Next week, the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for iPhone and iPod touch will be getting an HD makeover for it's release on the Apple iPad. 

In addition to the wide range of features developed specifically for the previous App Store iterations, including intuitive Multi Touch user interface controls, adjusted difficulty levels and iTunes customizable radio station Independence Radio, Chinatown Wars HD comes to the iPad with brand new, updated high definition graphics.

Chinatown Wars HD will be available on September 9th for $9.99 from the App Store.

The Advertising Council website has been updated with another batch of vintage ads from the radio airwaves of Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas. The latest assortment includes the following classics...

Vice City, 1984

• The Barfs (as heard below)

Vice City, 1986

• Degenatron
• The Law Firm of Delio & Furax
• Musty Pines
• Pastor Richards Salvation Statue

San Andreas, 1992

• Cluckin' Bell
• Sprunk
• The Epsilon Program

Liberty City, 1998

• Citizens United Negating Technology For Life And People’s Safety

Liberty City, 2001

• PetsOvernight.com: Now with Primates!

Hear these and tons of other classic commercials at www.rockstargames.com/advertisingcouncil.

Today, we are pleased to announce some new details about the Red Dead Redemption DLC series.

On the heels of the June Co-operative Multiplayer release, the Outlaws to the End Co-Op Mission Pack – which introduced six new Co-operative missions for up to 4 people to conquer together…

And the recent release, the Legends and Killers Pack – which mostly focused on Competitive Multiplayer and added 9 new map locations tailored for Competitive mode action, along with 8 playable characters from the world of Red Dead Revolver and the deadly Tomahawk everyone’s been hacking each other with online…

We are excited to bring you our next packs, starting with the September 21st 2010 debut of our Free Roam release: the Liars and Cheats Pack, which focuses on expanding the Free Roam multiplayer experience as well as adding new modes to Competitive Multiplayer.

The Liars and Cheats Pack will contain a great range of new highly-requested features to expand the Free Roam world including Multiplayer Poker and Liar’s Dice, as well as a brand new Competitive Multiplayer gameplay mode.  The Liars and Cheats Pack will also include the content previously announced as the Free Roam Pack.  The Free Roam Pack was originally planned as a free download, but due to the platform networks’ restrictions on numbers of free packs we can give away (and our promise to bring you the free Hunting and Trading Outfits Pack – more on that below), we have instead added it to the Liars and Cheats Pack as one Free Roam release boasting the following features and more:

Multiplayer Poker and Liar's Dice Games
One of the most fan-requested features comes to multiplayer.

Multiplayer Horse Races
Ride out against your friends and foes online - with mounted combat guns blazing.

The Explosive Rifle
A devastatingly destructive new weapon with its own new single-player and multiplayer challenges.

7 New Gang Hideouts
Posse up and take on the new Hideouts together to level up quickly.

4 New Hunting Grounds
New Hunting Grounds are now visible on the map for all to see, with some of the most action-packed wildlife hunting yet.

Stronghold Competitive Multiplayer Mode
Teams take turns in attack and defense in multi-tiered Competitive games.

Posse Scoring and Leaderboards
Compare stats with other posses and compete to see who are the kings of the Free Roam frontier.

Plus, 15 additional multiplayer characters from the Red Dead Redemption storyline are being made available as multiplayer characters, and more all-new Achievements and Trophies. 

This pack will be released on September 21st worldwide for download on both PlayStation Network ($9.99) and Xbox LIVE (800 Microsoft Points).  Stay tuned for lots more detail on the content in this pack including first screens and more.


Then, later this fall, we will be presenting our original mostly Single-Player DLC release: the Undead Nightmare Pack.

Unleashed upon the world of Red Dead Redemption, the Undead Nightmare Pack will feature an entirely new single-player campaign that follows John Marston as he tries to find a cure for the highly infectious zombie plague that has spread across the frontier. 

In addition to the lengthy single-player adventure, The Undead Nightmare Pack features brand new gameplay mechanics, weapons, zombie animals, mythical creatures and even a brand new secret location. 

All this, plus some new multiplayer modes and much more to be revealed in the weeks ahead.  The Undead Nightmare Pack will be available simultaneously for download via PlayStation Network ($9.99) and Xbox LIVE (800 Microsoft Points).  We'll have lots more info soon.


Additionally, we are going to be bringing you some free downloadable goodies in the next few weeks including the anticipated Hunting and Trading Outfits Pack which will give everyone the Savvy Merchant and Expert Hunter Outfits and related Challenges, plus special compatibility to enable everyone online to see the Red Dead Revolver multiplayer character skins being used by those who have purchased any of the DLC – we will have full details on this very soon.


For all the latest on Red Dead DLC, stay tuned here at the Rockstar Newswire, the official Red Dead Redemption website, and our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Update: The event has ended.  Thanks to everyone that joined in – whether playing, watching the live stream or participating in the chat.  We look forward to seeing all of you in future events.

Tomorrow, August 27th from 4-7PM Eastern, grab your controllers, power on your consoles and log in to the live stream and chat on the Social Club Multiplayer Events page.

We'll be having an afternoon playing Red Dead Redemption on Xbox LIVE, the latest event in the Social Club Multiplayer Events Series.  Expect plenty of the Legends and Killers Pack as well as some Outlaws to the End, Free Roam, Hardcore modes and the original Competitive Multiplayer modes.

Here's the lowdown on what to do in order to play with Rockstar...

HOW TO FIND US
Start up multiplayer from the main menu.  This will place you into a Free Roam lobby.  Invite at least one friend and form a posse.  Then enter the game modes as we announce them in the chat.

HOW DOES FREE ROAM WORK?
Free Roam is the hub of your online experience.  Supporting up to 16 players, Free Roam allows you to explore with your friends and enemies, take out the gangs of outlaws or launch into more structured gameplay using the markers placed around the world.  We'll be forming posses and then heading into several game modes during the evening.

To form a posse, press the 'Back' button and use the menu.  This menu gives you several gameplay options and access to the list of players in your session.

FORMING A POSSE
To start the game, invite your friends, form a posse and find Rockstar, follow these steps:

1. From the main menu, press 'Start' and then enter 'Xbox Live Multiplayer' by pressing the 'X' (blue) button.

2. Once in a Free Roam lobby, press the 'Back' button to open the in-game multiplayer menu.

3. Press the 'RB' button and then the 'Y' (yellow) button to 'Invite Friends'.  Invite at least one friend into your posse using the 'A' (green) button.

4. Once your friends are in the game, press the 'Y' (yellow) button again to return to the 'Players' menu and select them with the 'A' (green) button to 'Propose New Posse' or 'Send Posse Invite'.

5. Once you and your friends are ready to go, start up the game mode we're currently playing.  This can be found in the chat as the event rolls along.  We will be starting in Gang Shootout.

Remember you must have one friend in your posse to play with Rockstar.  And as stated, pay close attention to the chat to know what game mode we're currently playing.

OFFICIAL ROCKSTAR GAMERTAGS

• RedDeadDev3
• RedDeadDev4
• RedDeadDev5
• RedDeadDev6

Also be sure to join us on September 9th when we'll be playing more Red Dead Redemption, this time on PlayStation Network from 4-7PM Eastern.  See you there...

Previously:
Recap & Screens: Red Dead Redemption & Episodes from Liberty City Doubleheader Multiplayer Event on PSN (August 12th)
Recap and Screens: Red Dead Redemption Official Social Club Multiplayer Events Weekend (July 23-24)
Recap & Screens: Red Dead Redemption Official Social Club Multiplayer Event on PlayStation Network (July 13th)

(Players using Red Dead Revolver characters with the new Legends and Killers Pack get ready for Gang Shootout in Escalera...)

(...as well as racing and gunplay in Episodes from Liberty City during our afternoon of gaming on PSN.)

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our most recent Social Club Multiplayer Events of live streaming, chatting, and of course multiplayer mayhem - the August 12th epic double-header of Red Dead Redemption Legends & Killers and Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City on PlayStation Network.  

Xbox LIVE players, make sure to join us tomorrow for our next event - a proper Red Dead session all the trimmings and modes by request from 4-7 PM Eastern.

Read on for a recap and screens of some memorable moments from the 8/12 PSN doubleheader...

We began in Gang Shootout in Thieves' Landing with the Legends and Killers Pack for Red Dead Redemption.  During the round out on the foggy docks, funkynoob found comfortable cover behind a crate, taking down RedDeadDev3 and cierajd3jeralynn.  In the end, Dutch's Gang earned the win, and top player honors went to didi727 with 13 kills, 9 deaths, 8 headshots and 1 capture.  Other players on the winning team included opcy, josesanlirio, MegaDonaldduck1, Jack_theGamer and boshell.

(In a round of Hold Your Own in Tumbleweed, blastbros manned this cannon and got 31 kills with zero deaths.  Superb, sir.)

In honor of the recent release of the Legends & Killers Pack, we've got another entry in the Red Dead Redemption: Original Artwork Series featuring one of the new multiplayer characters from Red Dead Revolver. 

This time it's the paunchy Pig Josh, with his trusty dynamite lit up and ready to go bang...

As with all previous entries in the Original Artwork Series, Pig Josh is available in Desktop, Buddy Icon & Avatar sizes from the downloads sections at both the Rockstar site and the official Red Dead Redemption site.

Previously:
Original Artwork from Red Dead Redemption Legends and Killers: Shadow Wolf

(Load up Legends and Killers, grab your Tomahawk and get ready to take on the Challenges.)

With the recent release of the Legends and Killers Pack for Red Dead Redemption, one of the most popular additions has no doubt been the devastating new Tomahawk.  For those of you that are wondering how to access (and replenish) the Tomahawk in single player, this latest edition of Rockstar Game Tips has got you covered…  

Just like all the other weapons in your vast arsenal, the Tomahawk features its own set of ambient Challenges.  Complete these Challenges to earn the rank of Tomahawk Master, and as your reward you'll be able to refresh your supply of Tomahawks at any safe house, without trekking out to Manzanita Post every time you need to stock up.

Here's a brief look at the 5 Challenges you'll need to complete, along with our helpful advice on how to accomplish each one.

Tomahawk Challenge 1

• Purchase a Tomahawk from the store at Manzanita Post.
  
  • Tip: In order to purchase the Tomahawk, you'll need to visit the store at Manzanita Post, which is in the Tall Trees section of the northern territory, West Elizabeth.  

Tomahawk Challenge 2

• Kill one enemy with the Tomahawk used as a throwing weapon, one as a melee weapon, and one from horseback. 
  • Tip: The easiest time to do this is when you come across a roadside stagecoach ambush or enemies robbing someone.  If you need another easy option you could always try one of the Bounties from Armadillo (easier as there are not as many enemies at the location and they tend to be a little softer than the later Bounties).  To use your Tomahawk as a melee weapon, you need to be extremely close to your enemy.  You can execute a chop, if you are close enough, just by pulling the trigger. 

Tomahawk Challenge 3

• Kill a flying bird with a Tomahawk without using Dead-Eye. 
  
  • Tip: Try to get as close as possible to a bird that is on the ground and then hit it as it jumps up and flies away.  The closer you are to the bird before it is in flight the better.  Tomahawks are deadly but they can be tough to throw with precise accuracy over long distances. 

Tomahawk Challenge 4

• Kill 5 enemies in a row without missing with the Tomahawk. 
  • Tip: You cannot use Dead-Eye for this Challenge, so being close to your enemies is a top priority.  Round up a group of gang members and try to get as close as possible before letting your first Tomahawk fly.  This Challenge is easier to complete when done in conjunction with Challenge 5. 

Tomahawk Challenge 5

• Complete a Gang Hideout using only Tomahawks.  
  
  • Tip: The easiest Gang Hideout to get this done at is Pike's Basin.  The enemies in the Basin are pretty much stationary and you will only get rushed by 2 to 3 enemies at a time.  This is the perfect place to set up an ambush and then collect your reward. 

Once you've completed these 5 Challenges, you will earn unlimited refills for the Tomahawk, enabling you to bury the hatchet into your foes with abandon.  Stay tuned for more Red Dead Redemption tips in the near future - and let us know if you there's a particular part of Legends & Killers or any other part of the game that you could use some help tackling, as we may cover it in a future Rockstar Game Tips segment here at the Newswire.

Update:  All major online and multiplayer functionality has been restored. Meanwhile, we are still working on some minor issues including leaderboard update delays for Grand Theft Auto IV and Midnight Club: Los Angeles Rate My Ride functionality that may affect a small number of players.              

If you are experiencing any additional issues, please make sure to report them to our tech support team at:

Web: www.rockstargames.com/support
Email: RDRSupport@rockstargames.com
Twitter: twitter.com/RockstarSupport

Thank you all for your patience!

***

Just a heads up that there will be some scheduled server maintenance starting this coming Thursday morning August 26th (ie - tomorrow, Wednesday late night) at 1:00 AM Eastern.  This maintenance will unfortunately require some downtime for Social Club services both on the web and in-game, as well as a few other online services for the games as listed below.  We expect this maintenance period to last in the range of 6-12 hours worst case, so expect services to resume as normal no later than 1:00 PM Eastern time on Thursday afternoon.

Our apologies especially to all our late night and early morning multiplayers who may be inconvenienced for a bit.  Please expect the Social Club website, Social Club accounts, and multiplayer matchmaking services for many of our games to be unavailable during this time.

Note that all single-player game modes will remain unaffected during the maintenance period.

Here is a list of specific services that will be affected during our maintenance window:

Red Dead Redemption:

• Leaderboards
• SC reg/login
• Stats Comparison
• Unlocks
• Challenges
• News

Grand Theft Auto IV:

• Matchmaking
• Leaderboards
• Video upload (PC)
• Login to Social Club App (PC)

Midnight Club Los Angeles:

• Matchmaking
• Leaderboards
• Rate My Ride
• Screenshot upload
  

Beaterator:

• Song Upload/Download

Chinatown Wars:

• Stats Syncing

Newswire:

• Posting of comments 

Social Club:

• Site offline

We will update this thread (as well as our Twitter and Facebook) when maintenance is complete and we are back up. Thanks again all.