GTA IV: Running Diary Part I
I should point out that this log is over a week old, but after some grammar-related edits and checking for overall flow it looks like it is finally ready to be. The second half of this event will be saved for later in the week. The third and final part will involve overall game impressions now that I’ve played many hours past the end of the story.
(originally written Monday, April 28th)
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11:25 – Apparently pre-ordering the game isn’t enough. Now I need a ticket number to stand in line. When did this trend start? People who haven’t paid for the game in full still get it before I do? Someone needs to explain this to me.
11:41 – I’m already talking about my next planned gaming addiction 5 months from now with other people in the store. For reasons of a non-GTA nature I’m not going to bother revealing its name here. All I will say that it rhymes with MC Hammer Online.
11:50 – Someone in line mentions Marvel vs. Mortal Kombat. Wait, maybe it was DC instead of Marvel. Who cares. They’ve had too many stupid ideas for fighting games in the past 2 years. I’m convinced this is the only way Street Fighter IV can sound good right now. Anyway, I mention being a holdout for MK vs. Pokemon. Half the people in line keel over. This is my grenade throwing practice – only with jokes. It’s as close to a near riot as the night gets. In a certain way it’s disappointing.
12:12 – It’s taking 10 minutes for 5 people to get the game. This proves once again that people are idiots.
12:37 – I finally get the game started. I’d tell you more about what happened between the last note and now, but I think I blacked out ignoring traffic lights on the way back home.
12:38 – Giggity, giggity ….
12:44 – After a brief scare of my controller somehow being in the wrong assignment port (2 instead of 1), things get resolved, and we’re driving again! Wouldn’t you know it – the controls are exactly what I’d expect them to be.
12:46 – They’ve still got a knack for dialog too.
12:51 – TV in this game is actually more entertaining that 95% of regular TV. It really makes you think.
12:56 – I spotted my first planned murder victim. You’d think that would have taken longer.
12:57 – Okay, that probably didn’t fool anybody.
1:03 – Not long after I see for the 5th time that my cousin’s an idiot (in the game) I get a pedestrian to dive in front of my car. Driving’s going to be sweet.
1:22 – First date mission and she’s already annoying – just like real life!
1:42 – Aaaah, clobberin’ time. I think it surprises everyone it took so long to get here. On the plus side targeting is still a mystery.
1:46 – After some live target practice targeting and hiding is making a lot of sense. Nice to see I am becoming an idiot in my old age.
1:58 – Oh no, I must avoid cops (sarcasm is a problem with me). After driving around for a little bit (in a shopping cart) it turns out not to be all that challenging. I guess that shouldn’t be surprising considering I have yet to not play a GTA iteration. A couple people were run over in the process. Considering the detail in the game to date with the pedestrians I’m surprised I didn’t see any ambulances in the area.
1:58 – I spoke to soon. If they can save the one that hit the telephone pole on a rebound they definitely know what they are doing.
2:06 – Time to spend a ton of time scrolling through the menus and looking up stats. Who knows, there might be an insane amount of detail in there.
2:10 – These phone calls while driving around really make life challenging when trying to score dates. What, how am I honestly supposed to choose between those two? The save and load carousel begins!
2:20 – Getting lost driving around looking at the city itself. Rockstar seriously needs to be proud of itself for the looks of the city alone. After finding the rock station in the game a classic R.E.M. song pops on. I’m starting to wonder if this is the best game ever.
2:21 – Cars with GPS’s! It’s dumb with the map, but in a good way. The speaking part of the GPS is a nice touch.
2:26 – I went on a date dealing with paraplegics and missing babies. I’d be more uncomfortable, but I’ve seen dates go worse. In real life.
2:28 – Huh, you’d think a police chase on the way back to her house would be a positive thing. What is this world coming to?
2:44 – The aiming system with the guns is second nature now. What’s interesting is that aiming with your fists is a lot like playing darts games with a stylus, in that it’s completely obtrusive and annoying.
2:54 – Catch and take out the drug dealers. That took all of 4 seconds. Always think of your car as a bowling ball – that’s my motto.
2:55 – I’m hungry. Huh. It’s only been 12 hours since I ate last time. It’s almost as if something’s been occupying my mind in the meantime.
3:00 – Round 1 of the log’s in the book. I’ll be taking notes in the meantime and getting ready to get back to you once I’m a little more sleep deprived. Cheers!