Protagonist- Gang Member or Freelance?

[Algonquin Assassin]

I really don't see what people have against Ned Luke. Even if he has mafia ties it doesn't mean the mafia has to play a big part in the story. In VC I wouldn't really say the mafia had that much to do with the story apart from Sonny and Tommy's background.

 

Other than that you wouldn't have thought twice about the mafia in VC and it's certainly not something that comes to mind when thinking about 1980s Miami yet it still worked.

 

I would even go far as saying it should be more thinly spread than Tommy's background. Instead of still having direct connections maybe he used to be apart of that life years ago and wanted escape from it? Just because someone has an Italian-American background doesn't mean they have to be apart of the mafia.

 

I could see him being a bit Robert De Niro-ish in nature. Out of all the proposed protagonists at first glance he's the only one that interests me. I'm not sure if I want to play as some 20+ year old kid getting caught up in street gangs, drug cartels etc. It seems like a very antique way of looking at LA that has been over done as much as the mafia has in an East Coast setting.

 

IMO playing from the perspective of someone like Ned Luke in this sort of setting would be a breath of fresh air. Besides the general theme seems to be the pursuit of money. I can't see a kid from the slums rising up and taking over LS. It doesn't seem to be very realistic compared to the approach R* have taken with their most recent stories.

 

Edited March 17, 2012 by Miamivicecity

[puttbutt]

 

Why the hell would Rockstar copy the concept from Vice City? The very reason that they returned to Los Santos in the first place was that it was considered one of the best games ever. CJ was one of the most assertive and powerful of all of the GTA protags IMO, and he was the protagonist of one of the biggest and highest grossing video games. So I don't understand why they would re-do Vice City in Los Santos. I think the majority of people like the gangster feeling anyways. And of course the trailer implies that the game doesn't have a lot of focus on gangs. But it would seem as if the protagonist could be a former gang member, but to reiterate, FORMER gang member, not a gang leader, or someone who is in a gang.

They chose Los Santos because Los Santos is essentially Los Angeles. And Los Angeles is the second largest city in America, and it has a vibrant culture and massive criminal underworld. You can also argue that it's the second most recognizable American city, after New York.

 

Rockstar choosing Los Santos for GTA V has nothing to do with San Andreas. Just like them choosing Liberty City for GTA IV had nothing to do with GTA III.

[Knife]

IMO playing from the perspective of someone like Ned Luke in this sort of setting would be a breath of fresh air. Besides the general theme seems to be the pursuit of money. I can't see a kid from the slums rising up and taking over LS. It doesn't seem to be very realistic compared to the approach R* have taken with their most recent stories.

Yeah, exactly. 2 points:

 

1. Making the character a gangster is a limiting choice with Rockstar's more realistic approach. It'd be like San Andreas but CJ never gets out of LS, it's just gang-based missions throughout.

2. They've already done it. Gangster in Los Santos was GTA: San Andreas. I don't believe that Rockstar is going back to Los Santos to tell a gang story again. This idea that there's no room for any other type of crime story is Los Santos is silly.

[MARKUS.]

No gang member, please, I want a really dark story like Niko in GTA IV, not all of that crap of beeing in a gang like Saints Row, I've always hated it.

[HaythamKenway]

When I found out about possibility of a middle-aged, possibly wealthy protagonist, I was excited. We've seen "young gangster rising to the top" story way too many times. San Andreas was that story, Vice City, Vice City Stories and Chinatown Wars were too in a way.

 

Anyway, I don't want him to be closely associated with any gang, unless it's his own gang. I'm sure we'll work with them, but just as a hired gun.

[goatdunker23]

Im sure there will be multiple protaganist. I think it was great with gta IV, Why would they go back to just 1?

IV was the first of the next gen gta im sure they will keep this feature in gta V as its the follow up game.

 

i would love to play as a gang member though, its so cool to kick wit the homeboyz, drive by on some busters.

 

 

 

[interpolfan11]

 

IMO playing from the perspective of someone like Ned Luke in this sort of setting would be a breath of fresh air. Besides the general theme seems to be the pursuit of money. I can't see a kid from the slums rising up and taking over LS. It doesn't seem to be very realistic compared to the approach R* have taken with their most recent stories.

Yeah, exactly. 2 points:

 

1. Making the character a gangster is a limiting choice with Rockstar's more realistic approach. It'd be like San Andreas but CJ never gets out of LS, it's just gang-based missions throughout.

2. They've already done it. Gangster in Los Santos was GTA: San Andreas. I don't believe that Rockstar is going back to Los Santos to tell a gang story again. This idea that there's no room for any other type of crime story is Los Santos is silly.

1. Not making the character interact extensively with gangs is going against R*'s more realistic approach, because gangs are the only major crime-causing groups in LA. Having the character work with anything other than gangs that act as enforcers for cartels, motorcycle gangs, or street gangs would be completely unrealistic. And I stand by my assertion that Ned Luke can be similar to Niko in the way that he works with crime-causing groups, but he won't actually be a part of one. Again, I believe Ned Luke will be forced to work with gangs because they are no other groups he could work for in LA, if the city is realistic.

 

2. They've done the freelance-criminal story plenty of times so it's impossible to rule out a gang story on the basis of R* already doing it once before. And again, the main theme of IV was basically the mafia, yet Niko wasn't actually a member of said mafias. Ned Luke will have to work with gangs in a realistic LA, yet he will not actually be a member of one.

Edited March 17, 2012 by interpolfan11

[Official General]

 

I really don't see what people have against Ned Luke. Even if he has mafia ties it doesn't mean the mafia has to play a big part in the story. In VC I wouldn't really say the mafia had that much to do with the story apart from Sonny and Tommy's background.

 

Other than that you wouldn't have thought twice about the mafia in VC and it's certainly not something that comes to mind when thinking about 1980s Miami yet it still worked.

 

I would even go far as saying it should be more thinly spread than Tommy's background. Instead of still having direct connections maybe he used to be apart of that life years ago and wanted escape from it? Just because someone has an Italian-American background doesn't mean they have to be apart of the mafia.

 

I could see him being a bit Robert De Niro-ish in nature. Out of all the proposed protagonists at first glance he's the only one that interests me. I'm not sure if I want to play as some 20+ year old kid getting caught up in street gangs, drug cartels etc. It seems like a very antique way of looking at LA that has been over done as much as the mafia has in an East Coast setting.

 

IMO playing from the perspective of someone like Ned Luke in this sort of setting would be a breath of fresh air. Besides the general theme seems to be the pursuit of money. I can't see a kid from the slums rising up and taking over LS. It doesn't seem to be very realistic compared to the approach R* have taken with their most recent stories.

@ Miami

 

I'm sorry but I disagree with this.

 

Firstly I think you are wrong about Vice City and the Mafia. VC was the perfect setting for a Mafia theme. Anyone with even just a bit of knowledge of U.S. organized crime will know that the Italian-American Mafia has always had a strong presence in Miami and South Florida from back in the days of Al Capone (he had a villa there) right up to the 1990s and maybe present-day. Most of the major Mafia crime families based the large northern U.S. cities all have outposts of their vast criminal empires in Miami and South Florida, and the whole 1980s was a period when they were very active, thriving and powerful in the region, the underworld scene there was not just about the violent Hispanic drug organizations. AND the Mafia had a lot to do with VC, how can you miss that one? The very whole idea behind VC was that Tommy Vercetti worked his way to the top to dominate the other ethnic crime groups in the city, take everything over and create his OWN Mafia crime family/organization. Ken Rosenberg was the Mafia's lawyer. Tommy's individual character and personality is an embodiment of the theme of Mafia dominance in the game. Come on, Tommy was a Mafioso himself for crying out loud, how can you say VC was not much to do with the Mafia ? You clearly are smarter than that, come on !!

 

I understand you don't like the idea street gangs or having to deal with them, I really do. But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem. I would frankly be very disappointed with Rockstar, if street gangs or Mexican drug cartels did not play any kind of significant role in V. If that happened, anything to do with realism in V would be out of the window, and the game will end up looking like Saints Row - unbelievable and implausible storylines and content. Mexican drug cartels control imports to California. Street gangs are symbolic of gangland LA and they dominate the crime scene out there, it is just the way it is real-life, and GTA has always been a parody of real-life criminal underworlds, it is the essential structure of the game. This something that people who don't wanna see street gangs really need to accept, despite their preferences.

 

Most people seemed to be fine with the heavily-used Mafia appearing in GTA IV again, (I'm one of them), but now a certain section of people seem have an issue with street gangs in V, again this shows clear bias. I'm sorry but in V, I'm just not sold on this Ned Luke lookalike guy as the protagonist. It's not exciting to me when I consider the setting. Sunny LA, street gang culture, Mexicans - no this middle-aged, raspy-voiced white guy does not cut the ice for me.

 

I have already stressed that my ideal protagonist does not have to be a gang member. And I did not once talk about having a preference for young protagonist from the slums 'taking over' Los Santos. GTA does not always have to be about just rising from the bottom to the top and taking over everything in sight. I just want a realistic criminal protagonist with a believable background and a believable storyline/setting, I'm not to bothered about the story's structure as long as its exciting, interesting, and importantly, fun.

Edited March 17, 2012 by Official General

[Knife]

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

[Official General]

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

Read the posts clearly Knife, I'm criticizing Miami's preferences for his wanting of a very small involvement of street gangs in GTA V.

[Knife]

 

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

Read the posts clearly Knife, I'm criticizing Miami's preferences for his wanting of a very small involvement of street gangs in GTA V.

I don't think he said anything about the protagonist not having anything to do with aforementioned gangs though? As far as I see Miami is talking about gang affiliation, not about any general 'dealings' with gangs. Any character can have dealings with gangs, it's about whether they're actually affiliated with one. I don't think there's any need for our protagonist to be affiliated with any gang, but gangs can still play a major role.

[MilezDawg]

I hope the protags a freelance. I like a guy with no gang or mob affiliation, a loner who does what he does for himself or family.

[Official General]

I hope the protags a freelance. I like a guy with no gang or mob affiliation, a loner who does what he does for himself or family.

@ Knife

 

I think he just wants the protagonist to have very little involvement with street gangs full stop, whatever the case. My argument is that with GTA V being set in LA, something like that would ruin the game as far as realism is concerned. That is like playing a hitman/criminal/gangster GTA IV and having no dealings with Mafia, the idea is absurd. From what he wrote, that is what I deduced.

 

@ MilezDawg

 

The loner part of your idea sounds very boring, I hope he is nothing like that.

[Sanjeem]

I would like to have him first start off as a freelancer with maybe three criminal friends who work with him. With them as they get bigger I hope they develop some criminal group which by the end of the game has become quite a big criminal network. They would then have bodyguards, the muscle, the launderers whilst being allied with many criminal gangs and rivals of others. that would be truly awesome I think.

[Algonquin Assassin]

 

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

Read the posts clearly Knife, I'm criticizing Miami's preferences for his wanting of a very small involvement of street gangs in GTA V.

I don't think he said anything about the protagonist not having anything to do with aforementioned gangs though? As far as I see Miami is talking about gang affiliation, not about any general 'dealings' with gangs. Any character can have dealings with gangs, it's about whether they're actually affiliated with one. I don't think there's any need for our protagonist to be affiliated with any gang, but gangs can still play a major role.

Yeah this is what I was trying to get at. I mean considering the game is based on modern day LA street gangs HAVE to be in the game. I never said they shouldn't.

 

However I don't really want to be part of one. It was already done in SA and that was ok, but can't we try something a bit different? Even in GTA IV although the mafia played a role Niko was still a hired gun without any direct affiliation.

 

I guess what I'm saying is street gangs obviously must play a role and we'll probably deal with them in some form. I just don't want to be part of one that's all. Though as I said the theme of the game seem to be the pursuit of money during the recession.

 

It doesn't come across as gang centric as say SA and TLAD were.

[GTA-King]

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

Read the posts clearly Knife, I'm criticizing Miami's preferences for his wanting of a very small involvement of street gangs in GTA V.

I don't think he said anything about the protagonist not having anything to do with aforementioned gangs though? As far as I see Miami is talking about gang affiliation, not about any general 'dealings' with gangs. Any character can have dealings with gangs, it's about whether they're actually affiliated with one. I don't think there's any need for our protagonist to be affiliated with any gang, but gangs can still play a major role.

Yeah this is what I was trying to get at. I mean considering the game is based on modern day LA street gangs HAVE to be in the game. I never said they shouldn't.

 

However I don't really want to be part of one. It was already done in SA and that was ok, but can't we try something a bit different? Even in GTA IV although the mafia played a role Niko was still a hired gun without any direct affiliation.

 

I guess what I'm saying is street gangs obviously must play a role and we'll probably deal with them in some form. I just don't want to be part of one that's all. Though as I said the theme of the game seem to be the pursuit of money during the recession.

 

It doesn't come across as gang centric as say SA and TLAD were.

This.

 

Exactly how I feel too.

[interpolfan11]

But I'm sorry, a GTA game set in a location based on Los Angeles without the protagonist having any kind of dealings with street gangs and Mexican drug cartels is destined to be some inaccurate, unrealistic, unbelievable over-exaggerated hotpot of Hollywood-style manufactured action and mayhem.

I'm not quite sure who's saying we wont have any dealings with such gangs. I think everyone would be surprised if somehow the game completely avoids them. It's more a debate on whether the protagonist is actually apart of one of those gangs. I don't think he will be, especially not based on the trailer.

Read the posts clearly Knife, I'm criticizing Miami's preferences for his wanting of a very small involvement of street gangs in GTA V.

I don't think he said anything about the protagonist not having anything to do with aforementioned gangs though? As far as I see Miami is talking about gang affiliation, not about any general 'dealings' with gangs. Any character can have dealings with gangs, it's about whether they're actually affiliated with one. I don't think there's any need for our protagonist to be affiliated with any gang, but gangs can still play a major role.

Yeah this is what I was trying to get at. I mean considering the game is based on modern day LA street gangs HAVE to be in the game. I never said they shouldn't.

 

However I don't really want to be part of one. It was already done in SA and that was ok, but can't we try something a bit different? Even in GTA IV although the mafia played a role Niko was still a hired gun without any direct affiliation.

 

I guess what I'm saying is street gangs obviously must play a role and we'll probably deal with them in some form. I just don't want to be part of one that's all. Though as I said the theme of the game seem to be the pursuit of money during the recession.

 

It doesn't come across as gang centric as say SA and TLAD were.

I agree to a certain extent and it's pretty obvious that Ned Luke will not be a gang member.

 

My main request for R* is simply that the protagonist works with gangs (whether they be street gangs, motorcycle gangs, or gangs that work with cartels) almost exclusively, as that is the only way that LA can be properly portrayed.

[Official General]

 

My main request for R* is simply that the protagonist works with gangs (whether they be street gangs, motorcycle gangs, or gangs that work with cartels) almost exclusively, as that is the only way that LA can be properly portrayed.

I agree with this, this is what I want too for the protagonist

 

And for those who still did not understand me, I'm gonna repeat myself again. I did NOT say that the protagonist in GTA V had to be part of any gang. I would actually rather he was a freelance gangster/criminal, and he MUST have some kind of significant involvement with street gangs, but just not as much as in San Andreas. I want a mix of everything else to deal with along with street gangs - Mexican drug cartels, Mafia, Russian mob, Armenians, Triads, biker gangs, neo-Nazi gangs, the whole lot of the real-life Los Angeles underworld. However this time, I wanna be able to build up my own gang eventually.

 

Even if the protagonist is a Mafioso, I would not mind too much if he was a younger guy (mid 20s to early 30s), I just don't wanna play as that middle-aged looking, Ned Luke guy. His character, sound and image really does not appeal to me at all, especially not for a setting like Los Santos. Just what is a guy his age doing running wild and getting caught up in crazy criminal escapades in a big, sunny city like LS ? It is a plausible, but a more unlikely scenario.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Official General

[Patrizio]

My main request for R* is simply that the protagonist works with gangs (whether they be street gangs, motorcycle gangs, or gangs that work with cartels) almost exclusively, as that is the only way that LA can be properly portrayed.

I agree with this, this is what I want too for the protagonist

 

And for those who still did not understand me, I'm gonna repeat myself again. I did NOT say that the protagonist in GTA V had to be part of any gang. I would actually rather he was a freelance gangster/criminal, and he MUST have some kind of significant involvement with street gangs, but just not as much as in San Andreas. I want a mix of everything else to deal with along with street gangs - Mexican drug cartels, Mafia, Russian mob, Armenians, Triads, biker gangs, neo-Nazi gangs, the whole lot of the real-life Los Angeles underworld.

 

Even if the protagonist a Mafioso, I would not mind too much if he was a younger guy (mid 20s to early 30s), I just don't wanna play as that middle-aged looking, Ned Luke guy. His character, sound and image really does not appeal to me at all, especially not for a setting like Los Santos. Just what is a guy is age doing running wild and getting caught up in crazy criminal escapades in a big, sunny city like LS ? It is a plausible, but a more unlikely scenario.

I'd like a balance tbh. I feel that Ned Luke will be the protag but I feel he will be to an extent, freelance.

 

Niko was completely freelance, worked for a variety of criminal organisations but not really street gangs. I highly doubt Rockstar will repeat this with V.

 

Looking at it logically, LA Street Gangs and the Mexican Cartels HAVE to be in the game. However, I don't feel Ned Luke would be a part of them but would work for them.

 

Unlike Niko, I don't think he will become involved in a revenge scenario with a major criminal group Dmitri & the Russian Mafiya but rather will work with them and will eventually form his own criminal group.

 

I'd have to agree Miami et al on this - playing a middle aged (don't see his character being any older than 40) white guy with a criminal background (freelance hitman/bank robber) will bring a fresh outlook to the game - moreso than playing a young Hispanic guy I feel.

 

Look at him as someone out of Reservoir Dogs - a stone cold criminal/killer, but not part of a criminal organization but one who works for themself.

[Sanjeem]

I also reckon that the Protag is the Ned Luke looking guy. He doesn't appeal to bad to me in the trailer but I see what people mean. I just hope he looks old but in the game he looks and is younger, maybe around 35 maximum.

[Official General]

 

I'd have to agree Miami et al on this - playing a middle aged (don't see his character being any older than 40) white guy with a criminal background (freelance hitman/bank robber) will bring a fresh outlook to the game - moreso than playing a young Hispanic guy I feel.

 

Look at him as someone out of Reservoir Dogs - a stone cold criminal/killer, but not part of a criminal organization but one who works for themself.

Nah I disagree man. That is what I meant about that manufactured Hollywood-style, crime action stuff, that is what you and Miami's preferences sound like. I want a protagonist that is a bit more realistic than that, one that actually fits in line with what really happens in the Los Angeles criminal underworld, not one that conforms to what we see all the time in Hollywood movies.

 

And the idea that you, Miami and others have stated has actually already been done in GTA IV. It does not matter that Niko is an Eastern European immigrant, he's still white, he was not exactly young (35 years old), and he was definitely freelance. He was not part of any gang or crime organization and he was a stone cold killer at times in his extensive hitman role. Niko pretty much ticks all the boxes for what kind of protagonist you are asking for. The only real difference, (which I agree) is that you want the ability to eventually build your own gang. Well you should stop to think that Ned Luke guy would not be best suited as protagonist that can build up his own gang in a place like Los Angeles (LS) where Hispanic and Black street gangs are dominant, and traditional white U.S.-based organized crime groups like the Mafia barely exist and have very little influence there.

 

I don't see this Ned Luke guy as a breath of fresh air, I see him as what we have already been through before in GTA IV, a younger, different kind of protagonist is something I feel will be refreshing and new.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Official General

[Patrizio]

I'd have to agree Miami et al on this - playing a middle aged (don't see his character being any older than 40) white guy with a criminal background (freelance hitman/bank robber) will bring a fresh outlook to the game - moreso than playing a young Hispanic guy I feel.

 

Look at him as someone out of Reservoir Dogs - a stone cold criminal/killer, but not part of a criminal organization but one who works for themself.

Nah I disagree man. That is what I meant about that manufactured Hollywood-style, crime action stuff, that is what you and Miami's preferences sound like. I want a protagonist that is a bit more realistic than that, one that actually fits in line with what really happens in the Los Angeles criminal underworld, not one that conforms to what we see all the time in Hollywood movies.

 

And the idea that you, Miami and others have stated has actually already been done in GTA IV. It does not matter that Niko is an Eastern European immigrant, he's still white, he was not exactly young (35 years old), and he was definitely freelance. He was not part of any gang or crime organization and he was a stone cold killer at times in his extensive hitman role. Niko pretty much ticks all the boxes for what kind of protagonist you are asking for. The only real difference, (which I agree) is that you want the ability to eventually build your own gang. Well you should stop to think that Ned Luke guy would not be best suited as protagonist that can build up his own gang in a place like Los Angeles (LS) where Hispanic and Black street gangs are dominant, and traditional white U.S.-based organized crime groups like the Mafia barely exist and have very little influence there.

 

I don't see this Ned Luke guy as a breath of fresh air, I see him as what we have already been through before in GTA IV, a younger, different kind of protagonist is something I feel will be refreshing and new.

Well I see your point, though I'd have to disagree about the similarities to Niko. Niko was 30 btw too.

 

Tbh, I'm surprised Rockstar hasn't gone for (it seems) a black protagonist this time around. Not because its Los Santos, but just because we've had a lot of white guys recently.

 

Maybe we will have the young hispanic guy? Aside from Luis, we've barely had any hispanic protagonists.

 

All in all, I'm not really fussed - just as long as we have a different story to Niko's.

[Akavari]

Why so much hate on Ned Luke? I think he'll grow on you guys as they develop him more in upcoming trailers. I'm glad they are going with a middle-aged career criminal with a family. I think he'll shape up to be a badass because of his experience and integrity; think Johnny Klebitz or John Marston. Those guys were mean sons of bitches and they knew it, but they didn't act like they had anything to prove. People are saying a guy in his mid 40s is too old to function but that's totally ridiculous. The main character doesn't need to be a skinny, chiseled male model like Luis Lopez. This guy is built like a gorilla, and he'll have some serious momentum. Tony Soprano style, if you disrespect Ned Luke he'll pick you up whole and drive you into the wall like a football player.

[Sanjeem]

If you ask me, I think the Ned Luke guy wouldn't be too bad. I can see him as first working in LC and therefore has possible ties to the mob. Then in LS he forms that little street crew with his friends, the guys he is robbing that store with. Some of them are from different backgrounds and have ties to different gangs and crime groups as well. With these connections to street gangs and organized crime, they work hand in hand with them but also have a lot of rivals. This way they grow and become drug suppliers for the Mexican Cartels to different Black and Latino street gangs. This way the gang life part could fit in, as well as help launder money for the mob in LC and Armenians. If something along those lines is produced, I think the game will be epic.

[Official General]

 

I'd have to agree Miami et al on this - playing a middle aged (don't see his character being any older than 40) white guy with a criminal background (freelance hitman/bank robber) will bring a fresh outlook to the game - moreso than playing a young Hispanic guy I feel.

 

Look at him as someone out of Reservoir Dogs - a stone cold criminal/killer, but not part of a criminal organization but one who works for themself.

Nah I disagree man. That is what I meant about that manufactured Hollywood-style, crime action stuff, that is what you and Miami's preferences sound like. I want a protagonist that is a bit more realistic than that, one that actually fits in line with what really happens in the Los Angeles criminal underworld, not one that conforms to what we see all the time in Hollywood movies.

 

And the idea that you, Miami and others have stated has actually already been done in GTA IV. It does not matter that Niko is an Eastern European immigrant, he's still white, he was not exactly young (35 years old), and he was definitely freelance. He was not part of any gang or crime organization and he was a stone cold killer at times in his extensive hitman role. Niko pretty much ticks all the boxes for what kind of protagonist you are asking for. The only real difference, (which I agree) is that you want the ability to eventually build your own gang. Well you should stop to think that Ned Luke guy would not be best suited as protagonist that can build up his own gang in a place like Los Angeles (LS) where Hispanic and Black street gangs are dominant, and traditional white U.S.-based organized crime groups like the Mafia barely exist and have very little influence there.

 

I don't see this Ned Luke guy as a breath of fresh air, I see him as what we have already been through before in GTA IV, a younger, different kind of protagonist is something I feel will be refreshing and new.

Well I see your point, though I'd have to disagree about the similarities to Niko. Niko was 30 btw too.

 

Tbh, I'm surprised Rockstar hasn't gone for (it seems) a black protagonist this time around. Not because its Los Santos, but just because we've had a lot of white guys recently.

 

Maybe we will have the young hispanic guy? Aside from Luis, we've barely had any hispanic protagonists.

 

All in all, I'm not really fussed - just as long as we have a different story to Niko's.

I appreciate that you have seen my point, thanks for taking time to understand it

 

Well there are some questionable viewpoints in my Niko comparison, but I think I got the general message across quite well.

 

I don't feel that Rockstar needed to bring in a black protagonist in GTA V. This is because in my view, CJ and San Andreas in general pretty much covered everything very well as far as I can see for a black protagonist in a California-based setting and location. Seeing another black protagonist in V would be a repeat of that in my opinion (I'm black by the way too).

 

A Hispanic protagonist would be best suited for GTA V, no doubt. I mean Southern California with its huge Mexican-American population and culture is basically a U.S. extension of Mexico itself, the region is home to many notorious and violent Hispanic street gangs, and the Mexican drug cartels control all drug imports there. This proposed Hispanic protagonist could be American-born, bilingual, by speaking both English and Spanish and he could be able to interact well with both the street gangs and Mexican drug cartels. With a wealth of this kind of experience and personal qualities, he could be in a perfect position to create is own gang. This would be all the ingredients for a very interesting protagonist and storyline.

 

Luis was indeed Hispanic, but he was not a main protagonist. So he don't really count in a big way.

 

I would be quite pleased if we had multiple protagonists. Ned Luke, Hispanic guy in car and black guy getting chased, all 3 of them are protagonists in V and everyone is happy.

 

@ akavari

 

Read my posts and you will see why I oppose the Ned Luke guy. I did not say a middle-aged guy would be physically incompetent and I have said before, I don't care if he's a 40 year old badass, being a badass is not the be all and end all in the making of a good protagonist.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Official General

[GTA-King]

I just hope the protagonist (Balcony Guy) has the same kind of ambition as Tommy did. V is about "the pursuit of the almighty dollar." So it would make sense for him to have alot of ambition. It's time we play as a "boss" character again.

 

 

Edited March 18, 2012 by GTA-King

[Phrill]

I mean either way rockstar will find a protag i will warm up to

[Buffalo Soldier]

I'm certain he'll be a free man - but I would LOVE him to be a Gangster.

[Patrizio]

I just hope the protagonist (Balcony Guy) has the same kind of ambition as Tommy did. V is about "the pursuit of the almighty dollar." So it would make sense for him to have alot of ambition. It's time we play as a "boss" character again.

 

 

I most definitley agree with this. Let us become the richest gangster in LS

[GTA-King]

Or the richest freelance criminal!