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Speaking with Reuters, Microsoft's director of product management for Xbox LIVE and Xbox 360, Aaron Greenberg, says Grand Theft Auto IV multiplayer is the new hotness. So much, in fact, that he thinks it has the potential to take the top spot as the most played game on Xbox LIVE, possibly overtaking Halo 3 and -- gasp -- Call of Duty 4.

"GTA is unique because it appeals to such a large audience," Greenberg says. "It will likely be the best-selling game launched all year and we expect it will drive a lot of new members to Xbox LIVE."

It's hard to argue with the "best-selling" remark, and he may not be too far off when he talks about Xbox LIVE -- the game does ship with one month free of Microsoft's paid online service (which I redeemed, thank you very much). Greenberg praises the game's online component, saying that he "can't imagine anyone owning a copy without trying to play it on Xbox Live.”

Sitting down in the closed-doors setting of Rockstar's New York City office, I wasn't entirely sold on Grand Theft Auto IV's multiplayer. I noticed the potential, liked how some of it was implemented, and was in awe of the fact that you could play across all of Liberty City. Not being a huge online gamer (sorry, Friday Night Fights), I didn't think I'd be playing it that often. But now that I've spent more time with it on the comfort of my own couch, I'm starting to think otherwise.

Have you guys pulled yourself away from the game's deep single-player game long enough to spend time online? Do you think it'll take awhile for the online to really catch on, simply due to the fact that you can play the game offline for upwards of 50 hours?








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30 comments | showing # 1 to 30
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gotdurnrite's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:20
gotdurnrite
No. Still playing the single player. I'm afraid that if I jump online I would never sleep.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:21
king3vbo
The online is incredible
AngelsDontBurn's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:23
AngelsDontBurn
It is definitely ALOT of fun, I can't wait to play with ALOT of people. Should be absolute madness!
tsunamikitsune's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:25
tsunamikitsune
I played online for a few hours last night, after fixing my router (which wasn't letting me join any games at all until I fixed it). It was one of the greatest online experiences I've had on the 360 and that was only with three other Dtoiders.

It's crazy fun and I'm definitely going to be playing this a lot more online in the future. I can't wait until FNF!

Also, jacking a bus and using it in a car race = WIN.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:26
mistic
haven't tried online yet due to the single player :-)

will probably be trying it out pretty soon though :-)
big filth's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:31
big filth
must. keep. playing. single. player.

must. fight. temptation.
garrfunkel's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:37
garrfunkel
Havent got an internet connection where I am at the moment so I cant wait to get home to play the online.

The single player has been more than enough to keep me entertained anyway.
CjnLion's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:39
CjnLion
Love it, but I only wish there was split-screen support. I had been looking forward to co-oping with a friend or two, would've made a great party game. Oh well, hard to complain about it, really.
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:45
Shin Oni
I can't get enough of the online so far. Last night a few of us from work just did free mode. I seriously didn't think it'd be as fun but hell. Going about terrorizing the town (and not having to worry about silly zoom out boundaries like in San andreas) it was crazy. People seemingly joining and leaving at time from everyone's friendlist, everyone trying to talk at once on the mic, and the constant mayham that can be caused with a Tour Bus of players.

The racing's fun. Just cause of the new driving mechanic. Cops n Crooks is pretty awesome if people participate. I haven't really played anything else outside of that but I assure you it's fun just cause it's GTA and there's so much room to do all the games in.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:47
AgentMOO
I'll probably switch from COD4 to GTA4 as my defacto online game, that is if I ever get it to work.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 13:53
Y0j1mb0
What do I think of the online play??

Answer found here.

:)
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:07
Kyousuke Nanbu
I played online, turn on free mode, shut off friendly fire and just have fun, I played for 6 hours and I was laughing the entire time.

You bet your ass its gonna take the top spot.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:12
Corak
Single player has been taking up my time, but with FNF coming up I'll definatly be playing it with my fellow dtoiders.
Zatsuga's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:23
Zatsuga
My connection is crap for TF2 and H3, so I'm not going to ruin the experience by trying multiplayer. That can wait for when sp is over.
parrothead's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:28
parrothead
I tried to jump online and could not get a connection, but that is probably because the PSN sucks, right Xbox fans!! Most likely I will not be playing to much on line, I just wanted to try and use all the cell phone features.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:30
mix
I am totally up for some FNF of GTA, even though I have yet to play multiplayer of it....
HawtPawkitHero's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:37
HawtPawkitHero
I actually don't find the multiplayer modes other than Free Roam any good, single player is great though.
Twosixteen's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:37
Twosixteen


That is all.


ps - why o-why did my 360 choose this week to brick?!?
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 14:43
Holyetheline
I don't play games online until I beat them on single player. So I will get online whenever I finish the amazing story... and I'll probably obsessively play online for a long damn time.
xe-cute's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 15:43
xe-cute
I love the online side and especialy TURF WARS mode.

Still is hard to get even team numbers though :(, which will have to be patched sometime to fix this glitch of people joining one team after the countdown.

I've nbever had so much fun online since I used to play Kingpin: Life Of Crime online where I used to love Bagman mode.

IT be supercall if they made a bagman mode for GTAIV.


Basicaly Bagman is where each team has a safe and money spawns in middle of map.

You win by getting the kost money in your safe by either raiding the otehr teams safe or collecting money from the money spawn point or by killing enemy team members carrying money to there safe.

Be wicked fun.
miketava's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 16:28
miketava
Oh man I played 6 hours of Cops & Crooks, and were it not for the epic failings of the connection and bumping me back to SP, I would have played all night. It's like I'm 7 years old again in the playground playing cops and robbers SO AWESOME.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 16:31
Eschatos
Would not surprise me at all.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 17:41
Justin Villasenor
I tried some of the multiplayer modes yesterday, and while I had fun, I quickly discovered that I suck at races.
JRisJunior's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 18:42
JRisJunior
i haven't been able to try the multiplayer yet. i've been playing the single player too much. lol.
commyzthatdont's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 19:55
commyzthatdont
I just bought the game today, and will prolly try out some multiplayer later on tonight, hopefully with some friends.
WeaveMN's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/01/2008 21:21
WeaveMN
100% agree with miketava, Cops N Crooks FTMFW. Epic stuff.
slayoyayo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/02/2008 01:04
slayoyayo
unfortunately for my girlfriend, schoolwork, co-workers, and sanity, i can play gta4 multiplayer all night long. fortunately, i have enough discipline to stop by 3am. fortuitously, i always seem to win.
Zanezibar's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/02/2008 01:27
Zanezibar
I am having to much fun with the single player still. I'm sure the multiplayer is gonna be awesome though.

And can anyone understand what the hell little jacob is saying.
mrdurden4's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/02/2008 04:11
mrdurden4
the grass is green on both sides of the game.
digitaldemigod's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/02/2008 09:06
digitaldemigod
We did a 'Fagio' GTA Race the other night with 16 players from my clan. It was the most hilarious thing I have EVER seen.

GTA multiplayer is really fun, especially when doing deathmatch modes with cops, pedestrians, traffic turned on. It's a hilarious amount of chaos when civilians are getting caught in the crossfire and cops are after you for killing other players.
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