Technology GTA 4 Thread

[PaulyPac]

^ do you know how many days/weeks games get leaked onto the net before their street date?

I don't follow leaks anymore as there's no mod for PS3 yet. Most leaks usually come from promotional copies of games/cds.

I know the site I order off, Movietym.com sends out products before their street dates, people have written reviews on ciao.com about receiving Blu-Ray movies from them 2-3 weeks before official release, so I'm hoping I'll get it early

Alot of people will prob end up up with it a couple of days before release or something, they always seem to get hold of it somehow once stores have it in stock before official release. I just want to know when it's shipped out...

 

[Kadafi Son]

I don't follow leaks anymore as there's no mod for PS3 yet. Most leaks usually come from promotional copies of games/cds.

I know the site I order off, Movietym.com sends out products before their street dates, people have written reviews on ciao.com about receiving Blu-Ray movies from them 2-3 weeks before official release, so I'm hoping I'll get it early

Alot of people will prob end up up with it a couple of days before release or something, they always seem to get hold of it somehow once stores have it in stock before official release. I just want to know when it's shipped out...

So lets say the game ships out to stores 2 days before the 29th. If i preorder it (from Amazon), would i get it a couple dayz before the 29th?

 

[PaulyPac]

So lets say the game ships out to stores 2 days before the 29th. If i preorder it (from Amazon), would i get it a couple dayz before the 29th?

Nah, sites like Amazon.com will send you on the street date, they could actually get fucked for releasing it early but some smaller sites may send it soon as they get it in stock or you'll get the jackass who will sell you the game early in stores if it's behind the counter. I've read about this happening alot in Wallmart stores over in the US but GTA is a big release and everybody knows the release date so I guess they might be extra careful with it.

 

[PaulyPac]

The shipping date from factory should be announced on sites soon, they always are for big games.

 

[Dogmatic187]

Achievements for the 360 MAY have been released, these are speculative.

SPOILERS!!!!








Off the Boat 5G
Complete the first mission.

One Hundred and Eighty 10G
In a darts game score 180 with 3 darts.

Pool Shark 10G
Beat a friend at pool.

King of QUB3D 15G
Beat the High Score in QUB3D

Finish Him 15G
Complete 10 melee counters in 4 minutes

Genetically Superior 25G
Come first in 20 singleplayer street races.

Wheelie Rider 30G
Do a wheelie lasting at least 500 feet on a motorbike.

Gobble Gobble 10G
Score 3 strikes in a row, a turkey, in 10-pin bowling.

Driving Mr. Bellic 10G
Unlock the special ability of taxi.

Rolled Over 30G
Do 5 car rolls in a row from one crash.

Walk Free 50G
Lose a 4 star wanted rating by outrunning the cops.

Courier Service 10G
Complete all 10 package delivery jobs.

Retail Therapy 10G
Unlock the special ability of buying guns from a friend.

Chain Reaction 20G
You must blow up 10 vehicles in 10 seconds.

One Man Army 40G
Survive 5 minutes on 6 star wanted level.

Lowest Point 5G
Complete mission "Roman's Sorrow".

Over Fulfilled 10G
Complete all 10 Exotic Export orders.

Manhunt 15G
Complete the most wanted side missions from the police computer.

Cleaned the Mean Streets 20G
Capture 20 criminals through the police computer.

Fed The Fish 5G
Complete the mission "Uncle Vlad".

It'll Cost Ya 5G
Complete a taxi ride without skipping from one island to another.

Sightseer 5G
Fly on all helicopter tours of Liberty City.

Warm Coffee 5G
Successfully date a girl to be invited into her house.

That's How We Roll! 10G
Unlock the special ability of helicopter.

Half Million 55G
Reach a balance of $500,000.

Impossible Trinity 10G
Complete mission "Museum Piece".

Full Exploration 20G
Unlock all the islands.

You Got The Message 20G
Deliver all 30 cars ordered through text message.

Dare Devil 30G
Complete 100% of the unique stunt jumps.

Assassin's Greed 20G
Complete all 9 assassin missions.

Endangered Species 50G
Collect every hidden package in the game.

Under the Radar 40G
Fly underneath the main bridges in the game that cross water with a helicopter.

Dial B For Bomb 10G
Unlock the special ability of phoning for a bomb to be placed.

Gracefully Taken 10G
Complete mission "I'll Take Her".

Liberty City (5) 20G
After meeting all possible friends, the ones left alive all like you above 90%.

No More Strangers 5G
Meet all random characters.

That Special Someone 10G
Complete mission "That Special Someone".

You Won! 60G
Complete the final mission.

Liberty City Minute 30G
Complete the story missions in less than 30 hours.

Key To The City 100G
Achieve 100% in "Game progress" statistic.

Teamplayer 10G
Kill 5 players who are not in your team, in any ranked multiplayer team game.

Cut Your Teeth 5G
Earn a personal rank promotion in multiplayer

Join The Midnight Club 10G
Win a ranked multiplayer race without damaging your vehicle too much and with damaged enabled.

Fly The Co-op 15G
Beat our time in ranked versions of "Deal Breaker", "Hangman's NOOSE" and "Bomb da Base II".

Take It For The Team 10G
Be on the winning team in all ranked multiplayer team games.

Top Of The Food Chain 10G
Kill 20 players with a pistol in a ranked multiplayer deathmatch.

Top The Midnight Club 20G
Come first in 20 different ranked standard multiplayer races.

Wanted 20G
Achieve the highest personal rank in multiplayer.

Auf Wiedersehen Petrovic 30G
Win all ranked multiplayer variations, all races and "Cops 'n Crooks", as both sides.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news.php?id=885

 

[Kadafi Son]

^^^ I don't wanna see no Xbox achievement shit in this thread (ROAR). Only PS3

 

[PaulyPac]

It's been posted already, it looks fake because some of the missions that were confirmed on the demo are missing like "Truck Hustle"

 

[PaulyPac]

Owner Of GTAGaming.com get GTA IV early

Well now, I wasn't expecting this. A few hours ago, I received a package from Fed Ex. It ended up being another "hidden package". I thought it was a little odd, since every other hidden package they sent came through regular mail. After opening it, I soon realized why it was specially delivered; it contained some rockstar stickers, GTAIV stickers, a personalized note from rockstar, along with one copy of the PS3 version of GTAIV. I'm advised not to post anything at all about the game until April 29th when the game is out, but who says I can't take a pic or two of the box itself for now?

Bastard!!!!!!

 

[PaulyPac]

That dude posted pics of his copy

 

[PaulyPac]

Gamestop ad

 

[PaulyPac]

 

[PaulyPac]

 

[PaulyPac]

MULTIPLAYER INFO

There are 15 multiplayer game modes in GTA IV
The rules of each game are determined by the host.
Multiplayer supports upto 16 players.
Your online character is fully customizable. You can alter his race, sex, hair, clothing etc.

GAMEMODES
1. Hangman's NOOSE
2. Car Jack City
3. Bomb da Base
4. Bomb da Base II
5. Mafia Work
6. Team Mafia Work
7. Deathmatch
8. Team Deathmatch
9. Turf War
10. Cops N Crooks
11. Race
12. GTA Race
13. Deal Breaker
14. Free Mode
15. (UNKNOW AT THIS TIME)

* In Race and GTA Race, the host gets to decide which vehicles are involved, and the number of laps to be played. You can shoot and throw molotovs from the window, and even steal your rivals' car.

* In Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, the host gets to decide the number of pedestrians, the amount of traffic, the intervention of police (or not), and the type of weapons.

* In Cops N Crooks, one team play as cops and the other play as criminals. The cops must stop the criminals from escaping. They can monitor the locations of the criminals on their GPS systems, while the criminals don't know where the cops are.

* In Mafia Work and Team Mafia Work, you play as one of Kenny Petrovic's mafia henchmen. You must complete hits ordered by the boss (via the cellphone) before your rivals are able to do so.

* The map used in multiplayer is the same map that is used for single player.

* A single-player mission called "Hangman's NOOSE" features co-op. You and your friends will be able to escort a mobster, while being pursused by a SWAT team.

 

[PaulyPac]

DIFFRENCES FROM OTHER GTA'S

* Niko will be able to perform a variety of new actions such as climbing telephone poles and fire escapes, pushing people who bump into him, calling women for dates,playing darts and bowling. Niko may become intoxicated by which the character stumbles and the blurry camera bounces about.

* The player will not be able to fly any fixed-wing aircraft.However, helicopters will be flyable. Francis International Airport (from Grand Theft Auto III) is confirmed to be in the game.

* It is possible to have multiple active missions, due to the fact that some missions will run over the course of several days and will require the player to wait for further instructions, etc.

* The use of the mobile phone has been expanded to perform multiple actions. When selecting the mobile phone, a zoomed-in version of the phone pops up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and a list of several commands are made available to the player, such as "meet me here," etc. Retrying a failed mission can be performed by accessing the menu. The phone can be used outside of vehicles to listen to one of the 18 radio stations. The player can take photos with the mobile phone and upload them to the police computer. Niko can dial 911 to call the police for them to arrest an enemy/pedestrian that is fighting/shooting at him, or just to trick them into wasting resources on a false alarm. He can also contact the paramedics and the fire station

* Stealing a parked car can no longer be done simply by opening the door and driving off. Now, it involves Niko approaching the car, breaking the glass, and hotwiring it; only then can he use it. The way Niko enters the car would look different each time depending on where and how he is in relation to the car. There will be several animation variations to sneaking up to a car and breaking its window. Because of the Euphoria engine, the way the character will approach the car will be completely random.

* Players will be able to choose from five different camera views while in a car, including a dashboard view, two outside views near and far from the car, a road view, and a cinematic view.The new chase cam will follow the player but focus the camera direction on a target vehicle.

* All cars feature a standard GPS device while more expensive vehicles have voice-navigation GPS. Car damage physics have been greatly improved. When major collisions on motorbikes occur, the player's helmet is likely to fall off. Niko can lose health if he crashes. Vehicles will not explode if they are flipped over.

* When driving in a car the player will be able to smash the window with his elbow, free-aim, and fire out of the broken window with any weapon in Niko's arsenal.

* The gunfight system has been reworked to feel natural by using a cover system similar to that of Gears of War and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the reason being that the combat system in previous games was awkward and cumbersome.The player can slide to cover, blind fire, and free aim. When locked on, the target's health is indicated by eight purple segments on the target circle. Players can now target individual body parts using a revamped targeting system.Niko's health is represented by a green semi-circle on the left side of the radar, and a right semi-circle represents armour. If Niko gets injured, he can recover health by eating, sleeping or using medical kits. Body armour and actual health will play different roles. Health is more likely to be reduced by falls and going through the windscreen of a car when crashing, Body armour will be damaged more by gunshots and stab wounds.

* Notable weapons in this game other than melee fighting with fists and knives include pistols, Uzis, assault rifles, sniper rifle, rocket launchers, and molotov cocktails.

* The in-game prostitutes now offer three "levels of service": masturbation, fellatio or intercourse

* Niko will be able to visit comedy clubs in the game.

NPC behaviour

* Police and wanted levels will now operate differently. When the police are in search of Niko, the player will now have to avoid a certain radius marked on the map in which the police will be looking for him. The size of this radius will increase with the player's wanted level (the more stars, the bigger the radius) and re-centres itself on Niko's location if he is spotted by the police. Instead of utilizing the "Pay 'N' Spray" as in previous games, Niko has to realistically disguise himself by clandestinely changing vehicles in empty areas such as parking garages, a feature seen in the video game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. When on foot, police will not shoot at Niko unless he has committed a serious offence. If they catch up to Niko, he will put his hands up and the player has a chance to run away. Additionally, pedestrians with cellphones can now report crimes.The player also now has the option when arrested to attempt to escape before the handcuffs are slapped on.

* Interpersonal relationships are now dynamic; ignoring cell phone calls or refusing help will change the attitude of specific characters towards Niko.

* Pedestrians are much more intelligent, realistic, and diverse, using mobile phones, cash machines, eating snacks, drinking soda, reading newspapers, scratching their noses, coughing, smoking, and interacting with each other through laughter and remarks. Homeless people will be seen in alleys rubbing their hands over a flaming barrel, sitting against walls, asking for spare change, and other expected actions. The flow of pedestrians and traffic will be different depending on the time of day. Pedestrians and motorists will often act as good Samaritans and aid characters that Niko is attacking or carjacking.

Environment

* Niko's outfit can be changed throughout the game. However, it will not be possible to customise his physique or hairstyle as in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as Dan Houser explained: "We want this installment to focus more on interacting with other in-game people other than yourself."

* Heavy fire will scar – and permanently destroy – parts of the environment. It is possible to shoot through walls with powerful weapons.

* When Niko goes to the hospital, he has to pay $100 and he will keep his weapons. When Niko gets arrested, he has to pay more than $100 and he will lose his weapons.

* In a police vehicle, Niko can use an in-car computer to access the criminal database and discover information about various criminals in Liberty City, possibly including himself.

* The player can hail a cab in order to travel to any address in the city. When riding, the player has the option of viewing the journey from the inside, or skipping it to arrive at the destination immediately. The player will be able to ask the driver to change the radio station by pressing D-pad left or right.

* Niko will make use of the Internet as a means of communication. Although the exact details of the role of the Internet in the game are being kept secret, it has been revealed that Niko can access the internet from various cyber cafés, one of which is called "TW@" (twat) in order to upload a resume for prospective employers.There are over 100 accessible, fictitious websites within the game. Although TW@ was seen early in Grand Theft Auto III, it did not give the player the option to "surf the internet".

* Every street in the game will have a name; some missions will require the player to go to a specific address.

* There is now an autosave that activates after completing a mission.

* A day in Liberty City is forty-eight minutes long, instead of twenty-four as in previous Grand Theft Auto titles (one game hour lasts two minutes in real time).

* Some meetings in the game will take place high in the buildings of skyscrapers, which will subsequently allow Niko to throw people off the buildings. However, Niko will not be able to access all the buildings in the game.

 

[yak pac fatal]

thanx 4 tha info pauly

 

[PaulyPac]

First Person To Finish GTA IV
We talk to Rob Taylor from Xbox World, the first games writer to complete GTA IV

With GTA IV due out on April 29 a few of our esteemed magazine friends in the GamesRadar network have been granted access to review the game already. That's right - one of the perks of being permanently slagged off on forums and two-bit blogs is that games writers get the opportunity to play games before they're in the shops.

The first of our colleagues to actaully finish the game is Rob Taylor, deputy editor of Xbox World 360 magazine, and below he tells us (as best he can) what it feels like to be the first person to finish GTA in the world. Lucky bastard.

You're the first games writer to have finished GTA IV, how does that feel?

Pretty darn sweet to be honest, I allowed myself a quick smug grin when the Rockstar guys told me! It's funny; I didn't actually really get to play as much as – say – the Benelux journos we met while up in Chelsea (we were based in Rockstar's actual offices and I think I racked up 25 hours at the final count, while they were ensconced in their hotel rooms playing up to 11 hours a day!) and I also had to write down some fairly comprehensive tips for the first batch of missions so actually I got off to a slow start.

On day two though, I flew through a major batch of the story missions without messing up once and then on the final day a Rockstar PR sidled up to me pretty late on while I was swearing my head off at getting stuck during a mission called 'A D*** B*** S**** C***' (edited to avoid spoiler) and said "Keep pushing on, you're actually nearly there. The missions are meant to be tough near the end!". It's true; the final couple of missions are rock, but after a couple of retries I finally made the breakthrough. And boy did I feel relieved; to have missed out that late on after all that, ahem... 'hard work' would have been hard to take.

How hard has it been to keep it all a secret?

Well, I've been threatened with physical violence more than a few times by mag colleagues after my constant stream of GTA enthusiasm threatened to get a bit too spoiler-intensive! Generally though, it'd be a shame to ruin the surprises for anyone else; GTA IV single player simply has to be played on your lonesome to be fully appreciate it for what it is: a true milestone in videogames. Likewise, my review in Xbox World 360 (out Wednesday 23rd April) talks more in general terms rather than getting into specifics... I can tell people why they have to buy this game, but I'd rather not tell them everything that transpires while doing so.

How did it all pan out then? Where did you play it?

So we got the call from Rockstar to come up on the March 26 and play for three straight days in a row – including a Saturday! We'd usually kick off at 9 or 10ish in the moring, play until 8 or 9 at night, then go eat, then crash before getting up the next morning and do it all over again. Sat in front of a 60" LCD screen in a dark room for nigh on 30 hours – now that's hardcore! Every GTA fan's dream though, huh?

How hard did you find it, playing it under so much pressure? Did you die a lot?

Definitely. It's funny, I actually had another colleague in the room with me, who also got real close to finishing. We were always comparing stats though, and I think I'd died 40-odd more times than he had by the end of the game. And failed, like, 50 missions! So I think in my rush to get through the game my skills let me down once or twice(!) The pressure to plough through as much as humanly possible did get irritating at times – especially when you get stuck on a certain mission – but you want to soak in as much atmosphere for your readers, cover as much ground as possible... all while taking over 4000 words worth of notes on a nearby laptop! It was the ultimate mix of fun and high pressure.

How different is the game from the others?

It's certainly tighter, both in terms of the way Liberty city is structured and the way in which the narrative feels more movie-like than before. Otherwise, everything feels as if it's been given the next-gen treatment; in particular the driving and shooting are light years ahead of past GTAs. Overall, it's a stratospheric leap forward, beyond anything I'd imagined.

Was the game everything you expected? Or are there some surprises?

That's a tricky question. It certainly exceeded my expectations, while there are so many small, chucklesome Easter Egg-style surprises that you're constantly shaking your head at just how savvy a developer Rockstar really is – light years ahead of its contemporaries. Again though, it's hard to be specific without venturing into the spoiler region... sorry!

In terms of the time it takes to finish, how does it compare with others in the series?

That's a hard question to answer really. I finished the story mode in 24 hours, without skipping cut scenes, but I literally blitzed through and hardly took on any side missions. If I was to play it again (which I will be, right on launch day!) I'd say to wrap up the story will take at least 40 hours at a normal pace, plus another – say, 25? – to wrap up the remainder of the missions. In truth though, you could be paving the streets of Liberty City in a year's time and still not have discovered everything. Plus, if you're a 360 owner, there's the promise of downloadable content to come...My advice is: just kick back, take your time and breathe every fresh sight and sound in, don't simply rush through just to finish it before your mates. I wish I'd had that option!

How many "Woooaah, Jesus that's amazing!" moments did you have?

Without giving away any spoilers; lots! I think, overall though, it'll be three overall things that entrance GTA fans like never before. The City is one, with a lighting engine that has to be seen to be believed, plus the incredible dialogue and characterisation is genuinely Oscar-worthy and Niko Bellic is absolutely the most amazing protagonist in any game I've ever played. Finally, multiplayer of course!

Are the GTA fans going to happy with the new game, do you think?

Obviously, you can't make everyone happy all of the time but if any GTA fans aren't happy with IV, they need to take a good long look at themselves. Seriously though, this game is going to make a lot of people very happy.

Did you get a chance to play much multiplayer? Did you get your ass kicked by the Rockstar guys?

Yes, Xbox World 360 actually snagged a whole day playing against Rockstar PRs and devs in a exclusive feature a month or so back. Rather than simply go with the whole Deathmatch and Capture the Flag stuff, they've genuinely taken their time creating some amazing new modes that'll do the business online. Mafiya (a chaotic, mission based affair), Cops 'n' Crooks (one team try to capture the other) and Hangman's Noose (players team up to take an army of AI SWAT troops) were our personal faves...

If you had to pick a favourite out of all the games in the series now which one would it be?

GTA IV. By a country mile. It craps on all the others – even the mighty Vice City – from a height equivalent to the Statue of Happiness. Believe me, GTA IV is even better than the hype suggests!

 

[PaulyPac]

1UP: What you really need to know about GTA IV
If you're anything like us, you've spent the last few months tracking down every morsel of Grand Theft Auto IV info you can get your hands on. Hey, we've played the damn thing, and that didn't sate our desire one bit (it only made it worse). But maybe you're new to the hype and don't feel like picking through a year's worth of preview coverage to get the whole story. While the final game will surely amount to more than the sum of its myriad parts, the most important bits -- the basics -- sometimes get lost in the shuffle of new information and features. We've cut a massive backlog of info down to the essential facts.

Heroes
Grand Theft Auto games have grown from having an unnamed protagonist in Grand Theft Auto 3 to the far more fleshed-out Carl "C.J." Johnson in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And while spot-on mid-'80s and early '90s mock-ups were great settings for their respective titles, GTA4 is the first in the series to feature a modern-day setting (April 2008 in this case) alongside a clearly defined character.

The Eastern European Niko Bellic has arrived in New Yo...er, Liberty City, hoping that "things will be different" from the criminal difficulties of his old life. From the time we've spent with the game, he's the most complex, intriguing GTA lead character yet, with a subtle charm belying his stony visage. He spends time and runs missions with his cousin Roman (who enticed him to come overseas in the first place), the Rastafarian "Little" Jacob, and an extended cast of misanthropes and Russian Mafia runabouts.

Guns
The gun-based combat has long been the primary mechanical hang-up of GTA fans and detractors alike. It's always been one step behind the otherwise solid controls and a far throw from dedicated third-person shooters. GTA4 represents a dramatic step forward in its gunplay, allowing you to take cover, navigate environment options, and lock-on by flicking between targets with the right analog stick or manually aim at targets with a full or half-press of the left controller trigger/shoulder button. It hasn't felt quite right in what we've played, though; it's perfectly functional but never outstandingly responsive.

The melee combat gets a similarly mixed upgrade, with far more offensive and defensive maneuvers, but it lacks the polish to truly make it click. Still, combat in GTA4 is more dynamic and interesting than ever, and -- though they're seemingly doomed to imperfection -- the controls are a vast improvement. As for the weapons themselves, we've only had time with a few, but we're more than satisfied with the destructive results. Uzis and the like can now be aimed independently while driving vehicles. On foot, the new, jaw-dropping Rocket Launcher skims the ground, leaving smoky trails and screen-rattling explosions in its wake. You can also toss grenades out of car windows, making for some maniacally hilarious images in your rear-view mirror.

Cars
It takes a few minutes to readjust to GTA4's intentionally slippery vehicle handling after a few years of street racers and Burnouts, but whipping your various rides around corners during police chases and diving out of flaming, about-to-blow wrecks at the last possible moment is as rewarding as ever. The visceral differences between various cars are more pronounced than ever, assuring that you'll feel a pang of regret when you steal a beater after passing by a luxury sports car on the street. You'll now pop an elbow through a window of parked/locked cars to get their doors open, and then you'll watch Niko hot-wire them before getting behind the wheel (a process you can speed up with some rapid button presses).

As in Saints Row, you'll now see Niko fly through a few windshields when driving way too fast and coming to an all-too-abrupt stop. And thanks to similar physics that dictate every physical action and reaction in the game, shooting another driver won't necessary slow down their car if they simply slump forward on the gas pedal.

The City
Unlike, well, any other game, GTA4's Liberty City -- New York to a tongue-in-cheek tee -- is startlingly, convincingly, and eerily real. Pedestrians drop what they're holding if you startle them, and they'll run to help others in need (and engage you violently if you caused it). Structurally, the architecture and artistry behind every dingy worn corner of the city has to be seen to be appreciated. With pitch-perfect lighting design and a real-time, dynamically cyclical weather system to drive it, every moment spent in Liberty City feels unique.

All of the social parody you're expecting is in place, from the smarmy billboards adorning the walls of Star Junction (Liberty City's Times Square) to the typically sarcastic radio DJs. And while the city lacks the scattered weapons and Rampage missions of previous GTAs, its side missions and sheer size and aesthetic variety will keep you exploring for months. Experiencing the highs and lows of everything Liberty City has to offer couldn't be more tantalizing.

 

[PaulyPac]

 

[PaulyPac]

GTA IV: Liberty City Subway

One feature of Grand Theft Auto IV which is being paraded around the media by Rockstar Games is Liberty City's Subway, a distinct and realistic network of stations, both over and underground linking a few of the boroughs together. Central to the whole city is Algonquin Island, a narrow strip of land where it's rude to start bidding on property without using the word "million" in your offer. This is the central hub of the game and it's only right that it includes the most stations. However, you'll often need to make your way to areas like Bohan, Broker and Dukes and getting there is easy. Just hop on one of the frequent subway trains and you'll be taken there in no time - a sharp contrast to the gridlock on the streets above.

The Liberty City Transport Authority, more commonly referred to as LTA, is the body responsible for maintaining the network and ensuring its smooth operation. The public opinion of the Subway is divided and Deputy Mayor Bryce Dawkins' campaign was almost ruined by his policies on transport. Fighting aside, you'll find that moving between stations on the network is decidedly easy. You'll have two options when you board the train - you can either sit and watch it make its way along the tracks, something which may get a little boring if you're underground in Algonquin. Alternatively, you can simply skip the trip and you'll be thrown back in control as Niko leaves the train at the next station. Unlike Carl Johnson in San Andreas, Niko just isn't confident enough to pilot the train himself, so you're stuck as a passenger for your time in Liberty City. Now, onto the two main loops on the network:

Algonquin -- Bohan

Windmill Street
San Quentin Avenue
Nth Heights Bridge
Frankfort High
North Park
East Park
Easton
City Hall
Suffolk
Frankfort Avenue
West Park
Frankfort Low
Nth Heights Bridge
Windmill Street

The yellow and blue subway line links Algonquin with Bohan, Liberty City's Northernmost borough. There are rails in both directions around the loop, with trains designated as yellow travelling on the inner ring in a clockwise direction, and blue trains following an anti-clockwise route. There are two major interchange stations on the route - Easton and Frankfort (High and Low). Getting off at any of these stations will allow you to switch to the red and green line, which offers services between Dukes to Algonquin to Broker.

While on Algonquin Island, the yellow and blue line follows a much more central route and it is this that gains it the nickname "the tourist trap" among residents. Many of the entire city's major landmarks are within close walking distance of stations and you'll never be far from a theater or restaurant if you're travelling on this line.

The line also makes a short move south, where you'll be able to sample the delights of City Hall and Suffolk stations. If you're travelling down here, expect to see plenty of businessmen moving to and from their place of work in the Downtown Financial District. If you're looking for a helicopter tour and you're stuck on the yellow line, get off at City Hall and walk southeast. It might take you a short while, but it sure beats travelling back to Easton to change trains.

Alighting at Frankfort Avenue will give easy access to the main theater district around Burlesque. You'll find that this is the most elaborate station on the entire Subway network thanks to its prime location near Star Junction. It's a stunning piece of modern art and its signage literally sizzles with electricity.

A main draw to this line is its route around the perimeter of Middle Park. There are no less than three stations near the biggest public space in Liberty City and you'll find that tourists and the geriatric are often seen boarding trains at West Park, North Park and East Park stations when walking around just gets too much for them.

Moving into Bohan requires crossing the most northerly bridge in Liberty City. Once you're there you'll notice that there are just two stations on this island, San Quentin Avenue and Windmill Street.

Francis Intl. Airport
Lynch Street
Huntington Street
Algonquin Bridge
Manganese East
Quartz East
Vespucci Circus
Frankfort High
Frankfort Low
Vauxite
Quartz West
Manganese West
Hematite
Feldspar
Castle Gardens
Emerald
Easton
Algonquin Bridge
Hove Beach
Schottler
Huntington Street
Francis Intl. Airport

Dukes -- Algonquin -- Broker
The green and red subway line links Algonquin, Dukes and Broker. Thanks to an extension, the line now includes Francis International Airport, Liberty City's most significant transport hub. It's located at the city's Easternmost point and the subway is used by tourists and workers alike to get from this distant area to the hustle and bustle of downtown Algonquin. The airport sits within the borough of Dukes and thanks to its late arrival here, it's constructed above the ground rather than beneath it. Finally while you're sitting on board a carriage you'll be treated to the sun, or more likely, the famous Liberty City showers.

Once you've found a place for your bags on the train (good luck!), you'll move from the Airport to Lynch Street, a station popularized by the visit of the World's Fair to Dukes many decades ago. Now that this has come and gone, you'll have no reason to depart here unless you're going to visit a local resident. A short ride further is Huntington Street, the last station in Dukes. If you're feeling like a walk around Algonquin's massive Middle Park would be too much for you, then alight here and walk a short distance north to find Meadows Park. Its unusual shape and paved roads make it an ideal location for running races and it's also home to Dukes' most famous landmark, the Monoglobe.

 

[PaulyPac]

If you're a typical passenger, then you'll be eager to reach the West coast of Dukes for your first view of Algonquin's skyscrapers and bright lights. You'll cross the Algonquin Bridge, one of the only major spans in the world which sees trains and cars sharing. You won't get too good a view as you'll be stuck on the lower deck of the bridge, allowing those who were smart enough to book a taxi from the Airport to get the best glance at the sights.

The first stop on Algonquin Island is Manganese East. Get off here if you're willing to walk a little to reach Middle Park or the many boutiques which call the streets around the park their home. Further up the East coast is Quartz East. If you're interested in visiting Charge Island or seeing the East Borough Bridge then this is the stop for you.

As the train moves to the north of Algonquin, it stops at Vespucci Circus before moving to the next major interchange on the line, Frankfort High and Low. Thanks to its location and as the first stop in Algonquin on the other line, it's one of the busiest stations on the network. With three stations, the Northern part of Algonquin is well covered by the Subway network and many Alderney residents are unhappy that there are no stations on their island. Indeed, constructing the infrastructure required to gain access to these areas would be costly and is not something being considered in this time of economic recession.

There are still people who want to visit Alderney though, and their best bet is to leave the train at either Vauxite or Quartz West. The latter station offers easy access to the Booth Tunnel connecting Algonquin with Alderney, and leaving here will afford a good opportunity to catch a cab to your onward destination. Further down the West coast, the train stops at Hematite, most notable for its prime location near many of the piers. A common saying among locals is that he who cannot afford a home on Algonquin maintains a boat instead. You'll find plenty of people who simply can't suffer the traffic jams making their way to Hematite by Subway for access to their floating vessels without the stress of trying to commute between the boroughs in traffic.

The next stop is Feldspar and it's from here that you'll gain the easiest access to the city's most notable landmark, the Statue of Happiness. Presented to the USA by France in 1886, it marks 100 years free from British food and spelling. Unfortunately for many seasick tourists, the Statue stands alone on Happiness Island, which can only be accessed by boat. Tickets are sold not far from Feldspar, so if it's a warm day and you're not getting off here, you'd be well advised to stretch out on your seat to prevent it from being taken by someone who'll probably drip their ice cream on your legs.

A popular stop for businessmen is up next - Castle Gardens. It's located right on the edge of Downtown and you'll find that the train is awash with greasy, newly hired graduates early in the morning and in the late evening. Castle Gardens is also the closest stop to Heli Tours, so if you're tired of the train now, why not get off and take to the sky?

As the train makes its way North again, it soon arrives at Emerald, a station which is only notable for the publicity it receives when gangsters use it as an underground arena for deathmatches.

The final stop on the loop of Algonquin is Easton. This is a major interchange station, so if your hotel is uptown or you're looking to travel to Bohan, alight here. More significantly, if you're interested in seeing Liberty City's many skyscrapers, including the world famous Rotterdam Tower, then you'd be best to get off here too.