"BUSTED!" - A new idea for the system

[THEBIGZED]

I'm aware there is a fairly robust topic dedicated to the wanted system, but I had an idea specifically concerning the Busted tradition of GTAs. In GTA4 we did not get any explicit message on screen saying we got busted, yet we did get arrested in a similar fashion. However, there was a new feature that allowed players to run away from the cops just before we got handcuffed and it was, IMO, a very welcomed addition indeed to the series.

 

Yet, if you did get arrested it meant that, just like before, the player lost all their guns which has pretty much always meant reloading the game for me. My idea would give players a fighting chance even if they got busted. Of course, the reward would have to have its risks, just like running away at the last second increased the wanted level.

 

So, let's say you're playing as Franklin, get busted and escorted to a car with the cop mocking you along the way, but the game is not "over" yet. You still have your cellphone, and since you're a talented texter behind your back you get to choose which of the other protags (or even a friend if those still exist) you call for help. Maybe you choose to text* or otherwise signal Trevor so we cut to him taking a crap or whatever the hell he's up to, he reads the text and says something like "How typical. Well, at least I get to ruin the day of LSPD's finest" and now it's your job to help Franklin escape. There's a loose time limit and the police station where Franklin is being escorted is displayed on the radar. If you want more precise information on where the escort is currently heading then switch to a cinematic helicopter camera following the police vehicle.

 

From here on out the the player can tackle the situation any way he wants. Either by getting near the police station and camping out there waiting for the escort, or by trying to pursuit their target more aggressively. Being careful would be important, though, since firing a missile at the cop car would definately stop them, it would also fry your buddy to smithereens.

 

The risk of course is you might end up killing one or both of your characters or getting the helping protag arrested as well. Also, I'd like to add that this would be optional. Of course you could just accept your fate and get busted. In any case, this I think would finally remove any reason of loading your game again and losing progress and getting busted would actually turn into a fun cat and mouse style of gameplay scenario.

 

What do you think of this and what could be some other situations where multiple protags could interplay with each other during regular freeroaming?

 

 

*Since quite a few have noted that this texting part of the idea is perhaps far-fetched, I'd like to add here that it is one representation of how the message for the other protags could be delivered. Be it the phone's GPS, police radio or other possibilities that have been brought up here, as long as there is some decent explanation I think most players would be fine with it.

Edited November 24, 2012 by THEBIGZED

[GrandTheftEllboy]

Awesome idea, like it.

[kj2022]

good idea man, I wouldn't mind this in game at all.

[Miss Darko]

This kind of interaction between the protagonists would definitely help make this a very groundbreaking game as far as that mechanic goes. Plenty of games have multiple playable characters but never quite like this.

 

Personally, I kind of doubt this'll be in the game. But it would be very cool.

[Sakurai Aoi]

that would be cool

[whittle13]

I think it'd be better if when arrested as say, Michael you are hand cuffed and put in the police car but like you say the game isn't "over" there. when in the police car you can switch protagonist as usual in free roam. so you then switch to Franklin for example and go and save Michael by high jacking the cop car or something.

I just think texting whilst handcuffed is a little far fetched.

Great idea tough, I'm totally behind this

[5000 Staples]

As long as it was an 'option' rather than your busted now YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

 

that being forced on you every time would get rather annoying.

[Aviral66]

I'm aware there is a fairly robust topic dedicated to the wanted system, but I had an idea specifically concerning the Busted tradition of GTAs. In GTA4 we did not get any explicit message on screen saying we got busted, yet we did get arrested in a similar fashion. However, there was a new feature that allowed players to run away from the cops just before we got handcuffed and it was, IMO, a very welcomed addition indeed to the series.

 

Yet, if you did get arrested it meant that, just like before, the player lost all their guns which has pretty much always meant reloading the game for me. My idea would give players a fighting chance even if they got busted. Of course, the reward would have to have its risks, just like running away at the last second increased the wanted level.

 

So, let's say you're playing as Franklin, get busted and escorted to a car with the cop mocking you along the way, but the game is not "over" yet. You still have your cellphone, and since you're a talented texter behind your back you get to choose which of the other protags (or even a friend if those still exist) you call for help. Maybe you choose to text Trevor so we cut to him taking a crap or whatever the hell he's up to, he reads the text and says something like "How typical. Well, at least I get to ruin the day of LSPD's finest" and now it's your job to help Franklin escape. There's a loose time limit and the police station where Franklin is being escorted is displayed on the radar. If you want more precise information on where the escort is currently heading then switch to a cinematic helicopter camera following the police vehicle.

 

From here on out the the player can tackle the situation any way he wants. Either by getting near the police station and camping out there waiting for the escort, or by trying to pursuit their target more aggressively. Being careful would be important, though, since firing a missile at the cop car would definately stop them, it would also fry your buddy to smithereens.

 

The risk of course is you might end up killing one or both of your characters or getting the helping protag arrested as well. In any case, this I think would finally remove any reason of loading your game again and losing progress and getting busted would actually turn into a fun cat and mouse style of gameplay scenario.

 

What do you think of this and what could be some other situations where multiple protags could interplay with each other during regular freeroaming?

Awesome iif you nwant R* to read it so [email protected] is your friend (y)

[Space Cowboy]

Nice idea, I hope there will be something similiar in game .

[whittle13]

I'm aware there is a fairly robust topic dedicated to the wanted system, but I had an idea specifically concerning the Busted tradition of GTAs. In GTA4 we did not get any explicit message on screen saying we got busted, yet we did get arrested in a similar fashion. However, there was a new feature that allowed players to run away from the cops just before we got handcuffed and it was, IMO, a very welcomed addition indeed to the series.

 

Yet, if you did get arrested it meant that, just like before, the player lost all their guns which has pretty much always meant reloading the game for me. My idea would give players a fighting chance even if they got busted. Of course, the reward would have to have its risks, just like running away at the last second increased the wanted level.

 

So, let's say you're playing as Franklin, get busted and escorted to a car with the cop mocking you along the way, but the game is not "over" yet. You still have your cellphone, and since you're a talented texter behind your back you get to choose which of the other protags (or even a friend if those still exist) you call for help. Maybe you choose to text Trevor so we cut to him taking a crap or whatever the hell he's up to, he reads the text and says something like "How typical. Well, at least I get to ruin the day of LSPD's finest" and now it's your job to help Franklin escape. There's a loose time limit and the police station where Franklin is being escorted is displayed on the radar. If you want more precise information on where the escort is currently heading then switch to a cinematic helicopter camera following the police vehicle.

 

From here on out the the player can tackle the situation any way he wants. Either by getting near the police station and camping out there waiting for the escort, or by trying to pursuit their target more aggressively. Being careful would be important, though, since firing a missile at the cop car would definately stop them, it would also fry your buddy to smithereens.

 

The risk of course is you might end up killing one or both of your characters or getting the helping protag arrested as well. In any case, this I think would finally remove any reason of loading your game again and losing progress and getting busted would actually turn into a fun cat and mouse style of gameplay scenario.

 

What do you think of this and what could be some other situations where multiple protags could interplay with each other during regular freeroaming?

Awesome iif you nwant R* to read it so [email protected] is your friend (y)

I say send this idea in.

R* said that they are still working on the wanted system so there is a good chance your idea could be implimented into the game

[dunbrine47]

Nice idea, try sending it in.

[Aviral66]

I'm aware there is a fairly robust topic dedicated to the wanted system, but I had an idea specifically concerning the Busted tradition of GTAs. In GTA4 we did not get any explicit message on screen saying we got busted, yet we did get arrested in a similar fashion. However, there was a new feature that allowed players to run away from the cops just before we got handcuffed and it was, IMO, a very welcomed addition indeed to the series.

 

Yet, if you did get arrested it meant that, just like before, the player lost all their guns which has pretty much always meant reloading the game for me. My idea would give players a fighting chance even if they got busted. Of course, the reward would have to have its risks, just like running away at the last second increased the wanted level.

 

So, let's say you're playing as Franklin, get busted and escorted to a car with the cop mocking you along the way, but the game is not "over" yet. You still have your cellphone, and since you're a talented texter behind your back you get to choose which of the other protags (or even a friend if those still exist) you call for help. Maybe you choose to text Trevor so we cut to him taking a crap or whatever the hell he's up to, he reads the text and says something like "How typical. Well, at least I get to ruin the day of LSPD's finest" and now it's your job to help Franklin escape. There's a loose time limit and the police station where Franklin is being escorted is displayed on the radar. If you want more precise information on where the escort is currently heading then switch to a cinematic helicopter camera following the police vehicle.

 

From here on out the the player can tackle the situation any way he wants. Either by getting near the police station and camping out there waiting for the escort, or by trying to pursuit their target more aggressively. Being careful would be important, though, since firing a missile at the cop car would definately stop them, it would also fry your buddy to smithereens.

 

The risk of course is you might end up killing one or both of your characters or getting the helping protag arrested as well. In any case, this I think would finally remove any reason of loading your game again and losing progress and getting busted would actually turn into a fun cat and mouse style of gameplay scenario.

 

What do you think of this and what could be some other situations where multiple protags could interplay with each other during regular freeroaming?

Awesome iif you nwant R* to read it so [email protected] is your friend (y)

I say send this idea in.

R* said that they are still working on the wanted system so there is a good chance your idea could be implimented into the game

That's ma boy.

[kesta195]

I think it'd be better if when arrested as say, Michael you are hand cuffed and put in the police car but like you say the game isn't "over" there. when in the police car you can switch protagonist as usual in free roam. so you then switch to Franklin for example and go and save Michael by high jacking the cop car or something.

I just think texting whilst handcuffed is a little far fetched.

Great idea tough, I'm totally behind this

Yeah, say when you get arrested, you switch protags and you have until the squad car reaches the police station to ambush it and free your fellow protag.

[Darkshade12]

I quite like this idea! I think the whole switching thing adds a new layer of activities like this to the game.

[Miss Darko]

 

I quite like this idea! I think the whole switching thing adds a new layer of activities like this to the game.

Exactly, they really need to take advantage of the kind of stuff this mechanic offers. We do know that we'll be able to put the protagonists in the same place at the same time, so that already adds a lot (we can probably get all three together for a free-roam rampage with the police, switching between them freely). It really would be a missed opportunity if they don't take advantage.

[a. outlandish]

Dude, send in. Please.

[Miss Darko]

Other people could probably send in at the same time as well. You know. To really get it noticed.

[Barguast]

Great idea. There certainly needs to be something that makes getting busted preferable to getting killed. Whenever I was in trouble in GTA:IV, it was always a fight to the death. Making it advantageous to surrender to the police on the off-chance one of your friends might be able to get to you in time would add a whole new angle.

[zticky]

looks like a side mission idea

[Adriaan]

Cool idea. We'll keep it in mind for the next community roundup on GTAV.net.

 

There are some game design considerations to think about though. whittle13 mentioned that we could just switch to other characters when the arrested character is in the police car, then chase towards him to save him. Thing is, though, how will this other character know where to look? It sort of breaks away from things.

 

Of course, if you think about it, GTA missions have always had moving characters marked on the map to aid in you finding that person so maybe it's not that big of a concern. After all, it's a game, not a life simulator.

[Darkshade12]

Cool idea. We'll keep it in mind for the next community roundup on GTAV.net.

 

There are some game design considerations to think about though. whittle13 mentioned that we could just switch to other characters when the arrested character is in the police car, then chase towards him to save him. Thing is, though, how will this other character know where to look? It sort of breaks away from things.

 

Of course, if you think about it, GTA missions have always had moving characters marked on the map to aid in you finding that person so maybe it's not that big of a concern. After all, it's a game, not a life simulator.

Each character has a radio that can pick up the police channel maybe? Like how in the other GTA's you can hear the police radio.

[Adriaan]

 

Each character has a radio that can pick up the police channel maybe? Like how in the other GTA's you can hear the police radio.

Bingo! Seems like you solved it.

 

Nice to see proper discussion for a change - as opposed to some of the hateful flaming going on elsewhere

 

I'll forward this thread on to a producer of the game next week when the American holidays are over.

[kapec241]

Attack the police car with your friend in it or help him with jailbreak.

If you don't do that, one of your protag will be unable to control.

Really good idea.

[dagangsta]

dat good

 

[the_grizzly_man]

Utter genius. Can see this leading to some really tense game play and much hilarity - imagine a character getting busted for denting a cop car and Trevor turning up to bust him loose in jet fighter plane! Overkill central! Let's make this happen

[THEBIGZED]

Thanks a lot to everyone for the feedback!

 

Anyhoo, like Adriaan said, it just wouldn't.. click with how painstakingly detailed these worlds are now, to simply switch off to another character and him telepathically knowing what to do. The radio idea is something I did not think of, a great addition! It would make sense since we do hear police chatter even when not in a police vehicle. I think at least, but I'm not totally sure with IV.

 

Glad others felt the same way about this, though. There are a lot of opportunities (and also design problems) with 3 protags.

[Barguast]

Thanks a lot to everyone for the feedback!

 

Anyhoo, like Adriaan said, it just wouldn't.. click with how painstakingly detailed these worlds are now, to simply switch off to another character and him telepathically knowing what to do. The radio idea is something I did not think of, a great addition! It would make sense since we do hear police chatter even when not in a police vehicle. I think at least, but I'm not totally sure with IV.

 

Glad others felt the same way about this, though. There are a lot of opportunities (and also design problems) with 3 protags.

The first scene in the game should be all three protagonists installing the one-button, GPS-enabled 'HELP!' app on their respective smartphones. Solved.

[Chekoloco]

Nice idea!

[zombie elvis]

I like the idea but the potential distances between the characters could cause problems if they just take him to the nearest station.

 

Could be that you have to bust your friends out of a poilce station cell if they get busted but I don't know what would happen if all 3 of you got caught!

 

What happens with the wanted system anyway? You're being chased by the army, and you can just switch away to a different character? Or would you have to lose them first.

Edited November 22, 2012 by zombie elvis

[Celestail]

So they could use scanners or some sort of two-way radio that automatically transmits so all the protagnist can hear whats going on at all times and if anything is going wrong all three will know the situation