An Older protagonist?

[GTA_stu]

Um Tommy basically started at the bottom despite his age. What's say 5-10 years going to hurt? R* could even twist it so the protagonist has a "getting out of prison" kind of angle like Tommy.

 

He could have plenty of criminal experience, but due to being thrown into prison for a number of years he never quite made it up the ladder. It worked for Tommy and came across as believable. Can't see why it can't again for someone 5-10 years older.

 

Anyway as a couple of people have pointed out Ezio is a great example of an older protagonist.

 

IMO 35-55 is the perfect age bracket for someone older than the typical mid/late 20s type of protagonist we see. I think playing as someone who's seen the ropes so to speak would be bad ass. They could apply an old school way to how they approach things.

It seems to me that you could only have a few basic types of set up for an older protaganist:

 

1. You used to be powerful and have all the wealth and stuff, but something happens to make this go to sh*t (probably the cliche of going to prison). So you then have to try and rebuild your reputation, empire and get all your power back etc.

2. You're the boss, the kingpin, you've made it and you have a lot of influence and power. You keep it.

3. You're middle aged, you're a nobody and you haven't really managed to get your foot in the criminal door so far.

4. You're just a regular guy with no criminal past, maybe ex army or something to give your background a little more bite. Then something happens which means you have to work for the mob. (probably the cliche of your family getting kidnapped).

 

1: This could work, and is probably the best set up. But it's already been done and so it would feel a little repetitive, and it would get too many comparisons to VC.

2: Not really much to do seeing as how you're already at the top, plus it wouldn't be very realistic for a mob boss to be running around doing the nitty gritty jobs like extortion etc.

3: The character would be a bit crap, who wants to play as some loser who is middle aged and hasn't done anything?

4: It could work, but would it really feel like GTA? And why would a non criminal guy suddenly start killing innocent people and go on rampages?

 

I can't think of too many other scenario's which would warrant an older protag. Conclusion... an older protag wouldn't work very well imo.

[cactus.]

nah,you couldn't sprint because of your bad knees,you wouldn't be able to crouch because your back would hurt,and there would be special random events where you would sh*t your pants in the middle of the street,so no,thank you.

There's no way R* would inhibit the protagonist from running fast just because he's older than the average GTA protag.

 

Personally, I don't care whether the protagonist is young or a more experienced veteran of crime. Either way, we can count on R* to make him fit snuggly into the story line and gameplay. In fact, that would be the very least I expect of them.

[Algonquin Assassin]

1: This could work, and is probably the best set up. But it's already been done and so it would feel a little repetitive, and it would get too many comparisons to VC.

 

Opposed to a younger protagonist rising up through the ranks? It's already been done with SA.

[gta_fan28]

How about Vincent?

[GTA_stu]

 

1: This could work, and is probably the best set up. But it's already been done and so it would feel a little repetitive, and it would get too many comparisons to VC.

 

Opposed to a younger protagonist rising up through the ranks? It's already been done with SA.

Every GTA has pretty much been rags to riches with which also comes the rise through the ranks. The potential set up for that with a younger protag has a lot more options and possibilities than of an older protag. Another young protag living a rough life who rises to the top screams GTA, not necessarily SA. Whereas another slightly older protag who has to rebuild everything after something goes wrong does however scream VC.

[mrpain]

1: This could work, and is probably the best set up. But it's already been done and so it would feel a little repetitive, and it would get too many comparisons to VC.

 

Opposed to a younger protagonist rising up through the ranks? It's already been done with SA.

Every GTA has pretty much been rags to riches with which also comes the rise through the ranks. The potential set up for that with a younger protag has a lot more options and possibilities than of an older protag. Another young protag living a rough life who rises to the top screams GTA, not necessarily SA. Whereas another slightly older protag who has to rebuild everything after something goes wrong does however scream VC.

So how about the story starts when he's in his 20s, then ends when he's at 40 something.

 

Other games have done that already so why not GTA?

[GTA_stu]

So how about the story starts when he's in his 20s, then ends when he's at 40 something.

 

Other games have done that already so why not GTA?

That's an interesting idea. But you'd have to have different types of cars for the different times, as well as the city changing slightly in appearance. Plus remodelling all the characters etc. You'd basically have to create multiple games but end up with just 1. So it would either a) be a whole extra amount of work, but for not that much of a reward, or b) not enough effort put into it and so it doesn't really look that great.

 

They did this in mafia 2. But it was a moment in time when things changed really suddenly so the effect was more noticeable than say in a more recent time period. It worked ok for the story, but it was a very linear game anyways. The map suffered because of this; it was small and generic. And there was nothing at all to do when you finished the story.

[Jimmarn]

Nah, I don't see it as realistic. My opinion stands the same regarding this magic woman you guys like to fantasize about from time to time. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's normal. And a movie character, ... *Faceplam*

 

Anyway, and old dude who has to (unrealistically) run around shooting sh*t up will get no respect. By that age, he should have people under him doing that. The dude needs to be in his prime.

 

And what a half assed topic. Damn, put some thought in man.

He doesnt have to be 90.... And he doesnt want THAT character I bet, but a character that can be compared to. Just like how you can COMPARE some GTA characters with other movie characters.... Don't be a douche...

 

Anyway, I kindof think of Niko that way, how old is he exactly? Is that ever mentioned in game or noteable?

Niko was 28.

Wow sh*t, I thought atleast around 35 or something Well, I still get the OP tho But I rather want another one around 20's and somewhat like Tommy Vercetti

[Kwandilibro]

1: This could work, and is probably the best set up. But it's already been done and so it would feel a little repetitive, and it would get too many comparisons to VC.

 

Opposed to a younger protagonist rising up through the ranks? It's already been done with SA.

Every GTA has pretty much been rags to riches with which also comes the rise through the ranks. The potential set up for that with a younger protag has a lot more options and possibilities than of an older protag. Another young protag living a rough life who rises to the top screams GTA, not necessarily SA. Whereas another slightly older protag who has to rebuild everything after something goes wrong does however scream VC.

So how about the story starts when he's in his 20s, then ends when he's at 40 something.

 

Other games have done that already so why not GTA?

Well how would free roam work out though?

[GR7]

No thanks If you thought Niko's movement was sluggish imagine how a 50 year olds movement will be like not to mention him probably complaining that hes "too old for this sh*t" like 100 times during the game. On a serious note an older guy will probably lead to a more serious story line which means less wacky missions (North's big mistake with IV) which will mean the mission variety will consist of shootouts,shootouts and you guessed it more shootouts.

Edited June 22, 2011 by Gregers08

[universetwisters]

Nah, I don't see it as realistic. My opinion stands the same regarding this magic woman you guys like to fantasize about from time to time. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's normal. And a movie character, ... *Faceplam*

 

Anyway, and old dude who has to (unrealistically) run around shooting sh*t up will get no respect. By that age, he should have people under him doing that. The dude needs to be in his prime.

 

And what a half assed topic. Damn, put some thought in man.

He doesnt have to be 90.... And he doesnt want THAT character I bet, but a character that can be compared to. Just like how you can COMPARE some GTA characters with other movie characters.... Don't be a douche...

 

Anyway, I kindof think of Niko that way, how old is he exactly? Is that ever mentioned in game or noteable?

Niko was 28.

nope.avi

 

he was 30

[MARKUS.]

what do yall think about having a much older and expirenced protagonist?

let's put a character with 85 years old.. and he told us his experiences on the WWII but man you get into a shootout in a mission and you die and the screen says: Mission Failed! you've had a heart attack!

[Kwandilibro]

Nah, I don't see it as realistic. My opinion stands the same regarding this magic woman you guys like to fantasize about from time to time. Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's normal. And a movie character, ... *Faceplam*

 

Anyway, and old dude who has to (unrealistically) run around shooting sh*t up will get no respect. By that age, he should have people under him doing that. The dude needs to be in his prime.

 

And what a half assed topic. Damn, put some thought in man.

He doesnt have to be 90.... And he doesnt want THAT character I bet, but a character that can be compared to. Just like how you can COMPARE some GTA characters with other movie characters.... Don't be a douche...

 

Anyway, I kindof think of Niko that way, how old is he exactly? Is that ever mentioned in game or noteable?

Niko was 28.

nope.avi

 

he was 30

Oh, my bad.

 

But he still wasn't that old compared to 40+. There's a reason athletes retire around 40.

[Official General]

No thanks, I want a protagonist in a GTA game to stay relatively young. It just makes the story feel much fresher to begin with, and it makes more sense especially when you consider that most GTA games have storylines that are about rags-to-riches and rising up the criminal undwerowrld ranks. With a storyline structure like that, it would naturally take some years for the protagonist to achieve these things, so realistically it makes sense to have a protagonist thats relatively young, or not too old so that the story of progression nicely correlates with protagonist's life experiences as he grows older. Ideally I would say anywhere between the ages of 25 to 32 years old.

 

Imagine playing as a middle-aged, grey haired, pot-bellied gangster, who at his age is still running around doing petty criminal activities, errands, deals and carrrying out hits for guys, som even younger than himself !? At his age, he should be a) running his own mob or criminal organization, or b) at some kind of semi-retirement stage where he has made enough money to relax more and take it easy. Even though its realistic, I think that the whole thing would just look and feel a tad bit silly.

 

Keep the protagonist young or not too old, no need to ruin things just because people wanna see some dramatic changes to create unecessary variety.

 

@ sonny black

 

You statement rings true for most male protagonists we see in video games in general. But I think you are kinda wrong there about GTA in particular though - not all previous GTA protagonists were young, and in peak physical shpae/muscular. In fact most of them were in their 30s and of average build - Tommy Vercetti, Niko Bellic, Toni Cipriani, Johnny Klebitz and Victor Vance all fitted that image. Only three GTA protagnists were like how you described them and thats Claude Speed, CJ and Luis Lopez (with CJ you could make him look however you wanted him to look). If you ask me, its a fair variation of the age and physical image of male protagonists seen in GTA games across the years, since GTA III first came out. I think you've overlooked a lot of facts and have therefore exaggerated your claims. I really dont see or understand what your problem or issue is in this case.

Edited June 22, 2011 by Official General

[sonnyBlack]

Official General, I strongly suggest you re-read my original post. I never said in GTA you always played as a young male that's always in peak physical shape, I said you play as that too often in other video games. I even said that I always liked how in GTA you played as a character more average in appearance, notice it's in the past tense?

 

 

[dethbiker]

I would like a young character,because of the reasons the other guys said(why would you be running errends or acting as a hitman being that old?) but if I had to choose:

 

[Official General]

@ sonny black

 

Yeah I read it again. You were correct, what you said was different to what I'd thought it was initially. I take what I said back. I still would'nt want a GTA protagonist to be too old though, I stick to that. late 20s to early 30s is the ideal age range in my view.

 

[sonnyBlack]

No problem, Official General. I've done that myself in the past too, so it's all good.

 

And I do agree that the 20s and 30s age range is ideal for GTA, but I'm still open to the idea of an older protagonist should R* ever decide to try this. But by older I tend to think of that as someone just in their 40s or maybe early 50s, I view anything higher than that as just too old. But I still think at that age range it can work, but everyone has their own opinions on the matter. Whatever R* has planned I'm sure it'll work, I always liked the characters they come up with.

[hu6]

He definitely should be young, I mean I want to be able to climb walls and fences easily, and run like hell when the police is after me.

[Psychotic Mind]

I wouldn't mind it. I'd like to see the main character be no more than perhaps 40-60 but 40's would seem best, race doesn't matter either. I'd like to see him maybe be in prison for the last 15 years or so, and then he gets released and the game starts. A Michael Douglas type character would be cool to, Falling Down was a great movie and did remind me of Gta a little bit with him going into the hamburger and army surplus store.

[Algonquin Assassin]

 

Every GTA has pretty much been rags to riches with which also comes the rise through the ranks. The potential set up for that with a younger protag has a lot more options and possibilities than of an older protag. Another young protag living a rough life who rises to the top screams GTA, not necessarily SA. Whereas another slightly older protag who has to rebuild everything after something goes wrong does however scream VC.

Not every GTA has been rags to riches. GTA III and GTA IV definitely weren't. In saying that I still think a rags to riches game with an older protagonist could still work if done properly.

 

Any of you guys seen Scarface? Tony was in his 40s and yet had no prior wealth, or power. He started with nothing and became a major drug lord.

 

One way it could work is if the game gets stretched out over a number of years. Most criminals don't rise to complete power when they're in their mid/late 20s. In the real world does anyone honestly think CJ would've had the power he got due to the circumstances he was in?

 

Maybe make it set in the 70s, or 80s when the protagonist is still young and the game gets stretched out over a 20 year period or something. IMO that would be far more interesting.

 

I loved that about Assassin's Creed II. I know it's a very different game, but it was cool watching Ezio grow from a 17 year old interested in girls to a 40+ year old.

Edited June 24, 2011 by Miamivicecity

[Proud Fool]

late 30s early 40s guy whos in good shape there should be no problems with that.

 

you're driving most of the time anyway it's not like you'd be goin it on foot through the whole story, I think a guy around that age range could take running from the cops for a few minutes.

Edited June 24, 2011 by Proud Fool

[gta_fan28]

Edited June 24, 2011 by gta_fan28

[mrpain]

Before you get into trouble, you better make that image smaller.

[Official General]

@ Miamivicecity

 

I've seen Scarface (like most other more extra masculine-type males), and I pretty sure that Tony Montana was in his 30s.

[Mister Pink]

 

There's a reason athletes retire around 40.

Where do you pull this sh*t from, seriously?

 

I would like to see a more mature protag. Maybe more in DLC but someone like Tony Soprano, Paulie Walnuts are hard as nails c*nts that are middle-aged to senior.

 

One thing in film & T.V. and by extentsion, games are lacking is believable and realistic characters of age. Hollywood pushes to have young, attractive actors play roles where if just becomes a complete farce.

 

Think of D'Niro in Goodfellas too. He's a great character to imagine playing. Just think of some of the great actors playing superb roles in any of your fav films and apply it to GTA.

 

Edit: Miamivicecity talks sense

 

Watch and learn...

 

 

Edited June 24, 2011 by ThePinkFloydSound

[GroveSt.Fam4L]

I don't care about their age or race, the only thing I care about is that they speak only the english language! I don't speak or understand other languages except english, the only language that I kind of understand is spanish. Thanks to High School.

[Kwandilibro]

There's a reason athletes retire around 40.

Where do you pull this sh*t from, seriously?

Usually sports?

[Jay Murdoch]

I don't care about their age or race, the only thing I care about is that they speak only the english language! I don't speak or understand other languages except english, the only language that I kind of understand is spanish. Thanks to High School.

Yeah, but if you keep subtitles on then you will understand the languages better. Just had to say that, because, I think that the different languages make the game more interesting. And a little bit more different.

[ChossenOne]

Old Snake didn't let accelerated aging stop him from kicking plenty of ass. No reason not to make the protagonist if it fits into the story.