You probably also know that 2008’s GTA IV was not only the pinnacle of the series, but one of the biggest game releases ever. And because your smug Xbox-owning friends have been pointing and laughing at you since February last year, chances are you’re also aware that there are expansion packs out for GTA IV, but as a PS3 owner, you haven’t been able to play them. Haven’t, that is, until now.

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City contains two stand-alone expansions: The Lost And The Damned and The Ballad Of Gay Tony. We reviewed both when they came out on Xbox and, of course, you could check out those reviews for an overview of the new plots, characters and features.

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Episodes is comprised of two parts: The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and Damned. In Gay Tony, players assume the role of Lius Lopez, who is struggling to balance the temptations of money and vice against loyalties to family and friends.

The Lost and Damned takes its title from Liberty City’s outlaw motorcycle gang: players control Johnny Klebitz, who fights to keep his gang together as a rift in the gang’s leadership threatens to tear the brotherhood apart.

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To be honest, calling it episodic content almost plays down the fact that Gay Tony plays like a whole new game, similar to the way The Lost and Damned was. Is it worth the asking price, and were Microsoft wise to invest in exclusive content? Let's check it out.

As was the case with The Lost and Damned, Rockstar have made some big changes to GTA IV and have attempted to improve on many areas. The use of video filters in The Lost and the Damned gave players a look into the gritty, hard life of a biker, opposed to The Ballad of Gay Tony which takes us into Liberty City's nightlife, giving a taste of the bright lights and club scene. Again the use of filters and of visual effects emphasises the environment, and GTA IV is shown in a whole new light. The beauty of this is that Rockstar have once again created an experience that is utterly engrossing, and entirely believable.

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From Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, Rockstar are inviting members of the online community to experience multiplayer in Liberty City with special guests from Rockstar North and singer/composer Henry Santos Jeter from Aventura.

To commemorate the launch and ensure every fan can participate in these exclusive events, Xbox Live multiplayer will be free all weekend for people playing Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony. The weekend’s detailed schedule is as follows;

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The Ballad of Gay Tony component is set to feature new weapons for greater diversity and impact. In addition, new, tighter Deathmatch arenas are designed to encourage fierce matches. There will also be the addition of new gameplay features including parachutes, kill streaks and assisted kills.

The featured modes are: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, GTA Race, Race and Free Mode.

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Rockstar Games has released a new trailer for The Ballad of Gay Tony, featuring Yusuf Amir, a bizarre billionaire real estate developer. The official The Ballad of Gay Tony web site has also been updated today with lots more info about the game.

The Ballad of Gay Tony will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 on October 29th, either as DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV or on disc as part of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City.

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In this Weazel news exclusive, Weazel’s crack team of investigative reporters and former lobbyists cut through the filter of the mainstream media to find the paranoia behind the truth to a recent string of attacks in Liberty City, which has forced LCPD into an escalating arms race. Our Weazel News expert demonstrates these fearsome new weapons including sticky bombs, advanced sniper rifles, automatic shotguns and exploding bullets; while recently discovered footage from a Liberty City tourist appears to show a rocket-equipped military grade helicopter known only as ‘The Buzzard’ wreaking havoc in Liberty City airspace.

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The final episode in the Grand Theft Auto IV legacy, The Ballad of Gay Tony, does just that. In the original game, Niko's access to Liberty City was somewhat limited based on his meagre lifestyle. Johnny in The Lost And Damned was again firmly below the ranks of the wealthy and influential. Where both former protagonists essentially worked to achieve fame and fortune, Gay Tony places you in the A-list immediately, with access to pretty much anything you want.

You play as Luis Fernando Lopez, bodyguard to the eccentric and wealthy Tony Prince, who just happens to own the best nightclubs in Liberty City. Eagle-eyed viewers will remember Luis from a certain bank robbery mission in the original game.

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