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Five O’Clock Fan Art: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Dylan Duarte — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:38 +0000

Rockstar is taking us back to San Andreas (Los Santos, at least), so let’s take a trip down memory lane, ya dig?

If you haven’t checked out the GTA V trailer yet, I don’t want to know you.

Five O’Clock Fan Art is perfect for wrapping up the work day. You don’t want to think anymore, you just want to look at awesome things. And there’s nothing more awesome than a well crafted piece of videogame fan art. If you don’t agree, what the hell are you doing at a gaming blog?

ScorpionBlaze is on FIYAH!

RipTen Asks: If You Could Be Any GTA Character, Who Would You Be?

Aaron Alexander — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:30:47 +0000

It’s time for RipTen Asks, a gathering for the video game enthusiasts who have opinions about things. Video game-related things!

This week, we take our question to the wild streets of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. From Vinewood to Liberty City and everywhere in between, the GTA series has often had memorable characters that help keep the story and world feeling both interesting and entertaining. But if you had to pick just one character to be, who would you choose?

Be it the Hawaiian-shirt sporting Vice City Kingpin ‘Tommy Vercetti’, the constantly stoned South Central San Andreas socialite ‘Ryder’ or even the travelling child molester ‘James Pedeaston’, the GTA universe has quite the colorful cast. Let us know just which character you see yourself as by selecting an option in the poll, or let us know if we’ve missed out your preferred choice!!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Be sure to check out our last RipTen Asks: What’s Your Favorite Final Fantasy?!

Five O’Clock Fan Art: GTA Legends

Dylan Duarte — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:09 +0000

We’ve highlighted Patrick Brown’s work a few times here on RipTen and with good reason – the man is some sort of art wizard. And with Grand Theft Auto V officially revealed, there is no more appropriate picture to post today than his phenomenal GTA Legends.

Patrick Brown is my hero. And that’s more sincere than even I originally thought.

London Riots Blamed on Violent Games by ‘Supernanny’

Sam Naylor — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:41:25 +0000

Jo Frost, best known as TV’s ‘Supernanny’, has blamed the London Riots on violent video games.

Frost, who has a PhD in video game psychology, said:

“Research shows that within 15 minutes of playing one of these games young men become highly aggressive and lack empathy in normal situations. It is not too fanciful to suggest it’s a short step from being immersed in this war-like world to taking that nightmare mindset on to the streets with all the consequences of anarchy and violence we saw rip apart cities.”

Oh wait, that was wrong. Her doctorate isn’t in video game psychology. It’s a PhD in total bullshit. The (and I stress this point) completely unqualified TV presenter makes excellent use of the words “research shows,” however- providing absolutely no evidence for her claim but still sounding smug in the process. She went on:

“I felt for a moment as if we had stumbled into a real-life violent video game of the kind that so many of those involved are addicted to. These horrific games where points are given for burning, shooting and killing, where the graphics are so realistic you believe that they’re real scenes of carnage, where those who play fantasise they have the power of life and death, are so brutal they completely desensitise anyone taking part.”

Wait, was GTA not real? I genuinely thought I was killing that Russian guy. I’ve been in hiding all this time for nothing?

Best of all, though, is this little nugget:

Shopkeepers should demand proof of age and where they ignore this and break the law by selling them to children they should be fined.

Perhaps 30 seconds of research would have led her to the law that means this already happens.

Via Dtoid

Saints Row The Third Single Player Mission Gameplay Is Insane!!

Chris Carlson — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:28:23 +0000

THQ and Violition have demoed one of the single player missions from their highly anticipated upcoming title, Saints Row: The Third. The demo consist of multiple firefights on an airplane, skydiving and much more. GTA may have finally met a true contender. Check out the video below, you wont be disappointed….we promise.

Saints Row: The Third is set to release on November 15th for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Video courtesy of Gamespot

Is a GTA V Announcement Coming Later This Summer?

Chris Carlson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:54:09 +0000

Its been a little over three years since GTA IV debuted on consoles then later on PC. With GTA IV being the highest rated game this generation, gamers are impatiently awaiting the inevitable reveal of GTA V.

In the latest issue of the US OXM, they have a nice little crystal ball on the cover (rumor section) that states what gamers have been waiting for.

Time’s up, says The Ball. Expect Grand Theft Auto V to be announced later this summer.

A little over a month ago, we reported sightings of GTA V being spotted on retail list dated for 12/31/12. The game has been rumored to be set in real world Los Angeles location. With GTA V revisiting Liberty City in a New York City fashion, we could be seeing a new and improved version of the state of San Andreas. Get hyped kiddies it’s coming……..eventually.

[Source: CVG]

75% Off Grand Theft Auto Classics On Steam

Aaron Alexander — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:11:15 +0000

2K have had specials on Steam all week, not only could you secure the Bioshock and Max Payne series dirt cheap, you can now buy the classic Grand Theft Auto Collection for a nickel.

Well, maybe not an actual nickel, but $7.49 for 5 incredible games is an unmissable deal. Unfortunately for the Oceanic RipTen readers, you may not have access to the full catalogue (I myself could only purchase 3 & San Andreas), but for the rest of you, there is no excuse not to buy this marvelous collection. Get out there and start bangin’ on fools Grove Street OG!

Let us know what you think of this discounted collection in the comments below, and tell me directly via Twitter -@iamaaronalex

Classic Rockstar Games Now On Steam For Australia

Aaron Alexander — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:59:36 +0000

Previously the older Rockstar titles weren’t available on steam for us Oceanic people, well as of late it would seem that Rockstar (or the powers that be) have finally changed their minds. You can now buy classic Rockstar games on the Steam service.

Titles like San Andreas, Max Payne and Bully are all available for a modest price (usually $10-$15), it’s just a shame that the region locking was revoked AFTER the gigantic Steam sale. What’s odd though, is that a previously banned game “Manhunt” appears on this list, and not Vice City, of which wasn’t banned in Oceania. However that’s just a minor gripe, I’ve personally been waiting for these games to come to Steam for a very long time, it’s about time I visited Los Santos again!

Let us know what you think of the recent change in Rockstar’s plans below, or follow me on twitter for the latest in Rockstar news -@iamaaronalex

Left 4 Dead 2 / Supreme Commander 2 75% Off

Sam Naylor — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 18:17:56 +0000

Steam’s daily deals have updated, bringing a host of new deals including Left 4 Dead 2 and SupCom 2 at 75% off.

Today’s deals:

Left 4 Dead 2: 75% off
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: 50% off
Wings of Prey: 50% off
Supreme Commander 2: 75% off
Galcon Fusion: 75% off
King’s Bounty: Platinum Edition: 75%
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light: 50% off
GTA: Episodes From Liberty City: 66% off
Indie Pulse Pack: 88% off

Gift-givers can peruse the multipack offers here. They include: Counter-Strike: Source, NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits, Red Faction Guerrilla, and GTA: Episodes.

Left 4 Dead 2 and the Indie pack get my votes today, but I’ll also be getting hold of SupCom 2, I think. Let us know where your hard-earned cash is going in the comments, if at all.

Grand Theft Auto Trilogy Now Available on Mac

Dylan Duarte — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:00:46 +0000

Rockstar announced today that the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy – comprised of Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas – is now available on the Mac.

According to the press release, the GTA Trilogy has been in demand from Mac fans for quite some time, and it’s not hard to believe. Many still believe Grand Theft Auto: Vice City to be the best entry of the series, and now a whole new group of gamers can experience the games for themselves.

The Trilogy is now available at GameTreeMac.com and it will hit retail shelves in North America on November 22nd.

Grand Theft Auto Classics Sale – Get The First Five GTA’s for $7.50 This Weekend

Dave Oshry — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:10:46 +0000

That’s right, every GTA except GTA IV can be yours for just $7.50, this weekend only.

Steam is having a blowout sale on GTA this weekend. Get Grand Theft Auto 1,2,3, Vice City and San Andreas together for just $7.50!!

If that ain’t a good deal, I don’t know what is!!

Jack Thompson Claims Victory in Medal of Honor Debate – Says Gamers Can, “Go To Hell”

Dave Oshry — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:56:32 +0000

You can call Jack Thompson many things, but modest is not one of them. In the wake of EA’s decision to change the name of the Taliban in Medal of Honor, Jack Thompson has claimed victory, and has a message for gamers.

Like it or not, as a gamer, you’ve probably heard of Jack Thompson. The outspoken and now disbarred Florida attorney who has made it his life’s mission to stop the sale and production of violent video games.

Well, as you may know, his latest crusade was against EA’s controversial Medal of Honor. The game which was to include the Taliban as a playable side in it’s multiplayer. Jack sent a letter outlining his opposition to Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He also criticized the U.S. military who took part in the design of the game. Part of his letter reads:

With all respect for everything else on your plate, but as someone who has represented the surviving family members of such video game-caused massacres, I personally urge you, as Secretary of Defense, to do what is necessary, proper, and legal to stop the release of Medal of Honor on October 12 on the basis that it poses a demonstrable danger to our troops by providing a training tool for those who wish to kill them.

I would also strongly suggest that the Defense Department find out who these Special Ops people are who have acted so foolishly in this regard.

Finally, I believe the full weight of the federal government should come down upon Electronic Arts and the video game industry’s Entertainment Software Association for their allowing, presently and fraudulently, despite promises to Congress, the widespread pre-sale of this adult game to minors throughout the country and around the world.

No response was made to Thompson’s letter or actions, yet after much debate and heated argument, including opposition from Liam Fox, the U.K. defense minister, segments on Fox News and the game itself being banned from U.S Military bases, EA finally decided to change the name of the Taliban within the game to the Opposing Force.

Here is part of the statement from the game’s Executive Producer, Greg Goodrich:

We have also received feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers who have expressed concern over the inclusion of the Taliban in the multiplayer portion of our game. This is a very important voice to the Medal of Honor team. This is a voice that has earned the right to be listened to. It is a voice that we care deeply about. Because of this, and because the heartbeat of Medal of Honor has always resided in the reverence for American and Allied soldiers, we have decided to rename the opposing team in Medal of Honor multiplayer from Taliban to Opposing Force.

So therein lies the reasoning behind the changes in Medal of Honor. Upon learning of this change, for some reason or another I decided to reach out to Thompson, who I’ve previously spoken with about games like Mafia II and Grand Theft Auto, to see what he had to say on the matter. In a simple e-mail, I said the following:

Hey Jack,

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that EA changed the name of the Taliban in Medal of Honor. Care to comment?

And this was his response:

Sure. I win again, as usual. Any gamers who don’t think so and who don’t appreciate what I do to protect our culture can go to Hell.

Wow. I had expected perhaps a long diatribe about gamers and the industry as a whole, as is common in Jack’s emails, but I was not expecting a statement like that. Yet, as I was still in near shock from the audacity of his previous statement, a follow up email arrived …

and please add: Any gamers that don’t know how to get to Hell on an expedited basis, let me know, and I’ll send along the cheat code to get there more quickly.

So EA claims to have removed the Taliban due to the outcry of the families of fallen American soldiers, and yet Jack Thompson claims a personal victory and tells us to go to hell. Bravo Jack, you have proven once again that you are a world class asshole.

*The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the RipTen staff, although we all pretty much agree that Jack Thompson is an ass.

Excerpt from Thompson’s Letter: PC MAG

Headline Image: Chad Lakkis

If you’d like to speak with me further about this article or have questions you’d like me to send to Jack Thompson, feel free to email me at Dave@RipTen.com or find me @DaveOshry on Twitter.

Take-Two Heads to the Bank With Red Dead Redemption

Brandon Fenty — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:52:09 +0000

Take-Two is laughing all the way to the bank with Red Dead Redemption, which has led the company to it’s first profitable year without a major GTA release. The company saw net revenue for its fiscal third quarter reach $354.1 million, up significantly from the $94.9 million reported last year during the same time period. Leading the profits is Red Dead Redemption, which has shipped 6.9 million copies worldwide since the May release.

Take Two sees this as proof that they are not dependent on the GTA brand. “While there’s understandably interest in the timing of our next Grand Theft Auto title, we’ve shown our business is much more than that iconic brand,” said company Chairman Strauss Zelnick earlier this afternoon. “In addition to Grand Theft Auto, our portfolio now includes Red Dead Redemption, BioShock, Borderlands, NBA2K, Midnight Club, Sid Meier’s Civilization, and Carnival Games. Each of these titles ranks among the industry’s most successful properties and each of our labels is contributing to our success.”

Of course, the studio also just released Mafia II, and hasn’t yet commented on it’s earnings from the game other than to say that they expect it to be profitable.

GTA: Chinatown Wars HD Heading to Apple’s iPad

Bryce Wilson — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:48:13 +0000

Rockstar, the long running developers and publishers of perhaps one of the most controversial game series ever has announced that their handheld exclusive; Chinatown Wars, will be heading to the iPad on September 9th for $9.99 (USD).

Following the dismal sales of the game on the Nintendo DS and PSP due to piracy, Rockstar is hoping that the HD installation will appeal to a broader audience. The developer said:

““In addition to the wide range of features developed specifically for the previous App Store iterations, including intuitive multi-touch user interface controls, adjusted difficulty levels and iTunes customisable radio station Independence Radio, Chinatown Wars HD comes to the iPad with brand new, updated high definition graphics.”

However, it remains to be seen if the HD version will be more successful than the original port onto the iPhone and iTouch devices. If you get it, let us know!

Rockstar Promises to be “Very Good” to PS3 Owners in 2010

Chad Lakkis — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:24:43 +0000

Console exclusives can be a bit difficult to understand, especially for the average gamer who believes their expensive console purchase shouldn’t leave them out in the cold watching other console owners play new downloadable content. With that in mind, a fan submitted question appearing in a segment titled “Asked & Answered” on Rockstar’s official website, asked the following:

“I was highly anticipating the release of The Ballad Of Gay Tony, but just found out that it is only on the XBox360. I am certain that I am not the first person to ask this, but how come it wasn’t released on the PS3?” – received via Mouthoff

Rather than dig into the corporate side of things, Rockstar took the sympathetic route and followed it up with a little “stay tuned for big things to come your way” quote sure to leave PlayStation 3 owners salivating:

We know that it continues to be an often-asked question – and believe us, we understand the frustration of PS3 owners like yourself who haven’t been able to play any of our most recent releases. All we can say is that we at Rockstar promise to be very good to you with our releases in 2010. Please stay with us and stay tuned!

What could this be you ask? My guess is as good as yours. A heaping helping of PS3 exclusives? A free prostitute voucher with each Rockstar PS3 purchase? Only time will tell.

[Source: Rockstar Newswire]

GTA: Chinatown Wars Comes to iPhone

Sam Naylor — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:45:34 +0000

Rockstar have today released (warning: that’s an iTunes direct link) Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars fro the iPhone. It’s the full game: the one that appeared on both the DS and PSP- and it’s only $9.99. Obviously a bit pricey for an app, but it’s the full ($30 on other platforms) game, remember.

I never played much of it on the DS, but it seemed okay. I’m not a huge fan of the you-can’t-see-where-you’re-going camera, though.

Family Guy’s Peter Griffin Learns To Drive Grand Theft Auto Style

Chad Lakkis — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:40:58 +0000

When your significant other instructs you to do something, it’s usually a good idea to heed the advice. When the something they want you to do is bunker down and play Grand Theft Auto for eight hours straight, take a tip from Family Guy Peter Griffin, and do it up. The hilarious (yet predictable) clip below gives you a glimpse at the possible side effects of GTA Drivers Ed.

[Kotaku via GoNintendo]

GTA IV: Lost and the Damned Coming to PC

Sam Naylor — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:55:07 +0000

As you can see in the above image, a French PC magazine has revealed that the Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable content “The Lost and the Damned” will be coming to the PC. It’s unlikely that a PC magazine would run a feature on a game that’s months old and not on PC, so we can safely assume that, unless this is a fake image, the content will be coming to PC.

I see this as a bit of a let down. Most of the people who actually want the content are not PC gamers, but PS3 ones. Most people who are into GTA that don’t have an Xbox 360 will have the PS3 version and not the shoddy PC port. Rockstar might have been paid a lot of money by Microsoft to keep it exclusive to their platforms, but I wonder if that money could have been made by selling the DLC to PS3 gamers as well. There’s always the hope that the contract expires for PS3 players, I suppose.

Take-Two on Why GTA IV DLC Didn’t Sell Well

Dylan Duarte — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:39:52 +0000

Grand Theft Auto IV was a huge success, both critically and commercially, scoring a 98 on Metacritic (PC version excluded) and selling over 13 million copies worldwide. And yet the two downloadable episodes, which both recieved similar critical acclaim, didn’t sell as well as hoped.

Take Two CEO Ben Feder shared his thoughts at a recent press conference:

“Both we and [Xbox-maker] Microsoft believe there was a big market for GTA IV episodic content and some factors have affected their performance. Both were released significantly after the core unit … GTA IV, which was launched in April of 2008 and therefore weren’t able to leverage GTA IV’s initial marketing campaign and initial launch fervor.”

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City, the retail disc that contained both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, sold around 100,000 copies. Feder remarked that the DLC was most appealing to those who had already finished GTA IV and wanted more story, which was a smaller market than they expected.

I don’t know how well the DLC did on Xbox Live, but I imagine the folks at Microsoft are probably kicking themselves right now over the reported $50 million they paid to keep the episodic content exclusive to Xbox 360.

GTA IV Gay Tony Sprunk: Extreme Base Jumping

Chad Lakkis — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:50:55 +0000

Have you ever witnessed a whacked-out base jumper from the street level and thought to yourself “if only I had a rocket launcher!” Well, the team at Rockstar knows exactly how you feel. Hit the jump for a video preview of the Liberty City exclusive Free Mode multiplayer base jumping challenges found in Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony.