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From the outset it is plain to see that Liberty City is unrecognisable from the one you saw in Grand Theft Auto 3 back in the year 2001 - unrecognisable in good ways only. Firstly as you would expect the level of realism is far greater than any city in the Grand Theft Auto series yet, and Liberty City is now arguably the most realistic game environment ever created - it matches the likes of Assassins Creed and Metal Gear Solid 4, if not surpasses them, in terms of game world realism.
The citizens of Liberty City all appear to have a unique personality as you watch them go about their daily business, apparantly unaware of the large numbers of criminals and gangs that walk amongst them, until they're caught in the wrong place at the wrong time of course.
You will arrive in Liberty City on a small boat, in the form of eastern european Niko Bellic, an illegal immigrant who has made his way to Liberty City in his efforts to find his fortune - although he did not intend to find it by following the paths that will soon be placed infront of him. His cousin Roman has worked his way into some potentially life threatening gambling debts and it's you who has to help him find a way out of them.
As with all GTA titles before it, Grand Theft Auto IV will see you spending hour upon hour doing small jobs like stealing cars, shooting random pedestrians and escaping the attentions of the cops. However, it offers you so much more than ever before this time around largely thanks to a storyline which gives you unrivalled variety. On many occasions you will find that you do not have to follow orders, such as killing someone, as you could be given the option of letting them escape if they promise to leave the area. Letting people escape is not without it's risks, though, leaving you to weigh up the possible use of that person later in the game against the consequences you may face if your 'employer' finds out you didn't finish the job properly.
This becomes something of a trend as the Grand Theft Auto IV storyline unfolds, and it brings various benefits at different points of the game in each individual case which will ensure you want to play the game time and time again to see what direction the game will take you when you make different choices. Befriending a lawyer for example will be a great help if you ever find yourself in trouble with the law.
Most of the missions you encounter during the actual storyline mode don't give you this kind of decision to make at the end - and will simply involve you making deliveries of various kinds, or taking out certain people. Of course nothing is that simple, there will at times be numorous enemies trying to prevent you from completing your tasks, particularly later in the game when some of the missions are based on kidnap plots, and a job interview gone wrong. The police want to have their say on a regular basis too, and it's usually when they aren't written into the mission itself. If you do happen to fail a mission, a new replay mission feature makes light work of giving it another go.
Escaping the police in previous GTA titles was at times ridiculously difficult - this is no longer the case and if anything, it has become a touch too easy and is possibly the only flaw Grand Theft Auto IV has. Your GPS will show you the location of on-foot police in your area as well as those in patrol cars, and will also show a circle around the area they are concentrating on as they hunt for you. Simply find your way out of that area and avoid the cops for around 10 seconds and they will let you slide.
Rockstar have added new abilities to your character, too, such as the ability to scale a fence or wall and shimmy along ledges - when you are able to get a foothold, and perhaps more beneficially the ability to take cover behind nearby vehicles, walls and objects. This proves useful time and time again during the frantic gun fights you will inevitably get involved in. You can also lock your aim-reticle on an enemy and have it stay locked whilst taking cover, so you can wait for the right moment, pop up and take him out in no time.
Using the target lock is good and makes dealing with high numbers of enemies in quick time pretty easy to say the least, but you should master manual aiming too as it's a skill you will need time and time again when the aim-lock is simply too slow, as it centers on the enemies torso - precious seconds wasted when you could really do with some head shots!
When you take a step back from the daily grind, Liberty City offers you so much more besides criminal activities. You can for instance head to a number of comedy clubs where you will come across some big name acts, watch TV, listen to the radio or head to one of the TW@ internet cafes and browse the in-game internet - a genius addition to the game!
The internet within Grand Theft Auto IV is made up of paraody websites of real-life sites you would not usually bump into, and it makes for some seriously funny content and brings a refreshing touch to the game that you would never have imagined. There is even a dating agency website where you can have your profile put up, and arrange to meet women throughout Liberty City for a date - and that's not the only way you can build some kind of social life in Grand Theft Auto IV.
As you progress through the game you will build relationships with many of the people you meet, and they all have unique personalities and will enjoy doing different kinds of things. Your friends will be easier to please than any date - it doesn't get any more realistic than that right? Some dates will enjoy a game of ten pin bowling whilst others will want five-star treatment, posh restaurants, the lot. They even comment on the car you drive, and the way you drive it, and will notice if you happen to wear the same outfit two dates in a row. Women.
The cell phone, another great addition, is almost as essential to you as your guns and ammo! It allows you to keep in touch with your friends, dates and even some of your enemies. You are unlikely to hear the same conversation twice thanks to the brilliant way the cell phone has been implimented into the game. You can call people to discuss work, a leisure activity or to request a favor from them - the conversation will play out as if it were real - you begin to forget that everything you hear has been scripted!
The cell phone also comes in handy if you happen to hear a song you like during the game, but don't know what it's called or who performs it. Instead of hideous intrusive boxes popping up each time a song comes on telling you this information, you can instead just dial a song-recognition line on your cell phone and within seconds you will get a text message back telling you what the song is - which in my opinion sums up the incredible thought and attention to detail that has gone into Grand Theft Auto IV, and there are loads of tiny features like this that you would never have expected to see in this kind of game that come together and make it a truly unmissable game.
So few will want to miss it, which can only mean millions have it, making the multiplayer modes something worth checking out too! For the first time, Liberty City has gone global and now brings together dirty crooks from all over the world in a wide range of multiplayer game modes. Yet again, getting online is made easy thanks to your in-game cell phone. Dial up a number and you're transported to an online version of Liberty City, scattered with all the weapons you will have already come to love by playing through the single player mode.
As a game host you can choose from a variety of settings such as friendly fire, police presence - or lack of it, the type of weapons in the game and the level of traffic scuttering around the city. Upto 15 more players can join you as you cause carnage. You will probably come across some lag issues at times, but everything considered the online modes are again a great addition to the game and will keep you coming back to the game again and again when you've completed the single player game countless times.
Simply unmissably. This game is the one reason you need to buy an XBox 360 or PS3 if you don't already have one.
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AP - Israel beefed up security throughout Jerusalem and the West Bank on Friday, bracing for new violence after the evacuation of a disputed West Bank building set off a rampage by Jewish settlers.
Posted by frankvgmgzny | 3:06 PM | 
NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming - is a new technology of achievement and success. NLP new technology helps enhance effective communication, personal change and personal development. It is a new approach to communication and development. If one wishes to overcome fears, and increase confidence in self, in addition to enriching relationships, and achieving greater success, NLP new technology is the way.
Your internal and external language and the concepts you hold affects the way you think... and this affects the way you behave. The new NLP technology is about action; it is about the way we think and feel. It explores excellence in every occupation and lifestyle. The benefits of using NLP new technology is that you have more choices at work and in your personal life, over the way you act. This enhances your skills and gives a boost to your achievements.
You can normally never control people or events, but your ability at self management can help you respond to them. What helps you in achieving your goals is your ability to manage your self.
Controlling Your Unconscious Mind
Far more than your conscious mind, it is your unconscious mind that can accomplish more, and has a far greater influence. The experts on NLP new technology are aware - consciously - of what they do unconsciously. Once you are aware of your unconscious, through your personal development you are able to realize your true potential.
NLP new technology is not merely a process of discovery, but a process of continuously discovering new ways of thinking. NLP new technology has new techniques that has applications to business, as well as to self. These techniques, when used professionally, not only enable you to influence others in your business, but also helps perfect your self.
NLP And The Manager
It is important as a manager that you master the art of working with other people, working as part of a team. You need to have the capability to influence others and motivate them. This is an essential part of your make up as a manger to achieve corporate goals.
As a manager, through the use of new technology in NLP, you can analyze the intuitional secrets of success of your exceptional employees and subordinates, and use them to train other subordinates. Though the art of NLP new technology comes intuitively to some, it can be mastered with the help of NLP new technology techniques.
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AP - Armed robbers wearing women's wigs and clothing made off with diamond rings, gem-studded bracelets and other jewelry worth $108 million from a Harry Winston boutique in Paris, in one of the world's largest jewel heists.
Posted by frankvgmgzny | 2:58 PM |
I'll never forget the surprise when opening screen the game loaded, a crystal clear speech of a ghost (I assume) exclaiming "Ghostbusters" followed by a demonic laugh. This lead into a near perfect rendition of the Ghostbusters theme tune from the movie, well, if you excuse the fact there were no vocals.
Ok, so on to business, "we're ready to believe you". The first task was to choose your car and equipment. You had to choose between 3 cars, a beetle, the hearse from the movie or a pink sports car. It seemed that the hearse was the best all rounder as you needed to keep some cash spare for your equipment. Some of the equipment were 'nice to haves' and some were essentials. One essential item was a trap which you needed for capturing the ghosts you caught at each location. You also needed a paranormal detector so you could see where a ghost within the town was most likely to appear.
Once you had caught as many ghosts as you could hold, you would then have to return them back to Ghost HQ before hitting the streets again. As activity got stronger and more intense, you could see the gate keeper and the key master moving faster and faster through the town to try and make that fateful rendezvous. As you no doubt know from the film, once they meet then things really start hotting up.
As you progress, you notice that all of the ghosts seemed to be heading for one location situated in the centre of the city, Zuul. As much as you try to prevent this, eventually things get to hard to handle. The infamous marshmallow man starts to appear and deals huge amounts of damage to buildings through the city. If you'd spent some of your starting money on bait then you could keep him at bay for a while.
However, it would soon get to the point of no return and the gate keeper and key master would finally join forces. Once you found the location of the Stay Puff marshmallow man, then it would be time to pay him a visit. This is where the hardest part of the game presented itself. In order to get to the top of the building of Zuul, you first had to get at least two of your men through the legs of Mr Marshmallow.
If you succeeded to do this then you found yourself at the top of the building. Where you had been trying to avoid "crossing the streamers" throughout the game, now was the time to through caution to the wind and give it a try against all odds...
If you haven't ever had the chance to play this before then check it out, there is also a great remake available on the net. There is now also a sequel to the original game and movie planned for next generation consoles staring the original cast of the movie.
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AP - O.J. Simpson is going to prison; the question is for how long.
Posted by frankvgmgzny | 2:31 AM |
While we will all agree that Microsoft has definitely given a lot to the world of digital well everything, there is also an equal understanding that Microsoft is a powerful corporate world. Being a massive business is fun when you can make cool gadgets like they have with the Microsoft Zune, but it begins to make people angry in certain circumstances, one being when purchasers feel a little taken advantage of. While this subject is debatable to the nth degree, there is no doubt that purchasing files from the Zune Marketplace with Microsoft Points has created a min-firestorm with fans of digital music. Here is a brief summary of that argument:
First off, understand that what Microsoft Points are is a basically fake form of currency that is only good on a few Microsoft related websites. Remember Geoffrey Bucks when you were going to Toys-R-Us as a kid? That is what this is. You purchase these points by putting in your credit card number to exchange your dollars into points. While this is annoying to some, it will be great for those looking to feed their love of both the Zune and the Xbox 360 as your Microsoft Points will be available for use with both of the gadgets. Now that you have a general idea of what the concept of Microsoft Points is, here is the argument for and against the fake currency.
FOR: It makes the process of purchasing songs online easier for those looking to budget their money in a way where they have a set number of songs they can purchase every month. Step into the Zune Marketplace or the Xbox 360 Marketplace and you can deposit a certain amount of money every month to keep all of your technology current. This allows you to budget better than going to Best Buy with a credit card or whatever you may be doing now. Also, if you have both the Xbox 360 and the Zune and get rid of one for whatever reason you can still use leftover points on the other without losing the money altogether.
AGAINST: This argument ought to be easy to see for those that are staunch anti-Microsoft people for life. Once you purchase the points the money is in Microsoft Points for life, meaning you better use them. Here is the problem with that, the packages that Microsoft offers come to roughly 80 points for every $1 you spend. A song costs 79 points, meaning that the price is roughly $.99 per song, but what happens to those lost points? This is one way that the pricing system seems a little uneven when it comes to the side of the consumer.
While there is obviously no right answer to this service it is simply a bit confusing when you think about how easy it would be to just put a price on the service in, you know, US dollars? Fact is that they dont do this and it is up to the consumer to decide if Microsoft Points in the Zune Marketplace are worth it at all?
James Preston is managing editor of the popular Zune Video Converter resource guide. Do you have questions about the Microsoft Zune MP3 Player? Just visit ZuneVideoConverters.com for all your answers!
AP - A Vero Beach man faces a domestic violence charge after authorities said he assaulted his girlfriend with a cheeseburger. An Indian River County Sheriff's Office arrest report said a 22-year-old man and his girlfriend got into an argument as they sat in a car in front of their home.
Posted by frankvgmgzny | 2:21 AM |
