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[[File:PDA-GTACW.png|thumb|right|222px|The Home Screen and Main Menu of the PDA in [[Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars]].]]
[[Image:PDA-GTACW.png|thumb|right|222px|The home screen and main menu of the PDA in [[Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars]].]]
[[Image:PDA-GTACW-e-mail.png|thumb|222px|Receiving an e-mail via the PDA in the [[Nintendo DS]] version of GTA Chinatown Wars version.]]


The '''[[wp:Personal Digital Assistant|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]].  
The '''[[wp:Personal Digital Assistant|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.
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. The PDA in GTA Chinatown Wars is made by [[Panoramic]]


==PDA Features==
''PDA'' is a reference to "Public Displays of Affection" which is commonly known as PDA.  
==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==
==Features==
[[Image:Taxiride-GTACW-selection.png|thumb|200px|Selecting a taxi's destination in GTA Chinatown Wars (DS version).]]
===Email===
The PDA is used in-game to communicate via "email" with in-game characters, mostly mission bosses. The emails are primarily mission related. Some emails 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 receive a delivered weapon.


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).
The PDA is also capable of listing particulars of contacts, such as their name (first and last), email address, telephone number, postal address and age under the "Contacts" section.


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.
===GPS===
The "GPS" functions as the map for GTA Chinatown Wars. For the DS version of GTA Chinatown Wars, the player is provided with two map views: One general view of the entire Liberty City map, and a closeup of an area of the player's choosing. It should be noted that nearby landmarks are only visible on the general map if it is in view of the closeup.


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.
Players can "search" from a categorized list of specific landmarks in the city, mission markers, discovered collectibles, side quests, and (with the Drug Dealing side activity activated) dealers. The "search" feature displays landmarks of a type all over the general map, as well as listing their distances from the player by road (from the closest to the furthest in feet). Selecting the distance display of a landmark will automatically create a waypoint to the landmark. The player can also place a custom waypoint, and even save it into their "favorites" list.


==Heads-Up Display==
===Drug trading===
[[File:HUD-GTACW.png|thumb|right|222px|The HUD of GTA Chinatown Wars.]]
The PDA also functions as a trading tool for the [[Drug Dealing]] side-activity. Players can:
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.
<!--Not final revision-->
* Tracks stock in storage and in hand;
* Tracks supply and demand of gang turfs;
* (Offers trade tips) Tracks potential buyers;
* Tracks proportion of drugs sold by drug types;
* Tracks profit and loss in the past week; and
* Subscribe/unsubscribe to trade.stats emails.


==Carjacking==
===Ordering weapons===
[[File:Vehicletheft-GTACW-immobilizerhacking.png|thumb|right|191px|Hacking a luxury car's immobilizer using the PDA (GTA Chinatown Wars, DS version).]]
{{main|AmmuNation.net}}
Unlike its predecessors, GTA Chinatown Wars gives the player the ability to order weapons online via the PDA from the Ammu-Nation website.


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.  
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 and 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.


==Ordering Weapons==
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.
[[File:Ammu-Nation-GTACW.png|thumb|222px|Ordering Weaponry from the Ammu-Nation website in GTA Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS.]]


Unlike its predecessors, GTA Chinatown Wars gives the player the ability to order weapons online via the PDA from the Ammu-Nation website. 
===Brief and stats===
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.  
Mission briefing and game statistics, which have long been a staple of the GTA series, are also accessible under the PDA interface.


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.  
The "Stats" section primarily lists all gameplay stats, ranging from mundane activities such as distance traveled, bullets fired and accuracy and criminal acts, to game achievements, such as racing time, collectibles discovered, scores in side-quests, medals for completion of missions or replays and percentage of completion. These stats can be linked and share on a multiplayer network.


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.  
The "Brief" section, as expected, lists recent mission instructions given to the player during a mission, beginning from the most recent. The list of briefs are usually wipe upon completion of a mission.


===Available weapons===
===Music player===
{|class="wikitable"
The music player is also built in into the PDA interface, similar to other GTA games' menu system. Unlike previous "radio station players", GTA Chinatown War's music player is simpler, consisting of a visualization interface displaying the radio station selected and a volume control.
!Weapon
<!--
!Description
===Multiplayer===
!Rating
!Cost
|-
!colspan="4"|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 Pistol]]s
|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
|-
|[[Python|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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
|-
!colspan="4"|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".  
===System===
* Settings
* New, save, load, delete saves
-->
===Immobilisers hacking===
Although there is no direct indication that the PDA interface is used, the [[carjacking]] minigames interface for locked luxury cars depicts a computerized device with a keypad, hinting that the PDA is also used to hack the car immobilisers.


== Gallery ==
<gallery width="auto" perrow="3" style="font-size:95%; padding:0; text-align:left" widths="180">
PDA-GTACW-e-mail.png|Receiving an e-mail via the PDA in the [[Nintendo DS]] version of GTA Chinatown Wars version.
Vehicletheft-GTACW-immobilizerhacking.png|Hacking a luxury car's immobilizer using the PDA (GTA Chinatown Wars, DS version).
Ammu-Nation-GTACW.png|Ordering Weaponry from the Ammu-Nation website in GTA Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS.
</gallery>


{{stub}}
[[Category:GTA IV Era]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Miscellaneous]]
[[Category:Communications]]
[[Category:Communications]]
[[Category:features in GTA Chinatown Wars]]
[[Category:Features in GTA Chinatown Wars]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 22 August 2016

The home screen and main menu of the PDA in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

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. The PDA in GTA Chinatown Wars is made by Panoramic

PDA is a reference to "Public Displays of Affection" which is commonly known as PDA.

Features

Email

The PDA is used in-game to communicate via "email" with in-game characters, mostly mission bosses. The emails are primarily mission related. Some emails 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 receive a delivered weapon.

The PDA is also capable of listing particulars of contacts, such as their name (first and last), email address, telephone number, postal address and age under the "Contacts" section.

GPS

The "GPS" functions as the map for GTA Chinatown Wars. For the DS version of GTA Chinatown Wars, the player is provided with two map views: One general view of the entire Liberty City map, and a closeup of an area of the player's choosing. It should be noted that nearby landmarks are only visible on the general map if it is in view of the closeup.

Players can "search" from a categorized list of specific landmarks in the city, mission markers, discovered collectibles, side quests, and (with the Drug Dealing side activity activated) dealers. The "search" feature displays landmarks of a type all over the general map, as well as listing their distances from the player by road (from the closest to the furthest in feet). Selecting the distance display of a landmark will automatically create a waypoint to the landmark. The player can also place a custom waypoint, and even save it into their "favorites" list.

Drug trading

The PDA also functions as a trading tool for the Drug Dealing side-activity. Players can:

  • Tracks stock in storage and in hand;
  • Tracks supply and demand of gang turfs;
  • (Offers trade tips) Tracks potential buyers;
  • Tracks proportion of drugs sold by drug types;
  • Tracks profit and loss in the past week; and
  • Subscribe/unsubscribe to trade.stats emails.

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 and 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.

Brief and stats

Mission briefing and game statistics, which have long been a staple of the GTA series, are also accessible under the PDA interface.

The "Stats" section primarily lists all gameplay stats, ranging from mundane activities such as distance traveled, bullets fired and accuracy and criminal acts, to game achievements, such as racing time, collectibles discovered, scores in side-quests, medals for completion of missions or replays and percentage of completion. These stats can be linked and share on a multiplayer network.

The "Brief" section, as expected, lists recent mission instructions given to the player during a mission, beginning from the most recent. The list of briefs are usually wipe upon completion of a mission.

Music player

The music player is also built in into the PDA interface, similar to other GTA games' menu system. Unlike previous "radio station players", GTA Chinatown War's music player is simpler, consisting of a visualization interface displaying the radio station selected and a volume control.

Immobilisers hacking

Although there is no direct indication that the PDA interface is used, the carjacking minigames interface for locked luxury cars depicts a computerized device with a keypad, hinting that the PDA is also used to hack the car immobilisers.

Gallery