Considering GTA IV for PC, what are the essential mods/fixes?

[Red Storm]

I remember this game being a rather poor performer when it launched for PC, so I put it out of my mind until the mod community could have some fun with it. I'm tempted to get it now, and I'm wondering if anyone here is familiar with the game's mod scene and what you would recommend in terms of fixes and game play changes?

 

[Kristijonas]

I'm playing it with the latest patch only and it works really well on highest graphics (except I set shadows to high, instead of very high). My specs are in my signature.

 

[Cheesetogo]

The patches improve performance substantially (although I would still suggest setting shadows to medium with everything else maxed out).

Get xliveless. It replaces the xlive.dll file in your game directory, removing Games for Windows LIVE and the Rockstar Social Club requirements. Both of those things are complete garbage and annoying as hell. However, you do need GFWL if you want to play online.

There's a mod that allows you to spawn NPCs as bodyguards, which is a lot of fun. I believe it's just called bodyguard mod or something similar.

 

[Skunkwourk]

decent graphical mod seen in a reddit thread

http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/in133/as_photorealistic_as_gaming_gets_right_now/

Link to mod
http://enbdev.com/ss_gta4_01_en.htm

 

[PrayForDeath]

I'm also thinking of picking this up. Thanks for the heads up on Xliveless, Cheesetogo.

 

[Linflas]

If I install this thing on my PC what do I need to do to completely remove it, specifically the copy protection crap I have heard so much about that burrows its way into the depths of your machine?

 

[Ross Ridge]

If I install this thing on my PC what do I need to do to completely remove it, specifically the copy protection crap I have heard so much about that burrows its way into the depths of your machine?

You mean Grand Theft Auto IV? You can uninstall it from the Program and Features control panel like anything else. You'll have to uninstall Game for Windows Live seperately from GTA 4. I'm not sure if Rockstar Social Club needs to uninstalled seperately, it probably does, but I never installed it in the first place.

As for the "copy protection crap", if you bought the retail disk version then there isn't anything installed seperately from the main GTA IV install. Uninstalling GTA IV will remove it completely from the system. If you buy it from Steam or some other digital download service you'll have to uninstall that copy protection crap seperately.

 

[Nebor]

GTA 4 on the PC is amazing. I just started a week ago, I'm about 50% done, still have all the add-ons\DLC to play after that. Playing @ 1920x1200 with all details on very high with a mid range computer. No stutter or slow down, draw distance set out pretty far. Using an i7 2600k, 8gb system memory and gtx 580. Oh yeah, running around and ESPECIALLY driving are way better with an xbox 360 controller. Shooting is better with mouse and keyboard.

 

[Red Storm]

Using an i7 2600k, 8gb system memory and gtx 580.

Those are definitely not mid range specs, you've got yourself a high end rig.

 

[Cheesetogo]

If I install this thing on my PC what do I need to do to completely remove it, specifically the copy protection crap I have heard so much about that burrows its way into the depths of your machine?

It really got blown out of proportion IMO. It just uses Securom, which really doesn't pose any sort of danger to your machine (at least, in this iteration). If you buy the game on Steam it might not even be present, seeing as its purpose is to verify that the CD is in the drive.

 

[Bman123]

Buy it wherever its the cheapest

 

[Firsttime]

I can play it all maxed out @1920x1080 with an i5 760, 4 gigs of ram and a 768mb 460gtx. So I'm sure most people here can play it somewhat well. Great game, super fun just to roam in with friends too in free roam mode. Finding random jumps, racing and stuff.

 

[Red Storm]

Oh, forgot to ask! Is there any issue in terms of mod compatibility if you get the Steam version instead of retail/other source?

 

[Nebor]

I can play it all maxed out @1920x1080 with an i5 760, 4 gigs of ram and a 768mb 460gtx. So I'm sure most people here can play it somewhat well. Great game, super fun just to roam in with friends too in free roam mode. Finding random jumps, racing and stuff.

IIRC maxed out it would exceed the VRAM on an 460gtx. With the draw distance and density turned up it uses ~1300mb of vram.

 

[Soundmanred]

IIRC maxed out it would exceed the VRAM on an 460gtx. With the draw distance and density turned up it uses ~1300mb of vram.

Yup. On my HD6850 (1GB), it won't even let me adjust over 1062MB. I always wonder what people truly mean when they say "maxed out".

 

[Firsttime]

You're right. I was a little liberal with the term "maxed out" now that I check. Most things are on very high, a few things are on high, and distances are all at 60.

 

[Stumben2]

SO many times I thought about getting this but felt like it would be fun for a day then get bored. Plus I have too many games I haven't finished.

But, I still am interested in playing it...some day.

 

[PrayForDeath]

To be honest when I heard about the 100$ M budget I was tempted to buy it because I thought "a thousand people with a 100$ M budget must've been able to create something fun"

And then there's this: http://neogaf.net/forum/showthread.php?t=436159

Oh, forgot to ask! Is there any issue in terms of mod compatibility if you get the Steam version instead of retail/other source?

Try to avoid the steam version, because it forces you to update to the latest patch (1.0.7.0), but some mods, like the graphic enhancements in that neogaf link require version 1.0.4.0 to work properly.

 

[Arg Clin]

Just installed GTA IV on ky rig (PhII X4 965 w/ 2x CrossfireX 6870'es) and it runs like crap! Can't even max out everything, which makes GTA IV the first game to actually kill my rig. Mind you I'm only gaming at 1600x1050.

Am I doing something totally wrong or is this simply a console port spawn in hell?

 

[spaceman]

horrid controls
stupid cell phone blowing up
mar a nice sandbox world
i tired 4-6x to really get into it, just end up pissed off
u think they could maybe update the controls once a decade

 

[sandorski]

Just installed GTA IV on ky rig (PhII X4 965 w/ 2x CrossfireX 6870'es) and it runs like crap! Can't even max out everything, which makes GTA IV the first game to actually kill my rig. Mind you I'm only gaming at 1600x1050.

Am I doing something totally wrong or is this simply a console port spawn in hell?

Don't Max everything, lol. Use a XFire profile if you haven't already.

 

[Nebor]

horrid controls
stupid cell phone blowing up
mar a nice sandbox world
i tired 4-6x to really get into it, just end up pissed off
u think they could maybe update the controls once a decade

Controls are fine with an xbox 360 controller.

 

[Nebor]

To be honest when I heard about the 100$ M budget I was tempted to buy it because I thought "a thousand people with a 100$ M budget must've been able to create something fun"

And then there's this: http://neogaf.net/forum/showthread.php?t=436159



Try to avoid the steam version, because it forces you to update to the latest patch (1.0.7.0), but some mods, like the graphic enhancements in that neogaf link require version 1.0.4.0 to work properly.

Looks like that icenhancer is coming out with a new version soon to support Steam.

 

[Anarchist420]

I just can't play a game that has aliasing like that. I've always wanted to play Matrix Path of Neo, but I can't get into it because there is no way that I know of to minimize edge aliasing.

 

[Nebor]

I just can't play a game that has aliasing like that. I've always wanted to play Matrix Path of Neo, but I can't get into it because there is no way that I know of to minimize edge aliasing.

I'm glad I don't even know what you're talking about. I'd hate for it to keep me from playing awesome games.