GTA 4 - simply stunning one year later...

October 31, 2009

This is not a pointless thread at all! Finally someone who has something good to say about this game. Instead of bashing it for all it's relatively minor bugs and/or just because their PC can't run it properly.

October 31, 2009

All games that are released as a bad, unoptimized port with various bugs and performance glitches don't give their companies a good look. GTA IV PC falls on this situation, its release was a disaster, and almost one year later, not much has been changed, even though the game has certainly improved. But all those patches should have been done before the game was released.

GTA IV is NOT a game meant for future hardware. Jesus, when people is going to understand that the hardware we had in December 2008 was enough to run GTA IV maxed out (resolution included)? And in some cases, even older hardware could run the game maxed out.

Of course that now, almost one year later, hardware has improved and people has bought new stuff. Why does GTA runs "better" now and looks amazing? Because the new hardware can carry the glitchy game engine without much effort. What a surprise... it was the same thing with Crysis. The game still looks amazing, but only years later can one buy hardware powerful enough to run it. Not only its graphics are insanely good, it wasn't properly optmized at the time. GTA IV is in the exactly same situation.

I don't really care about the game now. I might load it up once a week for some carnage around LC, but that's it. Yes the gameplay is very good, the story is interesting, the graphics are still good (except the characters details, but that's always been just average), the multiplayer can still provide some fun and the mods certainly improve the game's lifespan but... it has lost its magic, at least for me. It's not "new" anymore, and to be honest, the lack of more funny stuff to do (like we have in TBOGT) made me tired of the game after about 9 months playing it (which is quite a time, but SA kept me playing for 3 and a half years...)

GTA IV is a great game, one of the best I've ever played. Too bad R* Toronto did a bad job, but if you "skip" the performance problems... it's a hell of a game! And if we ever get TLAD and TBOGT... things will get hot again!

November 1, 2009

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

November 2, 2009

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

I consider minor bugs anything that don't stop me playing the game. If you are not trying to play on some ancient hardware, no major issues should occur. Many of the problems posted here are due to an user error anyway. If you can't/don't have the patience to deal with all the crap you may encounter in PC gaming, then move to console. End of story.

November 3, 2009

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

[Touche]If you can't/don't have the patience to deal with all the crap you may encounter in PC gaming, then move to console. End of story.[/Touche]

^^^^^^^^

November 5, 2009

This game is a stunning masterpiece on the consoles.

On the PC the game is unfortunately ruined for most people. While the game is essentially the same, the lag and unacceptably high system requirements prevent anyone who doesn't exceed them from enjoying the true masterpiece that the game is. This lag would be semi-acceptable if the graphics looked great on low-medium settings, or even high-medium settings (what I run it on), but it doesn't look exceptionally impressive until you max it out.

This is partially due to the small distance between the average PC gamer and the monitor (1 meter at most :-/), but also for reasons I can't explain. When I sit with my friend and watch him play The Ballad of Gay Tony on his Xbox360, the game simply looks more impressive despite the lower textures and poor draw distances.

All of this could be ignored if the frame-rate was always 30 FPS or above, but it isn't unless one has a quad core. Maybe most of the people who visit this forum regular do, but one has to remember that those who bother to create an account AND post things on this forum regularly are rather-hardcore gamers - thus having quad cores. The majority of the PC gaming community is stuck at single and dual cores, and does not run this game on maximum settings. I run it on medium-high simply because decreasing them doesn't change my 20-25 FPS frame-rate and increasing them makes me lose some frames per second.

The game is beautiful when it runs smoothly, yet unfortunately I (and most other PC GTA gamers) have never experienced Niko Bellic running in a smooth, graceful manner. You know what I'm talking about, right? The 25 FPS is noticeable in Niko's running style - it's simply not as smooth (although I wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't seen the console version).

So, this beauty of a game is stopped by rather dulled-down visuals and poor frame-rates - all a result of rather-pathetic porting on Rockstar's part.

Sure, this is all stuff most of you have heard before, but it's my opinion and I therefore feel the need to voice it.

November 6, 2009

This game is a stunning masterpiece on the consoles.

x) Compared to PC running smoothly at 1920x1080, the consoles are crap.

On the PC the game is unfortunately ruined for most people. While the game is essentially the same, the lag and unacceptably high system requirements prevent anyone who doesn't exceed them from enjoying the true masterpiece that the game is. This lag would be semi-acceptable if the graphics looked great on low-medium settings, or even high-medium settings (what I run it on), but it doesn't look exceptionally impressive until you max it out.

x) Yes, agreed, it's not a casual users game. If you are a PC gamer and more particularly, like me, a GTA PC gamer, then it is worth the effort and expence to make it work.

This is partially due to the small distance between the average PC gamer and the monitor (1 meter at most :-/), but also for reasons I can't explain. When I sit with my friend and watch him play The Ballad of Gay Tony on his Xbox360, the game simply looks more impressive despite the lower textures and poor draw distances.

x) Yes, in my opinion it is better played at a distance on a big monitor, projector even. The crouched over the keyboard pose does not appeal.

All of this could be ignored if the frame-rate was always 30 FPS or above, but it isn't unless one has a quad core. Maybe most of the people who visit this forum regular do, but one has to remember that those who bother to create an account AND post things on this forum regularly are rather-hardcore gamers - thus having quad cores. The majority of the PC gaming community is stuck at single and dual cores, and does not run this game on maximum settings. I run it on medium-high simply because decreasing them doesn't change my 20-25 FPS frame-rate and increasing them makes me lose some frames per second.

x) I'm sorry if people cant afford to run it as well as it should be run.

The game is beautiful when it runs smoothly, yet unfortunately I (and most other PC GTA gamers) have never experienced Niko Bellic running in a smooth, graceful manner. You know what I'm talking about, right? The 25 FPS is noticeable in Niko's running style - it's simply not as smooth (although I wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't seen the console version).

So, this beauty of a game is stopped by rather dulled-down visuals and poor frame-rates - all a result of rather-pathetic porting on Rockstar's part.

x)The porting is brilliant. Rather dulled down visuals? Exactly the opposite!

They made it to run ok on consoles for the masses, but maxed out on PC, is magestic beauty!

Sure, this is all stuff most of you have heard before, but it's my opinion and I therefore feel the need to voice it.

Me too.

November 6, 2009

This game is a stunning masterpiece on the consoles.

x) Compared to PC running smoothly at 1920x1080, the consoles are crap.

On the PC the game is unfortunately ruined for most people. While the game is essentially the same, the lag and unacceptably high system requirements prevent anyone who doesn't exceed them from enjoying the true masterpiece that the game is. This lag would be semi-acceptable if the graphics looked great on low-medium settings, or even high-medium settings (what I run it on), but it doesn't look exceptionally impressive until you max it out.

x) Yes, agreed, it's not a casual users game. If you are a PC gamer and more particularly, like me, a    GTA PC gamer, then it is worth the effort and expence to make it work.

This is partially due to the small distance between the average PC gamer and the monitor (1 meter at most :-/), but also for reasons I can't explain. When I sit with my friend and watch him play The Ballad of Gay Tony on his Xbox360, the game simply looks more impressive despite the lower textures and poor draw distances.

x) Yes, in my opinion it is better played at a distance on a big monitor, projector even. The crouched   over the keyboard pose does not appeal.

All of this could be ignored if the frame-rate was always 30 FPS or above, but it isn't unless one has a quad core. Maybe most of the people who visit this forum regular do, but one has to remember that those who bother to create an account AND post things on this forum regularly are rather-hardcore gamers - thus having quad cores. The majority of the PC gaming community is stuck at single and dual cores, and does not run this game on maximum settings. I run it on medium-high simply because decreasing them doesn't change my 20-25 FPS frame-rate and increasing them makes me lose some frames per second.

x) I'm sorry if people cant afford to run it as well as it should be run.

The game is beautiful when it runs smoothly, yet unfortunately I (and most other PC GTA gamers) have never experienced Niko Bellic running in a smooth, graceful manner. You know what I'm talking about, right? The 25 FPS is noticeable in Niko's running style - it's simply not as smooth (although I wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't seen the console version).

So, this beauty of a game is stopped by rather dulled-down visuals and poor frame-rates - all a result of rather-pathetic porting on Rockstar's part.

x)The porting is brilliant. Rather dulled down visuals? Exactly the opposite!

   They made it to run ok on consoles for the masses, but maxed out on PC, is magestic beauty!

Sure, this is all stuff most of you have heard before, but it's my opinion and I therefore feel the need to voice it.

Me too.

Most of what you said I agree on, but don't say that you're "sorry if people cant afford to run it as well as it should be run". The way it is now is NOT the way it should be run. You might as well side with Rockstar and their excuses and say that the game was designed for future computers.

A game as popular and anticipated as GTA IV, and as successfully as it was able to run on the consoles, should have no problem running on maximum settings on the cheapest dual core CPU out there. The fact that it requires a quad core is simply sad.

I also don't agree with you saying that the expense and effort of making GTA IV run on the PC is worth it if I'm a GTA PC gamer like you. That's just sucking up to Rockstar, and that will only end up for the worse for both of us.

November 6, 2009

Well I think the game runs pretty good on my PC and I'm enjoying it greatly.

November 6, 2009

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

I consider minor bugs anything that don't stop me playing the game. If you are not trying to play on some ancient hardware, no major issues should occur. Many of the problems posted here are due to an user error anyway. If you can't/don't have the patience to deal with all the crap you may encounter in PC gaming, then move to console. End of story.

You really have not idea what you're talking about.

* RGSC and all RGSC related issues that prevent you from running the game or at least joining the multipalyer

* .net framework and .net framework related issues (nothing to do with GTAIV? Well, why the f*ck does GTAIV use this framework hen?)

* SMPA error that occurs without any apparent reason and prevents you from playing the game. Not playing it fine, not playing it OK, this error prevents you from playing GTAIV AT ALL on a mchine that runs all the other games fine. Don't start with that "GTAIV can't be compared to other games" mumbo jumbo, performance wise GTAIV is a disaster in binary form. The only fix is to reinstall the OS.

* sound looping issue that occurs randomly and does not go away until you reinstall the OS. This error happened to me as well on a CLEAN OS install hence it's NOT a f*cking user fault. It happens, Nobody knows why.

* the issue where the game REFUSES to install on some XP SP3 OSes and even on some Vista SP1 systems because it asks for an SP3? How the f*ck can this be the users fault? the only ix is to reinstall the OS.

* unprotected MP. What's this about? How is this user's fault? There is no punk buster or any other cheat prevention software. Nothing.

* a plethora of performance related issues. One day it runs great, you shut down the machine and GTAIV either plays like it's demented or it refuses to play at all. How is this users fault?

* a simple PROPER GPU driver change can easily cause the loss of 20-30% FPS. How is this users fault? Back then, when I sued to play GTAIv, I reinstalled the OS before each driver update as I knew things will just f*ck up. So why bother fixing when you can simply reinstall the OS

* ooh, I forgot about the corrupt savegames that prevented me to complete the game on my own. I guess another user fault.

You guys are so daft it's not even funny. It's feels like laughing at a retard. Definitively not nice.

Edited November 6, 2009 by mkey82

November 6, 2009

Well... as the topic starter my intentions were never to air my happiness with having a new machine - for christ sake I'm 41 years old and have been playing since my first ZX81 Spectrum in 1983 so it's pretty childish accusing me of that.

No. What's really the point here is the state of PC gaming - anyone following the Meta Critic site will know what I mean, when you take a look at the ratings, and how many of the PC games which are suffering from bad reviews because of bad coding and too early releases.

I'm also playing Empire Total War which was released start february 2009, and it's only now with the 5th large patch, that the games is perfect!

Right now I'm in pain over Operation Flashpoint 2 with exactly the same symptoms as GTA4 - great game out way to early!

This leads to the point: That I can now see - after all the crap I also went through (including 2 months not being able to play GTA4 when patch 2 was released), that the games companies themselves are pouring gasoline on the fire that is eating away at the solid base of the PC.

The console based platform NEEDS the games to be almost perfect from release because of the nature of these machines and it's users - and R* can move on to next release pretty quickly.

Therefore the PC version of GTA seems to get in back of line, and the focus from us PC gamers seems to be negative (I would prefer constructive criticism), but all we really want is to get the same deal as the consoles.

And no - even though I hate to see all those extra episodes on consoles I would never switch to this.

Because as I said: NOW one year later the game shines so much, that the console version looks like stoneage.

Edited November 6, 2009 by MontyDKogege

November 6, 2009

(ReVolut1on7 @ Nov 2 2009, 17:55)
(mkey82 @ Nov 1 2009, 00:39)

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

I consider minor bugs anything that don't stop me playing the game. If you are not trying to play on some ancient hardware, no major issues should occur. Many of the problems posted here are due to an user error anyway. If you can't/don't have the patience to deal with all the crap you may encounter in PC gaming, then move to console. End of story.

You really have not idea what you're talking about.

* RGSC and all RGSC related issues that prevent you from running the game or at least joining the multipalyer

* .net framework and .net framework related issues (nothing to do with GTAIV? Well, why the f*ck does GTAIV use this framework hen?)

* SMPA error that occurs without any apparent reason and prevents you from playing the game. Not playing it fine, not playing it OK, this error prevents you from playing GTAIV AT ALL on a mchine that runs all the other games fine. Don't start with that "GTAIV can't be compared to other games" mumbo jumbo, performance wise GTAIV is a disaster in binary form. The only fix is to reinstall the OS.

* sound looping issue that occurs randomly and does not go away until you reinstall the OS. This error happened to me as well on a CLEAN OS install hence it's NOT a f*cking user fault. It happens, Nobody knows why.

* the issue where the game REFUSES to install on some XP SP3 OSes and even on some Vista SP1 systems because it asks for an SP3? How the f*ck can this be the users fault? the only ix is to reinstall the OS.

* unprotected MP. What's this about? How is this user's fault? There is no punk buster or any other cheat prevention software. Nothing.

* a plethora of performance related issues. One day it runs great, you shut down the machine and GTAIV either plays like it's demented or it refuses to play at all. How is this users fault?

* a simple PROPER GPU driver change can easily cause the loss of 20-30% FPS. How is this users fault? Back then, when I sued to paly GTAIv, I reinstalled the OS beforeeach driver update as I knew things will just f*ck up. So why bother fixing when yyou can sim ply reinstall the OS confused.gif

You guys are so daft it's not even funny. It's feels like laughing at a retard. Definitively not nice.

I think that you can't go around generalizing everybody's PC. On MY PC, yes, I did had some FPS issues, but I NEVER had anything preventing me to keep playing, either the story or just roaming the city.

I NEVER EVER had any problems joining multiplayer, I tried few times, but I'm not much into it, but as I said, I never had ANY problem whatsoever.

Sound looping? I don't know what you talk about as Niko says. Never had something like that.

I started playing the game on WinXP SP3 and re installed like 3 times, NEVER had any issue on that either.

I changed drivers for the sake of "improvement" but never lost like 20% of anything, never gained anything, but never lost anything either.

I am no daft; I'm not trying to start another war or anything, I'm just saying that you can't assume that every PC in the world is the same as yours ergo everybody has to have the same problems as you.

I know that I had some FPS issues, yes, but I like to think that it was because my combination of hardware and OS, because the same DVD with the same patches, plays very different from all the combinations I had: from AMD+XP to Intel Q+Vista 64 with a lot in the middle.

Like the guy who started the topic, I'm now enjoin the game perfectly, smoothly, wonderfully, etc. No, I'm not daft, please don't accuse me of anything because I know that is not the game fault, because I can play the same game I struggled to play a year before, way better now.

je.. I'm almost 40. As much as I hate to see those DLC I would never own a console either... I have the hope that someday we PC users will see those DLC on our machines.

Edited November 6, 2009 by syrdax

November 6, 2009

Most of what you said I agree on, but don't say that you're "sorry if people cant afford to run it as well as it should be run". The way it is now is NOT the way it should be run. You might as well side with Rockstar and their excuses and say that the game was designed for future computers.

A game as popular and anticipated as GTA IV, and as successfully as it was able to run on the consoles, should have no problem running on maximum settings on the cheapest dual core CPU out there. The fact that it requires a quad core is simply sad.

I also don't agree with you saying that the expense and effort of making GTA IV run on the PC is worth it if I'm a GTA PC gamer like you. That's just sucking up to Rockstar, and that will only end up for the worse for both of us.

What Rockstar could have done to make it run well on a say a 2Ghz dual core would be to disable a lot of the stuff that happens in the game, or not had rage and euphoria engines and whatnot. It could have been more like gta 3 in fact.

The Xbox 360 has 3 cores @3.2Ghz each, so how would the same game ever run as well on a 2Ghz dual?

I am not sucking up to Rockstar, but I do understand where they are coming from. They cant please everyone.

November 6, 2009

Hey mkey82

If you read my post carefully, you'll see, that we're actually one same frame of mind - as I said, I had the same problems on a machine which should have had no problems at all running the game.

But PC gaming is on backburner - attention has turned to consoles as there's less piracy and perhaps a very important thing: Everyone has the same gaming rig which makes development much, much more streamlined...

November 6, 2009

This game is NOT complete without TBOGT and TLAD.

Thats all.

While XBitch360 got rammed up his ass with controller

and all and getting TBOGT and TLAD, we PC (and PS3) gamers f*cked horrible f*cked!

I mean seriousley f*cked!

We paid C* for buying their game, we paid them.

We even paid the devs for patching the game!

And what we get now?

And only a big "AAHAHAHA YOU STUPID PEOPLE! WE GET UR MONEY BUT WE

DONT BOTHER FOR DLC AND PATCHES YOU BITCHES, ONLY MICROSOFT HAVE IT"

bUT DOESNT ANYONE UNDERSTAND?

No!

Damned! We are damned and doomed.

C* pirated our money.

So the pirates still exists, even on sea!

November 6, 2009

I think that you can't go around generalizing everybody's PC.

I'm not generalizing anything, those guys say GTAIV doesn't have major bugs, I say it does.

but I NEVER had anything preventing me to keep playing, either the story or just roaming the city.

I did. Many others as well.

I NEVER EVER had any problems joining multiplayer, I tried few times, but I'm not much into it, but as I said, I never had ANY problem whatsoever.

I did. Many others also. Who's generalizing now?

Sound looping? I don't know what you talk about as Niko says. Never had something like that.

I did. Many others as well.

I started playing the game on WinXP SP3 and re installed like 3 times, NEVER had any issue on that either.

I know about at least fifteen GTAF members who had this problem. R* Toronto guy also knows about this problem, but he doen't know what causes it.

I changed drivers for the sake of "improvement" but never lost like 20% of anything, never gained anything, but never lost anything either.

I did, on regular basis. So did like a hundred GTA members who posted in troubleshooting section.

I am no daft; I'm not trying to start another war or anything, I'm just saying that you can't assume that every PC in the world is the same as yours ergo everybody has to have the same problems as you.

I'm not assuming anything.

Like the guy who started the topic, I'm now enjoin the game perfectly, smoothly, wonderfully, etc. No, I'm not daft, please don't accuse me of anything because I know that is not the game fault, because I can play the same game I struggled to play a year before, way better now.

If you say "GTAIV is not plagued by bugs" then in my opinion you are daft.

Edited November 6, 2009 by mkey82

November 6, 2009

Minor bugs? You really have not idea what you're talking about.

I consider minor bugs anything that don't stop me playing the game. If you are not trying to play on some ancient hardware, no major issues should occur. Many of the problems posted here are due to an user error anyway. If you can't/don't have the patience to deal with all the crap you may encounter in PC gaming, then move to console. End of story.