GTA 4 playing cards, and poster.

While browsing the local newsagent on friday i noticed this magazine.

The first addition of a new Australian non-official xbox 360 magazine. Not something I would ussually buy except it contained the worlds first review of GTA4, as claimed on the cover.

Thats all well and good probably worth the purchase for that, but it was these that made the deal.

GTA 4 playing cards! How awesome is that. Click for a better look.

GTA 4 A2 size, double sided poster! Pretty sweet.

Definitely the coolest things I have gotten packaged with a magazine. The cards are just awesome, generally showing pics of Niko in action and landscapes of liberty city.

The reviewer states the game is beyond multimedia, its mega-media.

As far as the review score it is a 10/10 although from whats written the reviewer would have given it higher if he could of. The summary:

"There are no ifs or buts; GTA IV has to be experienced by absolutely everyone (er, unless you're under the age of 15). It's undoubtedly the biggest game of 2008, the biggest game of the decade, even, and a truly momentus achievement in the history of entertainment. This game is as essential as oxygen."

I guess this might have been more groundbreaking news if i'd bothered to post before the ign review but, eh. The playing cards are cool.

On the flip side.

This article attacking GTA 4 before its even out.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23601350-2,00.html

My comment, unfortunately unlikely to get through the people publishing the comments. I encourage anyone who feels stronlgly enough to leave a comment of some type, the game industry is just going to keep copping this bull until people are more educated on the medium.

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"Research ... indicates there's quite a distinct correlation showing up between exposure to violence in media and increases in violent attitudes and behaviours in young people," she said. WHAT research? in fact plenty of research shows quite the opposite.

Why attack the developers (rockstar) on this?Has anyone attacked quentin tarantino for making voilent movies? What about the guys that made SAW? They get nothing but praise.

Why show the games sales for 2006? the total revenue for 2007 would be at least a 3rd more. The main focus of this article should be the fact that the game didnt get an R rating because our ancient system has no rating for it. The whole world is laughing at us on this one. As a 24 year old im disgusted my media must be filtered in this way by the government.

Stop trying to rile up uneducated 30 to 50 year olds with no education on the medium, with this disgustingly biased and uneducative reporting. Trying to spin people into panic for your own agenda. Ok try and spin that "it needs to be kept from our kids" The average gamer has recently been unveiled as being 27. Whats the difference between this and an M rated movie, which even has the luxury to be exposed to kids on television. By having no R rating the game is even more likely to get to kids.

An Education campaign needs to be started to address this issue to educate parents about PARENTING, there is to much ignorance to a new medium and to much scare mongering. Much the same as has been repeated in the past many times. (Elvis, Rock and Roll, Kiss)

This game is likely going to break records in the entertainment sales over any movie, music or game before it, Its a fast growing medium, now capable of portraying stories in moving and emotional ways and needs to be treated with some respect, as its not going away. Frankly im disgusted and embarrased for the country, for the fact that the developers who have made whats being called the game of the decade, had to release a modified version than that of the rest of the world.