GTA IV don't bother!

stevemac · 26th December 2008, 15:10

Having spent all day trying to get Grand Theft Auto IV to run on my son's PC, I have given up and will get a refund. Why do these game designers put together something together that needs the specification of Big Blue to run

If 3gb RAM and a 512mb graphics card on a duel core AMD is not enough then I want my money back.

Simon · 26th December 2008, 15:18

That's the problems with PC games

The newer titles seem to want bigger and faster specifications to run so the hardware manufactures bring out bigger and better components and then someone else raises the stakes even higer on the next product release. It's one of those never ending cycles I'm afraid

Before taking the game back though, have you consulted gaming forums etc to see if there is anyway the game would run? It would seem unlikely for a game to not run at all. What are the minimum specifications printed on the games box?

Tatts · 26th December 2008, 15:23

Jusr had a look at the system specs for the game - your sons rig should run it, albeit at a slower frame rate.

stevemac · 26th December 2008, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon

That's the problems with PC games

The newer titles seem to want bigger and faster specifications to run so the hardware manufactures bring out bigger and better components and then someone else raises the stakes even higer on the next product release. It's one of those never ending cycles I'm afraid

Before taking the game back though, have you consulted gaming forums etc to see if there is anyway the game would run? It would seem unlikely for a game to not run at all. What are the minimum specifications printed on the games box?

The games forums are full of people with exactly the same problems - Blank screen after loading and an error message asking for access to a protected file. The advice was to lower the firewall, are they crazy! even when you do that is doesn't work. grrrrr

stevemac · 26th December 2008, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatts

Jusr had a look at the system specs for the game - your sons rig should run it, albeit at a slower frame rate.

The spec on the box is lower. ie 256mb Video, 2gb RAM

Simon · 26th December 2008, 15:34

The people who are suffering the problem (yourself included in this I presume) - do you all have something in common with either your hardware or software set up?

Often incompatible software drivers or hardware configurations cause symptoms such as you're describing. Often workarounds can be found by either downloading new or updated drivers - or, usually, rolling back to a previous version of a driver.

They are probably closed at the moment, but it is worth contacting the games manufactures for help and support to see if this is an officially recognised problem and if there are any fixes available for it.

shakennstirred · 27th December 2008, 06:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevemac

Having spent all day trying to get Grand Theft Auto IV to run on my son's PC, I have given up and will get a refund. Why do these game designers put together something together that needs the specification of Big Blue to run

If 3gb RAM and a 512mb graphics card on a duel core AMD is not enough then I want my money back.

try updating the graphic card driver
its been reported that the games runs better on the lastest drivers

Dave***t · 30th December 2008, 12:52

I understand your frustration, it's a maddening situation to be in. Part of the reason I bought a 360, in fact. But your son will thank you if you can sort it out - I thought GTA 4 was a work of art!

stevemac · 30th December 2008, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave***t

I understand your frustration, it's a maddening situation to be in. Part of the reason I bought a 360, in fact. But your son will thank you if you can sort it out - I thought GTA 4 was a work of art!

It is running now, sort of! The great thing is that now I have upgraded the graphics and RAM his older games now zip along nicely. GTA IV now runs slowly. We have a Wii and a PS2 and it pains me that I may have to get a 360 or even worse, a PS3 just to run better games.
Have they solved the overheating problem with the XBox. As an avid TWiT listener (only those in the know will know!) I understand there has been a lot of issues in the US about overheating and a very high failure rate.

mantianak · 30th December 2008, 22:09

I've had a problem with Bioshock and that Portal game recently. For some reason I've had to force the games to run in a lower directx level. Bioshock from dx10 to dx9 and Portal from dx9 to dx8.1. I've no idea what dx level GTA4 runs on but if maybe worth lowing it as well as graphics options (v-sync, shaders, etc). Worked for me.

26th December 2008, 15:10	#1
stevemac This is my second home Jaguar X Type 2.2D Estate Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Farnborough Posts: 4,306 Thanks: 6 Thanked 13 Times in 6 Posts	GTA IV don't bother! Having spent all day trying to get Grand Theft Auto IV to run on my son's PC, I have given up and will get a refund. Why do these game designers put together something together that needs the specification of Big Blue to run If 3gb RAM and a 512mb graphics card on a duel core AMD is not enough then I want my money back. __________________ • • • • • • • • Steve “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” Winnie-the-Pooh http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/n...5/twitter1.jpg

26th December 2008, 15:23	#3
Tatts This is my second home MG6 TL Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tarn Posts: 5,269 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 37 Posts	Jusr had a look at the system specs for the game - your sons rig should run it, albeit at a slower frame rate. __________________ http://www.wcgsig.com/115562.gif

30th December 2008, 12:52	#8
Dave*t Gets stuck in MG ZT+ 180 SE** Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Birmingham Posts: 646 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I understand your frustration, it's a maddening situation to be in. Part of the reason I bought a 360, in fact. But your son will thank you if you can sort it out - I thought GTA 4 was a work of art! __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

26th December 2008, 15:18	#2
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	That's the problems with PC games The newer titles seem to want bigger and faster specifications to run so the hardware manufactures bring out bigger and better components and then someone else raises the stakes even higer on the next product release. It's one of those never ending cycles I'm afraid Before taking the game back though, have you consulted gaming forums etc to see if there is anyway the game would run? It would seem unlikely for a game to not run at all. What are the minimum specifications printed on the games box?

26th December 2008, 15:34	#6
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	The people who are suffering the problem (yourself included in this I presume) - do you all have something in common with either your hardware or software set up? Often incompatible software drivers or hardware configurations cause symptoms such as you're describing. Often workarounds can be found by either downloading new or updated drivers - or, usually, rolling back to a previous version of a driver. They are probably closed at the moment, but it is worth contacting the games manufactures for help and support to see if this is an officially recognised problem and if there are any fixes available for it.

30th December 2008, 22:09	#10
mantianak I really should get out more....... ZT 190+ Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poole Posts: 2,413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 22 Times in 21 Posts	I've had a problem with Bioshock and that Portal game recently. For some reason I've had to force the games to run in a lower directx level. Bioshock from dx10 to dx9 and Portal from dx9 to dx8.1. I've no idea what dx level GTA4 runs on but if maybe worth lowing it as well as graphics options (v-sync, shaders, etc). Worked for me.