It’s fun to compare consoles, especially when the comparison involves one of the biggest games of this generation. Grand Theft Auto IV has been littered with websites giving their opinions on which version looks best. Surprisingly, most had no inkling of each version’s native resolution.

Eurogamer are the first to speculate that GTA IV on the PS3 runs at 630p. When in fact, it doesn’t… It runs at 640p.

Yes, GTA IV on the PS3 is sub-HD. And if it couldn’t be any more ironic (the traditionally Playstation series runs at a lower resolution) it has the same resolution as Halo 3 on the Xbox 360 – perhaps the first game to receive the sub-HD back-lash.

The man who spilt the news? The now infamous Quaz51 of Beyond3d technical forums. PS3 GTA IV runs at 640p with 0xAA, in comparison to the Xbox 360 version at 720p with 2xAA.

Eurogamer, who base almost all their multi-platform comparisons on Quaz51’s findings, were using opinions from B3D’s technical wizard before he had received a reliable PS3 screenshot. In receipt of a high-res shot, Quaz51 had this to say:

Good news [...] it’s 1152×640p (and no AA) exactly like Halo 3, Perfect Dark [Zero] or Dark Sector PS3.

The resolution itself is unsurprising, but the side by side comparisons carried out by numerous websites tell a more complex story. For example, in IGN’s head to head, the PS3’s Anti-Aliasing is cited as being the better of the two versions, even though the Xbox 360 has 2xAA. This could be due to the upscaling and post-processing effects smoothing the edges on the PS3.

In their review, IGN continues to state that due to the PS3’s mandatory install there is less loading and less pop-in than on the Xbox 360:

For those wanting to know which version looks better, the edge goes to the PS3. The textures and framerate are comparable, but the PS3 has far less pop-in. The 360 has richer colors, but the PS3 has better anti-aliasing making it look a little cleaner. Because GTA IV can preload onto the PS3 hard drive, the in-game loads are faster. Don’t worry Xbox owners, the load times are rarely more than 30 seconds and don’t occur very often.

In another nod to differences between the two versions, EGM mentions that the “PS3 version looks slightly more vibrant and sharp.” You’d think the Xbox 360’s higher resolution would facilitate the sharper look.

Native resolution, thus, appears to have less of an impact than we might have first thought. At least, you are more likely to notice indirect differences, than the lower resolution itself. For example, upscaling on the PS3 appears to have some positive graphical results, which may explain why some websites say it looks better. Eurogamer’s Rich Leadbetter hypothesises:

It’s worth noting that due to the post-processing effects the game employs (there’s a serious amount of stuff being done to the raw frame), the PS3’s lower resolution serves to mask a lot of the nasty after effects.

For example, look at the dithering on the signs in the background on those shots. A bit ugly on Xbox 360, but smoothed and blurred away on PS3, presenting a generally nicer look.

In the end, what really matters is that both versions run extremely well and at an almost locked framerate. There are certainly differences on paper, but many will find it difficult to notice them in the game:

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Which version of GTA IV should you buy? Due to the game’s impressive multiplayer – buy the version where your friends reside, because you could potentially spend hundreds of hours duking it out online.

Many of us have been holding our breath since EA made its initial offer to buy Take-Two, and the company’s comment, stating that they would wait until the release of Grand Theft Auto IV before discussing the offer any further, did very little to ease that sick feeling in our stomachs.

EA, who has been known to tone down the violent content of their games and splurge on in game advertising (as shown above), is set to destroy our beloved Grand Theft Auto franchise. The top secret tech demo showcasing EA’s take on the series is not for the faint of heart.

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How could Take-Two ever let something like this happen? The Grand Theft Auto franchise deserves to go down in history as one of the greatest games ever made — remembered for its controversy, not its excessive in game advertising. The horror!

Ok, you got me, this is an obvious satire piece, however it does offer a potential eerie glimpse into the future. Hopefully this crosses the desk of a few key individuals at Take-Two and makes them think twice before allowing EA to place their thumb print on such a beloved franchise.

Special thanks to Jon over at slashfilm for the Coke video suggestion.

If you were on the fence about picking up the latest installment of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series, maybe a little road soda and flesh-on-pole action will help.

The Associated Press reports today that those who take control of the games leading man, Niko Bellic, will not only be able to kill and blow up just about anything they want, they will also be able to drive under the influence, and unload some of their hard earned cash at several in game strip clubs.

The fun doesn’t stop there however, as the lovely “enhancements” listed above are only a small portion of the fun to be had in GTA IV. The game also includes the ability to chat and meet people over the phone and online, go on dates, hijack vehicles, fly helicopters, and earn butt loads of money while you run from the cops.

“We wanted to completely rebuild the core mechanics and create a really slick, cool experience,” said Rockstar Games Vice President Dan Houser.

We got you Dan-o. “Slick” — like the poles in a strip club.

“We wanted to make the storytelling more sophisticated and more organic,”

I wonder if Dan meant to say “orgasmic”?

“We’re giving the player choices without ramming it down their throats,”

You heard the man. Don’t ram the game down your throat — they will not be held responsible.

“We want people to be really excited and not know everything by the time they play the game,” added Dan. “Of course, we want them to understand what they’re buying, but we want there to be surprises along the way.”

Thanks for heads up Dan, but at this point, I am pretty sure that even my grandmother knows what Grand Theft Auto is all about.

So there you have it everyone, it appears that this dandy holds even more surprises that are yet to come, so sit tight and check back with us often.

Source: Yahoo News