The internets are abuzz, as expected.  There are complaints, there are raves, there are rants and all around LOUD people all excited about this game.

I played it for another few hours last night and walked away unimpressed.  I want to like this game a lot.  Don’t get me wrong, it is fun.  But I don’t see this revolution everyone keeps referring to.  It really does seem like more of the same.  I wonder if the hype will ever wear off the general gaming public or they are seeing something I am missing.

The game is densely packed they say.  Well the buildings do seem closer together alright.  You can’t really drive as fast and as far for as long as you used to, which isn’t always a good thing to advertise.  I haven’t seen as many buildings you can enter as I was led to believe by the gaming media.  I’m only a few hours in which may be the reason.  Perhaps my opinion on this matter will change as time goes on.  I sure hope it does.  I’d hate to think I’m missing out on all the Game of the Year fun everyone else is having.

Achievements don’t seem that inspired so far.  I got one for starting the game pretty much.  I accidentally got one for evading five-0 for a few minutes with a maximum wanted rating.  40 points!  I was testing the speed limit of one of the faster cars.  Since driving on the road without some collision is out of the question, I took the vehicle into the subway system.  I am still early in the game so I don’t have access to the other boroughs.  I don’t know what their reasoning is for blocking off the bridges.  :S  It seems like they didn’t even give it any thought.  The first time the Liberty City bridge was blown up during your accidental rescue.  This time around I have yet to hear a reason.

Some of the issues people are having with the game include the games horrible graphics.  I am glad I am not the only one to notice this.  The framerate is bad but functional but what really bothers me are the terrible shadows.  Especially under the train tracks.

Remember the rumors and concerns regarding why the game was only being shown on the 360 and not the PS3?  It appears as though Rockstars solution to the "rumored" framerate issues on the PS3 were solved by dropping the resolution.  The PS3 version of GTA IV is not running in "full HD" 1080p or "true" HD 720p 2xMSAA like the 360 version.  It is running at 640p without antialiasing.  Some fanboys though are claiming that it still looks better than the 360 version.  :S

I don’t really care, the game is fun.  But it doesn’t feel that much different than GTAIII/San Andreas/Vice City.  It is definitely a lot more sexual though.  The health boost prostitutes are much more graphic than they used to be.  Do they have to be for you to get the idea?  I don’t think Rockstar had to be so graphic to sell this game.  It was a guaranteed blockbuster.  Why would they include stuff that would only get them more media heat.  Strippers?  Fine if they are in the background but to be able to go, sit and watch them?  Why really?  Do you get points?

I don’t mean to question the morality of an adult game.  I am just questioning their reasoning as a developer.  Hentai software is out there, but you rarely find a GOOD game with adult content.  I just question their motives since this is a good developer and a good game.  They didn’t need to shoot themselves in the foot like this.  It was already going to sell.

I have found the motorcycles a lot more manuverable than the cars and trucks.  That is my vehicle of choice for now.

I don’t know anyone personally that has had the game lock up on them but I feel for those that have.  I am interested to find out what percentage of total GTAIV copies sold are having this issue.  More importantly, what percentage on each console.

Tonight I will try to play online a little.  I won’t be playing too much though, I don’t want to ruin any surprizes.