Gadgetry and Such:

1 - Some of the notable vehicles include the Shitzu NRG 900 RR motorbike, and the Stallion and Vincent cars. All of the cars feature standard GPS, with luxury models, of course, boasting voice-navigation. Also, car trunks can be used as storage lockers.

2 - Niko will be able to steal locked cars by smashing windows and sometimes by hot wiring them.

3 - Niko can use taxis to get around, which also allows for a wide variety of camera angles. You can also have the cabbie drive faster, if you up the cash - and even get right to your destination.

4 - Police cars have computers to access the LCPD criminal database. Police cars also appear on the radar.

5 - Niko’s Whiz mobile phone is used as an information hub for the game, through which he can receive information and threads for missions. It has four main functions: Phonebook, Messages, Organizer and Camera. Niko can call contacts, which will be useful for him to create new missions and arrange for meetings. One of the coolest features is that it can be used to hear Liberty radio stations at any time - even during battle.

6 - While there are no planes, helicopters fly in the skies.

7 - Boats will be engaged as transport. The Platypus cargo ship that Niko arrives on is seen on the docks, along with one called ’Octopus’.

8 - Characters can sport Kronos watches, and Niko gets some new duds, like well-tailored suits from the trendy Perseus boutique.

Battle and Weaponry:

1 - Weapons so far include: assault and sniper rifles, handguns, submachine guns, shotguns, grenades, a rocket launcher and a switchblade. Thankfully, there is no evidence of the return of the double-ended dildo.

2 - Niko will have access to a wide array of weapons simultaneously and will instantly be an expert with any of them, rather than having to level-up.

3 - The Ammu-Nation stores have been replaced by weapon dealers. Niko may enlist gun peddlers, such as Little Jacob, through meetings - after establishing a good friendship.

4 - Niko can lean out windows, smashing them with an elbow, to engage in gunplay, no longer limited to clumsy drive-bys.

Miscellany:

1 - Some of the notable brands around town are: Sprunk and eCola (soft drinks); a fast food chain called Cluckin’ Bell; Bean Machine Coffee (coffee chain); Burger Shot (fast food chain); Logger Beer and Piswasser Beer.

2 - The main newspaper is the Liberty Tree (which first appeared in GTA III). Characters can also read the Daily Globe.

3 - Talk radio is alive in the city, through WKTT (We Know The Truth).

4 - Movies being advertised include: I Slept with Your Mom and Heavy Weapons X (Unrated).

5 - Star Junction hosts the aptly titled, ’’America’s Next Top Hooker.’’

6 - None of the music has been officially confirmed.

7 - There is a graffiti image of El Burro, the Diablo gang leader from GTA III, gracing a wall.

8 - The apartment door that Niko kicks down, bears the name ’’B. Crane.’’

Lastly, while there has been no preview information of the PS3 version, there will be an Xbox ’special edition’ released simultaneously, including an art book, selected CD soundtrack, Rockstar keychain and duffel bag, for around $89.99.

All in all, it sounds like it will be well worth the wait. According to Dan Houser, Vice President of Creative at Rockstar, ’’It’s so much more dense and detailed, not only horizontally but also vertically. It’s by far the most ambitious GTA game to date.’’