Grand Theft Auto IV PC Patch number 3 Released - Link here

The third patch for the PC release of Grand Theft Auto 4 is now available from FileShack.

Update 1.0.3 brings improved graphics and physics performance, greater user control over graphic settings, and the elimination of remapping restrictions for keyboard and mouse.

Full change notes follow

Version 1.0.3.0 - March 19, 2009

GRAPHICS:

• Interior Lights for ATI 1900 series cards:
  
• All light sources appear for users with 1900 series ATI cards. (ie. Pool Mini Game)
  
• ALT-TAB fixed
  
• Graphics Settings:
  
• Added menu option " OFF " for Reflection quality
  
• Added menu option " OFF " for Shadow quality
  
• PERFORMANCE:
  
• Physics optimizations to improve situations with heavy physics calculations (ie. 32 player races)
  
• Graphical Performance Optimizations
  

MULTIPLAYER:

NAT Type detection
Detect if user has a " strict " NAT and displays message for user
Voice chat is received even if your microphone is turned off

CONTROLS:

• Keyboard / Mouse
  
• Remapping restrictions removed
  
• Allow Enter, Backspace, and Arrow keys to be remapped by user
  
• Allow multiple mouse buttons to be mapped
  
• Enable/Disable DirectInput in Menu
  
• Users can now activate/deactivate Direct Input devices from "Controls" menu.
  
• If commandline "-usedirectinput" is active, it will override pause menu setting.
  
• Use 2 direct input devices simultaneously (ie. Wheel and Gamepad)
  
• Users can now use 2 different controllers at once, including 1 XInput and 1 Direct Input device.
  
• Added more Direct Input / XInput device support
  
• Saitek P380/P480/P580/P990
  
• Saitek PS1000/PS2700/P3200/P3600
  
• Gravis Eliminator Shock gamepad
  

SECURITY:

• Detect modified files and prevent users from entering multiplayer if found
  
• Game will prompt with a message after blocking user with modified data files from entering multiplayer
  
• Should prevent multiplayer access from cell phone and GFWL join in progress
  

VIDEO EDITOR:

• Scroll Bar improved response
  
• Tweaked to respond better to keyboard inputs
  
• Sped up load times for users with many clips
  

TITLE UPDATE 2 FIXES:

• Return of Hot Dog Stands and other props
  
• Missing hot dog vendors, fences, gates, pylons should be present throughout the world.
  
• Scrolling signboards
  
• Activate missing scrolling signboard text (ie. highway signs, Star Junction, Clock Tower Sign)
  
• ALT-TAB pauses game during cutscenes
  
• Cutscenes should now pause and resume correctly after an ALT-TAB task switch. Audio remains in sync.
  

GENERAL ADDITIONS / FIXES:

• Mismatched MODO/Perseus Clothing
  
• Fixed a bug when Niko mixes clothing from Perseus and Modo
  
• 360 Controller Texture
  
• Controller image should be visible in Controller Configuration screen
  

Source: ShackNews

Bug delays Xbox 360 Grand Theft Auto IV DLC Midnight Club Los Angeles South Central but PS 3 goes ahead...

A statement from Rockstar advises, "The Xbox 360 version of Midnight Club: Los Angeles South Central, set to release on Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network today, has not yet gone live on Xbox LIVE due to an unforeseen bug in the title update.



"We are currently working as quickly as we can to resolve this issue, and we will notify everyone as soon as the DLC is made available. Thank you for understanding and your patience. Please note that this issue does not affect the DLC on the PlayStation Network – it is currently live and available for download."

Entropia PC video game granted banking licence by Sweden

Online game Entropia Universe has been granted a licence to be a bank.
Issued by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, the licence means the game can be more closely tied to the real world finances of players.
Mindark, the developers of the game, said it aimed to launch a fully-functioning in-game bank within the next 12 months.
At current exchange rates, 10 PED (Project Entropia Dollars) are worth one US dollar.

Unlike many other online games, which charge a monthly subscription fee, the software for Project Entropia is free to download and install.

Read full post here on the BBC

Microsoft to turn Xbox 360 into more than a console....

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has spoken of how well Microsoft’s Xbox business has been doing, and has hinted at a broader future for the 360.
Speaking during a media conference in New York (as covered by MediaMemo.com), Ballmer said that the Xbox business was doing “great”, describing it as both an “incredible asset” and “opportunity”.

According to the transcription, Ballmer spoke of how the Xbox business had “turned the corner”, and that with a big base of subscribers and the upfront costs paid, Microsoft had a real opportunity to turn the 360 into “more than a console”.

Ballmer didn’t specify how exactly this would be achieved, but suggested that gamers would “see that 12 months from now.”

In recent times, Microsoft has spoken of wanting to unify ‘the three screens’ of mobile, television and PC. It could be in reference to that – or it could be something else entirely.

Whatever it is, it seems like Microsoft won’t be talking about it until it’s good and ready. Our guess is that we may hear something at E3, although as soon as anything happens, we’ll let you know.

Source: Gamer