RockStar Scared of GTA IV Leak Before Launch - Monitors Play *Updated* Posted by XanTium | April 23 00:54 EST | News Category: Xbox360

We received information this was sent to people who get GTA IV early... it seems like they are making sure that even if the game was leaked online prior launch (UPDATE: It seems that in meantime the Xbox360 PAL version of the game leaked online ...) it will not be usable online and achievements will stay hidden: [QUOTE] Xbox 360 Version: We need your Gamertag because Microsoft will be helping Rockstar Games monitor access to the online modes up to release date. Because of this, we will need to add your Gamertag to the approved list of gamers who can play online prior to release. In addition to supplying this information, if you do intend to go online before April 29th, you will need to change a couple of the basic settings on your Xbox 360 and keep these settings like this till the game comes out, otherwise other people will be able to see your achievements list for GTA IV (even if you are playing another game) and we'd like to keep that information back for the fans. You will have to switch your profile to private and appear off line. We have attached a document that explains exactly how you do this just in case. PS3 Version: There are no privacy settings that can be set on the PS3 but we will still be tracking who is going on line so again it will make it easier for us to identify you as a genuine user if we have your ID. [/QUOTE]

Sounds like they mean business, hopefully no one on this forum will have to become a victim of this

wasn't the achievement list leaked weeks ago or was it a fake?

Hey Rockstar, if your so fricken worried about it being leaked, then don't give out any early copies.

Edit: *changes sig to scare them even more.

Im glad they are being cautious. It seemed like every game for a while was leaked.

Anybody like the french halo 2?

Oh, everybody in my dorm loved French Halo 2. Good times were had by all. And then I went to the midnight release, and laughed at people who honestly thought they were getting it before anyone else.

What I don't understand is why they don't want the achievements to be released. Many companies use the achievement list as more free advertising.

It's not about them being leaked it's about stores selling them early.

All the stores here i have asked say they got there stock of gta in over a week ago people in game mentioned even playing it in the back.

Well ya, thats how most leaks happen. (stores)

I don't believe this.
Sorry but since when did Rockstar supply direct. How do they know who has bought it without shops disclosing private information to about people, that they can not do under the data protection act here.
How are they going to account for the stores in town that have before and will again sell this before release to cash paying customers?
How are they going to verify that people have legit copies?
If they are telling people to make settings to stop it appearing in GTs how do they know everyone with a leaked version will not do it.
Lot off things not adding up here.

Rockstar do not supply stores direct, at least not in the uk anyways.

ALL of m$ products go through a company called GEM, which is based in Harlow, Essex.

When they are mentioning games sent to people early, i assumed they must be on about Rockstar staff, and other staff who have helped in making GTAIV in some way.
Hell, even the GEM staff get the games well early, and most are even allowed a free copy!

as for other stores in the UK, blockbuster for example, they get there games in almost a week early, but still from GEM. the staff are allowed to rent games on their staff accounts before general release, but this time GTAIV isnt out for rental before sale.

so, as for them checking for people playing online, they will probably just look at server stats and check ips etc, then if the numbers dont add up youll no doubt get a message.

ive been looking on newsgroups and there are already a few copies of GTAIV available, whether they are real or not i cannot say as i dont have a modded 360.

companies are never gonna stop games getting leaked, same as movie companies.

like the guy above said, if they want it to be safe until launch, dont send out preview copies which are just begging to be leaked to the world!

I dont know why their so bothered about it, its out in a few days anyway. i'd understand if it was weeks or months

i'll be getting mine about 4 days early anyway the joys of working retail...

Dude, be happy . Were have they mentioned that shops are giving private info away? They are asking all legit early users to tell them there gamertag so they can see if you are cool to play early, not that confusing or bad really, makes sence (if you no anything about the game industry from the inside)

the dude above "i'll be getting mine about 4 days early anyway the joys of working retail" is the sort of people they are after catching, he can prob kiss goodbye to his Live account when the summer ban wave hits.

I cant believe that this even made news, when it was obvious it was BS. At the start of the article it goes onto explain how the email has been sent out to people who have preordered the game, with the second line saying something like

"Please let us know of the system you want the discs sent out for"

Lol, like the shop suddenly forgot that you ordered the PS3/360 version. This article is absolute BS and should be removed. None of the people i know who preordered the game and have had emails about it being sent out have got this crap.

One word for what they're doing - scaremongering. It'll probably work too.

A very serious "+1".
Treating customers as thieves is always so nice to see. Even if in this case all is as they tell us, it stinks anyway.
Bunch of control freaks!
And "Let's hype this game to Pluto and back" = "Why are we getting retail money before release date?!"

I'm all up for developers trying to get no one to play before launch, but i'm not sure exactly how they will do it effectively

Anything to scare 12-year old pirates is a good thing mind

surprise surprise its been leaked! (torrents) I got the impression that the message was sent out to peeps in the industry (reviewers, etc) I don't see anything about treating customers as thieves, just making sure that all online players are playing legit copies. Looks like there admitting they haven't found a way to detect flashed boxes n back-ups too though, whoops

Well it was leaked some minutes/hours ago

yep i second that

So the bottom line:


Has it been leaked: Yes or no?

Confirmed: Its been leaked.

Ergh what is the source of this news?

a few sources are saying its the uk uncut version of the game

Link?

Haha like it

all the vids are being taken off youtube "....due to a copyright claim by Take 2 Games"
theres still a couple on google video.

Oh, but it is. (at least that's what I believe)

the groups show the pal release. indeed. seriously...is it worth it that much.

I reckon this could simply be a way of comiling a list of approved gamertags which can be playing prior to release. That list could maybe then be used in a ban wave, along the lines of ur names not down, u were playing early, banned?

If i remember rightly last time round loadsa people were 'unbanned' shortly after being banned, leading me to think the detection method wasnt 100%. Methods are changing all the time and personally, i would like it if someway could be found to stop early leaks, i think they spoil the buzz.

Waiting 5 days for the game.

so basically if you go online with it before release date without those settings they will block your achievements?

I agree that they should punish the warez people but for people who honestly get it posted to them early (online) then it's not their fault.

Rockstar should be ashamed.

If people are scared to use the pirated copies, couldn't they just unplug the ethernet cable and set the date to the 29:th. The datestamp for the achievements would then be plausible.

I just got email from Game they are getting ready to despatch my copy royal mail first class so looks like I will be getting it before the weekend.

They did this for my copy of halo3 as well.

I believe Chancer, or whoever said it, that said this was probably scaremongering, because there are definitely a lot of things that don't add up. But did anyone ever think that maybe that whole new update scare a few days ago (I still have not updated) could be completely false now? Why would they even think about saying something like that, if they were banning people for modded xboxes right after the launch anyway..like, it would make sense just not to say anything and ban surprisingly like they usually do.

Anyone else agree at all?

Just play it but dont go online, should be a probelm?. The servers are proberbly not fully live yet anyway! and by the time people go online with it, we would of had a week headstart at playing the game ;-)

This thread is pushing the limit of the no piracy talk.

Definitely.

No more discussions of torrents or leaks, this has already been determined and does not need further attention.

it just showed up online

some people never learn

Its so obviously fake i cant believe anybody on this forum actually believes it.

You can go here to read the google cached version of the email in question since rockstar had them take it down.

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:pudik...;cd=1&gl=us
[quote]
Hi there,

The good news is we are planning to send out your copy of GTA IV tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd April, to be with you first thing on Thursday 24th, so the wait is almost over.

In order for us to do that, could you:

- Let us know which format you would prefer to receive the game on?
- Let us know your Gamertag, if the answer to the above is Xbox 360 or your PSN On Line ID if the answer is PS3.

Why we need to know.

Xbox 360 Version

We need your Gamertag because Microsoft will be helping Rockstar Games monitor access to the online modes up to release date. Because of this, we will need to add your Gamertag to the approved list of gamers who can play online prior to release. In addition to supplying this information, if you do intend to go online before April 29th, you will need to change a couple of the basic settings on your Xbox 360 and keep these settings like this till the game comes out, otherwise other people will be able to see your achievements list for GTA IV (even if you are playing another game) and we’d like to keep that information back for the fans. You will have to switch your profile to private and appear off line. We have attached a document that explains exactly how you do this just in case.

PS3 Version

There are no privacy settings that can be set on the PS3 but we will still be tracking who is going on line so again it will make it easier for us to identify you as a genuine user if we have your ID.

Thanks and enjoy the game!
[quote]

1st) How are they getting peoples email addresses?
2nd) The email is so unprofessional its not even funny. "Hi there," ? Give me a break. Nigerian scammers greet me more professionally.
3) They dont seem to care about PS3's at all
4) What privacy settings could you possibly make on your Xbox 360 to "pass their checks"..there is none.
5) No company is going to waste hundreds of man hours adding names to some "approved" XBLive accounts list to prevent the game from being played online a few days early.

I could go on and on..about how this is fake, but i will let you guys read it and make your own judgements.

does anyone know of any gta 4 on xbox360 vs gta 4 on ps3 reviews? Just wondering which is the better buy for someone with both consoles...

get it for the 360. DLC that is the one and only reason.

so what let those piraters get em they'll ether get banned or they just cant play multiplayer and only single player LMAO so whats the point of getting it early illegally u will get banned fast and soon by ms unless ur only in it for the single player and for what reason why i dunno because personally i want the multiplayer part the most

tues 12:01 am couldnt come soon enough!! FUDGE!!

edit by grim_d : language.

damn. the jolly roger is flying free in this thread!


sorry for the language, always forget to cover up my french.

just because people have gta doesnt mean they have it illegally!!!!!!!!! think before you speak i know mine aint illegal, but i also wont say were i got it from to protect the shop who sold me it

Ya, NTSC was leaked yesterday too.

I don't get it why would anyone try and play this now? Wouldn't M$/Rockstar still be able to tell when was the first time you played it? Even if you did it offline it shows in your games history. I think thats just begging to be banned especially for people out there with modded xbox'es.

Unless you absolutely never connect to XBL...

First, I find it hilarious how much debate something like this causes. It's 4 days away. You can't wait 4 days to play a game that you've been waiting months, if not years, for? Seriously? How old are you? Go throw a tantrum and stamp your feet while you sit in the corner.

Second, I LOVE the no piracy talk rule here. I think they should crack down on that immediately in this thread. Go buy the game you cheap bastards. It's people like you that put people like me out of a job.

Third, I hope that you get banned for playing early. I have no doubt, no matter what the email sounds like, that they'll be monitoring this. It may not result in bans for Live accounts, but considering that they plan on having special leaderboards for those that finish the game first, you can bet your ass that they're going to monitor who was online before official release.