GTA IV (PC) - Latest News

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ld13

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60 Minute COUNTDOWN!

DagegeN said:
Yeah thanks and i am sitting at work. :sick:
Click to expand...

Ouch, You have something to look forward to tonight at least :D
I just hope I'm not one of those sitting with the seemingly random problems being reported all over. Could happen to anyone.
Cheers for now ...
*Heads off to store* :cool:
 
eye_suc

eye_suc

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ok, now that you guys have the game (or starting to get the game), please report back any issues or problems you might have experienced.

here is a 20 step guide for playing GTAIV on the PC

20 Easy Steps to Starting GTA IV on Your PC
Ok, I've been pretty lenient towards the online activation of PC games lately. If it means I get to play an awesome game, I'll put up with it, and have been urging people to do the same. But this may be because I've only come across good ones so far, like Dead Space, that checks the disc once for 2 seconds then never bothers you again.

Leave it up to good old Microsoft and Rockstar to spoil that run.

GTA IV for the PC has just taken anti-piracy protection to the next level. To demonstrate, here's a step by step process on how you can start - not play- the game:

Step 1: "Tut" loudly as you are forced to agree to be part of the Rockstar Social Club; a Gamespy type program that must be installed before you can install the game.

Step 2. Install the game. It comes on 2 DVDs, taking up 16GB's of space.

Step 3: Growl loudly when asked to make a Microsoft Live account. If you haven't done so, be prepared for an arduous task in itself. Begin to cry.

Step 4: Wipe tears of frustration from eyes. Unclench jaw. Finish installing the game.

Step 5: Start crying again when you realise you must now make a Rockstar Social Club account. Do so while chanting a mantra of harsh words (language choice is optional).

Step 6: Go to email account to find validation code. See no email. Break something within arms reach.

Step 7: Ask website to resubmit code. Eventually find it in the junk folder. Consider offering Satan your soul to end the pain. Click validation link.

Step 8: Choose whether to assign your Xbox, Play Station or PC Microsoft Live account to the Rockstar Social Club. Plot assassination of Microsoft Live creator. Choose account.

Step 9: Attempt to sign into account as requested. Check watch: it's dinner time... but didn't you just eat breakfast?

Step 10: Finally finish creating Rockstar Social Club account. Sigh with wary relief. Start Social Club program.

Step 11: Speak in tongues as the program updates. Make a pot plant spontaneously combust.

Step 12: Rejoice as a big splash page with the word "Play!" appears. Click it with tired optimism.

Step 13: Bash head against keyboard repeatedly after seeing message stating "Please install the new Windows Live Update". Feel the beginnings of an ulcer forming.

Step 14: 22MB later, install update. Rock back in forth in your chair while attempting the "Play" button again.

Step 15: It works! Hooray! ....right? WRONG. Activate the game again by entering the code on your manual. Wait for it to su****iously validate you. Feel slightly violated when it finally gives you the OK and starts the game.

Step 16: Begin to worry when black screen lasts 5 minutes. Alt + tab a few times. Remove fingernails from fingers due to over ambitious biting.

Step 17: Menu words! At last! Proceed to graphics options.

Step 18: Consider hiring Chuck Norris to roundhouse kick Rockstar when they tell you “You can not set the graphics higher as your system lacks resources” when you not only have enough resources, the benchmark test runs crystal smooth.

Step 19: Sigh, write it off as a bug. Begin game. Hooray! GTA IV at last!

Step 20: Game crashes to desktop.

---------

I hope you find this guide useful. Funny thing is, while I was installing it I was thinking "Wow, wouldn't it be funny if I went through all this, and then the game crashed to desktop! Haha!"

And then it happened. I wouldn't say I actually laughed. I made some kind of noise, but my girlfriend said it was definitely not a laugh. Hmm.

For the record, the game will not start if you don't play it through the Rockstar Social Club, whether you're interested in playing online or not. Suck it, single players: go buy a PS3 or 360 if you want easy access. You gotta keep the DVD in the drive at all times too. What is this? The 90's?

Pah.
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eye_suc

eye_suc

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what worries me most is
For the record, the game will not start if you don't play it through the Rockstar Social Club, whether you're interested in playing online or not.
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d0b33

d0b33

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Can id13 confirm that the activation process is a pain?

If so I'm going to crack my copy hopefully.
 
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ld13

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Installing it now. Did not want to install on a friend's PC, as the game absolutely MUST have SP1 for Vista.
 
eye_suc

eye_suc

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30 minutes installing so far? o_O woah! trying to think what other pc games took this long (apart from WoW)
 
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ld13

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eye_suc said:
30 minutes installing so far? o_O woah! trying to think what other pc games took this long (apart from WoW)
Click to expand...

Nah, computer went on screen saver... never saw the "Insert Disk 2" request :eek: - Edited my post above to reflect that as well now. About 80% Done.
 
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HANDsolo

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What about the option to activate the game on another computer that has internet access, if the computer that you installed the game on does not? That appeared in an article that was linked to in one of the GTA4 threads in this forum.
 
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ld13

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HANDsolo said:
What about the option to activate the game on another computer that has internet access, if the computer that you installed the game on does not? That appeared in an article that was linked to in one of the GTA4 threads in this forum.
Click to expand...

That option is here: https://support.securom.com/rockstarunlock/?c=GTA4

Ok. It installed the Social Club thing, then started installing GTA IV from Disk 1, then Disk 2, now it asked for Disk 1 again and installed Games for Windows Live (GFWL). It then updated everything from DirectX to weird drivers etc etc.

Now it is checking that today is after the release date, this option can be done from another computer with internet. Cool Done. Now it launched the Rockstar Games Social Club thing, busy updating. Goes rather quickly on my 384K adsl it seems. Done in less that a minute. Reading T&C, accepted.

Now you need to Sign in or Register for the Social Club. I've already registered, logging in. There is a skip option as well it seems for people using Offline activation. Logged in now. Now it is asking me to download the new GFWL update. 30.4MB (local link ;))- Busy downloading and installing that now.
 
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icyrus

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What a joke.

Who would have thought rockstar could be so stupid?
 
d0b33

d0b33

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ld13 said:
That option is here: https://support.securom.com/rockstarunlock/?c=GTA4

Ok. It installed the Social Club thing, then started installing GTA IV from Disk 1, then Disk 2, now it asked for Disk 1 again and installed Games for Windows Live (GFWL). It then updated everything from DirectX to weird drivers etc etc.

Now it is checking that today is after the release date, this option can be done from another computer with internet. Cool Done. Now it launched the Rockstar Games Social Club thing, busy updating. Goes rather quickly on my 384K adsl it seems. Done in less that a minute. Reading T&C, accepted.

Now you need to Sign in or Register for the Social Club. I've already registered, logging in. There is a skip option as well it seems for people using Offline activation. Logged in now. Now it is asking me to download the new GFWL update. 30.4MB - Busy downloading and installing that now.
Click to expand...

Aargh... :mad:
 
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ld13

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Aqua_lung said:
Aargh... :mad:
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It seems like a bunch of work, but it only looks bad because I typed it all out - every single thing it did. Luckily you only do these things once-off, then your game is ready for multiplayer and all that.

Installing the update now. That was quick. Opening the Social Club app, clicking Play. Now the final step, and no more troubles: Entering the Serial key for Activation. Activate, ... connected, checking key, unblocking application. Activation Process has been completed - Press START to LAUNCH the game.

Now I'm just waiting for my friend to arrive so that I can start the game. :cool:
 
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icyrus

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And all the pirates will due is run a single installer and play the game, unencumbered by corporate idiocy.

My god game publishers are thick.

Here we see the fruits of the brilliant plan to disenfranchise paying customers.
 
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killadoob

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Who cares how much work this is, this game is worth the effort :)

2 more sleeps yay, cannot wait, pity i will be drunk from thursday to sunday will have to install only on monday :)
 
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