It’s the series that has incited countless tabloid headlines and moral panics, but Grand Theft Auto has also been one of the most critically acclaimed gaming franchises and sold a staggering amount of copies. The last game alone is said to have sold approximately 25 million copies. For some, the games’ violent content symbolises everything wrong with video games. For others, developers Rockstar have consistently proven to be peerless pioneers in building credible, complicated and incredibly rich interactive worlds. Now, the fifth main entry in the series - there have been fifteen games altogether - is about to launch, and is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment launches of all time.
GTA V puts the player in control of three different characters - Michael, Trevor and Franklin - as they get involved in a series of bank heists. The game is set in the fictional state of San Andreas - fans will be familiar with the location from 2004 game GTA: San Andreas - with the main city Los Santos based heavily on Los Angeles. Rockstar has promised that the new version of San Andreas will be bigger than their last three ‘open world’ games (GTA IV, LA Noire and Red Dead Redemption) combined.
As well as the driving and shooting most regularly associated with the series, the new game will feature activities such as golfing, flying (planes and blimps, after only helicopters were available in the last game), scuba diving and BASE jumping. As ever with GTA, the fifth entry will feature fully developed in-game Internet, TV and radio stations. There’ll also be a massive multiplayer component to the game called GTA Online, allowing players to explore the vast world together.
Record breaking
Five years ago, GTA IV broke the Guinness World Record for “Highest Revenue Generated by an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours” and became one of the fastest selling video games of all time. While those records have since been claimed by games from the Call of Duty series, the hype being generated by GTA V - plus the fact that there are now far more gamers in possession of an Xbox 360 or PS3 console compared to 2008 - suggests the new game could well see GTA reclaim its records.
Given the cost of a game can be upwards of five or six times higher than a cinema ticket, a best selling game like GTA will of course earn significantly more per unit, making comparisons a little pointless. However, some commentators believe GTA V could still earn in excess of $1 billion (€750 million) - impressive even with the inflated price tag.
It needs to do well: the game’s budget is rumoured to have been somewhere in the region of €200 million - almost half a million euro more than previous ‘most expensive game of all time’ Star Wars: The Old Republic. If the rumoured budget is accurate, it puts the cost of GTA V in the same budgetary arena as the five most expensive films of all time, even adjusted for inflation.
Critical response to the new game has been extremely positive. In a rare 10/10 review, Edge says it is "a peerless marriage of world design, storytelling and mechanics that pushes these ageing consoles to the limit and makes it all look easy". Polygon gushes that "Rockstar has expanded and improved upon so much of what's special about video games as mainstream spectacles, from the playful use of characters to the refined take on world design." Metro - also gifting the game a perfect score - teases "you can forget all the hype and nonsense: this is nowhere near as good as many have been hoping. It’s better. In fact it’s so good it makes reviews of previous GTA sequels seem like shameless pandering to both Rockstar and the fans that flock to their games."
GTA V has of course been rated 18s and over, and will feature the same crime simulation, violence, sexual content and bad language the series is infamous for. Concerned parents should definitely pay heed to the age rating. For those players old and sensible enough to buy it, however, GTA V promises to be a rather spectacular experience.
Although there have been some reports that some Amazon copies arrived early, Grand Theft Auto V is officially released tomorrow. Many shops are holding midnight launches tonight for those who can’t wait to get their hands on the game.
(Image: Rockstar / Take Two)
