GTA IV: Lost and Damned

Nodz86 · November 20, 2008

Rockstar Games

'Grand Theft Auto' yields road to the 'Lost and Damned'

Meet Johnny Klebitz, the protagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV's downloadable episode 'The Lost and the Damned.'

The upcoming episode of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV looks to be a wild one.

GTA IV, which was released in April for the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, focused on former Eastern European soldier Niko Bellic and his escalating life of crime in the boroughs of Liberty City. This new episode, available Feb. 17 via download exclusively for those who own the Xbox 360 version (no price yet), stars Johnny Klebitz, a member of Liberty City biker gang The Lost.

"Johnny is a very different character than Niko, with a very different background," says Dan Houser, vice president of creative development for Rockstar Games. "I can't go into too much detail on the story, because we try not to give away too much plot before the game is released. But I can say that the story will show you a different side of Liberty City."

The episode, titled The Lost and Damned, requires players to have the full version of the Mature-rated GTA IV (ages 17 and older) and an Xbox Live membership to download. It's likely to carry an M rating, too. (Parents can use the Xbox 360's parental controls to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content.)

GTA IV is the top video game this year; nearly two-thirds of the 5 million copies sold have been for Xbox 360, according to The NPD Group.

In the original game, Niko crossed paths with The Lost several times. This time, Niko has only a bit part, Houser says. "The story is not directly impacted by decisions you took in the main game," he says. But "tons of details and mysteries from the main story get explained, so it will add a lot of color to the main story."

'Damned' will offer hours of gameplay, not just extras

Rockstar Games has been fine-tuning its explorable 3-D virtual worlds since launching its first "sandbox" game with Grand Theft Auto III in 2001.

The new game will let you download more sandbox time. "We feel like we've only scratched the surface in terms of the depth and detail in" GTA IV's mythical Liberty City, says Houser.

Previous games have used downloads to add "new stages, weapons and costumes," says GamePro Media features editor Dave Rudden, "but GTA IV's content will reportedly add hours of gameplay."

Rudden hopes the episode costs $15 or less, but Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter expects a $20 price and says Rockstar could sell 2 million to 3 million downloads. "I see episodic content as a natural progression of the quality of downloadable content."

'The Lost and the Damned' star Johnny Klebitz finds himself in a biker gang standoff in Alderney, Liberty City's equivalent to New Jersey.

Biker gang The Lost rides through Alderney.

Johnny takes a night ride.

Source

ShadowGT · November 20, 2008

Any word on PS3 DLC?

Nodz86 · November 20, 2008

Any word on PS3 DLC?

As far as I know there is no DLC for the PS3, the DLC is only for the Xbox 360 as it was part of the deal they signed with MS. It might surface on the PS3 but that will be at least 6 months after the 360 release

Eudemon · November 20, 2008

DLC is coming to both but it's different for each and Xbox 360 gets it first iirc.

TimBud · November 21, 2008

Wow it looks like this could be quite a DLC.

Nice one Nodz

SLRRR · November 21, 2008

DLC is coming to both but it's different for each and Xbox 360 gets it first iirc.

And it hope its coming to the PC version, although the psp version isnt out yet.

DriftNismo · November 21, 2008

Around the time it came out there was a lot of stuff on GTAForums saying the X360 is getting downloadable episodes while the PS3 would get downloadable cars and clothes and stuff instead, not sure what's going on now though. And SLRRR, where did you hear a PSP version was coming out????

ShadowGT · December 3, 2008

hehe just noticed there are a few times in GTA 4's story where "the Lost" biker gang are mentioned so it will be good to see how they intertwine the stories lol

TimBud · January 23, 2009

1600 M$points for L&D

There are lots of previews on the major websites now.

GTAgaming have given a nice little summary and loads of new screens:

It will take a minimum of ten hours to complete and will cost 1600MS.
Some missions can be restarted at halfway points.
There are NO additions to the Liberty City map.
There will be more buildings with interiors, mostly linked to new missions.
Johnny Klebitz is the vice president of The Lost, and the DLC's story begins when Billy returns from rehab to lead the gang once again. In Billy's absence, Johnny lead The Lost and called a truce with their rivals, The Angels of Death. When Billy returns, he is not fond of the idea of a truce.
The Lost safehouse is located on the corner of Berners Road and Vitullo Avenue in Alderney. Mini-games like a hi-low card game, an arm wrestling game, and getting weapons delivered from friends like Lil Jacob will all be available in the safehouse.
Johnny's bike is available outside the safehouse, and if you trash it someone can bring over another one.
One mission named "Buyer's Market" shows how Johnny crosses paths with Niko Bellic and Playboy X via Elizabeta.New weapons include a 9MM automatic pistol, a sawn-off shotgun, an assault shotgun, a grenade launcher, and pipe bombs.
New music for the "hardcore and metal" radio stations will be introduced.
Riding with the gang makes The Lost gang logo appear and the ground, and allows Johnny to receive health boosts.

[imglink]http://www.gtagaming.com/images/gtaiv/dlc/screenshots/thumbnails/031.jpg[/imglink]

[imglink]http://www.gtagaming.com/images/gtaiv/dlc/screenshots/thumbnails/036.jpg[/imglink]

[imglink]http://www.gtagaming.com/images/gtaiv/dlc/screenshots/thumbnails/041.jpg[/imglink]

More new screens here.

Its quite a bit of money but then, it looks more than worth it imo.

t. · January 23, 2009

Sounds like a pretty decent add on in terms of story. Do you happen to know if these new weapons will be available in multiplayer if all participants have the DLC?

TimBud · January 23, 2009

I would assume if all players had the DLC, then the weapons would be available... but if not all players have it!? Don't know if it will be the same wit the vehicles though. Or maybe there'll be specific servers.

I imagine there might be a free version of the DLC that will contain minor things like that.

Nodz86 · January 23, 2009

Sounds like a good add on but this must mean a new game save as it is a as its a completely different story. It does look good and hopefully be worth the money.

Good Find TimBud

TimBud · January 24, 2009

The official Lost & Damned website is now live.

Its shows the release date as Feb 17th :thumbsup:

Nodz86 · January 24, 2009

Loving your updates about this TimBud, keep trying to rep you but I need to get about a bit ;)

TimBud · January 24, 2009

lol likewise, but I am a lazy repper too ;)

CarMadMike · January 24, 2009

Thanks for the update, thats not long now :D

The only problem i have, any news on the size of this DLC? as it sounds like its going to be massive

Nodz86 · January 24, 2009

The only problem i have, any news on the size of this DLC? as it sounds like its going to be massive

It does sound big, might be time to get a 120gb HDD.

CarMadMike · January 24, 2009

It does sound big, might be time to get a 120gb HDD.

Agreed :lol: I think i only have 8gb left on mine.

TimBud · January 24, 2009

Can't find any info on size yet. But my assumption is that it will be about 1.5gb (going on MC:LA's mistakenly released DLC last week).

Have found some more good points of interest though:

The depth of pedestrians has been increased, in particular around Alderney, with a lot more variation and dialogue.
Will Microsoft’s servers hold up?
There are new vehicles (not just bikes), new internet sites and new television shows
There are now checkpoints mid-mission. So if you die and then do the quick restart from your phone at the hospital exit, you will not start back at the mission trigger. You’ll start at the point you drove to from that trigger.
The sound library has been increased with a multitude more throwaway comments from NPCs.
Johnny runs a lot slower than Niko, which is admittedly quite annoying at first as you struggle to evade death.
The bike physics have been fine-tuned beyond what was seen in GTA IV and handle a lot more responsively.
Johnny can be moved about in his seat while riding his bike, with Euphoria providing some pretty cool animations reminiscent of Arnie in Terminator 2.
Most members in The Lost have their own unique bikes that cannot be found elsewhere in the city.

And this is only the first of two exclusive DLC's!

ShadowGT · January 24, 2009

Now watch the Second DLC go into Development hell & never be released. While us PS3'ers get screwed out of any DLC at all.

Nodz86 · January 24, 2009

Now watch the Second DLC go into Development hell & never be released. While us PS3'ers get screwed out of any DLC at all.

Whether the 2nd one will be released or not will depend on sales of this one and they are also contractually obliged to release a second one unless there is a clause somewhere.

This will also mean another £15 for the 2nd one aswell so £30 for all DLC meaning we've paid for a 2nd full game.

I wonder if they will add any more achievements as the limit to extra content is 200 points iirc so that means the 2 eposodic contents will have roughly 100 each. Or would this be classed as a new game and have 1000??