The good and yes, the bad, from today's GTA V reveal

There's a lot to be excited about with today's Grand Theft Auto V info dump, but also a few details that have GamesBeat culture editor Sebastian Haley concerned.

[THR1LLHOUSE]

They had me at "bank heists." That's gonna be awesome.

[BitbyDeath]

Agreed, was fun in San Andreas.

[iChii]

"Trevor (pictured above, left) is a war veteran/drug addict who lives out in the desert amid meth heads and bikers." Looks like Heisenberg found a new client.. Tuco says hi.

[HebrewHammer]

I'm optimistic as well, but with a hint of caution.

This was a great article that sums up my concerns entirely. Like the writer, I though GTAIV was a let down in regards to side-incentives. Liberty City was a remarkable world, but with little to do - and what was available to do had no conclusive value. Some examples from the PS2-era GTA's include completing 100 taxi missions to unlock a pimped out Cabbie. Or doing 100 Firefighter missions to become impervious to fire damage.

I miss things like that.

[PinkFunk]

Ah very much agreed. There's no point in creating a "living, breathing world" when it's all aesthetic with no interaction. For example, in GTAIV, not only were there very little dynamic interactions / missions, it was also just impossible to interact with the people of the city besides say running over them with a vehicle.

But from the reveal on gameinformer, it seems like they were addressing that saying the dynamism is a key part of GTA V. Whether it's a set kind of side mission, or just interacting with the AI of city dwelling folk.

[irepbtown]

'Oppa Molyneux style' paragraph was unnecessary. I'm sure he made the points about the problems in GTA IV because he saw these problems well after releasing the game. At least he acknowledged the problems and told us that it will be improved for GTA V... isn't that what us gamers want?

Several of the other points I agreed with. And I agree with you, GTA V needs 'crazy' extras like having to do 100 taxi missions (obviously not exactly like that, but similar).

They were the days eyy

[TheSaint]

They had me at 'we're releasing GTA V'.....

[GuyThatPlaysGames]

Agreed sir!!! This game will ROCK!!!! No doubt about it!!!!

[deantak]

very creative approach.

[LOGICWINS]

I agree that the lack of a playable female character is a missed opportunity. Maybe this will come in the form of DLC somewhere down the line.

[Knight_Crawler]

What is up with you people anticipating DLC?

What happened to the good old days when games came jammed packed with all the contend.

[yezz]

I agree BUT I also think it's a bit different with GTA because it's so huge..

DLC is good but it has to be like gta iv TBOGT,TLAD and RDR undead nightmare, they told whole new stories..

DLC has a bad reputation because of for example COD where the DLC is few maps and the prices are ridiculous..

[Rumor]

Dude! My point EXACTLY! The anticipation of DLC has been worse even more lately with the oncoming of playstation allstars. I'm hearing people say they can't wait for the dlc characters,

why not just have the content right out the disc..... It baffles me

[NukaCola]

I think if they can go the female route, I really want a GTA set in the seventies with Pam Grier voicing the character.

[A-Glorious-Dawn]

Rockstar are one of the few developers that make DLC worth buying.

[crimsonfox]

Jesus this author is babbling idiot. It's so annoying have cynical writers like this guy try and put off the hype this preview has created. Especially when he try's to low ball Max Payne 3 and GTA IV. After I read that part I knew for sure this guy is a nincompoop.

[DV_Bastian]

Being overly cynical is never good, but being blindly optimistic is equally problematic, if not more so.

[crimsonfox]

I also feel a little iffy about some of the things announced today but I don't try and shot anything down without trying it out myself. I just don't understand why anyone would want to put off such a clearly hard worked on game by a company who have proven time and time again that they are on the top of the food chain when it comes to being innovative. No one has took more risks and has had more success. Than R* and "authors" like this are the reason I hate reading reviews. Spoiled brats.

[Qrphe]

He made legitimate criticisms of those games and thus are legitimate criticisms for the upcoming GTA. It's not like he was trying to troll anyone.

[HebrewHammer]

I happen to agree with a lot of what he says. Is it really so wrong to be cautiously optimistic? There are those - the author and myself included - who felt that while GTAIV was a big step forwards, it took a few smaller steps back here and there too.

[crimsonfox]

Any steps back I feel we're due mostly to the systems they were making the games for we're new to them. And now years later they probably know all the tech inside and out. But I do understand what your saying. And understand why some people disliked GTA IV.
sorry if I come off as an ass but there's just something about the way this guy said it that pissed me off like this
“Diversity” must mean something different to Rockstar
The word “diversity” is thrown around a lot in the GTA V cover story, but looking at the three main characters, I can’t help but feel like we’re just circling familiar territory. There three characters this time around, and not one of them is female? Or Asian? Or Hispanic? "
They had a Hispanic dude in The ballad of gay tony already! They had an Asian guy china town wars too. And honestly for sales GTA will continue to not have a female lead. But this guys wording is something I just can't stand. Either way It's not there race that is ment to be diverse it's the way they are telling the story this time around. And the mechanics they have put in place to do so.

[Kinger8938]

I agree, gta iv was very dull interms of things to do etc compared to previous games

[linkratos]

I actually prefer it when the media don't act like fanboys. It's not their job to hype something up. People who loved GTA4 will love GTA5 regardless. These concerns are for people who were annoyed by some of the flaws in 4.

[3-4-5]

Map is Bigger/ Larger than Red Dead, San Andreas & GTA 4 combined...

^ GOTY 2013.

A Full Golf Course ! Battle Golf !

[DreamTension]

Hell yeah! Get a bogey = headshot

[WeskerChildReborned]

I love everything that was announced pretty much.

[frankiebeans]

2 to 3 disk on 360 is pretty much confirmed from all the info about how big the game is...guess its time to dust off the ps3 for this one.

[Cam977]

Stupid article, the writer complains like a child.

[Pillsbury1]

People are gonna stfu about the 3 protagonists once they play this piece of art.

One of my favorite memories from GTA is driving around the city to find random things happening I.e. cops chasing people, sounds like they are bringing back the random and by chance discoveries from earlier GTAs

[SephirothX21]

Female characters in a gangster role are just not as believable as male characters. That's not being sexist. Its just being realistic. Most criminals happen to be men, certainly the ones doing bank heists. Also, the three characters will interact with each other all throughout the story, a proper man's conversation wouldn't be possible between them with a woman constantly around. Maybe what I'm saying is ridiculous but I think Dan Houser is long enough at this to know what he's doing. Remember, he's behind all GTAs since 3 (inclusive) and Red Dead Redemption.

[claud3]

Still waiting to ay it, before I pass judgement

[-Gespenst-]

Wait a minute they called the black guy "Franklin"?

Facepalm.

[TuxedoMoon]

I didn't like GTA4 all too much, but I'm still willing to give this game a shot.

[KrimsonKody]

"GTAV world to be larger than RDR, San Andreas & GTAIV combined"?
That's pretty large, to say the least!

But yeah, in reference to R* using LA so much;
Could it be that they are recycling or "re-using" mapping locations for their games?
Not to say they're doing anything wrong, but I believe that you have to request permission & get landscape licences (or whatever) in order to replicate cities & such in games...
Maybe they paid a nice chunk for rights to LA, & are still in the right to use it if or as they like?

But I agree, R* should just make an LA collection available soon.

Also, although GTAIV was one of my least favorites in the series, I'm still looking forward to V.
R* hasn't quite gone the "Capcom & Square" route with the quality of their franchises.
& I say "franchises" because Capcom & Square both had some great games released this gen, but their namesake games is what went downhill.