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Grand Theft Auto IV

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Title Screen

Grand Theft Auto IV

Developers: Rockstar North (PlayStation 3), Rockstar Toronto (Windows)
Publishers: Rockstar Games (US/EU/AU), Capcom (JP, PlayStation 3), CyberFront (JP, Windows)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows
Released in JP: October 30, 2008 (PS3, X360), March 20, 2009 (Windows)
Released in US: April 29, 2008 (PS3, X360), December 2, 2008 (Windows)
Released in EU: April 29, 2008 (PS3, X360), December 3, 2008 (Windows)
Released in AU: April 29, 2008 (PS3, X360), December 3, 2008 (Windows)
Released in KR: February 15, 2012 (PS3, X360)


AnimationsIcon.png This game has unused animations.
AreasIcon.png This game has unused areas.
CodeIcon.png This game has unused code.
DevTextIcon.png This game has hidden development-related text.
GraphicsIcon.png This game has unused graphics.
ModelsIcon.png This game has unused models.
MusicIcon.png This game has unused music.
SoundIcon.png This game has unused sounds.
TextIcon.png This game has unused text.
DebugIcon.png This game has debugging material.
RegionIcon.png This game has regional differences.
Carts.png This game has revisional differences.
PiracyIcon.png This game has anti-piracy features.


PrereleaseIcon.png This game has a prerelease article
NotesIcon.png This game has a notes page
BugsIcon.png This game has a bugs page

Hmmm...
This page is loooong...
Consider grouping related content into additional subpages to ease readability.
Hmmm...
To do:
  • hud.dat; there are commented out settings that can be re-enabled.
  • frontend_menus.xml; dummied out "Always Strafe" setting that can also be restored but doesn't do anything noticeable.
  • Here's a Pastebin list of models that may not be used in the game at all.
  • Expand upon the version differences, such as building lights being broken
  • Also expand upon platform difference, particularly between console and PC

What does the American dream mean today?

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

Sub-Pages

Read about prerelease information and/or media for this game.
Prerelease Info
Miscellaneous tidbits that are interesting enough to point out here.
Notes
Read about notable bugs and errors in this game.
Bugs

Resources

GTA IV-EFLC-icon.png
Cut DLC Content
The side of DLC you never knew you wanted to see.
GTAIV Zombiemode gunhud.png
Unused Mission-Related Text and Audio
"Yokel, fatty Roman's cousin. I have some extra business for you to take care of..."
SoundIcon.png
Unused Audio
The noisy side of Liberty City.
GTA4Broating.png
Unused Textures
The hidden side of Liberty City.
GTAIV TestCube.png
Unused Models
The OTHER hidden side of Liberty City.
TextIcon.png
Unused Text
The textual side of Liberty City.
GTAIV-Prerelease-LCPD Recruitment-Soldiers Plaza.png
Development Oversights
The side of Liberty City as seen on TV.

Version Differences

BuildLog.htm

Download.png Download BuildLog.htm
File: GTAIV_(Windows)-BuildLog.zip (7 KB) (info)

A shader compiler log, along with batch commands, can be found in the common\shaders directory in the Windows version.

Unused Vehicles

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.

Unused Test Maps

In the Windows version, there are some test maps left in the game's files called CJ_Test and AnimViewer While another unused test map named InteriorTest is listed inside of the game's code, it won't load as it doesn't have the proper files in the data.

Unused Characters

m_m_busdriver.wdd

A bus driver. Buses are never seen being driven around on the streets by NPCs, therefore this character goes unused. It is possible that bus drivers were supposed to operate the buses at one point in development.

Gtaiv cutbusdriver.png

m_y_ff_rscafe.wdd

A male worker from the Rockstar Cafe. This worker goes unused as the Rockstar Cafe was renamed to the Superstar Cafe in the final version of the game.

Gtaiv cutrockstarworker.png

m_y_ff_wspizza_r.wdd

Another unused worker, this time from the Well Stacked Pizza Co., which does not have any operational stores in the town.

Gtaiv unusedpizzaworker.png

Filename Oddities

In the game's files, certain locations, 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.

Radio Stations

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

Tuff Gong Radio is listed as Babylon.
The Beat 102.7 is listed as Beat 95.

Vehicles

  • The handling.dat file and some audio files refer to the Freeway as Bobber.
  • The model file for the Contender is named E109.
  • In the .gxt files, Roman's Taxi is referred to Albany.
(Source: Grand Theft Wiki)

Scrapped Weapons

There are some scrapped weapons from earlier in development that didn't quite make it to the final process.

Flamethrower

An entry for a flamethrower exists in WeaponInfo.xml, but only the title "FTHROWER" remains, with no extra data to make it playable.

	<weapon type="FTHROWER"/>

Pool Cue

In the files, the pool cue from the mini-games was supposed to be a weapon but it ended up being scrapped for unknown reasons.
It can be bought back as a normal weapon via modifications as it has data, but it is simply not obtainable as such under normal circumstances.

	<weapon type="POOLCUE">
		<data slot="MELEE" firetype="MELEE" damagetype="MELEE" group="MELEE_WOOD" targetrange="10.0" weaponrange="1.6">
			<damage base="1" networkplayermod="1.0" networkpedmod="1.0"/>

			<pickup regentime="120000"/>

			<controller>
				<rumble duration="60" intensity="0.23"/>
			</controller>

			<flags>
				<flag>CAN_AIM</flag>
				<flag>MELEE_CLUB</flag>
				<flag>ARMOUR_PENETRATING</flag>
			</flags>
		</data>

		<assets model="w_cue"/>
	</weapon>

When the pool cue is selected, it functions like the baseball bat in terms of attack animations. Internally, the pool cue does have a corresponding HUD icon, although it is not seen in-game when the item is equipped. The unused HUD icon is very basic and possibly a simple-styled placeholder as it's inconsistent with the style of all the used HUD icons. This could indicate that the ability to use the pool cue as a weapon was scrapped somewhat early on in development.

However, a shorter, usable broken pool cue was later implemented in The Lost and Damned.

(Source: Grand Theft Wiki Pool Cue)

Nightstick

There are references to the nightstick in common/data/default.ide:

The lines include:

w_nstick, 		w_nstick, 		null, 			1, 	50, 	0 

w_nstick,	0,	CM_WEAPONS_NIGHTSTICK

Unused Player Features

Some unused elements remain in the game's files.

Fingerless Gloves

GTAIV niko gloves.png
Strangely enough, while these gloves for Niko were heavily featured in promotional artwork, screenshots, and trailers from either before or after release, they can never be found in-game. They are present in the game's data though and can be applied with modifications.

Haircuts

Hmmm...
To do:
Put an image of the other haircut.

GTAIV niko haircut.png
There are two scrapped haircut designs in the game: one is designed to resemble helmet-hair (which is how Niko originally appeared in 2007 pre-release footage), and the other a buzz cut. Like the gloves, these still exist in the data and can be used with modifications.

(Source: Grand Theft Wiki)

Scrapped Radio Songs

Hmmm...
To do:
Add the text strings.

American.gxt lists 4 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

  • The Rolling Stones - "Fingerprint File"

Radio Broker

  • The Virgins - "One Week of Danger"
  • Celebration - "Fly the Fly (Holy Fuck Remix)"

The Vibe 98.8

  • Cassie - "Me & U"

Me & U was possibly cut because it appeared in Saints Row 2, which released in the same year. A song from that station conversely appeared in Grand Theft Auto V on the Non-Stop-Pop FM station.

(Source: Grand Theft Wiki Liberty Rock 97.8, Grand Theft Wiki Radio Broker, Grand Theft Wiki The Vibe 98.8, Grand Theft Wiki Non-Stop-Pop FM)

Unused Vehicle Handling Data

Handling strings for vehicles that don't appear in the actual game. All of these strings come from GTA 4, and aren't leftovers from GTA SA.

Andromada

This is a driveable big plane from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

ANDROM 50000.0 10.0 75 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 0.30 1.0 160.0 0.4 0.60 0.7 35.0 0.65 0.60 8.0 0.10 0.5 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.50 -0.20 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.5 0.0 52000 2004000 400000 0

Dodo

An old favorite debuted from Grand Theft Auto III.

DODO 5000.0 10.0 75 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 1 0.30 1.0 160.0 0.4 0.60 0.7 35.0 0.65 0.60 8.0 0.10 0.5 0.5 0.15 0.2 0.50 -0.05 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.5 0.0 45000 4000000 400000 13

Fighter

All that remains is its handling data. Possibly, it was some type of military aircraft.

FIGHTER 5000.0 10.0 75 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 0.30 1.0 160.0 0.4 0.60 0.7 25.0 0.65 0.60 8.0 0.10 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.50 -0.05 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 1.5 0.0 45000 4000000 400000 0

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.

(Source: Grand Theft Wiki)

Unfinished Weather

In common\data\Ambient.dat, there is a bit known as >IsSnowing. This could mean snow was a weather condition, but it's now only seen as an unused scenario for pedestrian behavior.

Unused Animations

Hmmm...
To do:
More. Subpage this.

Ice Cream Animations

amb@icecream_default.wad amb@icecream_destroy.wad
It contains an idle animation of holding an ice cream.
It contains an animation of eating ice cream and throwing it on the ground.
GTAIV-icecream default-stand hold.gif GTAIV-icecream destroy-walk destroy.gif
amb@icecream_idles.wad (stand_eat) amb@icecream_idles.wad (walk_eat)
It contains an animation of eating ice cream while standing.
It contains an animation of eating ice cream while walking.
GTAIV-icecream idles-stand eat.gif GTAIV-icecream idles-walk eat.gif

Plank

A plank and the animation can be found within the game's files and would have been carried by dockworkers at East Hook. While unused now, workers can be seen holding the plank in the first trailer.

amb@plank_hold-stand_carry amb@plank_create-stand_carry
GTAIV-plank hold-stand carry.gif
GTAIV-plank create-stand create.gif


Pinball

There is an unused animation for playing pinball found in anim.img.

GTAIV-Pinball-animation.gif

Regional Differences

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

Australian Console Release

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.

Platform Differences

The PlayStation 3 release contains SIXAXIS™ support, which adds motion controls to the game that is toggled in settings.

SIXAXIS™ Tutorial

By using the SIXAXIS™ Tutorial option on your phone, you will be sent to the Francis International Airport where the tutorial will take place.

Throughout the game you can use SIXAXIS™ control.

SIXAXIS™ is enabled throughout this tutorial. It can be turned off/on by going to Controls in the front end menu and selecting SIXAXIS™.

SIXAXIS™ can be overridden at any time by using [Left Stick] and [Right Stick] when appropriate.

Then the game teaches you to reload using motion controls.

SIXAXIS™ can be used to reload your weapon.

Use [Tilt controller up] to reload the pistol.

Once it's done, you'll be told to walk to the marker nearby to start the next tutorial, where you can use the motion controls to control bikes.

You can use SIXAXIS™ to control bikes.

Press [R2] to accelerate. Press [L2] to brake.

Use [Tilt controller sideways] to steer the bike.

Then you will have to drive through markers to reach the finish line. Once that's done, the following messages appear:

You can use SIXAXIS™ to shift your weight forwards and backwards whilst on a bike. This will allow you to perform stunts such as stoppies and wheelies.

Use [Tilt controller up and down] whilst driving to lean forward or backwards.

Upon doing a stunt, another marker appears which upon entering will begin the next tutorial, where you can also use the motion controls to control boats.

You can use SIXAXIS™ to control boats.

Press [R2] to accelerate. Press [L2] to brake.

Use [Tilt controller sideways] to steer the boat.

Use [Tilt controller up and down] to adjust the trim.

You can use [Tilt controller up and down] to adjust the trim.

More markers appear which also lead the player to the finish line, which also starts the last tutorial.

You can use SIXAXIS™ to control helicopters.

By enabling the Auto Pitch Calibration option in the Controls menu, upon entering a vehicle the current pitch of the SIXAXIS™ is used as the central pitch position for all vehicle controls.

Hold [R2] to increase your altitude or [L2] to decrease your altitude.

Use [Tilt controller sideways] or [Tilt controller up and down] to bank the helicopter in the direction you wish to move.

Press [L1] and [R1] to rotate the helicopter left and right.

Hold [R2] to increase your altitude.

Use [Tilt controller up and down] and hold [R2] to accelerate forwards.

Use [Tilt controller sideways] to steer the helicopter.

Hold [L2] to decrease your altitude.

Upon taking off the game spawns a set of ring markers followed by landing the helicopter on a marked helipad.
When completing or failing the tutorial, Niko will be sent to the entrance of the airport.

The PC version has a lot of differences graphics-wise, including different reflections, gamma, and lacks additional post-processing like depth of field effects. Emissive shaders are also broken, meaning that building lights, such as those on top of the Empire Sta- erm, Rotterdam Tower do not render properly.

Revisional Differences

Later releases of the game change Maxwell Caddy's name in the police database to Maxwell Caughlin.

(Source: GTAForums Thread)

v1.2.0.43

A patch on April 26, 2018, for some versions (not including disc based versions for PlayStation 3 and possibly Xbox 360), removed and added some songs that can be heard on the radio, due to song-licensing expiration issues. While Electro-Choc, Fusion, JNR, Massive B, and Tuff Gong were completely untouched, Vladivostok FM had almost all the songs cut out, except for Liberty City: The Invasion, by Seryoga.

The following new songs are added to Vladivostok FM.

  • Aleksey Bolshoy - "Ya Nenavizhu Karaoke"
  • Seryoga - "Mon Ami (ft. Maks Lorens)"
  • Seryoga - "Dobav' Skorost"
  • Seryoga - "Chiki"
  • Delice - "Goryacheye Leto"
  • Zhenya Fokin - "Noch'ju"
  • Kievelektro - "Gulyaj, Slavyane!! (ft. Alyona Vinnitskaya)"
  • Riffmaster - "Begu (Rancho Song)"
  • Riffmaster - "Riffmaster Tony"
  • Ayvengo - "Underground"
  • Ayvengo - "Reprezenty"

The cut songs from other stations are:

  • The Smashing Pumpkins - "1979" (1995) (Liberty Rock Radio)
  • Stevie Nicks - "Edge of Seventeen" (1981) (Liberty Rock Radio)
  • Electric Light Orchestra - "Evil Woman" (1975) (Liberty Rock Radio)
  • David Bowie - "Fascination" (1975) (Liberty Rock Radio)
  • Black Sabbath - "Heaven and Hell" (1980) (Liberty Rock Radio)
  • Cro-Mags - "It's the Limit" (1985) (Liberty City Hardcore)
  • Leeway - "Enforcer" (1988) (Liberty City Hardcore)
  • Tamiko Jones - "Can't Live Without Your Love" (1979) (K109 The Studio)
  • Terry Riley - "A Rainbow in Curved Air" (1969) (The Journey)
  • Michael Shrieve - "Communique: 'Approach Spiral'" (1984) (The Journey)
  • The Prairie Cartel - "Homicide" (2008) (Radio Broker)
  • Ralph Myerz - "The Teacher" (2006) (Radio Broker)
  • Gil Scott-Heron - "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" (1971) (IF99 International Funk)
  • Angel y Khriz - "Ven Báilalo" (2004) (San Juan Sounds)
  • Mtume - "C.O.D. (I'll Deliver)" (1984) (The Vibe 98.8)
  • Fat Joe (feat. Lil Wayne) - "Crackhouse" (2008) (The Beat 102.7)
  • Papoose - "Stylin'" (2008) (The Beat 102.7)
  • Brand Nubian - "All for One" (1990) (The Classics)
  • Marley Marl feat. Craig G - "Droppin' Science" (1988) (The Classics)

The change also carried on to Episodes From Liberty City.

(Source: GTAForums - IV Song Removal Due to Licenses expiring, GTAWiki)

Anti-Piracy

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.
(Source: Vadim M, Zolika1351)

Episodes from Liberty City

The 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 the 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.
(Source: Vadim M, Zolika1351)