Is this possible evidence of a new GTA feature?

[RyanWard87]

When watching the trailers, I, like most of you, noticed that Niko's hair had changed quite a bit in the 3rd trailer, looking somewhat shorter than it did in the first two trailers -- primarily in the front/center area. With further inspection, it appears that it could be because of a new feature that might've been implemented during the delay:

 

Hair Growth.

 

Now, I know this has been lightly touched on before, but if I'm recalling correctly, it was just as a wishlist item. Forgive me if it has already been talked about thoroughly though, as I am unaware and have looked before posting to make sure this was a new topic, and I haven't seen anything myself.

 

Anyway, back to the subject at hand! In some shots, even facial hair seems to be at different lengths (although none of these were very clear, or as clear as the shots below, so I didn't include those. I will if you feel I may be on to something and want to see them, though ).

 

First, notice in this first pair of pictures that Niko's "ridge" at the top of his forehead in the first pic (where the hair goes up separate from the head, rather than back with the shape of his head), is missing in the second pic (where it appears as though it's just "painted" on to the top of his head and not textured separately).

 

 

 

 

 

And second, notice how his hair is much darker/thicker in the first picture than in the second, which appears close-shaven like the second picture above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could this really be a sign of hair growth in GTA? Maybe since the extensive customization in SA, including pink mohawks and outlandish hairstyles of the past, and getting fat/skinny/muscular are out of the picture this time due to physics and realism playing a much larger role this time around, maybe R* decided to "replace it," if you will, with the freedom to have your hair at whatever length you prefer, by having it grow over time, realistically. And this would indeed be keeping with the realism factor all the while. It seems likely, for one, considering these pictures, and two, maybe it will play a part in the "love it or hate it" feature: Girlfriends.

 

Maybe some of the girlfriends prefer longer/shorter hair -- and seeing as how your hair length wouldn't necessarily affect the main storyline any, it does seem like a possible feature. (I would assume the reason we haven't seen many pictures or signs of this previously is to keep the feature a surprise; we never saw CJ fat in one shot of a trailer and then really skinny in the other [although it was mentioned in numerous previews]. If we did, I've forgotten already, haha)

 

Or, is this just the neat RAGE-Powered lighting tricking my eyes?

Or maybe it's just PS3/360 versions cut together in the trailer? Or is one a cinematic model, and the other a gameplay model? Your thoughts?

 

(Shots were taken from third trailer, by way of Jordan's PlanetGTA Trailer 3 Breakdown Screenshots and recent pics from the Official Screenshots Section respectively)

[XMike]

Or maybe they are just different haircuts. But it would be cool if his hair could grow over time.

[Emotion98.3]

that is interesting...r* sure does love to show off

[GoodGino]

It has been discussed, but despite, hair growth seems very plausible. Good comparison shots though.

[ishouldntbehere]

no no. hair growth has been covered ad nauseam. and I think it is a pretty useless crap feature that shouldn't (read WON'T) be in the game.

 

pretty sure different hair styles ala san andreas is a strong possibility though.

[FrozenFire]

It's funny, after the whole "OMFG YOU NEED TO EAT" feature in San Andreas, people SURE are anxious to have f*cking hair growth (Which is a completely unnecessary feature)

 

Just THINK for once. If you get your hair how you like it, cool, right? No. Because it would grow back within a short amount of time. Even if it doesn't grow back for a long time, it will still grow back, and it will be a nuisance to have to get a f*cking haircut to keep your Niko how you like him. It's just stupid.

 

I doubt they're going to put forth any amount of power on their engine to constantly be growing Niko's f*cking hair.

 

It just sounds so stupid. What is wrong with you people?

 

One minute you're saying "OGM FUK RELIZM ITZ GEY GEMPLEY > RELIZMS"

The next you're suggesting Niko's f*cking hair grows.

Hair Growth = Useless and annoying

Haircuts = Plausible (And there was recently a completely bullsh*t magazine that said no haircuts. But they also said CJ, Tommy, and Claude were making f*cking appearances, so that goes to show how believable that entire magazine was.)

[RyanWard87]

Lol, um, get angry? Hah, sorry to have offended...lol. Take it as evidence of haircuts then.

[FrozenFire]

 

Lol, um, get angry? Hah, sorry to have offended...lol. Take it as evidence of haircuts then.

I always sound pretty angry. Don't take it personally.

 

I get pissed at most of this forum as a whole. Not individual people. Usually.

 

Then why do I come here, you ask? Through all of the idiots, noobs, and assholes, this place gets information posted up before most other sites.

 

Why do you bother posting, you ask? No idea. I might just be a negative person that comes here to vent. I do have a pretty short temper for anyone I dub as "Ignorant"

[YourNeighborhoodKiller]

I honestly think it's just the lighting.

[roofy85]

it just means that they weren't finished Nikos model when they made the first two trailers. thats all. no prof of hair growth here

[RyanWard87]

Lol, um, get angry? Hah, sorry to have offended...lol. Take it as evidence of haircuts then.

I always sound pretty angry. Don't take it personally.

 

I get pissed at most of this forum as a whole. Not individual people. Usually.

 

Then why do I come here, you ask? Through all of the idiots, noobs, and assholes, this place gets information posted up before most other sites.

 

Why do you bother posting, you ask? No idea. I might just be a negative person that comes here to vent. I do have a pretty short temper for anyone I dub as "Ignorant"

Ah, no worries, it's damn near impossible to piss me off or take anything personally, lol. It's all good. I'm merely trying to burn time on here with feature speculation. Interesting or ridiculous. And apparently it was the latter, lol. All apologies.

[Jayt001]

Perhaps there will be time travel??

 

/sarcasm

[willgtavcs]

I honestly think it's just the lighting.

oh god,

 

you can tell the difference in shape thickness and length.

it is not the lighting don't deny it you can change your hair

[RyanWard87]

 

it just means that they weren't finished Nikos model when they made the first two trailers. thats all. no prof of hair growth here

Right. That's what I think is possible as well. But no images that I posted here are from the first or second trailers. His hair looks the same in both of the first two, all throughout. The third one had differences. Although slight, they were differences, and different entirely from the first two trailers...and different from other segments of the third trailer itself. Whether this means there are haircuts or hair growth in the game is still up in the air. When you think of it though, it's true: even haircuts aren't exactly necessary, much less hair growth. Keep in mind the second pair are from recent screenshots, and not the third trailer, like the first pair. Anyway, thanks for checking this out/commenting!

[YourNeighborhoodKiller]

 

I always sound pretty angry. Don't take it personally.

 

I get pissed at most of this forum as a whole. Not individual people. Usually.

 

Then why do I come here, you ask? Through all of the idiots, noobs, and assholes, this place gets information posted up before most other sites.

 

Why do you bother posting, you ask? No idea. I might just be a negative person that comes here to vent. I do have a pretty short temper for anyone I dub as "Ignorant"

 

You don't scare me.

 

The whole haircut thing is just stupid. I mean why the hell would you want to waste your time to go to a barber and watch him cut Niko's hair the same way, over and over again.

 

If you actaully had a choice of style, it would actaully make sense and useful for some people that like to customize the character.

[Spazifool]

I honestly think it's just the lighting.

Yeah me too. I think its Lighting

[ceedot]

I think haircuts and clothing would be custimisable. That's probobly it.

I doubt Rockstar had been going on and on about what style of hair Niko should have, so I see haircuts a good possibility in the game.

[Gouveia]

Different haircuts, I think.

 

Maybe it's a newer, revamped model.

[GTA's BIGGEST FAN]

hair growth isn't really that exciting

[freshlaundryX]

Perhaps your haircut options are determined by the length you grew it out; each length adds more options (because you can always go smaller):

 

If your hair length is bald, you get offered 1 cut: bald

 

Perhaps if you let it grow more you can come back and get a caesar cut, or a bowl cut, or a big f*ing Z shaved into the back of your head, or bald.

 

If you grow it long you can get a pony, a mullet, a greasy rat, a caesar, a bowl, a big f*ing Z, or bald.

[Azzerwazzer]

it just means that they weren't finished Nikos model when they made the first two trailers. thats all. no prof of hair growth here

no proof. but an implication and i think thats what he's portraying it to be.

 

could be. could notthey made you eat in SA (thank god for cheats) this could be another thing you have to sort out every so often. like if niko's hair get's to shaggy, people you need to keep relationships up with for a background/long running mission and think less of you and not do things for you they would normally do just another nifty sign of A.I recognition.

[GhostMann]

Thats what I was thinking to... maybe when days go by on the calendar in the game his hair n beard grow thicker... or can get trims