Were the references to past GTA games too obvious in V?

[universetwisters]

I was going through the GTA wiki and IMDB and I found a bunch of damning references to past GTA games in GTA 5. I'll give a list of what I know below, but what do you guys think of all the past references to the old GTA games? I know Vice City had a few, but mostly as far as easter eggs go. San Andreas tried to do it, but kinda flopped since around Las Venturas, nearly everyone and their mother from past GTA games made a cameo appearance. GTA 4 was more subtle about it, but what about GTA 5? Were the obviousness of the references an oversight to the developers or did they deliberately try to stuff in as many references as possible?

Now on with the list:

*Packie & Michelle/Karen make appearances, as did most of the Lost MC, Marine, Rocco, and the UL Paper guy, along with Niko being mentioned.

*Niko can be seen on Jimmy's Laptop

*CJ, Big Smoke, and Sweet expys show up in "Hood Safari".

*Willie from Love Fist & Lazlow are seen (the latter could be more forgiveable).

*Two nightclubs from GTA 4 just so happen to be in GTA 5 aswell. "Split Sides West" and "Bahama Mamas West". See the pattern?

 

You could also count "Los Santos Rock Radio" as a reference to "Liberty Rock Radio", or at least it seems that way to me. They could've given it a hundred other names that aren't a few extra/different words from Liberty Rock Radio.

[RodneysLeftNut]

Most are. I'm pretty sure there is some vice city artwork near rockford hills. There is many refrences in the mission hood safari That an OG got big into a CEO or something.

[Sean O'God]

I've seen Toni from Flash FM on a few billboards around the city. Also, Channel X seems to be spoofing Radio X from GTA San Andreas.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Inbred Walrus

[HOW'S ANNIE?]

When it comes to returning characters I think V did as bad as SA did. They just threw in pretty much any character from IV + EFLC who survived that they can think of. The only one I understand completely was Rocco, and that's just because they just left him as a major lose end from TBOGT.

 

I think next game they should do what VC did when it came to returning characters from III. VC had one major character in a small role (Donald Love) and a minor character in a significant role (Phil Cassidy), they didn't overload it with people. I think the next game should only include, at most, two characters from IV + ELFC and one or two from V.

 

@Inbred Walrus, what the heck are you talking about? Radio X played 90's grunge and alternative and Channel X played the much superior 80's punk. Asside from the X in the name there's no similarities, so I don't see how on earth it's a "spoof".

Edited May 3, 2014 by Niko Vercetti 112

[Staten]

Well, IV did have the name of practically every GTA protagonist on the wall of Niko's first safehouse, so there's that. And a huge advertisement with someone who looks a lot like CJ, and a some footage for the TV shows was from SA.

 

But is that so bad? I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

[universetwisters]

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

 

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

[Trevorphilipjfry]

Theyve all been pretty unsubtle, but there's nothing wrong with it

[DaveGrimes96]

don't forget radio mirror park and radio broker they play the same sort of music

[theNGclan]

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that? Edited May 3, 2014 by theNGclan

[I<3GTAV]

I like the references, though it's a little weird that so many characters from IV ended up in the same city.

[RodneysLeftNut]

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.

[theNGclan]

 

 

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.Nothing wrong with killing Johnny. He was gonna die anyway. It's better he die like that than getting beaten with a filthy wrench by Billy or something.

 

Johnboy is gone. Time to move on. He was gonna die anyway.

[NewBaltim0re]

Where have you been?

[RodneysLeftNut]

 

 

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.Nothing wrong with killing Johnny. He was gonna die anyway. It's better he die like that than getting beaten with a filthy wrench by Billy or something.

 

Johnboy is gone. Time to move on. He was gonna die anyway.

 

Well if you're being literal yes EVERYONE is bound to die. But how do you exactly know when he is going die? are you a writer at rockstar? No. So how would you know

[theNGclan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.Nothing wrong with killing Johnny. He was gonna die anyway. It's better he die like that than getting beaten with a filthy wrench by Billy or something.

 

Johnboy is gone. Time to move on. He was gonna die anyway.

 

Well if you're being literal yes EVERYONE is bound to die. But how do you exactly know when he is going die? are you a writer at rockstar? No. So how would you know See? You're upset. No need to get mad. If you dislike Rockstar's choices you can either look them over or not play the game. Is that difficult?

 

Rockstar made the game how they want. You paid willingly knowing things would be different. Don't be upset because of a company's choices. Be mad because you expected it to please you in every way.

[RodneysLeftNut]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.

Nothing wrong with killing Johnny. He was gonna die anyway. It's better he die like that than getting beaten with a filthy wrench by Billy or something.

 

Johnboy is gone. Time to move on. He was gonna die anyway.

 

Well if you're being literal yes EVERYONE is bound to die. But how do you exactly know when he is going die? are you a writer at rockstar? No. So how would you know See? You're upset. No need to get mad. If you dislike Rockstar's choices you can either look them over or not play the game. Is that difficult?

 

Rockstar made the game how they want. You paid willingly knowing things would be different. Don't be upset because of a company's choices. Be mad because you expected it to please you in every way.

 

I'm not upset. You are very ignorant. I liked johnny not enough to be crying or furious but it was kinda sad to kill off a good character. I knew someone was bound to die in the next sequel.

[universetwisters]

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

 

I'm pretty sure there's a difference between a subtle nod to something and making something off of nothing but cameos.

[theNGclan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the direct references to previous GTA's. It would be too much if it was a series that follows the same characters multiple games, but since each game is it's own story, I don't mind the cameos.

I think all the cameos are a result of poor writing, like how the start of San Andreas was good, but towards the end, they got lazy and shoehorned a bunch of old characters into the story.

You seem to dislike anything that is recycled at all. Cameos are also fan service, so what is actually wrong with that?

 

There's alot actually putting a very different charecter from a different story just for the sake to please some fans. Alot of johnny TLAD fanboys were outraged when johnny died so thats a good reason.

Nothing wrong with killing Johnny. He was gonna die anyway. It's better he die like that than getting beaten with a filthy wrench by Billy or something.

 

Johnboy is gone. Time to move on. He was gonna die anyway.

 

Well if you're being literal yes EVERYONE is bound to die. But how do you exactly know when he is going die? are you a writer at rockstar? No. So how would you know See? You're upset. No need to get mad. If you dislike Rockstar's choices you can either look them over or not play the game. Is that difficult?

 

Rockstar made the game how they want. You paid willingly knowing things would be different. Don't be upset because of a company's choices. Be mad because you expected it to please you in every way.

 

I'm not upset. You are very ignorant. I liked johnny not enough to be crying or furious but it was kinda sad to kill off a good character. I knew someone was bound to die in the next sequel.You're calling me ignorant but yet you were upset by Johnny's death and you expected something like to happen? Lol okay cool.

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

[universetwisters]

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

 

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

[theNGclan]

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

[universetwisters]

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

[theNGclan]

 

 

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

Easy writing and fan service. If I heard Niko would appear in the next GTA, I'd drop everything and buy it. Fan service, mate.

[universetwisters]

 

 

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

Easy writing and fan service. If I heard Niko would appear in the next GTA, I'd drop everything and buy it. Fan service, mate.

 

 

You mean lazy writing catering to fanboys?

 

I wouldn't think the sales of a game would spike up that high if it's revealed that a character from a past game were to show up. Like I've been saying mate. GTA 4 was the best selling game when it came out, and the only character from previous games then was Lazlow. If what you're saying were to be believed, then GTA 4 would've done poorly on the market.

[theNGclan]

 

 

 

 

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

Easy writing and fan service. If I heard Niko would appear in the next GTA, I'd drop everything and buy it. Fan service, mate.

 

You mean lazy writing catering to fanboys?

 

I wouldn't think the sales of a game would spike up that high if it's revealed that a character from a past game were to show up. Like I've been saying mate. GTA 4 was the best selling game when it came out, and the only character from previous games then was Lazlow. If what you're saying were to be believed, then GTA 4 would've done poorly on the market.

The sales quota definitely raises when people find out that some characters are returning. You're getting upset for nothing.

[universetwisters]

 

 

 

 

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

Easy writing and fan service. If I heard Niko would appear in the next GTA, I'd drop everything and buy it. Fan service, mate.

 

You mean lazy writing catering to fanboys?

 

I wouldn't think the sales of a game would spike up that high if it's revealed that a character from a past game were to show up. Like I've been saying mate. GTA 4 was the best selling game when it came out, and the only character from previous games then was Lazlow. If what you're saying were to be believed, then GTA 4 would've done poorly on the market.

The sales quota definitely raises when people find out that some characters are returning. You're getting upset for nothing.

 

 

Have there been any definite proof of this or are you making up numbers?

[RodneysLeftNut]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@UT, Don't like how Rockstar did their game? Too bad mate, they'll do it again. And again. And again. Till the game finally does. And every single one of us will pay to see what happens next. You've gotta be clueless not to expect Rockstar to bring older characters. It's a series with eras for a reason.

That doesn't really address my point on the difference between a subtle cameo and making a game of nothing but cameos. I can take it if, say, Niko was only mentioned as an "eastern european guy making moves that went quiet", but if you're going to send in Packie, UL Paper guy, and everybody else just to make a fanboy go "HOLY sh*t" and ejaculate all over his pants, then the freshness of the product goes stale and it begins feeling more and more like a fanfiction where all the main characters meet up in a brand new location.

So you expected something different from a company that has the goal of making as much money as possible? Looks like you should've used your noodle and bought a different game.

 

How does "making as much money as possible" relate to cameos in a game?

Easy writing and fan service. If I heard Niko would appear in the next GTA, I'd drop everything and buy it. Fan service, mate.

 

You mean lazy writing catering to fanboys?

 

I wouldn't think the sales of a game would spike up that high if it's revealed that a character from a past game were to show up. Like I've been saying mate. GTA 4 was the best selling game when it came out, and the only character from previous games then was Lazlow. If what you're saying were to be believed, then GTA 4 would've done poorly on the market.

The sales quota definitely raises when people find out that some characters are returning. You're getting upset for nothing.

 

 

Have there been any definite proof of this or are you making up numbers?

 

This guy is a ignorant dosent know a clue about anything.

[universetwisters]

This guy is a ignorant dosent know a clue about anything.

 

Looking at it statistically, GTA 4 altogether sales were 25 million. GTA 5's first week of release earned a billion dollars. While that's a big jump, you gotta look at the numbers of San Andreas' altogether sales, which were at 21.5 million as of 2008 and counting. Looking at the numbers, I doubt people are buying GTA games just because of cameo aperances, as in the case of San Andreas to IV.

[RodneysLeftNut]

 

This guy is a ignorant dosent know a clue about anything.

 

Looking at it statistically, GTA 4 altogether sales were 25 million. GTA 5's first week of release earned a billion dollars. While that's a big jump, you gotta look at the numbers of San Andreas' altogether sales, which were at 21.5 million as of 2008 and counting. Looking at the numbers, I doubt people are buying GTA games just because of cameo aperances, as in the case of San Andreas to IV.

 

Really its the brand "Grand Theft auto" and how rockstar always out do themselfs in their games. GTA6 will sell better then 5 and 4 and so on. With each acomplishment theres more ground to cover.

[universetwisters]

 

 

This guy is a ignorant dosent know a clue about anything.

 

Looking at it statistically, GTA 4 altogether sales were 25 million. GTA 5's first week of release earned a billion dollars. While that's a big jump, you gotta look at the numbers of San Andreas' altogether sales, which were at 21.5 million as of 2008 and counting. Looking at the numbers, I doubt people are buying GTA games just because of cameo aperances, as in the case of San Andreas to IV.

 

Really its the brand "Grand Theft auto" and how rockstar always out do themselfs in their games. GTA6 will sell better then 5 and 4 and so on. With each acomplishment theres more ground to cover.

 

Exactly.

Call of Duty, Gran Turismo, etc. sell good and each sequel gets better sales than the previous one. Do they rely on plots built out of cameos? Some do, but more often than not, they're somewhat original.

[Soda and Soap]

were did Michelle/Karen make an appearance?