Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV poses an all-important question: What does the American dream mean today?

...not exactly what it meant during development...

Sub-Pages#

Prototype Info Prerelease Info Notes Bugs

Downloadable Content#

The Lost and DamnedThe Lost may be forever, but the cut content isn't. The Ballad of Gay TonyGuns, Fame, Drugs... Welcome to Liberty City.

Resources#

Unused Mission-Related Content"Yokel, fatty Roman's cousin. I have some extra business for you to take care of..." Unused FeaturesWhat can you do in Liberty City anyway? Unused CustomizationStylish glasses and wrinkled clothes, fashion of Liberty City. Unused WeaponsThe armory of Liberty City. Unused PedestriansPedestrians from a lost part of Liberty City. Unused Pedestrian FeaturesEveryone is minding their own business in Liberty City. Unused LocationsSecrets behind the walls of Liberty City. Unused TexturesThe hidden side of Liberty City. Unused ModelsThe OTHER hidden side of Liberty City. Unused AudioThe noisy side of Liberty City. Unused TextThe textual side of Liberty City. Characters"Yes. You're looking for some people." Development OversightsThe side of Liberty City as seen on TV. Version and Platform DifferencesA slightly different side of Liberty City.

Unused Graphics#

Unused Loading Screens#

In pc/textures there are two files with unused loading screen textures loadingscreens_360.wtd and loadingscreens_ps3.wtd. Although these loading screens are very similar to the console ones, there is some that the developers decided to replace in final version of the game. It is also worth noting that these loading screens are not divided into several parts; that is, they were motionless, unlike the final console and PC loading screens.

Unused Icons#

Various icons that never appear in the game but are present in the files.

Vehicles#

Unused Choppers#

Exclusively in the Windows port, the Angel, Daemon, Diabolus, Hexer, Lycan, Nightblade, Revenant, and Wolfsbane chopper bikes all have their models and textures present in the base game, despite not being finished until The Lost and Damned. They can be used as normal bikes by modding.

Scrapped Vehicles#

Buffalo

Another vehicle that was later added in The Ballad of Gay Tony is the Buffalo. From leftovers there is unused police car radio voiceline:

...and a billboard texture that features this vehicle:

Majestic and Previon

Another vehicles from San Andreas that were going to re-appear in IV, but didn't make it in the process. From leftovers we have:

• Unused police car radio voiceline for these two vehicles;

• Horns in the sounds.dat15 file;
• Previon mention in the .gxt files.

PREVION = Previon

Scrapped Vehicle Components#

Alternate Packer Ramp

A different, unused ramp component for the Packer vehicle exists and can be spawned in-game using modifications. Unlike the other ramp which is seen in-game, this ramp extends lower down and is attached to the rear of the vehicle, as opposed to on top of it.

Despite it looking visually normal, the collision detection for the ramp does not match its physical appearance. The solid parts of the ramp object are significantly higher up than the object itself. The gap in-between both ramp planks is also erroneously solid. Because of the wrongly raised collision detection, when driving the vehicle with this component attached, the underside of the physical ramp object does not collide with elements such as bumpy terrain. (Uneven roads, sand, grass verges, and so on.)

Due to the collision detection oddities, it is quite difficult to drive other vehicles up the ramp. The fact that the collision detection is not in line properly with the object, and is solid in the ramp plank gaps, may suggest that this component's usage was scrapped somewhat early on in development.

Filename Oddities#

In the game's files, certain locations, characters, radio stations, and vehicles are internally named/referenced differently to what actually appears in-game.

Locations#

• In the .gxt files, Beechwood City is referred to as Grayfords.
• In the .gxt files, Firefly Projects is referred to as Hedgebury, also some road signs in Firefly Projects mentions this district name.

• In the .gxt files, there are couple mentions of a Goatherd district, as well as some road signs in Firefly Projects indicates that the district was located somewhere on the South Slopes place.

• In the .gxt files, there are couple mentions of The Concourse district, as well as some road signs in Bohan indicates that the district was located on the Boulevard place.

• An unused PeepThatShit.com webpage refers to Outlook Park as Overlook Park.
• In a phone call from Mallory before the mission "Hostile Negotiations" starts, she refers to Chase Point as Hunt Point.

Places#

• LOD sign texture of the Westdyke Memorial Hospital refers that the hospital was located in Leftwood, which is more correct considering that the hospital is indeed located in Leftwood.

Radio Stations#

In the audio files, the radio stations following different titles can be found:

• The Beat 102.7 is listed as Beat 95.
• The Classics 104.1 is listed as NY Classics.
• Tuff Gong Radio is listed as Babylon.
• Massive B Soundsystem 96.9 is listed as Bobby Konders.
• Radio Broker is listed as Dance Rock.
• Electro-Choc is listed as Dance Mix.
• The Journey is listed as Classical Ambient.
• Liberty City Hardcore is simply listed as Hardcore.
• International Funk is listed as Afro Beat.

Vehicles#

• In the .gxt files, Roman's Taxi is referred to Albany.
• The handling.dat file and some audio files refer to the Freeway as Bobber.
• The model file for the Contender is named E109.
• The model file for the Marbelle is named Marbella.
• The model file for the Securicar is named Stockade.
• The headlights of the Intruder car are called endo_lights_glass.
• The headlights of the Ingot car are called flatpack_lights_glass.
• The headlights of the Sabre are called carlito_lights_glass.
• The headlights of the Sabre GT are called sabreturbo_lights_glass.
• In the sounds.dat15 file, Faggio horn sound is named Faggio-Z.
• The tire texture of Manana are named as Virgo tire, which means that this texture originally belonged to Virgo.

Scrapped Radio Songs#

To do: There is more scrapped songs that needs to be added here.

American.gxt lists four additional songs intended for Liberty Rock Radio, Radio Broker, and The Vibe. It's possible that Rockstar wasn't able to obtain permission to use these songs.

Liberty Rock Radio 97.8

TM_82_250 = ZiT! Spotted THE ROLLING STONES: Fingerprint

Radio Broker

TM_82_204 = ZiT! Spotted THE VIRGINS: One Week Of Danger

TM_82_252 = ZiT! Spotted CELEBRATION: Fly The Fly (Holy Fuck Remix)

The Vibe 98.8

TM_82_76 = ZiT! Spotted CASSIE: Me & U

The sound would appear in Grand Theft Auto V, on Non-Stop-Pop FM.

Unfinished Weather#

According to several files, the game was supposed to have winter. Based on these leftovers, here's what is known about it.

In common\data\Ambient.dat file, there is a bit known as >IsSnowing. This could mean snow was a weather condition.

#   WORLD STATES:
#
#       IsRaining 
#       IsSunny
#       IsNight
#       IsSnowing
#       IsWindy

In common\data\effects\materialFx, weaponFx, vehicleFx and pedFx.dat files, there is a several mentions of SNOW being a unique part of the surface with its own configuration, which was never finished.

SNOW 9999.9 - - 1 1 0 0100.0 0.01 0 0.0 9999.9 9999.9 - 9999.9 9999.9 - 0

SNOW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 908 908 930 820 908

SNOW footprints_01 footprints_01_normal footprints_01 footprints_01_normal 1 2 0 1 0100.0 0.01 1 0.1 0.24 0.24 - - - - 0100.0 0.01 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 - 0.3 ped_foot_water

SNOW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0132 0132 0132 0132 0 0

In pedVariations.dat file, there is a leftover from a removed pedestrian called M_Y_WINTER. This is an interesting moment, as it could mean that winter may not have affected all of Liberty City, but was in some specific area where this pedestrian was supposed to be used.

M_Y_WINTER,     2
#slot       geometry    BULK    JOB SUNNY   WET MAT1    RES1A   RES1B   RES2A   RES2B       AUDIO ID
feet,       0,      0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  -1, -1, -1, -1,     1
lowr,       0,      0,  0,  0,  0,  0,  -1, -1, -1, -1,     1
end

Regional Differences#

To do: Check the Japanese version. EFLC has cutscene changes.

Australian Console Release#

Watch on YouTube

When the game was still in development, and out of paranoia from the developers to avoid delaying the game due to the lack of an 18+ rating on the Australian classification board, Rockstar decided to produce and submit an edited version of the game to make it on time and get an MA15+ rating. Later, after the PC version was submitted and then released uncut in Australia with the same rating, the PS3/Xbox 360 versions received a title update which undid all the changes done to the game and the later-released DLC episodes were also uncut:

• After picking up prostitutes and going somewhere isolated, normally one would pick from three services with a differing price ($20, $50, and $70) to then enjoy the action. In the Australian version, it automatically chooses the most expensive option, and they will start doing it without even asking us for confirmation ala 3D era GTA titles, the implementation of this cut is noticeably flawed as making short stops while trying to park a vehicle can make the player lose money multiple times since the game gets confused on when to initiate the script. Also, when the girl does her job, the Australian version removes the ability to freely move the camera and instead sets it down and behind the vehicle in a similar style to the 3D era games minus the ability to rotate the camera, and while this doesn't let the player see the inside, the player can freely move the camera by the use of a bug and it reveals also that unlike the uncut version, the animations that Niko and the ladies do inside the vehicle have been disabled. Sheesh.
  

Some of the game's blood effects were removed but others like splatter and making blood tire tracks are untouched:

• After killing NPCs, no blood pools spill from them in the Australian version.
• On the Australian version, the ability to make bloody footprints on the surface by stepping on the blood of the dead peds was cut.
• Normally when getting injured by bullets, Niko and the NPCs would get light blood patches on the area of their bodies that they got shot, in the Australian versions, they remain clean no matter how much they get shot.

Anti-Piracy#

Watch on YouTube

An array of anti-crack protections are present in the PC version. If the game detects that the SecuROM copy protection has been tampered with, then a number of after-effects trigger two or three minutes after entering the game:

• The camera permanently activates a stronger version of the disorienting zoom and wobbling that normally occurs when Niko is out drunk with his dirtbag friends, so be ready to have a headache. There is a trick in-game to disable it, however.
• Any vehicle you enter, except for helicopters, has its accelerator permanently held down and the ability to drive in reverse removed, making navigation considerably difficult (even without taking into account the camera or vehicle fragility).
• Any vehicle will have its engine health immediately reduced from 1000 to 100 as soon as the player enters it, putting it in the belching-black-smoke state (and one fender-bender away from setting ablaze). The vehicles can be fixed by going to a Pay N' Spray... however, due to the inability to reverse, you won't be able to get it out and keep using it if you parked it forward!
  • If the player gets a vehicle backward on the garages' interiors by drifting, you'll only find out that they have been also modified to not close and repair your vehicle if it's facing the exit. Talk about bad service.

In addition, some specific mission scripts have their own anti-piracy measures to mess with crackers that somehow defeated the previous tricks:

• In Clean Getaway, the mission gets stuck in the sequence where Niko locks the car doors after entering the Blista Compact and so the phone call to Vlad after taking Jimmy's car doesn't trigger, and calling Vlad's number won't work either as he won't answer, leaving the player to follow the originally-prescribed route to a garage that doesn't open. To add insult to injury, if you get out of the car, you're locked out and can't get back in!
• In Uncle Vlad, the cutscene after killing Vlad is replaced with an endless loading screen.
• You are unable to use computers. Attempting to use one will just make the "Press (button) to use the computer" prompt reappear. This renders several missions (Logging On, Out of the Closet, Wrong is Right, Final Interview, and I'll Take Her) unwinnable and leaves any other content available through them inaccessible.
• Similar to above, attempting to use police computers will just make the prompt disappear and nothing will happen. This also renders multiple missions (Search and Delete, Portrait of a Killer, and Smackdown) unfinishable and all the Vigilante odd jobs locked out.
• In No. 1, the Comet you have to pick up before entering the race is permanently locked and un-stealable.
• In Three Leaf Clover, the bank's front doors don't open after emptying the vault, blocking progression.
• In Hating the Haters, Bernie's distance parameters are messed up, making him perpetually unhappy with how close or far away Niko is shadowing him. This inevitably results in the mission's failure after a certain point.
• In A Dish Served Cold, the "Get Off The Ship" objective won't trigger as the mission script purposefully breaks when the player reaches the ship's kitchen area, which makes it impossible to trigger the mission's completion.

Episodes from Liberty City#

Watch on YouTubeThe DLC packs kept fighting the good fight with varyingly-subtle anti-piracy protections.

• The drunk-camera and vehicle sabotage return from the main game, without any changes.

The Lost and Damned#

• In Bad Cop Drop, the crooked cops will wisely refuse to take Johnny's bait and chase him to the ambush. They'll just sit in their spawn location firing at you from their car, which has locked doors and infinite weight, making it impossible to budge. This renders the mission unwinnable. Amusingly, they'll only start driving after Johnny dies.
• In Off Route, the prison bus has its engine's health lowered from 1750 to 50 upon spawning, making it much more likely to explode after ramming through cop cars like the game encourages you to. This doesn't render the mission unwinnable, though - just much harder. This may be an oversight - the bus still has its bulletproof protection.
• In Angels in America, there is a debug string for a "PHONE CALL LOOP" booby-trap that seemingly never got coded. Presumably the plan was for Billy's mission-advancing phone call to never trigger on cracked versions of the game.
• As in the main game, you are unable to use computers, although this DLC does not have any story missions that are broken by this.
• Similarly, using police computers is also disabled, although again, this doesn't matter since most of the police computers' interesting features are disabled in this DLC.

The Ballad of Gay Tony#

• In Practice Swing, the game will never register that your golf balls have hit the tied-up union rep. They'll just bounce off like they hit the golf cart he's tied to, preventing the game from progressing further. You're also unable to exit the minigame, leaving you with no options outside of reloading your save or quitting.
• In No. 3, you are unable to raise or lower the platform holding the sportscars at the start of the mission, leaving you unable to get in your vehicle and proceed with the mission.
• In Party's Over, Tony will suddenly die after you've killed your third enemy during the club-defense section, failing the mission. This renders the mission unwinnable.
• Once again, using police computers is disabled, although as with The Lost and the Damned, this doesn't matter since most of the police computers' interesting features are disabled in this DLC. Oddly, the normal computers aren't disabled.