[FlamingCobra]

Game finally finished downloading today. It took WEEKS.

I started the game up. Menu comes up ok. I start configuring the game options. Game says I don't have enough GFX mem. I know I do. After searching google figured out to add a commandline.txt file to the installation directory. It had to contain:

-availablevidmem 2.0

Did all that stuff. Clicked play. Then I found out I couldn't save without a Windows/Xbox live account. I already have a hotmail account so i'm like......suuurrrrre..... halfway through the process it's like

YoU'rE nOt EiGhTeEn!!!!1!!

PARENT: ur child is trying to sign up for xbox live! we stopped his @$$. lol.

pwned

now u gotta make an XBL account.

No way in Hell am I letting my fifty-something year old parents get an xbox live account. So I'm like "Fine! I'll continue without saving!"

I hear the startup music. It goes to the loading screen and starts loading the first level. It never does. It just stays on the loading screen forever! I have to CTRL-ALT-DEL and end the gtaiv.exe process just to regain control of my computer. Tried it again. Doesn't work. I spent hours looking for a solution. I made countless tweeks to no avail. One forum post said to check the file of the GTA IV directory and see how big it is. Mine was below the 16 something GB. So I figured some files must be missing. Then I had Steam validate the cache files. It got to 100% and then stopped responding. Steam never did anything. I waited like half an hour at 100%. I had to Ctrl-Alt-Del that too. Spent some more time looking for a solution.

I finally ran across a post saying to uninstall QuickTime. I did.

The game now works perfectly.




Now my question is, "What relevance does QuickTime have to my ability to play Grand Theft Auto IV?"

Also, even if my parents did get an XBL account, which would let me have an XBL account, I figure microsoft wouldn't let me play the game on my account because GTA4 is an "M" rated game and I'm only 17. And ~1/2.

EDIT: Found out that, since uninstalling QuickTime, I can actually change all of the GFX options now. I can even play in 1440x900.

EDIT2: Steam overlay web browser is no longer laggy.

[BlueFlames]

Also, even if my parents did get an XBL account, which would let me have an XBL account, I figure microsoft wouldn't let me play the game on my account because GTA4 is an "M" rated game and I'm only 17. And ~1/2.

Reading is fun.  I'll highlight the relevant section, though:

MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.  (Emphasis added.)

[Sololop]

I thought everyone lied about their ages on those kind of things.

[FlamingCobra]

<snip>

MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.  (Emphasis added.)

* FlamingCobra blinks twice

Then why do you have to be 18 to have your own XBL account? I don't see how "legal age" is an issue. You don't have to be 18 to sign up for GameFAQs. Or pretty much anything else.

I thought everyone lied about their ages on those kind of things.

Don't want to do that on the offchance that I might work for Microsoft one day.

[Herra Tohtori]

You know, it's not exactly like they ask for an ID. You could just make another hotmail account with another date of birth and be done with all that bull****.

Secondly, QuickTime is known for doing weird **** all the time on Windows, and probably on Macs too but Mac users are less likely to admit it (they might think it's a feature). If avoidable, you should never install QuickTime on a Windows computer; other media players exist that do the same job a lot better, crash less, and don't grow sinewy tentacles of cancerous tumours all around your system that you need an equivalent of CERN grade chemotherapy to remove from your system.

Thirdly, let me register my opinion that GTA is a ****ty series of ****ty games and I don't know why you would want to play one released almost three years ago so badly as to go through all that trouble.

Finally, and I don't say this to be unkind, but perhaps you shouldn't be quite as ready and willing to use Internet Persons as reliable guidance. Something like this might happen to you some day.

[BlueFlames]

<snip>

MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.  (Emphasis added.)

* FlamingCobra blinks twice

Then why do you have to be 18 to have your own XBL account?

Because opening an XBox Live account involves agreeing to a license (i.e. a legally binding contract).

Also, Herra, I want to find a forum full of people emulating Legend of Zelda games, so that I can tell them that's how they mod the Triforce into OoT.

[Cobra]

I wish I'd seen that before. Made me laugh so damn hard.

Don't want to do that on the offchance that I might work for Microsoft one day.

Good Lord, you're more naive than I was at 15. And I barely got out then.

[Mongoose]

It really is astounding that Windows allows you to do something like that.

[Ghostavo]

From Vista upwards, you require administrator level permissions to change stuff from the Windows folder, and from what I can see, in Windows 7 that folder needs permissions above that (it lists CREATOR OWNER as owner and not being able to change anything).

[Rodo]

Finally, and I don't say this to be unkind, but perhaps you shouldn't be quite as ready and willing to use Internet Persons as reliable guidance. Something like this might happen to you some day.

I can't believe it hahaha

[FlamingCobra]

How many fps should I be getting?

I got
Average FPS: 16.89
CPU Usage: 38%
System Memory Usage: 55%
Video Memory Usage: 90%

With all graphics settings as low as possible.

I need to get a new video card don't I?

[JCDNWarrior]

Depends, what are your specs? A RAM upgrade can do wonders depending how much of it you have, for instance.

[FlamingCobra]

Windows Vista SP 2
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU
6 GB RAM
64 Bit

ATI Radeon 3400
Total Available GFX Mem: 3067 MB
Dedicated GFX Mem: 256 MB

[The E]

Yes, a low-midrange GPU that is 3 generations out of date is something that should be replaced.

[FlamingCobra]

GPU Suggestions?

[Jeff Vader]

Finally, and I don't say this to be unkind, but perhaps you shouldn't be quite as ready and willing to use Internet Persons as reliable guidance. Something like this might happen to you some day.

*schnip*

Thank you. I've been looking for that one.

GPU Suggestions?

http://www.msi.com/product/vga/N580GTX-Lightning-Xtreme-Edition.html

[JCDNWarrior]

Agreed with The E. Everything else seems quite good enough. Suggestions for new graphic cards depend on your budget. ATI's 6770 and GT 550 Ti seem decent mid-range cards to get for I believe 100-130 dollar. See what your local IT webshops have for you.

[FlamingCobra]

Can I get GFX cards at some place like Staples or should I just pick one out on Amazon and ask my parents to order it for Christmas?

The Lord God will bless the day when outdated hardware simply replaces itself.

[Dark RevenantX]

Hardware stores like Fry's Electronics will have them in stock.  Go with a 560Ti.

[Cobra]

Can I get GFX cards at some place like Staples or should I just pick one out on Amazon and ask my parents to order it for Christmas?

And I can see it now... "Mom, dad, can you spend $300 on one present for me for Christmas?" I wonder if you even have the PSU for it.