Liberty City Online

So today while I was laid up on my couch with a crippled back, I decided I could use some much needed entertainment. Having never tried the multiplayer games in Grand Theft Auto IV I decided I would give it a shot.

First off... if I ever find the genius at Rockstar that decided the multiplayer needed a specific port for data transmission, I will beat them to death in their sleep.... I'm just saying.

At first I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I couldn't connect to a multiplayer game over XBox Live. It would start to connect. I'd hear the punks talking on their microphones. Then bam disconnected. At first I thought maybe it was due to server load but after several failed attempts to connect to various games I decided there must be some other problem. I should note that this is the only XBox 360 game I own that has had this problem... so I was very confused as to the source.

Some digging through Google provided my answer: Port 3074. All game data routed through that specific port. The voice chat was routed through the main XBox Live servers which was why I could communicate with my charming partners in crime. Needless to say, I was mildly upset. My network at home uses two routers which makes setting up a dedicated port a pain in the rear to say the least. I also learned that Windows Vista has no Telnet client installed by default... awesome.

After some time I finally got the routers configured and was able to connect. In my first glorious battle I had the immense pleasure of running over a 10 year old brat with a full-size truck, then getting out and gunning him down while he was dazed from the impact.

Then came the intelligent retort over XBox Live voice chat...

"You mother f***er! I'll f***ing kill you! I'll f***ing KILLLLLLLLL YOUUUU!!!!!" Yes, this was from the 10 year old who's cracking, trembling voice disclosed his prepubescent status.

Ah, Liberty City, the Home of the American Dream.