* The game has now essentially been finished. Rockstar are just polishing the game and dealing with bugs and minor things.
* The release date has yet to be decided. "Before the end of April" is unfortunately all we know. The gaming press will receive a hands-on preview before then (in about a month from now).
* The Liberty City map was shown briefly during the preview session. Kikizo describe it as containing a large island in the middle (Algonquin) with Alderney to the left (similarly sized) and two islands to the right - a small one (Bohan) up north with Broker and Dukes underneath.
* Rockstar commented on the map found in Trailer 3 by forum member Bluespot. "My God!" was their reaction. In other words, yes, it is indeed the map. Well done to Bluespot.
* Liberty City will contain a subway system, which Niko is able to use. The system covers - at the very least - Broker and Algonquin, but we aren't sure about the other areas yet.
* A speedboat journey around (approximately) half of Algonquin took 5 minutes.
* In terms of camera views, all the traditional views are still there, and there will now also be a dashboard view.
* During the demo, they passed a restaurant called "Poop Deck," where they met with Francis McGreary. Other places mentioned are Oneida Avenue, 99 Long Road (Broker), a bar called Perestroika, and Koreatown.
* The character Brucie is introduced to Niko by his cousin Roman. Brucie runs a garage just around the corner from Roman's taxi depot.
* Characters also often look different each time you see them instead of perpetually wearing the same clothes like in previous GTAs.
* The red and blue search radius on the radar is centred around the point where the crime was committed, and your last known whereabouts.
* You can smash your own car window to enable you to shoot from it; you can free-aim outside of your window using the right analogue.
* Liberty City has one airport, based on JFK, called Francis International Airport (yes, it's the same name given to the airport in GTA
.
* Progress is automatically saved after completing a mission. There are also safe houses dotted around the city, which you can save at any time.
* In this demo, the cell network is called Badger, whereas in the last demo it was called Whiz.
* Building relationships with characters is important. During the preview, Jacob comes to meet you rather than vice versa. This is only possibly once your friendship with Jacob has developed to a certain stage. Relationships can be damaged if you (for example) fail to turn up for meetings.
* Pool, eating, darts, and bowling are just some of the 'friend' activities possible in GTA IV. The cellphone is used to access these activities.
* There is a radio station called IF99.
* The game clock is no longer one minute = one hour. It is now two minutes = one hour. So days are now longer.
* One of the missions previewed during the demo is called "Deconstruction for Beginners". A new character called Playboy X is introduced by Elizabeta (who happens to be a friend of Niko's). Playbox X is one of the characters who provides missions in the game. He lives in a mansion.
* The new targetting system was described. There are eight purple segments in the target circle that make up someone's health, which you get when you're locked on - during free aiming you don't get the indicator.
* Another mission called "Truck Hustle" was previewed. Two new characters are introduced during this mission - Ray, a mafioso character, and Bell.
* The more "expensive" cars have better GPS systems than poor ones. The one in this preview "talks us through the streets."
* The cellphone can be used to listen to radio stations.
* The GTA4 weather system does not feature seasons, which means there is no snow.
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