All we're missing is a story.

[Phyxsius-]

 

I disagree. I play multiplayer for the gameplay, not the story.

 

Oh, please, I think I can speak for everyone and anyone in this forum when I say, if the game play sucks no amount of story will ever fix it. So please don't get me wrong when it comes to that.

 

You have to start with good game play. So, I hope that everyone here agrees that the game play is at least acceptable in GTA:O, or at least I think it is.

 

That's the beauty of the idea. Adding in the story wouldn't take away from anyone who is just here for the game play. If all you want is TDM and Racing this wouldn't effect you at all, other than adding a couple of seconds of video maybe.

 

If I would want videos, I`ll stick with the SP story mode.

 

SWTOR tried this sh*t - it turned into "Skip ASAP", when you were doing the same content the 50th time. On paper, it`s a great idea the first time, or the second, or the third. When you pass 10 it is just a colossal waste of time - and you get to 10 awfully fast.

 

We already have story anyway, when you end missions.

Edited March 14, 2014 by Phyxsius-

[zkroll]

I like the topic.

 

Nice screen caps.

[Xyn]

OP, play GTA III again.

Maria was not Claude's nemesis, she was his ally.
The name you want is Catalina.

That said...you wanted all that + V...for 60 bucks?

Sure.

[vipprimo]

OP, play GTA III again.

 

Maria was not Claude's nemesis, she was his ally.

The name you want is Catalina.

 

That said...you wanted all that + V...for 60 bucks?

 

Sure.

 

Yup, I had just looked at who was acting for Maria and couldn't separate.

[N77]

Agree. I would like to see a story in GTA online, I'm level 68 now and I guess i have already played most of the missions in online mode, I want new stuff, missions like the ones in story mode,missions who remind me of previous gta games, or even from other rockstar games, I enjoyed a lot those LA Noire missions to tail someone, that would be nice to see,I guess there's a mission like this on gta III.Or even murders like leoonora johnson's.

Maybe the heists are going to be these missions, or maybe not. I just think rockstar could add a few more jobs to GTA online, maybe related with different charachters like michael,franklin, those FIB guys or even charachers from previous gta games.

 

Sorry for my poor english

[Sir Michael]

It would have been interesting to see stories that are dependent on routes you take... kind of like New Vegas's Factions.

If you want to get into the drug-dealing business, then Gerald and Trevor could be your bosses and mentors.

 

For anti-government, high-complexity level sh*t, then Lester would be the man.

 

Running businesses and screwing with the legal system, then Simeon and Martin would be perfect.

 

When I started playing GTAO, I thought there was going to be a story behind it, but then the cutscenes stopped happening.

[CarimboHanky]

We were told that the "events" in Online took place a brief while before the SP story. What does that matter if there's no story?

Come on people, most games of this nature have, at least, a very basic storyline.

The way it is now; Lamar is my buddy and I moved to LS to be a criminal. The End.

this is exacy how i see things...

 

gtao need some sort of story or something so we feel we are getting closer to the event in V.

 

the game as of now have zero sense of progression.

[StewNorth]

Not a bad suggestion, all online games can benefit from a storyline, even if very loose, in order to tie up the experience together.

 

I know what you mean OP, in GTAO it's as if you reached endgame but your main quest is still to kill 10 rats...obviously its only a mp (albeit a very good one) but i feel as well they could have done more to engage and make us connect with the world we play in.

 

Sadly i doubt we'll ever see anything like that just because of how much reworking would need to be done to the vanilla game.

 

But yeah, hopefully we see future dlcs pushing the "story" a bit further, because so far meeting trevor is where it ends.

Edited March 15, 2014 by StewNorth

[EJTexasMade]

OP is right - for once I can say that.

 

For those of you claiming that story doesn't matter, why are you here? You could run over people and shoot them up in GTA 3. Why did you waste your money ever upgrading if not for a new story?

 

Wait, it was for the stock market wasn't it? Lick my BAWSAQ with that bullsh*t.

Edited March 15, 2014 by EJTexasMade

[rodrich266]

I agree with the fact that the only cutscenes we see mislead us to believe the Online will actually have a story, but then again, since it's multiplayer I don't really look for a story.

 

It would make GTA Online an even better experience if we had story, definitely yes. It is not necessary though.

 

And the MOST important point that we all need to remember is that GTA Online is still basically in it's beta stage, when will we be out of this "beta stage" I don't know, but I know for sure that it will be when all the content has been pushed in (GTA V content, that is.) Remember that GTAO will be a persistent game among all the GTA's from now on, and it will keep expanding as new GTA's come out. I believe that when the next GTA comes out, GTAO will be out of this "beta stage" and it WILL have a story that will expand in the same way as new GTA's are released. I also believe we will be charged for GTAO in the future, when we are out of this "beta stage", just like it will happen with Elder Scrolls Online.

[Dont Shoot]

So if there is a story like that do you have to sit through the cut scene again every time you replay a mission? If your playing the mission with someone else who hasnt played the mission do you sit through there cutscene. If your also following a strict story and get invited to a mission that is well before your story then this story would have to involve time travel. I am actually a big fan of the story modes in the gta games i just dont think it works in the online game. Youre building reputation and wealth and that is the progression in the game. The time it takes to get from lvl 1 to 120 without cheating or grinding like a mad man is longer than any console games story ive ever played so im not sure why you think there is no progression or sense of advancement in the game. Alot of people take that progression out of the game bc they are impatient and think they should be able to afford everything after a couple hours playing the game but its still there for non children

[luisniko]

Uh..... actually when the story ends, the game will pretty much end too. Although you can wander around getting collectibles, but you know problem has been solved and now you're just a bum in the city.

 

GTA Online has story, Lamar picked you up from airport, got you a contact and the objective is to be rich in Los Santos, eventually your name is spreading among LS big players and now you're helping them. There's no end to the story a.k.a the story is hanged in the middle. Your journey makes your own story and that's what makes the game life unlimited.

[NathanR808]

I agree but disagree. In gta online there should not be a set story because players should make the "story" based on there in game actions. Yes there should be more cut sense and interaction with story mode characters but when your done you SHOULD NOT want to delete your player.. There should be up to 40 players in each online game and a bigger map. The island map that we play on now should only be the start,you should be able to fly or use a boat to go to the other map with many cities and deserts,forest,mountains. That was kinda off topic but any way... What ROCK STAR NEEDS TO ADD IS; Wildlife,WAY MORE random events,gang activity and interaction with players,npc activity and inter action with player, things to rob, boats,plans,cars/trucks,stores,people,houses. (All of these things are equally important) Also needs... Well im not going to write any more but idk if any official rockstar people read this but if there is any way i can contact you guys i would like to share some ideas that would make gtao the best free roam game out there.

[ninjaontour]

 

-snip-

Maria was Claude's Nemesis who kept turning up in efforts to foil Claude and his inevitable revenge. What if Maria was another player in the game!

 

-Snip-

 

GTAIII's antagonist was called Catalina, not Maria.

[Booya818]

Totally agree!!

 

I was saying this to my crew the other week. It feels like our characters have no purpose. It's just a blank character that does the same thing over and over.

[bloatedsack]

I think the framework of the story is there because they intended to make online the same basic layout as SP; and in a way you can see it.

 

There's definately a few cutscenes in the beginning that start to bring on new features, and they do introduce the contacts in turn... But its not quite teh same. They needed a few "transistional" missions, not unlike the first Lamar race, where you meet the next contact in line.

 

Furthermore, the missions are vaguely laid out in an order, but no one capitalized on said order.

 

It would be interesting to have random PC avatards show up in playing, as well as some of the other overall ideas you suggested. My only feeling is that GTAO is still one massive beta (and they should've announced it as such), and as time goes on they plan to roll more into the game.

[Staten]

The story is there: you play someone who arrives in Los Santos and joins the criminal underworld; you steal vehicles, drugs, documents etc. for various bosses, while getting into fights, races and so on with fellow criminals. To try and add any more of a stricter narrative would reduce the freedom and miss the point of multiplayer entirely - the creation of stories though players playing together.

 

If you want more of a narrative, you should go back to single player.

[helresa]

The point is in online you make the story....just add imagination...

[Khelandros]

Hey OP, I think this is kinda what you are looking for. Multiplayer with a story and replay value.

 

http://us.battle.net/wow/en/

[8up local]

 

I know I've said this before but I think it deserves a rehash. I don't know if we could fix it for this Online game, but for future games there may be opportunity if we make some noise.

 

I know right now that I could pick any GTA from GTA 3 and onward, put it into its related game system and have fun. There was no online for those games. What keeps the replay ability up? The answer is easy. Story.

 

 

If anything, and I mean anything, needed to have replay-ability it needed to be GTA Online. It should've been able to virtually stand alone as a game within a game. It could've actually revolutionized the way we play. Even with its flaws it may still do that, but it could've been so much stronger.

 

When I turned on the online and there was Lamar accepting me off the plane I really felt like this is what we've been waiting for! There were a couple of phone calls, but I was still waiting for that gameplay moment that, after level 120, realized I would never get what started off strong.

 

What I don't understand is how R* missed that. Online has a ton of content, races, missions, versus, you name it! Yet every one of them is dry, albeit the framework is there to have the "story" that we needed to have.

 

 

Progression Missions

No, not every mission has to be important, just key ones that progress the story. Each progression mission should have a cut scene before and after and a requirement to unlock it. Just like when you first go with Lamar to meet Gerald or stopping by Lester's house you feel like you're progressing. Gerald sends you out to a TDM for instance so you're no longer just facing random thugs in missions, but capable players as well. This could work for TDM, races, and versus missions. You would still have the NPC missions to grind to such as Judging the Jury or Rooftop Rumble where facing other players isn't as feasible.

 

Money could be associated with missions as well. For instance, working with the mafia would require you purchase a suit or one would require a helicopter to get to the roof. Now that Frogger is relevant to purchase. You may need to buy an outfit that matches another Crew to set them up!

 

Parallel Lives

One of the key parts is what I call parallel lives or parallel stories. For instance, when you first face a mission you're the low level character trying to overcome someone higher than you. Later on you'll be doing this mission again, but you'll be the higher level guy trying to hold back the lower level character from advancing!

Imagine Sonny Forelli was another player who is trying to keep you from taking over his turf.

 

Nemesis

This was also the opportunity to make the bad guys... wait for it... the other players!!! You have a Nemesis in your game stats. Well, why isn't he the henchman in the cut scenes! You even have a Victim so you know who is seeing you as a henchman! Your character would just show up in cut scenes and would make a random player a relationship to you. Everyone has that bad player that is like a bad penny who keeps turning up.

 

Maria was Claude's Nemesis who kept turning up in efforts to foil Claude and his inevitable revenge. What if Maria was another player in the game!

 

Crews are Important!

Since you have a Crew, why aren't the NPCs with you just like your Crew or even your Nemesis Crew? No longer are we just facing Ballers and Vargas, but other in-game Crews running their colors and appearance during missions.

 

 

The crazy thing is, all this stuff is already capable in the Online game. It's like they got there, but didn't push it over the edge. They just threw everything out on the map and said, "have at it." People got bored and they started finding ways to get everything up front.

 

In a story mission the story is the fun of it, not so much the stuff. The player had nothing that made this game theirs and it had no cohesion. People got bored and it lost its most important feature, replay-ability. Getting to level 120 should've been something special and we should want to delete characters and start over. In reality people said, "that's it?" And for good reason.

 

It's not to hard to figure out that even with a story that people will be tooling around the lobby shooting at each other just like they are now. I probably spent 90% of my time in GTA3 to 4 driving around looking for content and basically getting into trouble, so the game wouldn't look any different from that perspective. Just because I defeat the story doesn't mean it's over for me either. I'll still grind missions and race races. I'll have a reason other than collecting cars and to have 2 characters or more.

 

i can see where your coming from on this, but why should there be a story? i thought we were to make our own story when playing online. then everytime you get on to play it's always going to be different. use your imagination man.

[dzian]

Because as it stands any store you makenis much the same from day to day did rooftop rumble won some races won a few death matches. And killed a few folks in free roam.

 

Next day much the same and the next day. And you begin to wonder where youre going. The answer is no where. And anything you do today is gone tomorrow. Today my crew took hold if the airport and made it our turfm next session you join theres no trace ofnthat ever happening.

 

Theres no progression to the online game. Nothing has any impact. I can win 20 races today. And tomorrow noone knows who I am. Therefore the races ive won are meaningless and hats why im bored of pvp. And the game needs some kind of progression or story to it. And it would add a lot. Kinda like sp you win the first race with franklin and when you go to lsc hao says for a minuteni thought you were here to brag about that race you won. Something like that in online would be great. Where npc reactions and conversations change as you progress. And become known

[vipprimo]

To go back and answer some questions. Since you are only doing a mission once then every cut scene you would do would be new to you just as it would be to the person you were playing with. If you received an invite to a mission you completed you could go back and do it over, but you already know what that cut scene is so if you don't want to wait then don't play it, just move on to the next one.

 

For those that say that if you finished it would end. Actually no. If it were similar to the SP game then you would have properties that continued to make money etc. What I love best about repeatable games is that you can start the story over and this time you have stuff! You don't have to unlock everything all over again. Just add in a Restart Story and suddnely you're flying back into Los Santos except this time Lamar can react differently because you have stuff! Wouldn't it be awesome if he picked you up in your car or if you had purchased it, your Stretch! See, that's interactive play. You make a decision and the game reacts to it.

 

Someone posted that you could "choose" which path you take. Exactly what I was thinking. You don't have to buy every property or own every car. If you don't want to take the military path then you don't have to buy a Rhino Tank or a Buzzard, but if you want the Race path you'll need a race car! The other option is that, just like in GTA 4 you didn't have to do the Sniper missions, don't tell me you didn't do them! We could replay the game 7 or 8 times and each time get different results.

 

People are telling me to be creative, well, we are and you're complaining about it. If you keep the current online setting the sandbox is a flash in the pan and the good players are the first to go find games that are fun and that leaves you with squeakers and tank grievers. If you love your game you'll give the good players like myself something to do and a sense of accomplishment.

 

The reality is that all the complaints to this idea have been rather weak as well, which to me means that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Edited April 7, 2014 by vipprimo

[LoA-Phantom]

I swear people are just bitter I get it though, it could a cool idea like for example to get a cutscenes before you get rooftop rumble/meet Martin/ get introduced to some other sh*t

[vipprimo]

We may effectively get this in Heists.

[dzian]

We may effectively get this in Heists.

Nah. it seems from what i've read heists are basically slightly modified playlists.

 

completeing a heist won't progress the game anymore than completing rooftop does, its forgotten the instant you clear it.

the biggest problem in gtao is nothing is persistant. everything is reset the second you finish it. you can look at any player in any session and know nothing about them. you don't know how many missions they've done for martin or gerald, what epic jobs they've pulled of or how awesome they are at racing.... every player is still the same unknown thug they were when they got off the plane...

 

what the game needs is persistant effects to your actions. and a story is the best way to do this. think of the earlier gta games. where missions had a lasting effect on the rest of the game... gta 3 for example at one point you could cruise through parts of the map problem free. then after a point in the story those parts of town became more dangerous. the triad / mafia would gun you down on sight. same with the haitens on vc and ballas on sa. a true dynamic and evolving game world based on your characters actions. add decisions to that and boom. the game world becomes different for everyone. in one part of town my decisions might mean i get shot at by gang members. your decisions might see those gang members running to back you up in a fight.

 

its the biggest thing missing from gtao. and i truly with gtav was coop. where i could play franklin while friends play michael and trevor and beat the game that way...

at present gtao is incredibly static and it gets boring fast because of it. it's needs progression and accomplishment.

 

also needs to deliver on the promise of a dynamic and ever evolving world.. the world hasnt changed at all no matter what i do or how high i rank.

[normanself]

This is going to sound a lot like heists, but missions leading into one another would be nice.

 

Only for example.

 

Method in the Madness, you go after coke, but add a briefcase with an important document which leads you to discover information about a container in the docks has some interesting contents. You will need a Cargobob to airlift the container.

 

This leads into Base Invaders.

 

Cargobob aquired, it's time to do Docks To Stocks.

 

Mission chain complete, extra rp & money.

 

*I know these missions are from separate contacts but you get the gist

 

Hell, just let us 'playlist' contact missions even

[TinyMcBig]

The problem with adding a story is the sheer number of player characters. You can't have a plausible story that involves so many random protagonists. Also, apparently it's really hard for Rockstar to come up with missions that are fun for all players that have an actual story line. If you think of the missions in GTA V, you are ALWAYS the center of the action. Online, everyone can't be the center of attention. That's what ruins it right there.

[vipprimo]

I agree with those last responses. The heists will be "mini" stories. I think it'll be a good practice run for actually having a global setting.

 

The problem with adding a story is the sheer number of player characters. You can't have a plausible story that involves so many random protagonists. Also, apparently it's really hard for Rockstar to come up with missions that are fun for all players that have an actual story line. If you think of the missions in GTA V, you are ALWAYS the center of the action. Online, everyone can't be the center of attention. That's what ruins it right there.

 

You're reading into the difficulty of writing Heists and that didn't happen when Lamar told the characters to go have a Team Death match, did it? The story can still be a pocket focused on the player. We do that all the time in every mission we play online, such as Rooftop Rumble or Steal the Titan, the only difference is that's just some random mission where we walk up to Martin and he says, "I enjoy doing business with you." Why can't we have some progression with that and still have the ability to go back and play the mission again later like we do in Single Player? It sure as heck would promote team or Crew play which all the current game does is promote Freeroam shooting each other wasting money so they have to buy cash cards.

 

The beauty of this is that others will "need" to complete a particular mission to move forward so there will constantly be a flow of players through a mission so if you want to replay you wouldn't run into problems like "everyone is playing Rooftop Rumble as a cash cow" but you can't get anyone in Gentry Does It.

 

Go back and actually read the original post in its entirety and you'll get it.

Edited December 25, 2014 by vipprimo

[Mr.Nedich]

I always saw Online's missions as the story, but with the character either doing the work with nameless goons and other players is a gameplay vs lore situation, with only one (your) character being 'canon' albeit vague in order to allow players to roleplay their own ideas of what went down (if they're into that kind of thing.)

[vipprimo]

It's funny that when we got Heists, we pretty much got this.