Were planes removed from GTA IV because of 9/11?

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

[.Ryan.]

Honestly?

 

I've never felt the reason was 9/11 or map size for that matter. My opinion on the exclusion of planes in GTA IV is due to the physics and getting them to work in a stable state.

 

I know it's different to what most people say, but that's my belief.

[Vercetti42]

I honestly never understood the big deal about the lack of planes in IV. Helicopters were good enough for me.

[.Ryan.]

I honestly never understood the big deal about the lack of planes in IV. Helicopters were good enough for me.

I agree with this. Helicopters are far more practical for LC any way, but I'm lead to believe the exclusion of planes is a technical reason.

[Kiffster]

The official word from mr Houser himself was that planes were excluded because there's only one city. They wanted the game to be realistic which is also the reason there are no skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles etc, because it wouldn't suit Niko

[donnits]

They were going to add Liberty State in the game and planes were gonna be usable, the state consisted of LC, upstate, The Carraways and Carcer City (possibly). Either tech limitation or, as they put it, to keep the city more alive and focused, they removed the other areas. With the map being the very small LC, they thought planes were useless considering, so they scrapped them. That's what i read somewhere on the GTAwiki, anyways.

Edited May 1, 2014 by thekillerdonuts

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

Honestly?

I've never felt the reason was 9/11 or map size for that matter. My opinion on the exclusion of planes in GTA IV is due to the physics and getting them to work in a stable state.

I know it's different to what most people say, but that's my belief.

 

Functional plane physics are already in the game though, they are just no used, I know this because modders have taken advantage of them to make plane mods for GTA IV.

 

I honestly never understood the big deal about the lack of planes in IV. Helicopters were good enough for me.

 

Without planes, the airport felt like a waste of space, that is why they are needed regardless of map size IMO. Helicopters did not completely satisfy me regardless of that because there was only 4 of them 3 of them, the other one was almost impossible to obtain.

 

The official word from mr Houser himself was that planes were excluded because there's only one city. They wanted the game to be realistic which is also the reason there are no skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles etc, because it wouldn't suit Niko

 

That makes no sense though, GTA III, GTA Vice CIty and GTA Vice City Stories had smaller maps with a single city, yet those games still had planes. Removing bicycles to add realism doesn't make any sense either, because bicycles exist in New York.

 

 

 

That is why 9/11 seams to be the only reason that makes sense.

 

They were going to add Liberty State in the game and planes were gonna be usable, the state consisted of LC, upstate, The Carraways and Carcer City (possibly). Either tech limitation or, as they put it, to keep the city more alive and focused, they removed the other areas. With the map being the very small LC, they thought planes were useless considering, so they scrapped them. That's what i read somewhere on the GTAwiki, anyways.

 

I saw that too, reading information about what GTA IV was originally going to be is depressing.

[Drunken Cowboy]

First time I ever heard that.

I mean, what are you gonna do? Crash into the side of a stagnant building prop, blow yourself up and die? such hue, many funny, wow

 

I didn't really see the point in going all the way to one end of the map to get a vehicle to get to another end of the map... that's what taxi cabs are for, anyway.

[t3h PeNgU1N oF d00m]

There's only one airport, and no space at all to land a plane outside of it. Planes wouldn't really serve any purpose. I don't think it has anything to do with 9/11 - just the fact that Liberty City/Alderney are so small.

[Shenmue18]

There's only one airport, and no space at all to land a plane outside of it. Planes wouldn't really serve any purpose. I don't think it has anything to do with 9/11 - just the fact that Liberty City/Alderney are so small.

This is a good point. There would be no where to land a plane in GTA IV besides the airport.

 

Myself, I prefer helicopters, so the lack of planes in GTA IV wasn't really a big deal to me. As SonOfLiberty said, helicopters work better in LC anyways.

[matajuegos01]

 

I honestly never understood the big deal about the lack of planes in IV. Helicopters were good enough for me.

I agree with this. Helicopters are far more practical for LC any way, but I'm lead to believe the exclusion of planes is a technical reason.

 

This isn't answering OP's question but, do you also feel like the helicopters handled better in IV? I don't know about you but in V they don't feel "right"

[Shenmue18]

 

 

I honestly never understood the big deal about the lack of planes in IV. Helicopters were good enough for me.

I agree with this. Helicopters are far more practical for LC any way, but I'm lead to believe the exclusion of planes is a technical reason.

 

This isn't answering OP's question but, do you also feel like the helicopters handled better in IV? I don't know about you but in V they don't feel "right"

 

I thought Helicopters in GTA IV handled a lot better, I also liked that there weren't any helicopters with missiles in the base game, or auto-lock missiles in TBOGT. That way people couldn't just get a Buzzard and abuse the holy hell out of it like in GTA V. Then again, exploits and GTA V go together like America and McDonald's.

[JamalG]

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

 

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

 

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

 

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

 

[ddyoung]

I think it was honestly for realism. Whenever I go to NYC, there's only airliners from Newark, LaGuardia, or JFK. Never any private planes, but there are hundreds of helicopters.

[KillBomb]

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

 

 

I remember Gamespot during a first impressions said it was because of 9/11 and as everyone knows that LC is based off of NYC.

[gtamann123]

I'm pretty sure it has to do with Map size. It just wouldn't make sense in a map as small as LC.

[Cl4ud35p33d]

LC is way too crowded with cars and buildings. You'd never be able to land a plane anywhere besides the airport.

[godforgivesthelostdont]

A mix of the above reasons:

 

1. Overworld not large enough

2. It would have broken immersion

3. It would have taken away from realism

 

Perhaps 9/11 is part of it but overall being able to fly planes and tanks would have been too cartoony for a serious game.

[..GhosT]

LC is way too crowded with cars and buildings. You'd never be able to land a plane anywhere besides the airport.

 

Pretty sure i landed planes on beaches and wide roads before in IV. Modded planes of course.. so thats not the reason.

 

I was able to take off in most of those locations too.

[lol232]

 

 

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

 

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

 

-plane pics-

GTA VC's and VCS's planes had limited height so there was no point and I wouldn't care and GTA III's Dodo was never meant to be flyable.

[..GhosT]

 

 

 

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

 

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

 

-plane pics-

GTA VC's and VCS's planes had limited height so there was no point and I wouldn't care and GTA III's Dodo was never meant to be flyable.

 

 

So because theres a height limit it automaticly means its not a plane anymore.. because f*ck logic.

And IIIs Dodo is flyable. Its a plane.

[lol232]

 

 

 

 

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

 

-plane pics-

 

GTA VC's and VCS's planes had limited height so there was no point and I wouldn't care and GTA III's Dodo was never meant to be flyable.

 

So because theres a height limit it automaticly means its not a plane anymore.. because f*ck logic.

And IIIs Dodo is flyable. Its a plane.

 

I wasn't saying that.

Planes didn't really fit into VC's atmosphere and were pretty pointless IMO.

 

And yes, III's Dodo is flying through a bug, it was never intended to be, though, so that doesn't really count.

Edited May 3, 2014 by lol232

[Im2akillerfish]

 

 

 

 

 

I hope bringing this up doesn't offend anyone.

 

So I recently just remembered hearing someone say that planes were removed from GTA IV because of 9/11 and it got me thinking.

The majority of people say that they were removed due to the map size but that makes no sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps with a single airport.

 

Does anyone else know of any information suggesting that they were/were not removed dueo to 9/11?

let me correct you on this since noone hasnt:

 

III, VC and VCS (as well as Liberty City Stories) didnt have planes we could use and fly with.

 

III and LCS didnt even have playable helicopters.

 

-plane pics-

 

GTA VC's and VCS's planes had limited height so there was no point and I wouldn't care and GTA III's Dodo was never meant to be flyable.

 

So because theres a height limit it automaticly means its not a plane anymore.. because f*ck logic.

And IIIs Dodo is flyable. Its a plane.

 

I wasn't saying that.

Planes didn't really fit into VC's atmosphere and were pretty pointless IMO.

 

And yes, III's Dodo is flying through a bug, it was never intended to be, though, so that doesn't really count.

 

Planes don't fit IV's atmosphere.

[.Ryan.]

To be fair I think a small seaplane like the Sea sparrow would've been fine. However a passenger jet or cargo plane would've been stupid.

 

In saying that I do feel helicopters fit a metropolis like LC more. The Dodo in GTA III was useless for any sort of practical purpose. Sea planes are the only plane that would fit it, but it's never been a deal breaker for me.

[CantThinkOfOne2013]

Am I the only one who thinks that the lack of planes leads to the airport feeling like a waste of space? the airport takes up a significant amount of space in the map and yet there is no incentive to go to it.

 

 

A mix of the above reasons:

 

1. Overworld not large enough

2. It would have broken immersion

3. It would have taken away from realism

 

Perhaps 9/11 is part of it but overall being able to fly planes and tanks would have been too cartoony for a serious game.

 

As stated before, removing planes due to map size does not make sense, GTA III, GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories all had planes and those games had smaller maps. Also, the lac of planes breaks is what breas immersion, as does any gameplay limiiation. Planes could have still been put in the game, they just didn't need to play a role in any mission.

 

That is why 9/11 seems to be the only answer.

[.Ryan.]

Am I the only one who thinks that the lack of planes leads to the airport feeling like a waste of space? the airport takes up a significant amount of space in the map and yet there is no incentive to go to it.

I don't think it's really a waste of space. It's a spawn point for the Annihilator after all.

[Drunken Cowboy]

 

Am I the only one who thinks that the lack of planes leads to the airport feeling like a waste of space? the airport takes up a significant amount of space in the map and yet there is no incentive to go to it.

I don't think it's really a waste of space. It's a spawn point for the Annihilator after all.

 

 

It's like calling the stadium in San Andreas a waste of space because you can't play major league baseball, some things are just there for scenery and immersion. I'd rather see a lot of buildings and structures with personality or at least a fake function than a bunch of stagnant buildings.

[lpgunit]

The map's just too small for planes to be used. Imo 9/11 being a reason is like flogging a dead horse for way too long.

[Sam779]

The map's just too small for planes to be used.

Why do people still say this? The map of GTA VC was even smaller and flying planes with Tommy Vercetti is really fun.

 

I don't think that there is a true reason for not having planes in GTA IV.

9/11 is far-fethced for a game that has been released years after the event, the map would have been big enough for planes and plane physics are already in the game.

It's just how R* wanted the game to be. GTA IV is focused on the story and its background, it doesn't provide tons of fun elements such as tuning, monster trucks, go carts, or planes. There is no reason for not having all these things, it's the way GTA IV is.