Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 28 April 2008 08:36
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
Uh-oh... pirate copies of Grand Theft Auto IV are roaming around the
web, causing havoc - but why risk downloading a pirate copy at 6.32GB
in size for the Xbox 360 - when the full version comes out tomorrow?
Ok, so, if you like breaking the law in GTA IV, running around causing havoc on screen, playing with prostitues, taking drugs, bashing people, speeding, evading the police, watching Ricky Gervais whoop it up in the comedy club and just having a good ol' time - you might be inclined to get a jump on the official release by downloading it.
But you'll need to set aside 6.32GB - and by the time it finishes downloading, if you start now, it'll probably be on sale in stores.
You'll also need to visit your favourite BitTorrent site, but hey, if you do that kind of thing, you may well have downloaded GTA IV already, as it leaked online last week.
But doing so steals money from Rockstar, the developers, and if you want to see GTA V, then piracy is not the best way of encouraging them to get the coders cracking.
You'll also need a hacked Xbox 360 - and if you try playing the game online with Xbox Live, you could soon find yourself permanently banned, which certainly takes away a lot of the fun if you like playing nicely - or not so nicely, as GTA IV allows - with others.
According to a News.com.au
article, the "warez" group behind the release is called iCON, and they've advised potential pirates to support Rockstar and buy the game.
"Guys, seriously, go and buy this one. R* (Rockstar) deserves it".
Of course, that didn't stop iCON from uploading the game in the firt place, and according to the News article, it hasn't stopped users from downloadig it - and playing it online, with GTA IV game scores already visible on "public Xbox profile listings" - despite iCON advising profiles be set to private.
So, will those users be banned soon – and which version is better, the Xbox 360 version, or that for the PS3? Please read onto page 2.
