Saints Row 2 Style

[Aussiedesperado]

In Saints Row 2 you could customise pretty much everything. Your character could be white, black, asian or Mexican. Huges amounts of clothes etc. But what i want to focus on is the ability to customise how you character looks.

 

Now some people belive that if this was introduced into GTA, it would make the character 'seem distant' or may ruin the story line. Now in some cases i belive that this would be true. However, if you have spent all that time creating your character you seem to start really caring about what happens to hime/she. When i was playing Saints Row 2, creating my character took a long time but i felt more close to it than i did with Niko. Dont get me wrong Niko was a great character to play as but having a character that you yourself personalised gives a bonded feeling.

 

Like to hear your thoughts...

[K^2]

This idea was brought up a number of times. Personally, I'm all for it, because for me, the sandbox aspect of the game was always more important than the story. Story should only be there to get you from one mission to another. Unfortunately, a lot of people, an apparent majority in fact, seem to disagree. They think that the story should exist for the sake of the story, and gameplay must be forced to work around it. For me, that's what made GTA IV so boring, and why I liked SR2 much more despite glitchy physics, limited graphics, and all other problems. But I just don't see Rock Star shifting in that direction. I'm afraid, they'll keep pushing this story-driven gameplay in the following GTA games.

 

I was having high hopes for SR3, but it seems they are not getting the kind of funding they'd need to really compete with GTA series.

[Freakorama]

What you just did was the equivalent of walking into a church and trying to inform them of evolution.

[K^2]

Nah. People in the NeXt section seem to be more tolerant. Compared to ideas of setting GTA in space, wild west, or Colombia, suggestion that GTA NeXt borrows some good ideas from Saints Row 2 is not so bad.

[Johnny-Tightlips]

I like SR2 i really do, but i think we should keep the sr2 style in the actual saints row game(s).

 

I agree IV revolved around the story of who the character was and the gameplay which i think is right, i mean Luis we got alot of good freedom and gameplay with him, so i don't see all that stuff not being in the next GTA game. I think the story is the most important first, then the gameplay, but common IV gameplay wasn't that bad, TBOGT blew it out of the water, so i dont see what the complaining is about.

[Dnero]

No... Let rockstar make another cool, badass, & legendary protagonist.....

 

I don't want killin people lookin like this:

[mrpain]

Goddamn it, GTA is not Saints Row!

 

Sure you feel connected to your character in Saints Row but the protagonists from GTA are more memorable.

 

Saints Row 2 was a fun 'cartoon game' while GTA IV was a fun 'mature game'.

[K^2]

I don't want killin people lookin like this:

And in SR2, nobody forces you to. But if I don't want to kill people while looking like Niko Bellic in IV, I'm out of options.

 

At very least, they should bring back the character switching cheat from III.

[socal000]

Saints Row 2 is a completely separate game. It can make Rockstar look bad by taking an idea from a game that is similar to GTA instead of coming up with their own original features.

 

My Final Answer:

 

NO!

[supermortalhuman]

I'd hate that, already hate that in SR2. Horrible. Default character, then I played for a bit, got bored, left it.

[Algonquin Assassin]

I said this in another thread, but IMO full character customization should only be for multiplayer.

 

In SR2 to me atleast the novelty only lasted for a little while. Sure you can make your character the way you want them to look, but he/she still has the generic, and shallow personality that everyone's character has. This is actually one thing I liked about SR1. The character never talks, so you could make the character look exactly like you, and feel like you're in his/her shoes. This is one of the reasons why alot of people like Claude too. He doesn't have a personality set for him.

 

The players could make their own up for him. In some ways I feel alot of that uniqueness that was in SR1was lost in SR2. The addition of voices just made it...I don't know more conformed? If you put it like that. I wish there was still the option of having a silent character.

 

Anyway I felt 1000 more times connected to Niko than any character I have made in SR2. Why? because Niko actually has depth to his personality.

 

I'm not against the idea. I would love to see it in multiplayer, but as for single player R* should stick to pre-set protagonists. If people want to modify the way he/she looks all R* have to do is update the customizing from SA.

 

Or another way to keep everyone happy is have the option of a pre-set traditional protagonist, or to create one from scratch. Not sure how this would complicate things, but I guess it's the only way to keep both sides happy. Not all of us want to create a character from scratch, and not all of us what to play as a character R* have chosen for us.

Edited December 16, 2009 by Miamivicecity

[[email protected]]

I think it would be a little better if the settings for customizing a character were...some what put in the direction of what the character should look like. So take Niko for example, he is from Eastern Europe (not exactly where from), so his skin should be white but darker than people in England, and he should most likely have black or dark brown hair. As in styles of how the hair looks and stuff like that may also vary on the background of the character. Niko being in the army probably wouldn't have long hair or anything that will obscure his vision. But I do like customization, like how the ears look, eyes, mouth, nose, chin. But again, other things like weight will also depend on the characters background. So I really think it all depends , thats my thought.

[Aussiedesperado]

In single player, i wouldnt mind just having Haircuts, more selection of clothes etc etc etc. but in multiplayer i think its a must. Imagine the customisation SR2 had but in a IV multiplayer! That would b fkn sweet. Also customisational gun. Upgrade accuracy, clip size and so on....

[mrpain]

I do agree multiplayer needs a character customization. For example, you create a 'clown' character and go kill noobs with this character. It would be hillarious

 

 

But its a No-no for single player

[ryanhunter_rfc]

I do agree multiplayer needs a character customization. For example, you create a 'clown' character and go kill noobs with this character. It would be hillarious

 

 

But its a No-no for single player

I completely agree, it would be amazing if you could get some set out characters for example the cops in Cops n Crooks and put them in free mode

[Johnny-Tightlips]

I do agree multiplayer needs a character customization. For example, you create a 'clown' character and go kill noobs with this character. It would be hillarious

 

 

But its a No-no for single player

I completely agree, it would be amazing if you could get some set out characters for example the cops in Cops n Crooks and put them in free mode

This. Let R* make the character suit the story, I mean if he was a refugee from Gaza, (I'm sure Middle eastern people have some english names and some have blonde hair but Y'know what i mean) you can't really say he is from Gaza, call him John Smith, and make him real pale and Blonde. I mean i know a lebanese arab who is blonde, but you do get what i mean.

[foohy]

I think something like this should become available ONLY AFTER the story is complete. Being able to completely customize your character would ruin a lot of storytelling and would make the character very one dimensional because no references could be made to him and he could never be used in another GTA again. R* likes to go very in depth with their characters; background stories, family, gang affiliations, etc. R* couldn't do this if they didn't know what the character would look like.

 

edit:

Here's a post I made in another topic about how I think customization could be in the next GTA:

 

 

3: More in-depth clothing system:

--I know! I know! "This isn't the sims!" But hear me out; The Godfather game on PS2 had this perfected. 5-6 different choices each of tops, bottoms, glasses, hats, and shoes, each with 4-5 different patterns and color palettes. No color sliders or "make your own designs" as having these options would allow players to make a badass protagonist wear a pink kitten T-shirt to an assassination...no thanks.

Here's a video to illustrate my point better (skip to 1:42):

 

^^Like that but with less color options and colors specific to each piece of clothing. A flexible yet functional system that will allow you to make a character your own but is restricted enough as to prevent the creation of any obese, green-skinned, pink-mohawked, Pink speedo-wearing protagonists...

Edited December 16, 2009 by foohy

[General Goose]

The benefits of an actual character are better design, better story, better friends and better memories.

[ryanhunter_rfc]

 

I do agree multiplayer needs a character customization. For example, you create a 'clown' character and go kill noobs with this character. It would be hillarious

 

 

But its a No-no for single player

I completely agree, it would be amazing if you could get some set out characters for example the cops in Cops n Crooks and put them in free mode

This. Let R* make the character suit the story, I mean if he was a refugee from Gaza, (I'm sure Middle eastern people have some english names and some have blonde hair but Y'know what i mean) you can't really say he is from Gaza, call him John Smith, and make him real pale and Blonde. I mean i know a lebanese arab who is blonde, but you do get what i mean.

But think of the amazing vids on youtube about multiplayer with Cops, Firemen, Paramedics etc

 

Plus i am of the characters in IV Free Mode so being cops etc would be more fun

[Aussiedesperado]

yeahh i supose you guys are right. Iv heard that Saints Row 3 is gonna be a disapopintment as aparently they arnt getting the funding they need. So mabey they will scrap this idea..

 

But what would be good is that if you could buy ur own music to make a playlist like in SR. Or even up load music from your own Ipod. That would be cool....

[mrpain]

Besides customizing my character for MP, I will like to customize apartments and vehicles.

[Mokrie Dela]

i think a medium is needed - not full on customisation, but more then GTA's had before - more then SA even. SR's car editing, clothes system (layers) was brilliant - the crib customisation a good idea, but felt too pointless....

 

I think the ability to change between dozens of hairstyles and colours, loads of different (and good - most of SRs clothes sucked IMO) clothes that can also be colour-editied, this would all work in GTA. You'd still play as Niko/Johnny/Luis/whoever next, but your could change their hair to suit your preferences.

Think Niko's life was too much for him? Dye all his clothes black, give some leather, gloves, and emo-ish hair.

Think he'd be hardened and badass? give him a buzz cut, stubble, and bulk him up, dress him in a military vest and camo pants.

or a cropped hairstyle, nice suit, fitted (that should be another option - fitted clothes, or baggy, normal etc)

If R* make GTA like SR, it'll be suicide. I liked saints row (i liked true crime but less so :\) but i love GTA - its the realistic nature of IV that makes it unique. TBOGT could have such a better storyline and keep the gameplay, so i think its showing promise towards the next game.

 

More freedom i think is the key here - loosen everything up, arching storylineS, customisation, and gameplay.

That said the garage/vehicle storing system in SR is excellent. you'll never lose your car - i said this in another topic - GTA:Next could use this, under the guise of the protagonist's friend ability (one he knows from/meets near the start) would be vehicle retrieval - and would be automatic (unless disabled by phoning him/her up) andautomatically deduct u $10 or so.....

 

[Aussiedesperado]

i think a medium is needed - not full on customisation, but more then GTA's had before - more then SA even. SR's car editing, clothes system (layers) was brilliant - the crib customisation a good idea, but felt too pointless....

 

I think the ability to change between dozens of hairstyles and colours, loads of different (and good - most of SRs clothes sucked IMO) clothes that can also be colour-editied, this would all work in GTA. You'd still play as Niko/Johnny/Luis/whoever next, but your could change their hair to suit your preferences.

Think Niko's life was too much for him? Dye all his clothes black, give some leather, gloves, and emo-ish hair.

Think he'd be hardened and badass? give him a buzz cut, stubble, and bulk him up, dress him in a military vest and camo pants.

or a cropped hairstyle, nice suit, fitted (that should be another option - fitted clothes, or baggy, normal etc)

If R* make GTA like SR, it'll be suicide. I liked saints row (i liked true crime but less so :\) but i love GTA - its the realistic nature of IV that makes it unique. TBOGT could have such a better storyline and keep the gameplay, so i think its showing promise towards the next game.

 

More freedom i think is the key here - loosen everything up, arching storylineS, customisation, and gameplay.

That said the garage/vehicle storing system in SR is excellent. you'll never lose your car - i said this in another topic - GTA:Next could use this, under the guise of the protagonist's friend ability (one he knows from/meets near the start) would be vehicle retrieval - and would be automatic (unless disabled by phoning him/her up) andautomatically deduct u $10 or so.....

Completely agree. The thing that really really pissed me off about the customisation in SA is that it took soooooo fkn long to change and look at clothes. SR had the best idea about clothes. I got my guy looking like a fkn Pimp.

 

I agree there needs to be a medium. But imagine deciding where to place furniture in your apartment. Ofcourse this is not the Sims and mabey there could be an option where you set it to 'normal setting' where the furniture is automaticaly placed.

 

that would be a good feature. Also so many opotunites to Mod and do funny sh*t with furniture.

[THE L0NE W0LF]

For single player the customization should be limited to matching the man character, for multiplayer the customization should be near limitless.

[K^2]

As a compromise, if they do include full customization for MP, how about unlocking a plastic surgeon as 100% completion bonus?

[Aussiedesperado]

As a compromise, if they do include full customization for MP, how about unlocking a plastic surgeon as 100% completion bonus?

yeahh i like that idea. Then after the game you can dress in a hotdog suit

[THE L0NE W0LF]

As a compromise, if they do include full customization for MP, how about unlocking a plastic surgeon as 100% completion bonus?

That would be a good compromise.

[Mz. Hazey]

No no no. There is a reason Saints Row 2 is its own game.

 

I like having a solid storyline with character depth in it and a game with customization like that may have great gameplay, but will never have the same feel as a GTA game with an already pre-destined character.

 

I say keep GTA the way it is and let Saints Row 3 handle awesome customizations...I love both games and think that they both are special by having their different approaches on main character.

[Aussiedesperado]

No no no. There is a reason Saints Row 2 is its own game.

 

I like having a solid storyline with character depth in it and a game with customization like that may have great gameplay, but will never have the same feel as a GTA game with an already pre-destined character.

 

I say keep GTA the way it is and let Saints Row 3 handle awesome customizations...I love both games and think that they both are special by having their different approaches on main character.

im not saying that the next GTA should be exactly like Saints Row. Im simply using Saints Row as an example. SR is a good example of when they put features and content into a game just for the sake of it and not to help the actual game. But it did have some great customisational things such as the clothing options that should be in the next GTA and also the car modding which also should be in the next GTA...

[spaceeinstein]

I don't want GTA to go into SR's direction. I feel that GTA should be an immersive and believable game, not a game full of customization. GTA should not be an extensive RPG game, you have SR and Sims for that. We don't need two games in the market that gives you the same thing under two different titles. GTA has to define itself, a game full of action, driving, shooting, and being a criminal in as many different possible and creative ways.