My thoughts

[GTAander]

Just wanted to share my thoughts after purchasing GTAIV. Firstly, I'm happy with the performance, although I should be given my Specs:

C2Q9300 @3.2ghz

4GB RAM

2 x 9800GTX 512mb (no sli support...???)

XFI Extreme Music

 

I am a bit disappointed that their is no support for SLI. I am also having to some shadow issues where they flicker some times. Hopefully theses can be fixed in a patch

 

Now on to the problems. My biggest gripe is with the lack of game controller support, what the hell were they thinking? Sure I can use a keyboard and mouse but as has been mentioned, it's much more enjoyable to drive using a joypad. I go to the Control options and what do I see? A friggen picture of an Xbox360 controller. So I'm supposed to go out and buy one of these? Emm no thanks, I already have a Playstation2 style thrustmaster Pad that should work fine, like it did for GTA3. The back of the box says "Supports XBOX360 controller", not "If you want to use a joypad - XBOX 360 controller is Required"....This is the PC and most gamers expect to be able to use what ever controller they like with a game.

 

Next problem is with Games for windows Live.....WHY? Don't you realise that people hate all this having to register with several different third party apps to play their games? WHY must I be logged in to windows Live to save my games??? I don't care if "I can just create an off-line account", it is annoying crap I don't want installed and is unnecessary. I was fine with Rockstar social Club, that's fair enough for on-line play or what ever. But this windows live thing is a joke. I'm (and most other PC gamers) sick of all these companies (EA, MS etc) requiring you to install their 3rd party crappy software any time I want to play one of their new games. Let me spell it out...the only company who has done it properly is Valve and steam. Other companies are trying to copy them but all we end up with is crap versions that they cant decide on when to stop altering it/ changing the login method etc etc. For example, I bought RA3 last week, I'm already registered with EA's gaming software, but that was from when BF2142 came out, now my old login doesn't work I need a new fancy account and software sitting on my computer I don't want and will never use...Take the hint.....

 

Thirdly...and probably why I'm most irate.

"Games for Windows" :- "what could be wrong with this?" you ask. Well, in case you didn't know GFW was set up about a year or so ago because of the dieing PC gaming market. Its purpose was to bring major companies together (ATI,NV,EA,M$ etc etc) to work on making buying PC games for Joe public, who didn't know much about specs and system requirements or compatibility, easier and less of a mine field of unknowns. It was also set up to promote Windows as a viable gaming platform. Sounds like a noble task right? Well it was, but it looks like Microsoft just cant help their greedy little selves. The fact MS has forced Rockstar (cmon, what other reason could it be?) to limit the types of controller to only the XBOX 360, and the fact they are now forcing games under "Games for Windows" to use "Windows Live" is pathetic. This is how your going to save the PC gaming industry? By assaulting customers with MS advertising software and limiting the PC to using only their game controllers? give me a break...

 

I remember a while ago there were rumours EA was interested in acquiring Rockstar and we were all very worried they would make a complete balls of it like they do with everything. I was very relieved when I heard it wasn't going to happen. But what's the point if you have essentially gone and done things we were afraid you would do with EA, only to turn around and do it with MicroSoft!!!!???!!

 

Please sort it out, thanks.....

 

Rather than end so negatively, I would just like to say thanks to Rockstar for converting the game to the PC and for the excellent content. I have been looking forward to this since GTA3. When I finally got into the game and had a roam around it's excellent, as good as I could of hoped for. Lets just say the "wrapping" could use some work

[Killuminati91]

the plan with gfwl is to make a monthy fee. I BETYA. They have all right to change it (you can read it on the back)

and i bet that they are going to do it.

 

nobody wants to save the pc industry. They just want to get the last dollars from it before it dies