I returned home to a message stuck on my front door today, saying I had a package that was to be delivered to me, however seeing as I wasn't home it was sent to the local depot and could be picked up between 4 and 6 pm. Had no idea what it could have been, I don't usually receive packages, so I rushed down to the depot to pick it up. To my surprise, it was Hidden Package #5, courtesy of Rockstar.
I was amazed to see it sent all the way to be, nearly half way around the world. Took awhile to get to me according to the papers I signed, 25th April it was sent, thats mostly due to the distance and the fact Australia's transit for packages is slower than any other countries.
I don't know how many other fansites yet have the 5th Hidden Package, except GTAGaming. Here's what the fine guys at Rockstar sent me:
- A T-shirt of the Liberty City Police Department
- A very realistic replica of a grenade (it's heavy and made out of similar texture)
- plus 10 stickers related to GTA IV:
- Grand Theft Auto IV logo
- LC Police Department
- Swingers
- Burger Shot
- TW@ Internet Cafe
- Pißwasser
- Niko standing putting on a glove
- Lola sucking on a lollipop
- Man on a mobile holding a gun
- Man with Sniper rifle
Thanks Rockstar for the terrific swag of goodies!
RAGE is, quiet literally, the backbone to everything you will see in Grand Theft Auto IV and upcoming Midnight Club: Los Angeles. It's creating realistic and complete worlds that is making everyone just a little excited. So how exactly does it all work, and whats the advantage of it? Well 1UP has published a nice article today answering both those questions, and more!
We will leave you too read the article on 1UP, since it really can't be summarized. However, they also included 9 new screenshots showing just how powerful this technical masterpiece is:
Read: on 1UP
Only a few days after the news of Grand Theft Auto IV being edited and slightly censored in Australia, I contacted the OFLC via email to ask if they knew how it had been edited, and what the reasonings were. Obviously this was before we learned that Rockstar had not submitted a uncut version first, rather they submitted an edited game for rating rather then attempting to have the full-uncut game rated first.
This was a smart move, as being rated "18" in the UK, there was no chance of the uncut version being released in Australia due to the OFLC not having an R rating for games (adults only rating). I today received an email back from the OFLC, the are rather busy so it did take awhile. They state that they did not rate the uncut version, and therefore can not speculate as to what has been edited, instead they told us to contact Rockstar directly, which obviously isn't necessarily now.
However an interesting point is that the OFLC alerted me to a future Public Discussion paper for the introduction of a R rating for games, making adult games, or anything that should not be played by persons under the age of 18, able to be released. Manhunt 2 for example. Australia has missed man terrific games and gaming series' due to not having an adults rating for games, and there could be a change in the wind. Best part; on the most part it seems Grand Theft Auto IV's editing has been the spark of this, which in itself shows just how powerful the game and the series is. Or maybe it's just that some of the Classification Ministers like the series?
I am aware of concerns that the content of this game has been modified for Australian release. The Classification Board will classify a computer game in the form in which the distributor submits it. The Classification Act does not provide the Board with the power to direct a distributor to modify a computer game. You may wish to contact the creator and/or distributor for further information about different versions of this game.
Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers with censorship responsibilities have agreed on an initiative to seek community views on the issue of an R 18+ classification for computer games. A discussion paper is being developed and will be released for public consultation. You may like to participate in the consultation when it is announced and make a submission.
The Attorney-General’s Department is aware of research into game-playing trends in Australia, including findings that the average age of Australian gamers is 28 years old. The Department is also aware of the wide range of views on the introduction of an R 18+ classification for computer games in the community.
The OFLC also make note that Grand Theft Auto IV was rated officially on the 12th of December, 2007. I'd like to thank the OFLC for the information, and urge any Australian's out their too submit their support and/or opinions when the Consultation becomes Public within the coming months.
Hasn't been much news regarding Manhunt 2 since it's announced release in the UK (very soon too we are hoping). However, MCV had an exclusive interview with BBFC director David Cooke yesterday, the interview's main focus was, you guessed it, Manhunt 2. Cooke says they are still a little disappointed that the game was passed for release after all the work they did examining the game to become familiar enough with it to make a valid decision. Considerably more time than the VAC who passed the game apparently.
MCV: Has the whole Manhunt 2 experience changed the way the BBFC works – in terms of culture or processes?
Cooke: Not fundamentally. The reason for that is obviously we thought it was the right decision, or we won’t have reached it. It hasn’t affected the fact that we still base our decisions on thorough gameplay. In the case of Manhunt 2, by the end of it all, we probably spent over 100 examiner hours on the game - including more than a few hours of mine.
We actually got a fairly substantial benefit from the Manhunt episode, We went to the High Court, and it clarified the harm test – actually a benefit that flies across a whole range of games and film.
It all gets quite technical, but for instance, it showed it was not necessary for us to show devastating effect, which was what the arguments had said previously.
MCV: Are you still disappointed with the decision?
Cooke: We absolutely accept that if you have an independent judicial tribunal, like we do with the Video Appeals Committee, you have to abide by its findings and there’s no point showing sour grapes. I guess we’re still disappointed because we put quantifiably more examining hours into getting familiar with the game than the VAC was able to do, so in effect, they were substituting their judgement for ours on the basis of familiarity of the game.
Read the full interview at MCV.
During the recent MI6 Game Marketing Conference, ESRB President Patricia Vance addressed the topic of rating downloadable content. It's only been i recent years that downloadable content has evolved, originally downloadable content was basically just modifications made by an enthusiast. Now however developers alike at extending gameplay beyond the box you purchase. Oblivion and Grand Theft Auto IV are huge games, and both have downloadable content coming soon, they have helped bring this 'downloadable content rating' problem back into the focus for the ESRB.
Simply, developers must "keep the content in the downloadable product consistent with the core rating." What does this mean? It means that the content put up for download must not contain content higher of that on the original rating. For example; you could not have a downloadable package with sexual content for an M rated game that only had violence and horror content according to the rating on the box. If the content is changed, then the ESRB would force a re-rating, which would cost the company money no doubt (for updated boxes I would presume).
If you ever wanted to buy a PS3 this may be time to do it. GAME, in the UK, is now offering the GTA IV PS3 bundle for pre-order. This bundle is essentially the one we seen that was coming to Sweden. Again the UK version is showing that snazzy box-art which is worth it alone. The price is £319.99, if your American you will find out that at that price it's really expensive (Over $600). But with GTA IV gone gold how can you resist?
After being delayed for two days, originally planned for opening on April the 15th, today Rockstar's Social Club will open it's doors for registrations. Be sure you register up for your chance to enter competitions and of course, extend your GTA IV gaming experience. With future games also using this Social Club, it's a registration you MUST have, there really is no reason not to register. Weather your purchasing GTA IV or not, there will be Midnight Club LA which will no doubt also make use of the Club.
It is unknown when today the Social Club will officially open, however we suspect before this-afternoon.
What is the Social Club? If you missed the news, here's some small snippets:
The LCPD Police Blotter will feature a map of Liberty City that tracks the criminal activity of the many players connected to the internet. It will feature information such as the more dangerous areas of town and which weapons are more common the others.
The Story Gang will be a leaderboard that will not only show who completed the main story arc of the game first, but also how long it took. People who become a member of this club will receive special online widgets and merit badges.
The 100% Club will be extremely popular as it will show who out of the millions of players will reach 100% completion first. The first 10 people to do so will be sent an ultra-rare commemorative 'key to the city' to mark their accomplishment! Later on it will rank members based on who will be able to get to 100% in the shortest amount of time.
The Hall of Fame will recognize those elite players who have reached the top of various different statistical leaderboards, and will also contain a personal awards display of awards earned in Social Club competitions and via reaching various in-game achievements.
The Liberty City Marathon will be a ranking of special physical milestones achieved in the game, from the number of miles walked, driven, or swam to the number of bullets fired and stunt-jumps jumped. Other events will be added as time goes on.
Register at: http://www.rockstargames.com/socialclub/
