Laughing Man
05-03-2008, 10:16 PM
I discovered this potential game killing fault with GTA4 just now whilst continuing my play through this mighty game.
To specify this fault occurs at least on the PS3, I cannot specify for the XBox 360 the problem is that it will result in the corruption of your save game file and if you've not got a backup a complete restart.
First off the fault occurs during the mission 'Paper Trail' for those not familar with this it is part of the UL mission segment and involves you and Jacob in a helicopter pursuing another helicopter. The issue is that part way through this mission the game will freeze / crash. It cannot be recovered and it cannot be soft reset. The game requires a hard reset of the console and even if you make sure not to reset during HD access the save game you are currently playing will become corrupt and will not reload. The console will try to load but will just hang during the loading process.
Solution, first once you complete the UL mission prior to this one 'Dust Off' save the game and then make at least two further saves in other save slots, givbing you at least three save games. You can continue playing but be aware you will get one maybe two missions in before the guy from UL phones you, this will automatically start the mission 'Paper Trail' and once started you cannot save.
I played through this mission five times and the game crashed / froze at various stages through out the course of the mission. I was eventually able to get through it by playing through the mission in first person mode rather than the easier to fly third person mode. Be aware that this is not a fix all solution it may have been pure chance that I managed to eventually get through this mission using first instead of third and I would strongly suggest all players take the precaution of creating at least one if not two back up save games second they complete the 'Dust Off' mission.
To specify this fault occurs at least on the PS3, I cannot specify for the XBox 360 the problem is that it will result in the corruption of your save game file and if you've not got a backup a complete restart.
First off the fault occurs during the mission 'Paper Trail' for those not familar with this it is part of the UL mission segment and involves you and Jacob in a helicopter pursuing another helicopter. The issue is that part way through this mission the game will freeze / crash. It cannot be recovered and it cannot be soft reset. The game requires a hard reset of the console and even if you make sure not to reset during HD access the save game you are currently playing will become corrupt and will not reload. The console will try to load but will just hang during the loading process.
Solution, first once you complete the UL mission prior to this one 'Dust Off' save the game and then make at least two further saves in other save slots, givbing you at least three save games. You can continue playing but be aware you will get one maybe two missions in before the guy from UL phones you, this will automatically start the mission 'Paper Trail' and once started you cannot save.
I played through this mission five times and the game crashed / froze at various stages through out the course of the mission. I was eventually able to get through it by playing through the mission in first person mode rather than the easier to fly third person mode. Be aware that this is not a fix all solution it may have been pure chance that I managed to eventually get through this mission using first instead of third and I would strongly suggest all players take the precaution of creating at least one if not two back up save games second they complete the 'Dust Off' mission.