We've started working on a Weapon Guide for Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony. The guide includes a range of statistics for each weapon, icons representing what they look like in-game, and details on where to obtain them. Now you can pick out the most agile and effective weapon for keeping your operations as swift and clean as possible!

Dan Houser - one of the "big three" behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise, along with brother Sam Houser and GTA producer Leslie Benzies - recently sat down for an interview with The Times.

It's a rare glimpse into the life & opinions of an individual who usually does his best to avoid the spotlight (a subject that also comes up during the interview), so take a few moments to go through it - it's an excellent read.

There is one thing I'd like to clarify, however: the interview barely touches on the next Grand Theft Auto installment, so don't expect any groundbreaking revelations about the upcoming title. Despite what you may have read elsewhere, Houser doesn't tell The Times that the Rockstar team haven't picked a location for GTA V.

From the (misleading) MCV article:

However, the exec has told The Times that he hasn’t even thought of a City to set the game in yet – let alone a plot.

Quote from The Times:

As for the boys themselves, they are already back at work. There's a Western game in the works for next spring, and the next GTA to think of. “We'll think of a city first, then the characters,” says Houser. The script he will end up co-writing will run to around 1,000 pages, nearly ten times as much as a feature film.

Needless to say, it's a bit of a stretch to assume that work hasn't begun on the next Grand Theft Auto title based on a single statement. And let's not forget that it's been over a year since GTA IV was released to the masses.

The likelihood of an upcoming GTA sequel not being in production is very, very slim.

Related Links:
Dan Houser Interview with The Times - Times Online
GTAForums Discussion

Join Rockstar for a bit of Saturday afternoon mayhem on Xbox LIVE tomorrow for an official The Ballad of Gay Tony multiplayer session. The session will run from 2 to 5 PM Eastern / 7 to 10 PM in the UK.

Rockstar will be using the following gamertags, so be sure to add them and keep a look out for them:

• GwRockstar1
• GwRockstar2
• GwRockstar3
• GwRockstar4
• GwRockstar5
• GwRockstar6
• GwRockstar7
• GwRockstar8

Related Link: Rockstar News Wire - Official The Ballad of Gay Tony Multiplayer Session.

We have put together a checklist detailing everything you need in order to achieve 100% completion in The Ballad of Gay Tony. The checklist can be completed online (it will remember the progress for your GTANet/GTAForums account) or completed offline using the printable PDF version.

Link: The Ballad of Gay Tony 100% Checklist

Check out our new Vehicles page for The Ballad of Gay Tony. The page contains detailed statistical information and screenshots for each of the new vehicles, allowing you to compare each one directly. Please note that the aircraft section is currently unavailable.

A new update released for GTA IV PC adds achievements for The Lost and Damned! At present, The Lost and Damned is only available on Xbox 360, after Microsoft reportedly paid R* $50m for two exclusive episodes. However, the terms of the deal were unclear, and nobody knew if it was a timed exclusive or a permanent exclusive.

So does this mean The Lost and Damned is making its way to PC? Probably.

GTA DLC for the PC. Whodathunkit!

Related Link: GTAForums Topic

UPDATE:

The patch can now be downloaded manually from Rockstar's website. It features a number of updates and fixes including the conversion of all region SKU’s into the same SKU, more freedom for users to customize controls, and several multiplayer fixes.

Are you on Facebook?

British Memeber of Parliament Tom Watson is on a crusade to provide gamers with a voice in Parliament.

Responding to the reported "outrage" brought about by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Tom has created a Facebook group to provide gamers with a collective voice.

The criticism of the new game appeared in the Daily Mail, where the views were echoed by fellow MP Keith Vaz. Since the original publication, the article has been edited following angry comments. Mr Watson explained the purpose for the group.

"Are you sick of UK newspapers and (my fellow) politicians beating up on gaming? So am I. The truth is, UK gamers need their own pressure group. I want to help you start one up.

"I don't know how it should work yet but please register your interest if you agree that gamers need their voice hear in the corridors of power."

Here at The GTA Network we've not *ahem* entirely avoided political controversy over the years. If you want to join the fast growing 5,000 people showing their support for gaming, then head here.

We have now completed our mission guide for Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony. The guide contains details and screenshots of each mission encountered in the main storyline. We are also in the process of uploading videos (in high definition).

Check it out: The Ballad of Gay Tony Mission Guide.

We have updated the interactive map with screenshots of all the seagull locations in Liberty City. If the map doesn't make it easy enough for you, check out this awesome seagull hunting guide created by our admin fred, which enables you to keep track of your progress so that you won't miss any. Find the first seagull on the map, exterminate it, then click "Got It!" and move on to the next one.

There are 50 seagulls to exterminate in The Ballad of Gay Tony.