More Grand Theft Auto 4 PC Videos, Details

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Continuing our earlier look at the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV, publisher Rockstar has issued more in-game movies created with the PC-exclusive Video Editor, along with a number of details regarding its functionality. The port hits stores December 2.
The all new Video Editor feature allows you to capture in-game footage, make real time edits and render those clips out as WMV movie files. The clips can also be spliced together into a video complete with post effects like music, text and transitions, and other features typically found in video editing suites. You can then share your video(s) with others to view and rate in Rockstar Games Social Club TV.

Clip Capture
At any time during the game (single or multiplayer), press the F2 key to dump a chunk of footage to your hard drive. Depending on how data intensive things are in the world at that time, the clip should be about 30 to 40 seconds long. Captured footage will be the action that occurs PRIOR to pressing F2. Note that if you have a slower machine, you also have the option to turn off this feature altogether.

Launching the Video Editor
To launch the Video Editor, call it up using your in-game mobile phone. A prompt will let you know that any unsaved data will be lost, after which you jump into a separate menu to view and edit your clips. You arrive at this screen with the following choices:

  • Clips
  • Editor
  • Gallery
  • Upload
  • Online

Clips
All the raw footage you've captured in-game can be viewed quickly in the Clips section. There are standard DVD style controls for video playback. In addition, you can hold down the right mouse button to move the camera and view your clip from alternate angles and then update your clip thumbnail making it easy to organize your clips.

Editor
Selecting Editor allows you to create a video from your raw clips. Here you can name your video, string multiple clips together, add music, titles, and transitions.

Your raw footage clips appear on the left side of the screen. The upper right portion of the screen is the storyboard editing space. Drag and drop your clip footage into the storyboard to create a video. Double click a thumbnail on the storyboard to edit it. You can add markers within your clips which allow you to place cameras and filters, and adjust audio and speed settings.

To quickly create a video for upload, make sure you have at least one clip in the storyboard editing space and then hit the Web option in Export To Gallery.

Gallery
The section labeled Gallery contains all of the complete, exported videos. By default, the last exported video is displayed in the preview window. The thumbnails on the right side of the screen are arranged with the most recent ones appearing at the top.

Upload
In the section labeled Upload, players can submit their exported web videos to the Social Club. The left side of the screen shows local videos that you have created. The right side is a web portal displaying all the videos that you have uploaded.

Online
The Online section will minimize Grand Theft Auto IV and will take you directly to the Rockstar Games Social Club TV website using your default web browser. There you can view clips others have uploaded as well as rate clips and comment on them.

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 21, 2008 10:57 AM

    [deleted]

    • reply
      November 21, 2008 11:00 AM

      It's coming to Steam.

    • reply
      November 21, 2008 11:03 AM

      why do you need it on steam?

    • reply
      November 21, 2008 11:51 AM

      I just hope they open this one up Worldwide... I got it on the x360, but I would definitely own it on PC. Mainly for controls (keyboard+mouse FTW =), but the video editor has me bought, being an editor myself !

    • reply
      November 21, 2008 12:55 PM

      Will this be released on steam?? I mean is it sure or just a hope?

    • reply
      November 21, 2008 4:50 PM

      I'll buy the store version.

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