Grand Theft Auto IV is the masterpiece of our time

[Matt]

I'm just happy I dragged myself away from my Xbox this morning. Unfortuantely, it turned out that today was class presentations in lecture... which hasn't been too bad, but I could be killing hookers right now.

[nacho]

Ah, how many times have I said the same thing...

[Matt]

I'm at the start of a tough mission; I've got to wipe out these mafia fuckers on a construction site. I almost had it last night but my grenade bounced back at my feet.

[Matt]

Did I mention they added multiplayer to this thing? It's pretty much the best ever.

[nacho]

See you in October!

[Matt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtCvAd1Aan4

The intro to the game. Because I want you to suffer for the next four months.

[nacho]

Yay!  Blocked at work.  You can't get me!

[Matt]

Not now, but later. Really, this game straddles the line between interactive experience, movie, and novel.

[nacho]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it... Might even buy it!  (gasp!)

[Matt]

It will be without a doubt one of the best values for a game I've ever had. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of the game. My friend told me that some guy spent 60 hours playing it and then he beat it with only 50 percent completion.

[Matt]

Nubs, didn't you guys just win a race? You should treat yourself to this game........

[Nubbins]

I assume we haven't heard from Nubbins because he's been drinking Powerthirst (Kenyans!) and hasn't slept since GTAIV came out.

Yeah, I've heard cool things about this game.  I have never been a huge GTA fan though, so unless it's wildly varied from the rest of the franchise, then I probably won't get that into it.  Who knows though... I have some extra cash floating around now so maybe I will.

My problem with every GTA game I've ever played is that, inevitably, I get to a point where there is a mission I cannot pass... even with all the cheat codes in effect.  So then I'm stuck... trying to fly the RC plane through a series of hoops or some such bullshit, and because I can't pass the mission the game never progresses.  So I get pissed off and sell it.

Really, I'm stoked about playing Mario Kart... I hear that game is incredible.

[nacho]

My problem is that I never want to do the missions.  I just want to drive around and kill people.

[Matt]

 The little touches, as I said before, are what make the game brilliant. The radio shows and the scripting and the immersiveness in New York City is amazing. No joke, this is fucking New York City, and it shows how much time they put into it.

An anecdote from one of my bosses who has it:
"Last night I grabbed one of the Vespa scooters, hit a straight away and floored it….I tried to corner going ungodly fast and hit a light pole. I flew about 100 feet into the air and landed and lost about ¾ of my health. I went back to get on the scooter, and dude pulls a helmet out of nowhere all of a sudden. It had me rolling."

[Matt]

I, personally, fell in love with it when the first accident I had featured me winging an incoming-collision with my left light hitting the other car's right light and the woman driving it flew through her windshield and crawled off the hood of my car. I ran her over than cackled for ten minutes.