Install process must be the longest ever to set up a PC game...
> Half an hour to install data from two DVD's.
Next step the DRM date authorisation, this only worked after I temporarily disabled the Windows Firewall.
Next you have to faff about with the GTA Social Club. Why do I need to join a social club to play a game offline? Anyhow fill out the forms and submit, then have to wait for the email then hit the weblink to complete registration.
At this point about an hour in so went off for tea. When I restarted PC, the installer embeds the "Social Club" launcher in the startup run and actually opens the log-in screen on the desktop - I think I've now disabled this feature but it's a bit presumptous and intrusive that running GTA is the first thing I want to do on starting the PC.
Anyhow, even if I wanted the wretched Social Club, I couldn't actually log in even after activating my membership.
And so to start the game...next prompt is that I need the latest version of Windows Live installed before it will run - even though I couldn't give two hoots about using the feature. Another 30Mb download and install routine to go through...
So finally...get to run the game. First impressions then, actually not too bad. Running at 1680 x 1050 at the preset medium settings the opening missions seemed smooth enough, just the odd pause for loading though of course the PS3 seemed to have this and lagged when there was significant action such as police chases. Even at medium, graphics seem sharper and deeper than the PS3 version.
The key commands may need some customisation as I normally prefer to use the arrow keys for movement rather than wasd. Unfortunately, the Up cursor is linked to the mobile phone so I'm going to need to think about assignments a bit. Controls seem a bit sluggish - using W and the mouse to steer Niko he was not turning very quickly. Similarly when driving, while I know the game features revised physics but using the XBox 360 controller I was swinging wide when cornering even at moderate speeds. Again, more exagerrated than the PS3 version.
Overall, once the nightmare install was out the way and Social Club suppressed on startup I'm not displeased with the PC version. I'll be keeping it and playing it, just think that Rockstar have goofed up a bit with some of the port and implementation.