Grave Gamer News & Views — rockstar

Rockstar Dishes Out a Warning for Those Picking Up GTAV on Xbox 360

If you’re planning on scooping up Grand Theft Auto V this week – which you are, even if you don’t know it yet – Rockstar has a fair warning for Xbox 360 owners regarding some install irregularities.

Since Microsoft won’t be embracing the magical data well that is Blu-Ray until their next console, GTAV on the 360 is spread like open-world butter across two DVD’s; one a mandatory install disc encompassing nearly 8GB of information, the other a “Play” disc to be used after your install whenever you want to boot up Los Santos.

The trouble begins if users should also attempt to install that very same “Play” disc through the 360’s dashboard – an accomplishable act that you just shouldn’t accomplish unless you wish to be treated to some vicious pop-in (as evidence in this video) and other graphical screw up’s.

The grand notion behind running the game from both disc and HDD is that the game can operate on the DVD while also streaming from a pool of data, effectively tag-teaming the monolithic amount of content Rockstar has coded into GTAV. Running everything from the harddrive, however, just gums the whole works up. No reason to do it, folks. This has been your video game public service announcement of the day.

Grand Theft Auto V: New Screens, DLC Tease, and Potential PC Port

Sure, even with next-gen consoles looming over the horizon and popping up on every gaming site, every day – lookit; it’s happening right the hell now – the PS3 and Xbox 360 still have some life left before they complete their full cycles.

But we’re inarguably in the homestretch for this generation.  And what better end cap can you find than in Rockstar’s titanic sandbox of a game, Grand Theft Auto?  With an inch over a month to run out on the clock before its release, Rockstar Games has softened on their typical hard-lock on details surrounding GTAV.  First up, here’s some new screens to gawk at – twelve of ‘em.

Next is the confirmation that the game will receive post-launch DLC…And that’s all you get in regards to that.  No title, no synopsis, zip.  Hell, you haven’t even played minute one of the main game yet; don’t you sweat those deets, friends.  But do try to keep in mind the mystery content will be region locked, so Rockstar recommends you buy your native country’s designated version if you expect to enjoy further expansions to Los Santos.

Finally, seems as if good news is in store for those anxiously awaiting word of a PC release for Grand Theft Auto’s fifth symphony.  During one of them fangled earnings calls, a Nvidia honcho let loose that GTAV may see a PC release as soon as this Fall.  'Course, Rockstar had nothing to say on the matter, so commence the breath holding until further notice.  If it does arrive in the fall, it would make it the shortest amount of time a GTA title has traveled from home console to PC in the franchise’s history.  Modders, here’s hoping.

GTAV: Three New Character Vignettes Showcase Crime, Violence, and Killer Tunes

The great, big shakeup in Rockstar’s newest Grand Theft Auto entry revolves around three hapless, crime entrenched denizens who vary drastically in personality – Michael is a retired gun, Franklin’s an upstarting gangster, and Trevor is a hillbilly lunatic –  but each look to carve their own bullet riddled path through the heart San Andreas.

The game lets players hop between the three protagonists on the fly as their stories weave in and out of each others.  So how about we get a closer look at this trio of sociopathic, carjacking goons?  It’ll be a downright bonding experience.

Michael’s Trailer

Franklin’s Trailer

Trevor’s Trailer

GTAV arrives for the PS3 and Xbox 360 September 17th.  You’ll know it’s here when you see everyone on your friends list playing absolutely nothing else.

The Red Herb Roundup - May 27th Edition

Welcome, followers and perusing eyeballs alike, to the third installment of the Roundup.  Once again, I’ve taken the liberty of collecting, condensing, and listing news worthy happenings in the gaming world that the Herb missed throughout the week as a sort of bullet-pointed tribute to my failures as an internet blogger.  Enjoy!

• Assassin’s Creed III is coming and Ubisoft will be damned if you’re able to find an excuse not to get it.  Not only will the game launch in October for the PC and your major gaming consoles (Wii U included) but a recent online retail listing may have outed it for the PS Vita.  Take your pick.
• The ongoing legal war between Infinity Ward’s ex-chiefs and Activision revealed that the publisher had paid the Call of Duty developer $493 million in bonuses.  The ungodly amount is claimed by the plaintiffs to still not cover the wages their contracts demanded (which is reported to be enough money to grant the city of Detroit flight).
• Don’t expect to see Bungie at E3 in any official capacity.  They’re just sending guys over to drool over new games like the rest of us.
• On that note, annoying footage of what looks like Halo 4’s multiplayer surfaced.  You’ll see what I mean if you decide to punish yourself and watch it.
• Analysts think Grand Theft Auto V should have no problem selling 14 million copies.  Rockstar always knew how to profit off of crime.
• A brand new franchise in the Star Wars universe is set for unveiling on May 31st.  Lucasfilm confirmed we’ll see more at E3…Guess we abandoned Starkiller, huh?
• Yakuza 5 is happening, now with five playable characters and new improvements to gameplay mechanics like seamless transitions between adventuring and combat and I don’t know why I’m talking to America about this.
• Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection, bundling the once-Wii bound rail-shooters with new Move controls, hits PSN on June 26th for $26.99.  Should you want one game in the collection over the other (I mean Darkside), you can buy the titles individually for $14.99 each starting July 17th.
• Mass Effect 3 is getting the multiplayer Rebellion Pack next Tuesday.  The pack includes two new maps, new characters, and more weapons.  Here’s the part I love: if you redeemed the Online Pass code, the pack is yours for free, which is consistently my favorite DLC price point.
• A patent for “Game-Interrupting Advertisements” has been unearthed, filed by none other than Sony.  I can only presume the patent was filed in an attempt to ruin the fucking future.

Just pummeled through the story campaign on this bad boy.  Detailed impressions are soon to follow, of course, but I can safely say this is one of my favorite video game experiences yet this year.  The tale Rockstar weaves is darkly engaging, uncomfortably current, and utterly brutal.  This old school shooter in modern day clothing satisfied the hell out of my trigger finger in a way no other shooter has been able to muster in quite some time.

Check out Max Payne 3, thanks for listening, and sorry for pulling you away from Diablo, folks.