I must admit that I'm probably the only remaining person who never tried any GTA game, but some of you may be interested that the developer, Rockstar now offers free download of the game here.

I didn't try to download, but apparently, the way to do it is pretty complicated. Due to a redirect, you can't use a download manager. In addition, after you register and get an e-mail with the download location, you need to download, using the same computer and browser. Those who did it, however, confirmed that it's a full, legitimate version of the game.

Are you sure about that link? That IP is going nowhere for me.

That download procedure sounds a bit like the predecessor of Longhorn to me It's not the first time GTA is offered for 'free' download legally, but I can hardly decide which way to offer it is fussier... this one is probably even the better one.

Rockstar sent out an e-mail to everybody on their mailing list about this. There's a few thousand people on that list, and the download is over 300MB, so I guess the server is clogged.

Oh well - I don't need the game anyway, have the original right here

Why download it on my computer when it's like a 10 metre walk to my playstation

No meters is closer than 10 meters, you know....

It's good they're doing the next step and offer it for free. It is being offered in shops for 3 or 4 Euros with full box, manual and maps, which is free defacto.

Yes, but that is most likely just the shops clearing their inventory - not the publisher offering it that cheaply.