June 28, 2007 - Looking for that Special Someone
As the fires of our anticipation waned ever so slightly, Rockstar ignited yet more excitement with GTA IV's second trailer. With a lot more action, a lot more Nico and a lot more exposition, we were getting tantilisingly close to finding out what this Grand Theft Auto adventure was all about.
The gameplay shown off included Nico's much-lauded walking animation, high-powered gun battles with police, Nico's mobilephoneand a sheen of realism that enhanced the impact of every frame. IfGTA IV reallylooks and plays this good, we pondered, our real lives are effectively doomed.
July 18, 2007 - A Closer Look
By now, we were gagging for another chance to get personal with Grand Theft Auto IV, and Rockstar duly satisfied with a huge gameplay demo. It begins by showing offthe mobile phone-based interaction, as Nico sets up a meeting with his friendly local arms-dealer.
Our hands-off, eyes-on jaunt through Liberty City takes in the location's massive scale and introduces us to the promised pedestrian routines. We watch the buy with the dealer, Little Jacob. Jacob pops the boot of his car to show off his wares, a jumble of weapons and ammo.
What gets us leaping around, though, is a tiny detail - Nico hailing a taxi and riding as a passenger, directing his cabbie using a popup map. We barely recover from this shock before our first real mission experience unfolds before our eyes, Nico carrying out a string of hits.
The action we see is incredibly dynamic, involving the in-game Internet, a job interview, a murder in a crowd, the Resi 4-style gun controls, some violent police response and a sticky end for our man. In short, we're amazed.
August 2, 2007 - Delay Disappointment
Ack! That's it for the next-gen revolution, as Rockstar announce GTA IV is delayed until February next year at the earliest. GamesRadar towers quickly becomes a pit of sorrow.
October 16, 2007 - Multiplayer?
Just a few days before the game was originally due to hit the shops, and a US website hints that Rockstar is aiming to provide 16-player online multiplayer, and hope to open the whole of Liberty City for deathmatch action. GamesRadar towers quickly becomes a well of happiness.
Until today, obviously, when we realise we should have been playing Grand Theft Auto IV right now. Cue the sad face.
