

fire up GTA IV and change the radio station to "Custom"

 

 

WOOOTTTT!!111!!

LOL, call me goofy, but I think I would enjoy listening to chatterbox and flashback and flash and flash (both vc and sa) and vrock and radio X and yes even krose while cruising through LCIV!!!!!

 

 

Heck I would even buy downloadable copies from rockstar if it was available.

Hell yeah! Sounds like a great plan! I've got my copy of GTA III laying around somewhere, and I'll put it to good use

[aragond]

 

... Believe me, GTA IV soundtrack is nothing to look for, it's not good. I don't know what kind of music you like, but this soundtrack is just awful. Anyway, you can prove me wrong in about a fortnight .

Agreed, the GTA IV soundtrack does not stand out to me at all. It's one of the crappiest in the GTA series.

PHWOAR!

Big call considering GTA-SA!!

(Not that it was a complete waste with early rap, but it left me pretty cold compared to VC, and III's soundtrack absolutely kicked buttocks! But then, I really liked the GTA II soundtrack, too.)

 

What's so uninspiring about it?

[RedEnd]

Actually this is a surprise too a lot of people. The history of the custom radio station obviously starts with the PC version of GTA 3. However it was also included in the Xbox 1 version as well. The only console that didn't have the custom radio station was the PS2 version. It was common belief at the time that the PC and Xbox only got the custom radio station because they had the hard discs to make it feasible (the PS2 had no way of storing MP3's).

 

So fast forward too today with this "generation" of consoles both the 360 and PS3 have no restriction on storing MP3's (even the arcade 360 version can store them on 512mb memory cards). So it was quite a shock when GTA 4 console version came with no custom radio station. The technology was most certainly there so no one was sure why Rockstar didn't do it.

 

My own pet theory is down to this Zit thing they were doing and hoping to sell music via it (you could book mark a song in the game with your phone and were supposed to be able to buy it). Obviously with such a feature it doesn't help if your audience says "sod this I will listen to my own music". That is why I don't think the console version has a custom radio station.

 

Yes it is a surprise the PC version is getting a custom radio station (a most pleasant surprise) and it is just another example of Rockstar going out of their way to make GTA 4 that extra little bit special on the PC. I can't wait to bomb over too Broker listening to the 80's song by Red Box called "America".

awesome!

now ill give my friends the headphones turning into the custom radio station and letting Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up do the trick

 

even PSP had it on LCS. another awesome feature to PC

[Brawly]

 

Actually this is a surprise too a lot of people.  The history of the custom radio station obviously starts with the PC version of GTA 3.  However it was also included in the Xbox 1 version as well.  The only console that didn't have the custom radio station was the PS2 version.  It was common belief at the time that the PC and Xbox only got the custom radio station because they had the hard discs to make it feasible (the PS2 had no way of storing MP3's).

 

So fast forward too today with this "generation" of consoles both the 360 and PS3 have no restriction on storing MP3's (even the arcade 360 version can store them on 512mb memory cards).  So it was quite a shock when GTA 4 console version came with no custom radio station.  The technology was most certainly there so no one was sure why Rockstar didn't do it.

 

My own pet theory is down to this Zit thing they were doing and hoping to sell music via it (you could book mark a song in the game with your phone and were supposed to be able to buy it).  Obviously with such a feature it doesn't help if your audience says "sod this I will listen to my own music".  That is why I don't think the console version has a custom radio station.

 

Yes it is a surprise the PC version is getting a custom radio station (a most pleasant surprise) and it is just another example of Rockstar going out of their way to make GTA 4 that extra little bit special on the PC.  I can't wait to bomb over too Broker listening to the 80's song by Red Box called "America".

awesome!

now ill give my friends the headphones turning into the custom radio station and letting Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up do the trick

 

even PSP had it on LCS. another awesome feature to PC

Rick Astley is old news. Barackroll is the new thang.

 

 

[Neon25]

Hahahah, I lol'd.

 

And I love that PC version will get custom radio stations. :]

[RedEnd]

Actually this is a surprise too a lot of people.  The history of the custom radio station obviously starts with the PC version of GTA 3.  However it was also included in the Xbox 1 version as well.  The only console that didn't have the custom radio station was the PS2 version.  It was common belief at the time that the PC and Xbox only got the custom radio station because they had the hard discs to make it feasible (the PS2 had no way of storing MP3's).

 

So fast forward too today with this "generation" of consoles both the 360 and PS3 have no restriction on storing MP3's (even the arcade 360 version can store them on 512mb memory cards).  So it was quite a shock when GTA 4 console version came with no custom radio station.  The technology was most certainly there so no one was sure why Rockstar didn't do it.

 

My own pet theory is down to this Zit thing they were doing and hoping to sell music via it (you could book mark a song in the game with your phone and were supposed to be able to buy it).  Obviously with such a feature it doesn't help if your audience says "sod this I will listen to my own music".  That is why I don't think the console version has a custom radio station.

 

Yes it is a surprise the PC version is getting a custom radio station (a most pleasant surprise) and it is just another example of Rockstar going out of their way to make GTA 4 that extra little bit special on the PC.  I can't wait to bomb over too Broker listening to the 80's song by Red Box called "America".

awesome!

now ill give my friends the headphones turning into the custom radio station and letting Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up do the trick

 

even PSP had it on LCS. another awesome feature to PC

Rick Astley is old news. Barackroll is the new thang.

 

 

oh yeah

when he have been chosen in america he put that in his speech.

[corvettelover]

Also you don't get a port where you can switch quality to very high and where the textures are way better then the original.

 

...uhm, San Andreas's Textures on PC were a million times better then the PS2's, I've owned and played both and I can tell you from personal experience that ports can have better quality then their original console, so, yeah, IV is probably a Port, who cares though? it's just a game...I don't really care if it was originally for Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, it's still the same game.