Map Size Thread

[Deffpony]

@Lex: Yes, like I said, I know V is much bigger than SA. But from whatwe have seen, it doesnt feel bigger than SA. And here is why (IMO)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, all these locations are smaller, but the diversity realy gave such a sense of scale to the game.

 

In short I guess what I am saying is that, my initial fears about a single city San Andreas seem to be coming true. I think only having one city(as massive as it might be) might be the reason why, for me at least, the map doesnt seem as big as they are claiming. Multiple cities is a great way to make wilderness, lakes, deserts, and forrests feel more necessary. Now we have a city on one side of the map, and country side on the other side.

 

This isnt me bitching, just exploring possible reason as to why Im not blown away by the map. Please take this with a grain of salt.

 

PS: VC is my favorite GTA, not SA

[brian.]

 

Wrong, it cant be scaled that way. Look at this:

No way they are the same size.

There is a lot more in that SA picture not being shown. I would not be surprised if it is exactly the same size and iterated to look nicer. I'm not claiming it is - but the comparison here is misleading, since there is a lot more pier behind us/behind that ferris wheel, and it is similarly positioned to the one in the V screenshot, with a building like that out at the end and all. That section seems wider and bigger than it was in SA, but the rest of the pier seems right, I think it just appears smaller because it is far less detailed.

[Choco Taco]

But from what we have seen of the whole map of V, its hard for me not to get the feeling that SA felt bigger. Yes I know that V is much bigger than SA, and it IS huge in terms of detail. But after looking at the mapping topic, it feels like we have seen just about all the map has to offer and Im really not blown away.

 

 

Yep. I posted this in another thread:

 

My main concern is that although it's bigger than SA, it might feel smaller. In SA, you could get the feeling that you were out in the middle of nowhere far away from the city. At this point, GTA V is sort of looking like Los Santos with a backyard to me. You'll probably be able to see the city from any point on the map. I'm hoping there's something more.

 

The picture below is pretty disappointing...

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

More SA scenes - http://i.imgur.com/Q0H7S.jpg

[Deffpony]

Wow choco, that first image really illustrates my concern.

[lazloisdavrock]

big concern

[Showstopper 26]

Why are you doing this to yourselves?

[Dope_0110]

 

But from what we have seen of the whole map of V, its hard for me not to get the feeling that SA felt bigger. Yes I know that V is much bigger than SA, and it IS huge in terms of detail. But after looking at the mapping topic, it feels like we have seen just about all the map has to offer and Im really not blown away.

 

 

Yep. I posted this in another thread:

 

My main concern is that although it's bigger than SA, it might feel smaller. In SA, you could get the feeling that you were out in the middle of nowhere far away from the city. At this point, GTA V is sort of looking like Los Santos with a backyard to me. You'll probably be able to see the city from any point on the map. I'm hoping there's something more.

 

The picture below is pretty disappointing...

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

More SA scenes - http://i.imgur.com/Q0H7S.jpg

The problem is bigger drawing distance. If you have SA on PC and install a mod that enables infinite drawing distance the feeling changes completely. You're in the desert and you see the hills around LS.

 

But with default drawing distance all you see is the desert and it gives a feeling of it being big when it's not. I mean it was, but not compared to V

[WolfbackGames]

Why are you doing this to yourselves?

Because it's the truth..

[Eutyphro]

Deffpony, how can you judge the feeling of a game you haven't played yet? What we can judge are the facts, and they are very impressive. Far more impressive than San Andreas, my fvourite game of all time.

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

The picture below is pretty disappointing...

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

More SA scenes - http://i.imgur.com/Q0H7S.jpg

Wow! And we all know what is behind that mountain, some small town and the ocean. The map doesn't seem as big as Rockstar boasted. That's really disappointing. I wonder what the eastern side of the map will contain though? And is there much south of Los Santos? If not, then wow...

[Showstopper 26]

Why are you doing this to yourselves?

Because it's the truth..

Ok?

[brian.]

One the things that made SA feel massive was a limited draw distance/fogging out the map early.

 

Even though V is much bigger, it will feel smaller at least in screenshots (not sure when we actually play), because you can see all of it all the time, but how long will it take to travel it? By plane, probably pretty fast, but it's likely a 15 minute drive from south to north. SA took a long time to travel on wheels, V will surely take 3x as long (considering different routes, not a straight line).

 

I think the screenshots make it look small, but when actually playing it you'll be going "wow, it's taking forever to get to that same point I started driving to 10 minutes ago" - so it'll have this other, unique, feeling of scale. Where SA tricked us and really we were traveling very short distances but feeling like we are covering a lot of ground due to disparity in the areas, the diversity, in V, it will be different where we can see where we want to go but it takes forever to get there.

 

 

If you use 10x draw distance mod for GTA SA, it feels TINY. Just because you can see everything, and how fast it approaches - the "hugeness" of SA is a trick on perception (that breaks with the 10x draw distance mod), while in GTA V, the default is to see it all at once - except it truly is large. So where SA was actually much smaller but perception was teased to make it feel huge, GTA V isn't using the same kind (probabaly other, like dynamic fov), and is truly huge, so it will feel very huge, even though it will look small. It will take a long time to travel it, not just feel and look like it did.

 

I think it will shock us all who are concerned, we'll see that mountain all the time, but it'll take ages to get to it. Whereas with 10x draw distance mod, any place you can see chiliad is just a short drive away, GTA V's chiliad will take that long to climb, let alone approach it.

[WolfbackGames]

Well, I hope when we're driving through the city that it'll feel massive. I have faith in R* that they managed to add that level of immersion. Those pictures are taken from the air, so it may be a lot different when actually on the ground. It's still a problem for me as I would like to fly around a large world and land at multiple airports like in SA, but I guess we only really have LSX.

[Gnocchi Flip Flops]

To the east of the freeway leaving Los Santos, is that the ocean? It looks like the edge of the map is where those white parts are. If so, then wow. Rockstar has kind of disappointed me with this map. No wonder everything looks as good as it does graphics and frame rate wise.

[Showstopper 26]

One the things that made SA feel massive was a limited draw distance/fogging out the map early.

 

Even though V is much bigger, it will feel smaller at least in screenshots (not sure when we actually play), because you can see all of it all the time, but how long will it take to travel it? By plane, probably pretty fast, but it's likely a 15 minute drive from south to north. SA took a long time to travel on wheels, V will surely take 3x as long (considering different routes, not a straight line).

 

I think the screenshots make it look small, but when actually playing it you'll be going "wow, it's taking forever to get to that same point I started driving to 10 minutes ago" - so it'll have this other, unique, feeling of scale. Where SA tricked us and really we were traveling very short distances but feeling like we are covering a lot of ground due to disparity in the areas, the diversity, in V, it will be different where we can see where we want to go but it takes forever to get there.

 

 

If you use 10x draw distance mod for GTA SA, it feels TINY. Just because you can see everything, and how fast it approaches - the "hugeness" of SA is a trick on perception (that breaks with the 10x draw distance mod), while in GTA V, the default is to see it all at once - except it truly is large. So where SA was actually much smaller but perception was teased to make it feel huge, GTA V isn't using the same kind (probabaly other, like dynamic fov), and is truly huge, so it will feel very huge, even though it will look small. It will take a long time to travel it, not just feel and look like it did.

 

I think it will shock us all who are concerned, we'll see that mountain all the time, but it'll take ages to get to it. Whereas with 10x draw distance mod, any place you can see chiliad is just a short drive away, GTA V's chiliad will take that long to climb, let alone approach it.

[Deffpony]

Deffpony, how can you judge the feeling of a game you haven't played yet? What we can judge are the facts, and they are very impressive. Far more impressive than San Andreas, my fvourite game of all time.

The same way you can judge the gameplay of a game from gameplay videos. Its obviously just an impression. But I can give you the same ridiculous rebuttal the next time you say "LS feels massive." Its impressions, and my impressions arent that its massive in the least bit. Sorry. I wish it were otherwise. But Im open for that to change come September 17.

 

And if you dont understand what Im saying after seeing this image than you never will.

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

 

As far as the draw distance goes, yea I understand that. But I would rather be tricked into feeling its huge when its smaller, than feel like its small when its massive.

 

The fact that they made this feel so much bigger is impressive

 

[Dope_0110]

 

One the things that made SA feel massive was a limited draw distance/fogging out the map early.

 

Even though V is much bigger, it will feel smaller at least in screenshots (not sure when we actually play), because you can see all of it all the time, but how long will it take to travel it? By plane, probably pretty fast, but it's likely a 15 minute drive from south to north. SA took a long time to travel on wheels, V will surely take 3x as long (considering different routes, not a straight line).

 

I think the screenshots make it look small, but when actually playing it you'll be going "wow, it's taking forever to get to that same point I started driving to 10 minutes ago" - so it'll have this other, unique, feeling of scale. Where SA tricked us and really we were traveling very short distances but feeling like we are covering a lot of ground due to disparity in the areas, the diversity, in V, it will be different where we can see where we want to go but it takes forever to get there.

 

 

If you use 10x draw distance mod for GTA SA, it feels TINY. Just because you can see everything, and how fast it approaches - the "hugeness" of SA is a trick on perception (that breaks with the 10x draw distance mod), while in GTA V, the default is to see it all at once - except it truly is large. So where SA was actually much smaller but perception was teased to make it feel huge, GTA V isn't using the same kind (probabaly other, like dynamic fov), and is truly huge, so it will feel very huge, even though it will look small. It will take a long time to travel it, not just feel and look like it did.

 

I think it will shock us all who are concerned, we'll see that mountain all the time, but it'll take ages to get to it. Whereas with 10x draw distance mod, any place you can see chiliad is just a short drive away, GTA V's chiliad will take that long to climb, let alone approach it.

Exactly. Nailed it. Anyone who doesn't agree should just look at photos with the draw distance maximized trough mods and they will see how wrong they are to thing map will feel small.

 

Here's a quick video example:

Edited July 18, 2013 by Dope_0110

[GTAaLEX117]

Yep. I posted this in another thread:

 

My main concern is that although it's bigger than SA, it might feel smaller. In SA, you could get the feeling that you were out in the middle of nowhere far away from the city. At this point, GTA V is sort of looking like Los Santos with a backyard to me. You'll probably be able to see the city from any point on the map. I'm hoping there's something more.

 

The picture below is pretty disappointing...

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

More SA scenes - http://i.imgur.com/Q0H7S.jpg

I don't see your logic. SA had 3 large cities...and somehow you felt more like in "the middle of nowhere" than in V where you only have one gigantic city and more countryside?

 

Regarding that picture, it's the perfect example of a deceiving perspective. It's not the first time I've seen this. From the ground level, everything will feel massive.

[Showstopper 26]

So what can we do? Can we ask them to make it larger? Cancel our pre orders? Say they disappointed us? Seriously, what options do we have?

[Deffpony]

So what can we do? Can we ask them to make it larger? Cancel our pre orders? Say they disappointed us? Seriously, what options do we have?

Nothing dude. No one here(at least not me) is threatening to boycott. We are just discussing the game. The same thing we have been doing for the past 3 years

[WolfbackGames]

Here's a good example of the draw distance if anyone's in doubt:

 

 

 

edit: For SA with unlimited draw distance.

[brian.]

 

One the things that made SA feel massive was a limited draw distance/fogging out the map early.

 

Even though V is much bigger, it will feel smaller at least in screenshots (not sure when we actually play), because you can see all of it all the time, but how long will it take to travel it? By plane, probably pretty fast, but it's likely a 15 minute drive from south to north. SA took a long time to travel on wheels, V will surely take 3x as long (considering different routes, not a straight line).

 

I think the screenshots make it look small, but when actually playing it you'll be going "wow, it's taking forever to get to that same point I started driving to 10 minutes ago" - so it'll have this other, unique, feeling of scale. Where SA tricked us and really we were traveling very short distances but feeling like we are covering a lot of ground due to disparity in the areas, the diversity, in V, it will be different where we can see where we want to go but it takes forever to get there.

 

 

If you use 10x draw distance mod for GTA SA, it feels TINY. Just because you can see everything, and how fast it approaches - the "hugeness" of SA is a trick on perception (that breaks with the 10x draw distance mod), while in GTA V, the default is to see it all at once - except it truly is large. So where SA was actually much smaller but perception was teased to make it feel huge, GTA V isn't using the same kind (probabaly other, like dynamic fov), and is truly huge, so it will feel very huge, even though it will look small. It will take a long time to travel it, not just feel and look like it did.

 

I think it will shock us all who are concerned, we'll see that mountain all the time, but it'll take ages to get to it. Whereas with 10x draw distance mod, any place you can see chiliad is just a short drive away, GTA V's chiliad will take that long to climb, let alone approach it.

Exactly. Nailed it. Anyone who doesn't agree should just look at photos with the draw distance maximized trough mods and they will see how wrong they are to thing map will feel small.

 

Here's a quick video example:

Got one, there's a bunch, this one shows it well enough, but I'm sure that better can be found (i've seen better, maybe on the mod's planetgta page):

 

 

Edited July 18, 2013 by brian.

[GTAaLEX117]

http://s22.postimg.org/cutvxabep/j_D7_Mb_GRQy_Vl6_C.jpg

To the east of the freeway leaving Los Santos, is that the ocean? It looks like the edge of the map is where those white parts are. If so, then wow. Rockstar has kind of disappointed me with this map. No wonder everything looks as good as it does graphics and frame rate wise.

We actually don't have any idea how Los Santos fits into the blueprint, we don't even know how long or wide it is. The only thing we know is the alignment of the city to the left side.

We also don't know if this is the side of the blueprint that even shows the whole map...

[e1999KrayzieBone]

The U.S. Plains and Rockies look small when you look at it on a map. It isn't until you fly over that area or drive through it when you get a sense of just how massive that area of the country is.

 

My point being, it's easy to misinterpret the scale of things when you are looking at a map or looking at pictures. When you experience the GTA map, it will feel big. I am confident in that. I also think the city will feel big.

 

It's okay to want a bigger map, I'd love a map that was absolutely shockingly huge, but I also want the detail that Rockstar insists. Don't you get the sense that the consoles are being stretched to the max when you consider how amazing everything looks? They probably are, so really there's no right to complain.

 

I'm just asking that people play the map and get a feel of it before they write this off. Also, it's safe to assume that R* is hiding things.

 

 

 

 

 

[Deffpony]

Even with the draw distance improvements, SA "feels" bigger because of the diversity. 3 cities and all that countryside...

 

@Eternal: Im not writing the map off at all. Im just thinking aloud about my impressions. September 17th the map will speak for itself and Im sure I will be happy as a pig in sh*t

[lightningun]

@Lex: Yes, like I said, I know V is much bigger than SA. But from whatwe have seen, it doesnt feel bigger than SA. And here is why (IMO)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, all these locations are smaller, but the diversity realy gave such a sense of scale to the game.

 

In short I guess what I am saying is that, my initial fears about a single city San Andreas seem to be coming true. I think only having one city(as massive as it might be) might be the reason why, for me at least, the map doesnt seem as big as they are claiming. Multiple cities is a great way to make wilderness, lakes, deserts, and forrests feel more necessary. Now we have a city on one side of the map, and country side on the other side.

 

This isnt me bitching, just exploring possible reason as to why Im not blown away by the map. Please take this with a grain of salt.

 

PS: VC is my favorite GTA, not SA

Why so negative pony?

 

[Showstopper 26]

Where is that submarine screen from?

[TheBankManager]

Oh my god this game will be massive and on september 17th this topic will be erased from our brains, granted everyone is satisfied after the game play trailer , but you guys need something to do in the summer.

[Eutyphro]

 

Deffpony, how can you judge the feeling of a game you haven't played yet? What we can judge are the facts, and they are very impressive. Far more impressive than San Andreas, my fvourite game of all time.

The same way you can judge the gameplay of a game from gameplay videos. Its obviously just an impression. But I can give you the same ridiculous rebuttal the next time you say "LS feels massive." Its impressions, and my impressions arent that its massive in the least bit. Sorry. I wish it were otherwise. But Im open for that to change come September 17.

 

And if you dont understand what Im saying after seeing this image than you never will.

 

http://i.imgur.com/z7ZuqXg.jpg

 

 

 

As far as the draw distance goes, yea I understand that. But I would rather be tricked into feeling its huge when its smaller, than feel like its small when its massive.

 

The fact that they made this feel so much bigger is impressive

Except that saying that this game is massive is fact. GTA V has the largest city R* has ever created --> fact

GTA V is 3.5 times larger than RDR --> fact

 

That picture is exactly the kind of eye balling that you yourself have condemned so often. Things from high up look small. True. But that is a childish way of looking at the map. It is a fact that everything about this map is massive, wether it will feel massive is to be judged September 17, and not from eye balling from pictures from high up.

[Deffpony]

It is a leaked shot.

 

@Lightning: Those screens look great. But I still dont get the same sense of diversity