PDA
The Personal Digital Assistant, better known as the PDA, is a portable communication device first introduced in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars as an alternative to the mobile phone.
As opposed to verbal communication, the player may use the device to communicate via e-mail with in-game characters, order weapons on the Internet (from the Ammu-Nation website), set GPS waypoints, change radio stations and trade information in drug dealing. During gameplay in the Nintendo DS version, the PDA shows the information that would have been shown on the HUD in previous games. There is a difference of the PDA on both versions of the game, that in DS, the PDA is located at the touch screen and the PSP, the PDA is a pause menu where you can read your e-mail or link to other players using WLAN. The PDA runs BadgerOS. The PDA effectively replaces the HUD and the Moblie Phone as the primary way of communication in GTA Chinatown Wars and may replace the HUD and/or Mobile Phone in future GTA Games.
PDA Features
E-Mails
The PDA is used in-game to communicate via E-mail with ingame characters, mostly mission bosses. The E-Mails are primarily mission related. Some E-Mails start missions, some give the player instructions about their next mission, some tell the player to go to a particular area in order to start a mission, some talk about Huang Lee, some are drug related and the in-game characters and some give the player information, like the E-mails from Ammu-Nation that inform the player when they recieve a delivered weapon.
Taxi Rides
In GTA Chinatown Wars, players retain GTA IV's taxi riding system, with several changes in place. Players can no longer enter any Cabbie at will, as they can only be entered after the player hails a taxi, triggering the taxi to stop and be marked by yellow chevrons pointing where the player should walk to to automatically enter a taxi as a passenger. The player can also whistle through the Nintendo DS's microphone to hail the taxi or choose to press a button (pressing and holding the X button).
After entering a Cabbie, the player, as in GTA IV, can pick nearly any location in Liberty City to go, as are the usual gameplay-specific locales. Instead of a basic destination selector, however, the player is automatically shown a map of the city, allowing the player to immediately pinpoint their destination using a map marker. After selecting a destination, the player is treated with a similar cutscene of the taxi the player is in traveling towards the destination, which the player can skip.
Like GTA IV, the cost of a taxi ride is dependent on the distance of the ride; the longer the ride, the costlier it is. Using the trip skip option will also double the fare.
Heads-Up Display
Unlike previous Grand Theft Auto games, the Heads-Up Display (or HUD) in GTA Chinatown Wars is not located on the main screen of the gaming console. It is instead located in the PDA's main menu, which can be accessed when the game is paused.
Carjacking
For Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, the act of stealing an unoccupied car is significantly more complicated, with each car featuring any one of three different lock-cracking minigames that the player must successfully pass in order to finally assume control of the vehicle; If the player attempts to hijack a high grade vehicle, they have to access the PDA's hacking software and match the code of the car's immobiliser with it. Vehicles with immobilizers do not impose a time limit given the act of decoding the immobilizer may take considerably more time.
Ordering Weapons
Unlike its predecessors, GTA Chinatown Wars gives the player the ability to order weapons online via the PDA from the Ammu-Nation website. When AmmuNation.net is unlocked after the mission "Pimp His Ride", the player can access it through the PDA (pause screen). There is a choice of six categories for weaponry: Handguns, Submachine Guns, Shotguns, Assault Rifles, Heavy Weapons & Projectiles. There is also a Miscellaneous section where the player can buy body armor.
To order weapons, the player touches the category they want and then chooses which weapon they want. Providing they have sufficient funds, the money is deducted and the weapon is put in the basket. Then, when all the weapons the player wants have been selected, touching the basket confirms the order.
After ordering weapons, the player receives 2 emails on their PDA. The first one confirms the order, and the second one tells the player that the order has been delivered to their nearest safehouse. After this email, a white "A" appears on the radar, showing the location of the delivery. At the safehouse, a box with the Ammu-Nation logo on it appears with a blue blip above it. Walk into it and all the weapons (and armor, if ordered) are instantly equipped.
Available weapons
| Weapon | Description | Rating | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handguns | |||
| Pistol | Standard lackey side arm. Its 17 bullet magazine doesn't have much stopping power, but will get the job done. | 1 | $200 |
| Dual Pistols | 2 pistols and 2 magazines make for 34 rounds of mayhem. The stopping power hasn't increased, but the delivery rate just doubled. | 2 | $450 |
| Revolver | Do you feel lucky? Well, you won't need luck when each and every one of the 6 bullets in your revolver packs a kick like a mule. | 3 | $1,200 |
| Submachine guns | |||
| Micro SMG | Legendary design classic, darling of special forces the world over, or simple entry-level sub-machine gun? ...Let your target decide. | 2 | $350 |
| SMG | Hits harder and is more controllable than a Micro SMG, but has fewer rounds in the magazine. ...The professional's choice. | 3 | $1,500 |
| Shotguns | |||
| Shotgun | One shell fired from this single-barreled gentleman's firearm should provide enough punch to knock anyone down. | 2 | $300 |
| Stubby Shotgun | Twin short barrels give a greater spread and double the stopping power. Knocking 'em down, and keeping 'em down! | 3 | $800 |
| Double Barreled Shotgun | The narrow spread of this Shotgun means each shell impacts with greater intensity. ...A wrecking ball might do less damage. | 4 | $1,000 |
| Assault Rifles | |||
| Assault Rifle | Cheap, dependable Russian import with good range and short reload times. ...The revolutionary's assault weapon of choice. | 3 | $2,500 |
| Carbine Rifle | It's 'mission accomplished' every time with this versatile, hard hitting assault rifle. ...The choice of first line infantry operatives. | 4 | $3,500 |
| Heavy Weapons | |||
| Flame Thrower | When bullets, shells and explosives won't get the job done, burn it down! Satan's own scalding hot shit-stick. Caliente! | 3 | $6,000 |
| RPG | Enemy goon or vehicle? It doesn't matter what you target: Point this steel finger of destruction at it and witness its obliteration. | 4 | $8,000 |
| Minigun | The last word in multi-barreled firepower. Originally designed for mounting on vehicles, now used by macho men as a side arm. | 5 | $10,000 |
| Projectiles | |||
| Flashbangs | Blind and confuse your enemies with this incendiary device. The strategist's and escape artists choice. | 1 | $150 |
| Molotovs | An oily rag in a bottle of gasoline makes a cheap, readily available, incendiary device for the masses. ...I predict a riot. | 2 | $300 |
| Grenades | Army issue frag grenade. Pull the pin and throw, then get your ass under cover! Remember to wait for BANG before looking up. | 3 | $350 |
| Proximity Mines | Once armed, the mine will detect any nearby movement and explode. Safety notice: once set, never go back and check it. | 4 | $500 |
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Teaser | Gun shy, but trigger happy? Get excited. Get delirious. Get all the pain compliance you need with this 'non-lethal' weapon. | 1 | $300 |
| Body Armor | Heavy armor plating allowing protection for the torso and vital organs. Favored by mommas boys who don't have time for bleed. | n/a | $500 |
The Revolver, SMG, Double Barreled Shotgun, Carbine Rifle, Minigun, and Proximity Mines are available only after the "Fully-Cocked" upgrade is purchased. The "Fully-Cocked" upgrade is unlocked after the mission "The Offshore Offload".
