Rockstar have updated the official Lost and Damned website with some more new content. Another new screenshot has been added to the official GTA IV website for Ashley Butler, the "party girl who partied too much".

Other updates include:

Johnny Klebitz trailer - shown earlier on GameTrailers

Republican Space Rangers

The Martin Serious Show

Gametrailers.com have put up an exclusive trailer for The Lost and Damned featuring Johnny:

In addition to this, the official Lost and Damned website has been updated with six new screenshots.

Rockstar have just sent over exclusive screenshots to some of the fansites. Click the thumbnail below to see ours.

Hey Chris,

Just wanted to send over this exclusive screenshot from Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned. Enjoy, and stay tuned for more info and assets as the release draws closer.

Cheers,

Webmaster@R*

Thanks R*!

Check out these other fansites that received an exclusive shot:

GTAGaming | RockstarWatch | PlanetGTA | GTA4.net | GTASite.pl | GTAInside.com | GTA4.tv | GTA4.fr | GTAWH

UPDATE: Multiple fansites also received the following two screens:

Rockstar have released the second patch for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, and it contains a lot of fixes. You'll be prompted to download the update next time you're signed in and playing the game on GFWL, though you can also head over to the GTA IV patch page and download and install it manually.

GRAPHICS FIXES / ADDITIONS:

• Graphics Menu:
  
  • Added "Water Quality", "Shadow Quality" and "Reflection Resolution" sliders in graphics menu.
    
  • Added "Definition" and "VSync" toggles in graphics menu.
    

  [*]Rendering optimizations.

  [*]VSync optimizations.

  [*]Nvidia 7000 series

  • Mirrors fixed
    

PATCH 1 FIXES:

• Direct input device support is now disabled by default and can only be enabled with the commandline: "-usedirectinput"
  
• Supported Controllers:
  
  • Logitech Dual Action
    
  • Logitech RumblePad 2
    
  • Logitech Cordless RumblePad 2
    
  • Saitek P2500
    

  [*]Supported Wheels:

  [*]Note: Controls are unmapped, user must map controls using Manufacturer's mapping software.

  • Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
    
  • Logitech Wingman Formula GP Wheel
    
  • Logitech MOMO Racing
    
  • MOMO Force
    
  • Driving Force Pro
    
  • Driving Force
    
  • Formula Force
    

  [*]Added Commandline "-notimefix" which will help some users who are experiencing the fast/slow gameplay issue after patch 1 was applied.

  [*]Fixed a bug that caused some users to experience endless looping audio effects after Patch 1 was applied.

  [*]Benchmark was disabling sounds after Patch 1 was applied, this is now fixed.

CRASH FIXES:

• Unable to load game fixed - For some users, a DOS window would open and close immediately upon Game Launch, GTA IV would never launch.
  
• Hang on Initial Game Loading Screen fixed - Some users experienced Character Art Loading screens in an endless loop.
  
• Certain causes of the RESC10 error have been fixed (Alt-Tab, change resolution). If you experience an RESC10 error, you must restart.
  
• Certain Instances of the "GRAND THEFT AUTO IV has encountered a problem and needs to close" error have been fixed.
  

VIDEO EDITOR:

• Naming clips is now mandatory on Export
  

MULTIPLAYER:

• Legitimate players being kicked from Multiplayer matches has been fixed.
  

GENERAL ADDITIONS / FIXES:

• Wireless 360 controllers not functioning - Triggers were full on/off, fixed.
  
• In the Options menu accessed from the Title Screen a Game section has been added with the ability to turn Clip capture on/off.
  

Rockstar have launched the official website for the Xbox 360's first downloadable episode, The Lost and Damned.

The official game description and features are shown as well as the official box art for the game, and a couple of new mini trailers have been added, "Billy Grey" and "Malc", you can watch these below.

The Lost and Damned will be available for download on February 17th, and will cost .99 or 1600 Microsoft Points.

The large gaming sites have all posted their first previews of The Lost and Damned, along with a plethora of new screenshots. Check out the following sites for all the juciy new details.

• Kikizo
  
• IGN
  
• Kotaku
  
• CVG
  
• GamesRadar
  
• GamePlayer.com.au
  

See all 30+ new screenshots

From these previews, the following information has also surfaced:

• The length of the episodic content is, according to Rockstar, more or less the same as that of the original storyline.
  
• Johnny (Our new main character) helps head the notorious motorcycle gang 'The Lost' with his brother Billy, who has recently been sent to rehab to avoid imprisonment.
  
• The storyline relates closely to that of the original game's. It's reported that we'll meet Niko, Playbox X and Elizabeta, and actually re-play some of the missions from the original story, from Johnny's perspective, instead of Niko's.
  
• The Lost are currently in a gang rivalry with another motorcycle gang, 'The Angels of Death'.
  
• There is a lot of friction between Johnny and his brother, mainly regarding leadership of the gang.
  
• The first mission previewed was called "Angels of America." This mission saw Johnny hunting down members of the opposing gang, using the sawn-off shotgun to kill them off before they can let their gang members know that the war is back on.
  
• Several new vehicles have been added, including some motorbikes which are specific to The Lost. Your starting bike is unique to you and cannot be retrieved if destroyed.
  
• A new feature added to the episode is formation driving, where you can interestingly initiate dialogue with other gang members. This is done "by keeping yourself inside of a floating Lost emblem, which trails behind the convoy leader's ride at all times." Also, "pressing down on the d-pad displays a whole list of bar-graph stats for your gang members."[CVG] Talking to your fellow gang members, defending them and saving them during battle will boost their Ability and effectiveness in combat. If a gang member is killed, he gets replaced by a rookie, so it's important to look out for your most hardened members.
  
• One of a few new weapons is the grenade launcher, grenades "pop out of the nozzle with an ever-so-satisfying sound effect, arch into the air with a trail of smoke and bounce around a corner before blowing enemies sky-high." More new weapons include an automatic 9mm, a sawn-off shotgun, an assault shotgun, and pipe bombs, which can be dropped from your motorcycle.
  
• The Lost and Damned features new building interiors which aren't available in the original game.
  
• Mini-games become available at the safehouse - a hi-low card game, an arm wrestling game, as well as additional TV material. You can now also get Little Jacob to deliver weapons there. New Internet sites have also been added.
  
• The radio stations remain the same, but with the addition of lots of new music to Liberty City Hardcore, including a new (as of yet unnamed) DJ.
  
• A redesigned pause menu now carries a stamped rubber effect to it's lettering, the health and armour bars now being white and blue respectively. Johnny's phone also has a different , more worn appearance to Niko's.
  
• A new grain filter background effect has been added, but Rockstar aren't sure if it will remain in the final version.
  
• Rockstar have introduced a new feature which was the main game lacked, mid-mission checkpoints. In long missions, reaching checkpoints will save your progress, so if you are killed, or another important person is, you don't have to redo the entire mission.
  

See all 30+ new screenshots

Rockstar has released to the GTA fansites a new screenshot of Johnny from The Lost and Damned, and also the new achievements! Check them out below:

• Get Good Wood – 50G: In the Bike Races, whack off 69 bikers with a bat.
  
• Easy Rider – 100G: Finish The Story
  
• Full Chat – 70G: Your backup are riding at their best!
  
• The Lost Boy – 25G: All hail the leader of The Lost!
  
• One Percenter – 5G: Billy is back on his bike.
  

More information, screens and videos will be released for TLAD on January 22 when gaming sites will be putting up their previews, so look out for updates on them.

Thanks R*!

The various gaming websites are all publishing their new hands-on previews of Chinatown Wars tonight. Websites with previews up are:

• Kikizo
  
• IGN
  
• GamesRadar
  
• CVG
  
• GameDaily
  
• 1UP
  
• Total Video Games
  
• GamePlayer
  

We've also updated our Chinatown Wars screenshot gallery and artwork page with all the newly released imagery.

Over the past few days rumours have been flying around about a new GTA game (presumably GTAV) set in Tokyo, due for release at the end of 2009. The original quote actually came from the latest issue of Game Informer, and was in their "Loose Talk" section - a section where they guess stuff, basically...

The original quote:

"We're not talking about new DLC or a collection of previously available DLC, we're talking about a full retail game. We expect this title to follow the suit of previous GTAs and use a subtitle such as GTA: San Andreas, etc. Tokyo might be a possible setting for the game, but details are non-existent at this time." - Game Informer Issue 190

Quite why GI thought this is a realistic scenario is beyond us, luckily, R* today cleared up the rumour (via Kotaku) saying:

there is "no truth" to reports that a wholly new retail game, one on par with the scope of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, will arrive before the holidays.

With DLC keeping GTA players engaged until late 2009, we can't see a new, full GTA game being released until at least 2010, in all likelihood I personally think we're looking at 2011 as the best guess for now. That's of course assuming GTA V is coming...

Sources: R* say no GTAV [Kotaku], original rumour [PSU]

The BBFC have given Chinatown Wars an 18 rating, making it the first game on the Nintendo DS to receive such a rating. The game's content is said to include "very strong language and drug references" as well as that it contains "168 minutes worth of in-game cut scenes". No cuts were needed to obtain a UK release.

Source: MCV

TeamXbox have released a new screenshot for The Lost and Damned, click the thumbnail to the right to see it in full.

See more: GTA IV DLC screenshots

Source: TeamXbox

First of all, a happy new year to all our visitors, hope 2009 is a great year for you ignoring all the economic problems and whatnot!

If you're reading this, you're now viewing version 4 of The GTA Place. At the moment the changes you'll see are purely aesthetic ones. We will be adding numerous new features and content over the coming weeks. We hope you like the new design. It should be working perfectly on the vast majority of modern browsers we were able to test, though if you spot any issues or bugs with any part of the site then let us know in the forums.

Our forums remain unchanged for now, they'll be undergoing upgrades in the next couple of months along with some other exciting changes, not just a matching skin, but also changes we're planning on making to the gang scene to name one. Not a member on our forums, why not register now? Signing up only takes a few moments, and you'll be able to make your own topics and posts, and discuss GTA among other things with over 20,000 other people.

If you have any feedback then let us know. Enjoy the year ahead!