Suggestions to improve Freemode

[Revoemag]

 

 

Hidden blips would just encourage more abuse from the players who camp spawns and kill the same player over and over again as they spawn from previous deaths.

 

Because of that, it's a terrible idea.

that is the opposite of what would happen

this would be solved with a better spawn system..

 

My idea is after you die, you sky fall and then parachute to wherever you wish. Takes away any chance of spawn camping, if anything it would give you the "drop" on them.

[Deffpony]

I love this thread OP. I have two things to say

 

1. As I have said a hundred times, it is very important that you guys email rockstar with these ideas, otherwise they will go unnoticed. The more people who email about the same topic, the better chance of them taking notice and fixing issues/adding our ideas.
2. Try using lines to help break up the OP

   [hr]

[jdkzombie]

Since a forum leader locked my thread for whatever reason,

 

My idea was to have a text to your iFruit phone, in the event someone blows uo your PERSONAL VEHICLE, that allows you to either PRESS CHARGES meaning they get a bad sport rep warning and pay your insurance deductible, or you can select DON'T PRESS CHARGES, so they still pay your deductible, but no bad sport mark on their profile.

 

 

The purpose of this, is so if someone is greifing you, press charges, or if your are getring grieved and dont care, dont press charges, BUT, like me, if you are goofing off with friends, you can chase each other across the map and shoot and explode things at will without repercussion as long as nobody presses charges.

[jdkzombie]

Also, this should be pinned or stickied. So it doesnt get lost in the myriad of useless posts the floar around here.

 

The thread I mean. Lol

Edited October 28, 2013 by jdkzombie

[Ren Fujin]

Thanks for these cool suggestions, guys !

Let's keep the thread alive by adding more of them

 

 

 

I love this thread OP. I have two things to say

 

1. As I have said a hundred times, it is very important that you guys email rockstar with these ideas, otherwise they will go unnoticed. The more people who email about the same topic, the better chance of them taking notice and fixing issues/adding our ideas.
2. Try using lines to help break up the OP

   ---

 

 

True. I'll edit the OP and add lines to make it easier on the reader.

Also, I did email the topic to [email protected] a while ago. Here's hoping they'll have a look at it !

 

Also, this should be pinned or stickied. So it doesnt get lost in the myriad of useless posts the floar around here.

The thread I mean. Lol

 

I agree, it would be awesome to get this topic stickied.

Would definitely increase the chances Rockstar would notice it.

[Guest]

I edited my Drug Dealing idea a bit. Could you please edit the changes I your OP? Thanks

[DAndre982]

I read the whole thing and loved it all. This is a lot more in depth than my thread, and you keep things balanced very well. I definitely agree that freemode needs to be spiced up. I'll try to suggest something, but you can take anything from my thread and ask me to expand on it if you'd like.

[WinterEdit]

Add bars you can sit in, chat, play pool/darts etc. Oh and get drunk. One must never forget to get drunk in a bar.

Edited November 9, 2013 by WinterEdit

[Digitalbulletz]

Take the god damn blips off I've being saying that since day one!

[robban]

UPDATED 27/9

 

 

Gangs, territories and drugs (Another option to make money, when you reach a certain rank. The risks are high, but the payment makes it all worth it):

This will not be very accurate to real life. But my thought is that the players are gang neutral, we are just criminals wanting to make money in any possible way working with any gang.

 

Gangs were not very present in Story Mode for whatever reason, but it shouldn't be the case in Online Mode. This is Los Santos after all, gang activity should play a bigger role.

 

Following gangs: The Lost, Vagos, Ballas, Marabunta Grande should deal with different types av drugs, this is crucial since you will make different kind of money depending on what drugs you deal and get different kind of fines if you get caught. You will only get the option to sell more expensive type of drugs once you have established a connection with a certain gang and reached a certain rank. Will get back to this later.

 

Drug packages should have the same colors as the different gangs, let's say: Black, Yellow, Purple, Blue for the gangs named above. But will all have the shape of the packages you retrieve to Trevor and Gerald.

 

If you dress, let's say with 2 clothing types of some gang color (blue cap + blue shoes for example) you get shot at if you are near another gang area other than Marabunta Grande in this case. (for The Lost leather clothing will get you in trouble)

 

Drug deliveries:

At a certain rank you will be able to spot a drug delivery on the map. After you have attacked the car/van and get hold of the package you head home and package stays there. You will then start getting threats by phone/SMS from whoever you stole the package from. Then their gunmen start appearing at random locations and on different hours of the day outside of the apartment, shooting you whenever they see you.

 

If you survive and take them all out, like 3 different times you will get the possibility to start selling the drugs you stole. But if you get killed the cops will be informed, the drugs will be ceased and you will get a fine to pay or a debt if you don't got the money at the moment.

 

Dealing drugs:

The next time you enter your apartment, if you survived the attacks, the package will be split in 6. You can now choose how many packages you carry with you, the rest stays at home (with the risk of getting busted by cops (later on) or robbed in your apartment by visitors(whom you invited).

 

At this stage you start getting calls from different crackheads around the map. You choose to either:

- let them enter your apartment/garage, with the risk of getting caught if police sees NPCs running in and out of your house and get suspicious. If this happens a police force kicks in your door and all drugs gets taken away and you get to pay a fine that is based on what type of drug/drugs they found and how many packages you get caught with, same thing if you get killed outside with drugs on you.

- make your way to the buyer and get paid. You will risk your life selling the drugs of one gang in another gang territory, but also make more money.

 

Drop drugs:

You will have the option to drop packages at home, in the car and by foot on the streets. If you get arrested(killed) by cops with drugs dropped near you within a certain radius you have to pay the fine.

 

Package/packages gets dropped when you get killed (only of missions and of races) and is/are available for other players for a short while, only if they have the rank and they will start getting your calls.

 

Progression:

Once you finished selling all the packages(package) you stole you proven yourself to the gang and you will get packages regularly to pick up, so you will always have the option to make money that way. Bringing the drugs home will now make YOU the drug delivery on the map that other players see, if they have the rank, with the risk of being attacked.

 

And you will also unlock another drug delivery by another gang on the map.

If you fail to sell packages that you have received from a gang the connection with them will get lost and they put a bounty (based on drug and number of packages) on you for other players to collect.

 

Store drugs:

Packages that you leave at home could be stored in a vault where they stay safe, but visitors can hack into it an rob you. (cops have no problem opening them though)

Different vaults can be purchased and have different types of protections, more expensive ones have stronger protection.

 

(This idea needs to be adjust to better fit reality, getting caught with drugs may always get you in jail. But I leave it to others to come up with ideas what to do while in prison etc. But maybe you can have the option to bribe the cops to not end up there:P But maybe you could get rewarded/respect if you survived one GTA-day in prison, with your fists as your only weapon, or end up in the hospital if you get killed)

 

 

Property:

It would be useful if we had the option to buy a small storage space, where drugs etc. could be stored.

Edited September 27, 2014 by robban

[Coyteria]

K love these

[Ren Fujin]

Nice suggestions, guys. I added them to the OP, thank you so much for contributing

Keep 'em coming !

 

I read the whole thing and loved it all. This is a lot more in depth than my thread, and you keep things balanced very well. I definitely agree that freemode needs to be spiced up. I'll try to suggest something, but you can take anything from my thread and ask me to expand on it if you'd like.

 

Thanks DAndre982 !

If it's ok, I'd rather you post here what you want added to the OP exactly ... I think you would be the better judge regarding your own ideas

 

Anyhow, I'd like to inform you guys I sent the OP to Rockstar, at [email protected] some time ago. Hopefully they will have a look at these awesome suggestions we put together.

 

I'm also still hoping for a sticky eventually, so we can keep this thread as alive and visible as possible ...

[Pinnkiepie]

From the other thread:

 

Beside Gang-Attacks, there should be random Gang-Hideouts/Bases (Lost etc) in Free Roam, consisting of several floors (with a Boss/Leader at the Top/At the Deepest Bottom/Basement)!

 

 

After the Boss dies (and a minimum of his Hitmen is dead) the Boss could drop a Special Crate, with an item for everyone participating!

With a chance for a Unique Item. (From a pool of Hairstyle, Clothing, Tat, Mod, not unlocked by Rank or anything else)

 

There could also be Crates placed out randomly on the different floors.

 

Also, an addition to this, in Free-Roam.

 

After lvl 40 or so, Three different Gang-Factions HQ (with different color) will appear on the Minimap (Special Icon/Symbol) after talking to Lester.

1. One Gang-HQ could be a Haitian Gang called "X"

2. Another Gang-HQ could be an Asian Gang called "Y"

3. And the Third-HQ could be an Italian Group called "Z" (No imagination on names, i know )

You can visit each HQ (Get a special Cutscene once per HQ), but you can only Swear Allegiance to one of them at a time.

When you have sworn Allegiance to one Faction, you will be assigned to a special Contact from that Faction, let's say the Italian Factions Contact could be called "Luigi" and you will be getting Missions and Tasks from that Contact to sabotage and destroy things for the other Factions.

Each Faction will also have a Store that offer Faction-specific Gear (Clothes/Outfits/Tattoos, Weapons, Mods and even Vehicles!)

The Asian Tattooist could offer an assortment of Dragon/Tiger/Sun/YinYang-tattoos, The Clothing Vendor could offer Geisha-outfit for Females etc, the Asian Vehicle Vendor could offer different Motorcycles, a Subaru-lookalike Vehicle and whatnot, while the Italian Clothes-Vendor could offer very snazzy sharp suits, dresses for females and replicas of Italian cars).

Everything offered would cost money, and be unlocked at certain Affiliation/Reputation-Levels.

Haitian Contact could offer Improved Damage-Mods for Weapons and a special Shotgun-weapon, The Italian Contact could offer Better Scopes as well as a Chicago Typewriter looking Assault Rifle, The Asian one could offer Faster Rate of Fire-Mods and Better Suppressors and a Sten looking Submachine Gun etc)

As you have chosen an Allegiance, the other Factions will attack you on sight.

Whenever you sabotage or kill someone from the enemy factions, you gain Rep with your sworn allegiance.

As you gain Rep, the Missions become more and more important, rewarding and difficult, ever until you have Max Rep with your chosen Faction. Destroy Enemy Faction-Fortifications/Hideouts, Kill a certain Important Person from that Faction etc.

Even Tasks to Kill other Players (that are on Enemy Faction!)

When you get to max Rep with your chosen Faction, you will get a very special Mission to destroy the HQ of your Factions Enemy and kill their Boss.

DrugLords Mansion

Once you manage to do so, that enemy Faction will disappear from your Map, and you will own That HQ as a Property, generating Income periodically and giving you a certain Perk.

Each Faction offer different Perks.

If you feel you have chosen the wrong Faction AFTER doing a few Missions (you felt their contacts and missions didn't fit your flavor), you can change your Faction, by killing/sabotaging your own Factions Troops and Properties, until your Rep with that Faction becomes 0 again.

Then you could visit another HQ (they wont attack on Sight at Rep 0) and switch Allegiance so to speak.

You get a new Cutscene and join another Faction, get different Contacts, different Tasks/Missions and so forth.

Switching is impossible to do if you have done the Final Mission for a Faction, ie destroyed an Enemy HQ.

There's no turning back from that

Edited November 10, 2013 by Pinnkiepie

[MrGrandis]

Good work!

[Ren Fujin]

Very cool concept Pinnkiepie ! Adding it to the OP right now.

 

Since we're talking activities in Freemode, I was thinking it would be cool to be able to have activities that would allow players to make money legally. A kind of alternative to illegal activities, such as holding up stores, stealing cars etc ... it would be nice to give players the possibility to be a good person if they wish to.

 

Police Vigilente Missions was already suggested, as well as being able to do the Taxi.

 

How about Pizza Delivering ? Basically, you'd get delivery jobs by going to certain shops (pizza shops). From there, you'd have to use the shop's delivery vehicle (probably a modified Faggio with a pizza box at the rear) and proceed to deliver pizzas to different randomly generated locations on the map.
The amount of money you'd get paid would depend on how fast you delivered, and also on the condition of your vehicle. Of course you'd get nothing if you trashed the vehicle (since it contains the pizzas!).

Difficulty could be increased by adding more and more delivery locations within a single course, and/or by adding a timer ...

 

... hell, if Rockstar isn't bent on modeling new stores to fit the pizza model, how about just using the existing Cluckin' Bell stores and make it Burger Delivering instead ?

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2013 by Ren Fujin

[robban]

Within Character Creation there is a slider for Legal Work... so there should be legal ways to make money too.

[Vooodu]

Blips are so necessary. PvP would die without blips, each individual player would be lost in the map doing their own thing.. Not exactly multiplayer.

 

+1 for keeping the blips in their present form.

 

 

Except the blips = Easy mode. Even in Death matches the blips won't show unless players run or shoot.

 

Im more for what the OP posted. Show the blips from 'far' but make it fade when you are in the current 1 block radius. Players should not be getting 100% gps blip updates to players exact location.

 

When players get into that block radius then it should act as death match blip mechanics.

[Revoemag]

In game text window..

 

This has existed in many Mmorpg and has added lots of fun.

Yes we can send single text messages to a player but the idea behind the text window is that everyone in the session could see it.

This would open up better chances of finding like minded players seeing as you could /shout to everyone in session and ask who want to join you for let's say golf or police rp or any other non mission events.

 

I've met some cool players this way...it also allows for taunting other players too...'come get me bounty hunters'

 

The basic system from other games is simple..

Have multiple channels..

 

/crew..only chat with crew

 

/session...everyone in session

 

/all (this might be harded to do but it does exist in other games)... A channel to communicate with others in other sessions..being able to offer non mission events and having others (not just the 15 others in session) join in.

 

Its the random conversations that happen is the best part..random players having random conversations.. Then eventually crossing paths with said player and becoming friends.

 

Options to set it to receive only the messages you want to receive.

 

This idea is a great way to meet players and I personally find is lacking is the ability to communicate without a mic.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Revoemag

[Slaya101]

As from my previous or recent thread.

 

R* are coming with the content creater right? So I was thinking if it actually had a map editor in it or in the near future, not like the one on far cry, but just to atleast add structures that could support races and or missions, like trees, stunt jumps etc.

 

There would be endless possibilities to this idea!

 

Also you should be able to upload your map to your own private free roam session.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Slaya101

[Ren Fujin]

Except the blips = Easy mode. Even in Death matches the blips won't show unless players run or shoot.

 

 

Im more for what the OP posted. Show the blips from 'far' but make it fade when you are in the current 1 block radius. Players should not be getting 100% gps blip updates to players exact location.

 

When players get into that block radius then it should act as death match blip mechanics.

 

 

Thanks for your support Vooodu

Indeed, I really believe the current blip system is the biggest design flaw of the game regarding Freemode. It is the reason why there's so much random, intempestive player killing going. Although I'm not saying there should be no player killing at all in Freemode. But if it was a bit more challenging, I'm sure it would happen less often, and when it does, it's much more satisfying.

 

@Revoemag

 

That's a pretty cool idea you got there. Global text chat would be a really handy feature to have. I'll add it to the OP

[SOHC_VTEC]

Chest bumps!

[Ren Fujin]

I've been thinking some more about a better blip system.
So far, we've been suggesting some pretty interesting alternatives, such as the Player Blips : Far model I layed out in the OP, and the very nice Locally and Sound Based Blip System suggested by DaCosta.

 

... about the Player Blips : Far one, thinking about it more in depth, although it's good I realized it could probably get abused and exploited by some people : Since such a blip system only displays other players' blips when they are far away from you, what could stop you from having a friend stay far away from your target (so it shows on their radar) and give you heads up on the exact location of the player you're closing in on ?

That's one of the flaws of such a blip system to me ...

 

That's why I thought about an alternative blip system that would counter this kind of exploit :

 

Player Blips : Area

 

The idea would be to have the radar only display the area other players are in, instead of blips.

 

This is how the game works currently :

 

 

In this situation, your blip is shown as a little white arrow, while other players are shown as white dots. Here you can see there are two of them around Simeon's Import/Export car.

 

In the Player Blips : Area blip system I'm suggesting, this is how the same situation would be displayed :

 

 

Other players would show as white circles, showing the area they are in, instead of their exact location. You only know their approximate location, which serves as good heads up, but isn't as exploitable as the current blip system, or the Player : Far blip system I was suggesting in the OP.

 

Of course, for it to work effectively, the white circle area should be generated randomly around the player, so they aren't always at its center (that would defeat the purpose, don't you think ?)

 

See this pic, it's the same situation with both player blips AND player area circles :

 

 

As you can see, what's happening behind the scenes is the circles are placed randomly around the player, not necessarily having them in the center.

Within such a system, there would be no way to accurately pinpoint a player position based on the white circle, thus avoiding exploits such as the one mentionned previously.

 

Of course, icing on the cake would be to have friendlies (friends and crew members) still show up as dots, but colored ones (just like in GTAIV), for easier reading.

 

 

... looking at this, you know you got two friends south east of the car's position, while you're also aware there are two unidentified players around the car. So if you're going for it, you'll know you might have to fight for it

 

Combined with the No Player Names mechanic I suggested in the OP (except for friendlies of course), I'm positive this would make Freemode a much more balanced and immersive experience.

You would be free to freeroam at ease, without feeling your position is always being monitored accurately for other players, but they still get an idea of your basic wherabouts. If they really want to come and kill you, well they can still do it, but they'll have to work a little more for their kill : First they'll have to get to your area, and try to ID you visually, since they wouldn't be able to rely on a precise white dot like it is currently the case in GTAO.

As a counter, you could effectively hide behind a wall, or in a crowd of NPCs - since there will be no name displayed above your character's head, you could easily pass as one of them (Try smoking or drinking a eCola in the middle of a group of NPCs for instance ...) !

 

Player killing will still be possible - but it might be a little more challenging and interesting.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Ren Fujin

[Vooodu]

Thats exactly what i was thinking ^. Also make the bounty ones red instead of white.

 

It would be waaaay better and much more enjoyable when engaging in combat with players.

 

But, sad thing is players always want easy. They just want to head for the dot and kill asap. If it was up to me, the game would function like that.

[Ren Fujin]

Glad someone agrees with me !

I know what you mean about players wanting easy ... why not make the blip system optional, then ? Just like Aim Settings ... You could specify whether you'd rather join Normal Blip game sessions, or Area Blip ones.

Cause I agree such systems shouldn't be forced on players. They should always have a choice.

 

... but at least give us a choice

[SOHC_VTEC]

No physical damage on the body armor!!!

 

Gta4 was like this and it was good, just ballistic dmg on armor, when I fall off building my bones break, not the Kevlar on my armor....damn it R*!

[robban]

UPDATED 27/9

 

I have been reading this forum and interesting things have been written.

 

Someone mentioned that it's weird that we buy cars online, I do agree. Maybe Russian brides should be available online, but not cars. The game title is Grand Theft Auto after all.

 

I'm hoping the option to buy cars is removed once Rockstar makes other stuff available to put our money on. It doesn't make any sense paying for something that can be found out on the streets, paying for a paint job etc. is totally different since you pay for a service.

But if the option to buy cars online stays, then let us buy RARE cars that aren't present in traffic.

 

Stealing cars:

The dock is full of containers which could contain expensive/rare cars, who are not present in traffic.

 

Let's say players get the message that shipments have been made to 2 different places at least, so all players won't gather at one place. This happens at a certain rank, and more expensive cars appear at higher ranks. Containers may be moved with the crane that was used in Story Mode at the harbor.

 

Players can either fight over the same car, or others who enter the area get the option to participate in the stealing of the car as a "spectator" . The object for those players is to help one player to steal the car and escort him to his garage. Security and resistance (guards, enemies following the car) is higher for more expensive/rare cars, the helping players get paid depending on how much they fought.

 

You can only steal one vehicle at every 10 rank, like rank 50, rank 60 etc. To give other players the chance to steal one. You will be able to sell these cars.

 

Delivering cars:

Remove the option to sell cars on LS Customs, it's enough with the money we get from Simeon delivering cars. Let Simeon pay us more for delivered cars of a certain color. Let's say we deliver a red car (all the shades of red will do) and that's what he is currently looking for (the color he is looking for will be totally random) therefore we get paid more: certain car AND certain color = MORE money than just certain car.

 

Selling cars:

This has been suggested by another member of the forum: let us sell our vehicles to other players. We just invite them to our home and garage and then make an agreement of a price etc.

 

Garages:

The mechanic shouldn't be included in the garage. You pay him different for the services he does:

- The number of vehicles he is repairing.

- If he washes and cleans the car.

- What hours he is working.

- If he drives the car to you, maybe even to what areas.

 

Vehicles being impounded:

When a player get the message that his vehicle has been impounded, other players get the option to pick that vehicle up with the tow truck and take it to the scrapyard where he destroys it and gets paid.

 

Location: where the Arsenal Street and Alta St meet, north-west of the Maze Bank Arena.

 

Robbing garages (not players):

I guess you all have noticed that there are garages which are opened a little bit at different places around the map, down the Vinewood Hills in the rich area for example.

 

At a certain rank you will be able to crack open garage doors with the crow bar. Rare classic cars (not in traffic) in really bad shape, not drivable, will randomly appear in different garages around the map. So you will have to search for them, most of the garages will be empty though. But you need to sneak or kill the house owner or NPC's around the area or police will be alerted.

 

Once you have opened the garage door you give your mechanic a call and he comes and picks it up. He drops it of at LS Customs where you will be able to restore it, for a higher price, since it's very rusty etc. Then you are able to respray it and so on.

Edited September 27, 2014 by robban

[Pinnkiepie]

Hope you all are emailing the suggestions to them

 

[email protected]

[robban]

UPDATED 12/10 -14

 

 

Let's hope Rockstar deal with the problem that some players take advantage of glitches to make millions, even billions:S They should make a calculation of how much money you're able to make per day and if you exceed that amount the money doesn't count or something like that, same goes for Rank Points.

 

But let's face it, there will always be glitches. I think I've come with a solution to the problem, but bear with me. I have no clue how this works IRL or even if it works this way since I don't have any knowledge of these kind of things. So I suggest someone with knowledge can adjust this idea to be more realistic.

 

Dealing with multi millionaires/multi billionaires:

The Maze Bank of Los Santos can no longer guarantee the safety of your money when you reach a certain level, let's say 5 millions and above or something.

 

The objective changes at this stage and you now have to protect your assets. You can no longer sit in your apartment bragging of how much money you got and harassing other players etc. You now become a target!

 

You become part-owner to ONE Fleeca Bank (I guees you all have seen those banks scattered around the map, not enter-able online though. Just in Story Mode) whether you want it or not and all your money gets transferred to that bank.

 

I've been doing a little bit of a research, this idea came to mind when I've spotted all those Fleeca Banks everywhere. But the idea doesn't really add up to "reality". Here's the comparison of them two, the Maze Bank is the bigger company:

and

 

It would have made more sense if it was the other way around: having our money at the Fleeca bank and moved to the Maze Bank...

 

 

Staying on top, or not:

 

The objective of the game changes as you become a multi millionaire (owner of more than 10 millions, so players who buy a Megalodon cash card don't become an instant target). At this stage it becomes your responsibility to protect your assets, the bank refuses to take the hit alone.

 

Players of a certain rank will have the chance to rob a certain percentage of the money that the multi millionaire holds.

 

The targets:

Multi millionaires who get online become targets. If there are none the money is taken from the game, smaller amount than when you rob players. It will be possible to rob a bank once every 2 GTA weeks, but it will be possible to rob the bank more often whenever rich players steps into the game session.

 

The fun will consist of the variation that comes by the decisions the multi millionaires make to secure their assets. While the bank robbery will be practically the same when robbing the money from the game, robbing money from players will be different "every" time.

 

Protection:

The multi millionaire pays for extra security that concists of:
- different type of vaults in different price ranges. More expensive ones will have stronger protection: will take longer time to crack.
- back up, number of extra guards. They consist of either cops, swat or militaries, cops are cheaper and have less co-ordination, shooting accuracy, less powerful weapons and arrive slower. Swat are one step better in everything and militaries are two steps better.

 

The number of the back up crew will be limited by the vehicle type and size of it that you own. Yeah, police/swat/military vehicles etc. are back and they are customizable. You'll need to own their particular vehicle to use cops/swat/militaries as back up.

 

Achivements:

Every time you withstand a robbery attempt you'll unlock one customization option for your police, swat or military vehicle.

 

Having your back up crew (cops/swats/militaries) driving around in customized vehicles will show off to other players that you're a big player. It will also bring more variation to the game as robberies will look different "every" time.

Edited October 12, 2014 by robban

[DaCosta]

I've been thinking some more about a better blip system.

So far, we've been suggesting some pretty interesting alternatives, such as the Player Blips : Far model I layed out in the OP, and the very nice Locally and Sound Based Blip System suggested by DaCosta.

 

... about the Player Blips : Far one, thinking about it more in depth, although it's good I realized it could probably get abused and exploited by some people : Since such a blip system only displays other players' blips when they are far away from you, what could stop you from having a friend stay far away from your target (so it shows on their radar) and give you heads up on the exact location of the player you're closing in on ?

That's one of the flaws of such a blip system to me ...

 

That's why I thought about an alternative blip system that would counter this kind of exploit :

 

Player Blips : Area

 

The idea would be to have the radar only display the area other players are in, instead of blips.

 

This is how the game works currently :

 

 

In this situation, your blip is shown as a little white arrow, while other players are shown as white dots. Here you can see there are two of them around Simeon's Import/Export car.

 

In the Player Blips : Area blip system I'm suggesting, this is how the same situation would be displayed :

 

 

Other players would show as white circles, showing the area they are in, instead of their exact location. You only know their approximate location, which serves as good heads up, but isn't as exploitable as the current blip system, or the Player : Far blip system I was suggesting in the OP.

 

Of course, for it to work effectively, the white circle area should be generated randomly around the player, so they aren't always at its center (that would defeat the purpose, don't you think ?)

 

See this pic, it's the same situation with both player blips AND player area circles :

 

 

As you can see, what's happening behind the scenes is the circles are placed randomly around the player, not necessarily having them in the center.

Within such a system, there would be no way to accurately pinpoint a player position based on the white circle, thus avoiding exploits such as the one mentionned previously.

 

Of course, icing on the cake would be to have friendlies (friends and crew members) still show up as dots, but colored ones (just like in GTAIV), for easier reading.

 

 

... looking at this, you know you got two friends south east of the car's position, while you're also aware there are two unidentified players around the car. So if you're going for it, you'll know you might have to fight for it

 

Combined with the No Player Names mechanic I suggested in the OP (except for friendlies of course), I'm positive this would make Freemode a much more balanced and immersive experience.

You would be free to freeroam at ease, without feeling your position is always being monitored accurately for other players, but they still get an idea of your basic wherabouts. If they really want to come and kill you, well they can still do it, but they'll have to work a little more for their kill : First they'll have to get to your area, and try to ID you visually, since they wouldn't be able to rely on a precise white dot like it is currently the case in GTAO.

As a counter, you could effectively hide behind a wall, or in a crowd of NPCs - since there will be no name displayed above your character's head, you could easily pass as one of them (Try smoking or drinking a eCola in the middle of a group of NPCs for instance ...) !

 

Player killing will still be possible - but it might be a little more challenging and interesting.

Hi Ren,

 

Great suggestion.

 

It would even be possible to combine far and near "area" player blips.

 

This way, you cannot ever see far blips - they are too far away.

 

But if you get within a certain range (say, a quarter of a mile) then any area blips will appear (as in, the system you detailed, very well, above.)

 

So, in Los Santos city centre you might see several local area blips but on Mount Chiliad - for example - you might not see any. (And they can't see you.)

 

A consequence of this would be that those wishing to "hunt" bounties might have to even take a look around, rather than just quickly check the map to find where they are. Bounties on the run could actually hold up in a quiet location or keep on the move, in order to avoid people.

 

 

---

Also, another option with the area player blips would be to have them only update every ten seconds, or longer (rather than real-time.) This would make it harder for players to grief others by working in packs (and it would also make it potentially possible to escape someone within your locality, assuming far-blips are not shown.)

 

All in all, I endorse area blips, far blips and local noise blips! They are all much better systems.

[PkUnzipper]

OP I <333 you just for the sheer length of that post Very thoughtful and well laid out.

 

Loved 100% of what you said.

 

And you really need to submit that post directly to R* ASAP because it would definitely help them get their heads out of their @$$

Edited November 11, 2013 by PkUnzipper