Grand Theft Auto is the talk of the town today, first with new Chinatown Wars details revealed, and now with further information on the Xbox 360 downloadable GTA IV episode "The Lost and Damned."

The price-- a hefty $20-- is more than just a couple of odd jobs, however; for that price, Rockstar says you're getting a full game.

Rockstar's vice president of product development, Jeronimo Barrera, told MTV News that the adventure could run some players as much as 20 hours and will have to be played over "several marathon sessions." It's not like other video game add-ons, he said. "This isn't a magic hole that opens up that's got some sh-- in it." -- MTV News

As for the original protagonist of Grand Theft Auto IV, Niko Bellic, he does appear in the game, which runs parallel to the story told in the standard retail version of the game; however, Rockstar has not disclosed whether the events of TLAD will go any further into the timeline than Niko's journeys took him.

Niko's role is secondary in The Lost and Damned, however, as he plays a supporting character to biker Johnny Klebitz in a few of the missions, which were repurposed from GTA IV, only are now seen from Johnny's point of view.

But most of the story and action in "Lost and Damned" is new. The episode focuses on the motorcycle gang the Lost, in which Johnny serves as the vice president. Johnny had been running the gang while its president, Billy, was in jail. Johnny made truces with rival gangs but, upon Billy's return, an older order is restored and Billy guns down at least one rival gang member.

In contrast to Bellic's "immigrant living the American dream" story, Barrera says that Klebik's is about "themes of loyalty and brotherhood that are just as interesting."

In addition to new story content, the city gets a slightly new look as well, as an added layer of gleam and grit are added to the streets and buildings of Liberty City; more dramatic lighting has been added, and there has been improvement in the fidelity of the character models.

Plus, with the heavy emphasis on motorcycles, the handling of such has been tweaked, though presently this does not affect the core GTA IV game's handling of same.

The game plays a little differently from "GTA IV." Players will have new weapons — including a sawed-off shotgun — and a new game-play mechanic that rewards players who ride Johnny's bike in formation with other members of the Lost with extra dialogue and health bonuses. There will be a hideout and friends, though no new girlfriends and no need to develop friendships to get special perks. A drop-down menu shows the biker allies' health, which seems to incentivize the player, letting the Lost gang enter missions with him and stay alive to maintain strength in numbers. (If they die, Barrera said, they are revived for the game's next mission.)

For those who love the radio, there will be some new music and DJ chatter, and there will be new multiplayer options too, but Rockstar is keeping a lid on all of that for the time being.

And to help reinforce that this is a stand-alone experience, The Lost and Damned will be an option selectable from the primary Grand Theft Auto IV menu. "People might say that we're milking it," Barrera said. "But we're not. This is not a mod. These are not re-skinned characters doing delivery missions. We're rethinking how you play the game."

While this episode is due February 17th, another is already in the works, but as you might expect, Rockstar's lips are sealed.

And speaking of sealed lips, fans of the adventures of Niko Bellic in the big city may be wondering if the character's voice actor will return for the part he plays.

The actor, Michael Hollick, caused quite a stir after the game's release last year, expressing displeasure at his union's inability to get him a deal for more than $100,000 with no royalties for a game which made over half a billion dollars in its first two weeks, selling millions of copies more since.

As one might expect, Rockstar may have forgiven, but they damn sure haven't forgotten, as they replied with a sharp "Hell no!" to the question of an encore performance.

Whether gamers take Hollick's complaint as a cause or a coincidence for Niko's limited role in "The Lost and Damned," the fact remains that Bellic is nowhere near the center of attention of the new episode. The main character of a "GTA" game is, of course, its city and whether Niko or Johnny takes the lead playable role, they are just another vehicle for learning the life of the metropolis they inhabit.

Niko Bellic? He's a bit player. Rockstar's working with a grand ensemble. -- MTV Multiplayer

So, while Niko will appear and is expected to speak, it will only be dialogue which has already been bought and paid for.