Info about Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition: Official game description: Important Updates To Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City ======================================================================= We are making a number of changes to make sure players who own Grand Theft Auto IV and GTA: Episodes from Liberty City can continue to enjoy these games. **New Players** --------------- Starting 03/19/2020, Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will replace both Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City wherever it is currently digitally available. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition will as also be available via the Rockstar Games Launcher. Current game save files will be compatible with Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition. As a result of this update the following services will no longer be available in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition: * Games for Windows Live * Multiplayer mode * Leaderboards The following Radio Stations will be temporarily unavailable in Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition * RamJam FM, Self-Actualization FM, and Vice City FM (previously available in Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City) **Note:** Because Japanese is a supported language for Grand Theft Auto IV, but is not supported for Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City, players will continue to be able to play Grand Theft Auto IV with Japanese sub-titles but will need to select another language in order to play Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. **Current Players** ------------------- Players who have previously installed and played Grand Theft Auto IV or Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be able to update their copy to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition through the following means: **Steam Users** --------------- Depending on the game, players on Steam will need to install or update their current game: * Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will be removed and replaced with GTAIV: Complete Edition in the launcher library. Update file size is expected to be approximately 22GB * Grand Theft Auto IV owners will download content from Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City and their game will update to GTAIV: Complete Edition. Update file size is expected to be approximately 6GB  **Physical Media** ------------------ * Games not previously activated using Games for Windows Live will be able to use the Key on the back of the game manual to activate and update to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition **Games for Windows Live Digital Store Purchases** -------------------------------------------------- * Games previously activated using Games for Windows Live will require players to create and/or link their Social Club accounts in replacement of Games for Windows Live to update to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition **Note:** New activations from players trying to install current copies of Grand Theft Auto IV may be disrupted until Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition is available. All users will need to be connected to the internet and authenticate their copy of the game. About the Game ============== Niko Bellic, Johnny Klebitz, and Luis Lopez all have one thing in common – they live in the worst city in America. Liberty City worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don’t. Niko is looking to escape his past and make a new life for himself in the land of opportunity. Johnny, a veteran member of The Lost biker gang, is caught in the middle of a vicious turf war with rival gangs for control of the city. Luis, part-time hoodlum and full-time assistant to legendary nightclub impresario Tony Prince (a.k.a. “Gay Tony”), is struggling with the competing loyalties of family and friends in a world in which everyone has a price. Their lives cross paths with devastating consequences as they fight to survive in a city torn apart by violence and corruption. The Complete Edition includes Grand Theft Auto IV and the Episodes – The Lost and Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony. Release date: Mar 24, 2020 Categories: Open-World Exploration, Third-Person Shooter, Action-Adventure, Story-driven Gameplay, Vehicle Customization, Character Interaction, Crime Simulation Feature scans: - MTX: score 10; verdict: Positive; summary: The game is highly praised for its value for money, especially with the inclusion of multiple DLCs at a reasonable price. Users appreciate the content and nostalgia associated with the game. However, there are some criticisms regarding specific gameplay elements and the Rockstar Launcher. - Mods: score 40; verdict: Buggy but Playable; summary: The game has significant stability and performance issues that make it heavily reliant on community mods, particularly the Fusion Fix mod. Many users report that the game is unplayable without these mods, and even with them, some issues persist. The consensus is that while the game has a strong fan base and is considered a classic, its technical issues on the PC platform are severe enough to necessitate extensive community fixes. - Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with alt-tabbing, leading to crashes and glitches, which severely impact the user experience. Additionally, there is a notable dependency on external resources for understanding and fixing game-related issues, as well as difficulties with account creation and bug fixes. These problems collectively detract from the overall enjoyment and playability of the game. - Proton/Linux: score 55; verdict: Playable with Significant Tweaks; summary: GTA IV on Linux requires significant tweaking and modding to achieve stable and smooth gameplay. Users consistently report the need for mods like FusionFix and DXVK to address performance issues and crashes. While the game can run on Linux with Proton, it often needs FPS capping and additional tweaks. The Rockstar Games Launcher and its anti-cheat measures add further complications. Despite these challenges, some users find that Linux with Vulkan translation can offer better performance compared to Windows. - Steam Deck: score 70; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several significant issues impacting the Steam Deck experience. The most frequent and severe problems include issues with the Rockstar Launcher, performance and stability problems, control and mechanics issues, and compatibility issues with Linux and Proton. These issues collectively contribute to a less-than-optimal gaming experience, with frequent crashes, forced updates, and poor optimization being the primary points of friction. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: Performance varies significantly across hardware cohorts, with higher VRAM configurations generally reporting better experiences. Lower VRAM cohorts often report crashes, stuttering, and the need for mods to achieve playable performance. Higher VRAM setups, particularly on Linux/Proton, tend to have more positive experiences with fewer issues. - Sample size: 639 (3% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (negative, 277 reports): Frequent reports of crashes, stuttering, and poor optimization, often requiring mods for playable performance. - Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM (negative, 109 reports): Similar issues with crashes and poor optimization, though some users report playable experiences with mods. - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (mixed, 99 reports): Mixed reports with some users experiencing crashes and poor optimization, while others report smooth gameplay with mods. - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 85 reports): Generally better performance but still reports of crashes and optimization issues, with some users needing mods for stability. - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (negative, 21 reports): Despite high VRAM, users report poor optimization and crashes, indicating deeper issues beyond just hardware capabilities. - Linux / Proton 16GB+ VRAM (positive, 6 reports): Generally positive experiences with good performance and fewer issues, though some graphical glitches and control scheme complaints. - Caveats: 639 of 24180 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $7.00 - $20.00 - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that the community generally finds the game worth its price, especially when on sale. Many users highlight the extensive content, including the base game and DLCs, which provide significant value. The game is often praised for its story, gameplay, and overall experience, making it a worthwhile purchase even at full price, but particularly when discounted. The mentions of specific price points, such as $20 and €7, suggest that the community considers the game to be fairly priced within this range, especially during sales. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 30.0h - Story completion: 21.9h - Session length: 3.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime. The first quote mentions a 'full playthrough,' which implies a significant time investment. The second quote, while primarily about a technical issue, suggests that the user has spent considerable time trying to resolve it, indicating a lengthy engagement with the game. The third quote explicitly states '700hrs in game,' which is a clear indicator of extensive playtime. The fourth quote mentions being 'softlocked twice in three hours of gameplay,' which provides a specific playtime metric for a single session. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game has a slow and somewhat frustrating start due to its unique driving mechanics and repetitive mission structure, but it becomes enjoyable as players progress and get used to its systems. - Stance: Fun after initial friction - Anchor: Story progression and getting used to game mechanics - Time to anchor: 2h 0m - Friction: Janky and repetitive missions; Lack of mid-mission checkpoints; Slow and frustrating start; Unique driving mechanics that require a learning curve - Unlock drivers: Story progression; Getting used to game mechanics - Conditions: Playing solo; Appreciation for a serious and mature story; Patience to overcome initial learning curve - Player Archetypes: - Modding Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: Optimization and enhancement of gameplay experience. - Playstyle: Uses mods to fix and enhance the game, often sharing their findings with the community. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: PC gamer; modder - Reference games: GTA IV; GTA V - Story-Driven Immersionist (buy) - Motivation: Engaging with the game's story and characters. - Playstyle: Focuses on the main story missions and character interactions, often replaying missions to experience different outcomes. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Story lover; Narrative enthusiast - Reference games: GTA IV; Red Dead Redemption - Multiplayer Socializer (sale) - Motivation: Enjoying multiplayer interactions and competitions. - Playstyle: Focuses on multiplayer modes, often playing with friends or joining online communities. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Multiplayer fan; Online gamer - Reference games: GTA IV; GTA V Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Mature and nuanced narrative (weight 0.48): The game's narrative is frequently described as mature, nuanced, and thought-provoking. The story is complex and well-developed, with moral choices adding layers to the protagonist's character development. - Well-developed characters (weight 0.27): The characters in the game are well-written, engaging, and memorable. Both the main protagonist and the supporting cast are praised for their depth and charisma, contributing to the overall narrative. - Highly rated game (weight 0.24): Many players consider the game to be one of the best, with high ratings and positive feedback. The game is described as good, enjoyable, and interesting, making it a favorite among players. - Innovative gameplay mechanics (weight 0.23): The game introduces innovative gameplay mechanics, including a cover-based shooting system and the Euphoria physics engine. These mechanics enhance the tactical and responsive feel of the combat and interactions. - Realistic environment (weight 0.21): The game's environment is praised for its realism, including pedestrian behavior, city life, and atmospheric elements. This realism contributes to an immersive and true-to-life experience. - Detailed Liberty City (weight 0.2): Liberty City is highlighted for its breathtaking detail and scale. The city feels dense, alive, and realistic, with highly detailed streets and a living atmosphere. This attention to detail makes the city feel interconnected and credible. - Impressive graphics (weight 0.16): The game's graphics are noted for being impressive and detailed, contributing to the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the customizable graphics and the detailed map, which enhance the visual experience. - Complementary DLCs (weight 0.09): The DLCs for the game are well-made and complement the main story. They provide unique perspectives and introduce new mechanics and improvements, adding depth to the overall experience. - Game holds up well (weight 0.09): The game is considered excellent and holds up well even years after its release. It is praised for its lasting quality and the overall experience it provides. Common complaints: - Frequent glitches and crashes (weight 0.24): The game is plagued with various glitches and crashes, which can be game-breaking and significantly impact the gameplay experience. - Control issues (weight 0.21): Controls are often criticized for being unresponsive, glitchy, and difficult to use, particularly for helicopters. - Poor PC port (weight 0.21): The PC version of the game is noted for being poorly optimized, with frequent crashes, freezing issues, and worse graphics compared to other platforms. - Repetitive mission design (weight 0.14): Many players find the missions repetitive and lacking variety, leading to a frustrating and boring experience. - Requires mods for optimization (weight 0.11): Players often need to use mods and patches to fix various issues and improve the gameplay experience. - Rockstar launcher problems (weight 0.1): The Rockstar Games Launcher is noted for being problematic, with issues such as crashing and being unnecessary. - No online mode (weight 0.08): The absence of an online or multiplayer mode is a significant drawback for many players. - Tedious mission restarts (weight 0.06): Players find it frustrating to restart missions from the beginning, especially when missions are long and repetitive. - Frustrating gameplay mechanics (weight 0.06): Various gameplay mechanics are noted for being frustrating, slow, and boring. - Missing radio songs (weight 0.06): Many radio songs are missing due to licensing issues, which detracts from the overall experience. - NPC and AI issues (weight 0.06): NPCs and AI often exhibit problematic behavior, such as crashing into each other or getting stuck. Gameplay feedback: - Open-world gameplay (weight 0.2): The game offers an expansive open-world environment that encourages exploration and provides a variety of activities. Players enjoy the immersive world and the freedom to engage in different missions and side activities. - Dark and immersive narrative (weight 0.17): The game features a dark and truthful story with cinematic narrative elements. The narrative experience is immersive and resonates emotionally with players. - Improved combat system (weight 0.12): The combat system has been overhauled to include a cover-based shooting mechanic, making it more tactical and responsive. While the cover system may feel a bit clunky by today's standards, it adds a layer of realism to the gameplay. - Mission-based progression (weight 0.11): The game follows a mission-based structure with story-driven missions and objectives. Players engage in missions that involve driving to locations and completing various tasks. - Engaging gameplay mechanics (weight 0.11): The game is praised for its solid all-around gameplay, including engaging gunplay and luxurious gameplay mechanics. Players find the gameplay to be fantastic and enjoyable. - Detailed and immersive world (weight 0.1): The game world is detailed and immersive, featuring a realistic and complex environment. Players appreciate the depth and emotional resonance of the game's world design. - Varied side activities (weight 0.08): The game offers a variety of side activities that are more meaningful and varied than in previous games. Players can engage in activities such as bowling, playing darts, and visiting strip bars. - Impressive physics system (weight 0.08): The physics system stands out as a notable feature, providing immersive and realistic interactions. Players appreciate the advanced physics that enhance the overall gameplay experience. - Dynamic NPC interactions (weight 0.05): The game features dynamic and interactive NPCs with realistic behavior. This adds to the immersion and realism of the game world. - Easy to learn gameplay (weight 0.05): The game is designed to be easy to learn but hard to master, providing a balanced difficulty curve. Players appreciate the accessible yet challenging gameplay mechanics. Performance notes: - Poor PC port optimization (weight 0.21): The PC version of the game is poorly optimized, leading to various performance problems and requiring additional fixes. - Low frame rates and FPS drops (weight 0.13): The game often experiences low frame rates and FPS drops, which can make it difficult to play smoothly. - Texture quality issues (weight 0.06): There are problems with texture quality, including texture loss, glitches, and flickering. - Smooth performance on high-end GPUs (weight 0.05): Players with modern mid to top-end GPUs report smooth performance and consistent frame rates at high settings. - Advanced character animations (weight 0.05): The game features significant improvements in character models and animations, including expressive facial animations and realistic physics. Recommendations: - Mods enhance gameplay experience (weight 0.33): Many players recommend using various mods to improve the game's stability, performance, and overall experience. Specific mods like Fusion Fix and Radio Restoration are frequently mentioned. - Highly recommended game (weight 0.3): The game is highly recommended by many players for its story, emotional impact, and unique qualities. It is often suggested for fans of open-world and story-driven games. - Game is worth the price (weight 0.19): Players often state that the game is worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. The game's story and overall quality are highlighted as reasons for its value. - Needs remaster or update (weight 0.06): Some players feel that the game needs a full remaster or significant updates to improve its performance and visuals on modern hardware. - Recommendations for specific audiences (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for specific audiences, including those who value story over graphics, fans of urban simulation, and players looking for a challenge. - Language and platform suggestions (weight 0.03): Some players suggest using language patches or playing on specific platforms for a better experience. Other player notes: No miscpoints Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.28): Players are frustrated primarily due to technical issues, including bugs, poor optimization, and performance problems. The game's controls, particularly for driving and helicopters, are frequently criticized, along with the need for mods to fix various issues. Additionally, the lack of support from Rockstar and the requirement for additional launchers and accounts contribute to the frustration. - Nostalgia (weight 0.17): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's story, characters, and the detailed world of Liberty City. Many reviewers reflect on their personal memories and experiences with the game, often comparing it to other GTA titles and appreciating its lasting impact and quality. - Admiration (weight 0.12): Players admire the game's narrative depth, character development, and realistic elements. The game's atmosphere, story, and level of detail are frequently praised, along with the immersive world and advanced features. - Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players are satisfied with the game's story, characters, and improved performance with mods. The engaging gameplay and DLCs, along with the ability to fix issues and run the game smoothly, contribute to a satisfying experience. - Disappointment (weight 0.06): Players are disappointed due to the game's outdated mechanics, poor optimization, and lack of new features. The dark tone, lack of mission variety, and comparison with GTA V also contribute to the disappointment. - Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoy the game's story, characters, and unique gameplay experience. The realistic driving physics, mature story, and overall positive experience with the game's atmosphere and world are frequently mentioned. - Appreciation (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's narrative depth, mature storytelling, and attention to detail. The realistic driving, dark themes, and character development are also highly valued. - Joy (weight 0.04): Players experience joy from the game's story, atmosphere, and physics. The unique atmosphere, realistic characters, and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to a joyful experience. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Players are enthusiastic about the game's story, immersion, and detailed map. The narrative depth, character complexity, and variety of missions are frequently praised. - Excitement (weight 0.03): Players are excited about the game's atmosphere, storyline, and improved gameplay mechanics. The rich interconnected stories and different tones in the DLCs also contribute to the excitement. - Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to DRM issues, poor game design choices, and the inability to access the game despite purchasing it. Bugs and privacy policy issues also contribute to the anger. - Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Players provide detailed instructions, steps, and tips to optimize the game and improve the gameplay experience. They also share links to mods and recommendations for enhancing the game. - Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the positive aspects of the game and the solutions found to improve game performance. - Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic reflecting on the game's historical significance, past experiences, greatness, and iconic status. - Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the mature and well-developed story and atmosphere. The rich story and engaging storyline contribute to a high level of engagement. - Angry (weight 0): Players are angry due to unrealistic features and tiresome gameplay mechanics. - Frustrated (weight 0): Players are frustrated due to DRM and launcher issues. - Surprise (weight 0): Players are surprised that the game runs smoothly without any issues despite initial concerns. - Hope (weight 0): Players hope that their reviews help others. - Gratitude (weight 0): Players express gratitude for being introduced to the game.}