GTA:0 The Storyline

[JStarr31]

I've noticed an equal majority of people debating whether or not online actually does/doesn't have a storyline.... Well, it does. This is something that was confirmed by R* before launch. Now the questions are, does it follow the flow of events and is it canon?

 

If I recall correctly, R* mentioned somewhere that everything in online takes place 6 months prior to the events in V's SP... Makes sense to me as it explains things in SP like why everybody thinks Lamar is such an idiotic loose cannon who doesn't mention Franklin or why everyone's is so scared of Madrazo and Trevor's escapades in the desert.. I'm fine with that

 

But, I also recall Lester (during one of the online heist cutscenes) referring to jobs he's pulled in LS... How? If the events of M/F/T happen 6 months after online, how was able to make a remark about this to the online characters? He'd have to be talking about M/F/T because Lester himself also stayed 'hidden' until Michael sought him out...

 

There IS in fact a logical and canonical explanation that R* in my opinion kind of fumbled the ball on presentation:

 

You see there's like this kinda Ocarina of Time split timeline thing going on... Everything from level 12* and down is 6 months prior to the events in V SP while everything from then on is 6 months AFTER the events of SP (*note: I only say level 12 because that's when being able to host your own Heists become available, I'll explain.)

 

So, Beach Bum, Buisness, High Life, Flight School and Ill Gotten Gains were all events that were established 6 months prior to SP. Canonically, this explains why all content was transferable between Online and SP along with corresponding contact missions that further fleshed out some of SP's background... Also why certain weapons progressed with the storyline in SP...

 

Now this is where it gets tricky.... The moment you as the player decide to HOST your first heist, all events afterward take place at minimum 6 months after everything in SP... This would explain the 'canonical reason' why Lester can make comments about professionals and rookies he's recently dealt with in LS or, better yet, further explains why canonically the Hydra and things like the 2015 Kuruma don't exist in SP, because these things came about at least 6 months after the story.... This is why Benny's also doesn't exist in SP and why Lamar makes a remark about how Frank will be proud of him amongst other things

 

Look, I'm aware that the certain exclusion of features is mostly due in part to hardware limitations but im sure there will be things that will remain exclusive to online (like Benny's) in the future regardless of the CG/PC hardware limitations/expectation, so....

 

 

TLDR:

With that's said, GTA:0 does indeed have a storyline but the flow of events is a bit messy in presentation... Canonically all content that's shared across both SP and Online would be placed on the timeline as happened at least 6 months "before SP" while all online-exclusive content would fall under happening at least 6 months "after SP"... Thoughts?

Edited November 20, 2015 by JStarr31

[Juicyfer]

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I remember Lester talking about (implied to be) Trevor and Michael during the PS Heist Setup Avi Schwarzernninja (whatever his name is), but I don't recall him mentioning any of the SP events. It'd be really helpful if you could find his quotes.

 

Lester is a criminal mastermind, so it's not hard to believe these "jobs" he's been pulling have been with miscellaneous criminals, such as you. It's implied he worked with Trevor and Michael before the latter faked his death, and given how he recruits your GTA:O character so fast and quickly agrees to help Michael with the Vangelico Heist, he hasn't been as hidden as he claims to be.

 

He's in no way "hiding". The GTA:O protagonist stole a Titan and pissed off Merryweather several times. That's a pretty big thing. He even mentions you during the first heist. Remember this golden quote:

 

"I've been working with someone, but he's too unpredictable."

 

That's you. Remember when Madrazo is introduced and Franklin mentions that the entire jury against him mysteriously disappeared? That's Judging the Jury.

 

As for why those vehicles disappear, who knows. There's a 6 month difference between online and SP. That's enough time for a business to bankrupt or for items to become blacklisted or hard to acquire (the Valkyrie was being tested by Merryweather, just like the Insurgent, so there's the possibility they didn't pass the test and what we're buying are just prototypes).

 

Or the most likely reason: they were simply too powerful or hard to implement in singleplayer. Imagine how easy some missions would be with an armored kuruma as your PV.

 

Try not to think about it too much. The reason it's set 6 months prior is to give the game more freedom and to give your character their own story.

[TreFacTor]

I guess with all that typing this wouldn't have fit in one of the other argument threads concerning the timeline.

[Furry_Monkey]

Stopped reading at "equal majority".

 

Literally, why would I read after that?

Edited November 19, 2015 by Furry_Monkey

[LL Cool L]

no it does not, it is linked to Single player because it happens in the same universe that is all

 

there is absolutely no story, all cut-scenes, dialogue is just for show, to make missions/ game modes etc more interesting, gta online is mindless multiplayer fun, advanced and detailed yes, but story.....

 

absolutely not

[Red Lynx 23]

Just one thing. The end of Series A and a cutscene from singleplayer explain how Trevor aquirred, and then lost an Impotent Rage figure with drugs hidden inside it. It was one of many stolen from The Lost, then in story mode they found the last one in Trevor's trailer and stole back the meds hidden inside it.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Red Lynx 23

[JON22]

The story is about clouds.

 

The end.

 

Only thing I've seen since the last gen 'update'.

 

P.S the 'We made last gen crap so you upgrade' update.

[CarimboHanky]

theres no story line, all we know is that it happens 6months before the events in V and that the universe of gta have the longest calendar in the world as we are 2years into the game and we are yet to surpass the events in V

[Pedinhuh]

All of Online's story is set 6 months prior V, Lester mentioning M and T is just that, a mention. to show that he knows them.

Also, at this rate R* has already shown that they are NOT caring about consistencies with Online and V.

Edited November 20, 2015 by pedinhuh

[JStarr31]

.....I remember Lester talking about (implied to be) Trevor and Michael during the PS Heist Setup Avi Schwarzernninja (whatever his name is), but I don't recall him mentioning any of the SP events....

what I meant was Lesters cutscenes during the ONLINE heists... If I recall correctly, during online Lester mentions MFT's jobs or at least alludes to it... Im searching the quotes now

 

....He's in no way "hiding". The GTA:O protagonist stole a Titan and pissed off Merryweather several times. That's a pretty big thing. He even mentions you during the first heist. Remember this golden quote:

 

"I've been working with someone, but he's too unpredictable."

 

That's you. Remember when Madrazo is introduced and Franklin mentions that the entire jury against him mysteriously disappeared? That's Judging the Jury.

I'm aware of this. I stated it (vaguely) in my first paragraph in regards to Madrazo.

 

As for the 'golden quote' I was aware he meant the online protagonist but in online he makes mention of the SP events which led me to think R* must've meant to make this, idk, clearer?

 

As for why those vehicles disappear, who knows. There's a 6 month difference between online and SP. That's enough time for a business to bankrupt or for items to become blacklisted or hard to acquire (the Valkyrie was being tested by Merryweather, just like the Insurgent, so there's the possibility they didn't pass the test and what we're buying are just prototypes).

same thing I figured myself until noticing something in a heist cutscenes that threw that 'theory' off a bit

 

Or the most likely reason: they were simply too powerful or hard to implement in singleplayer. Imagine how easy some missions would be with an armored kuruma as your PV.

 

Try not to think about it too much. The reason it's set 6 months prior is to give the game more freedom and to give your character their own story.

I'm fully aware of that. I meant a "story" reason. Hence why I kept writing the word canonical/canonically/canon. I'm sure we all know hardware limitations are the real reason for certain gameplay choices. To me it just seems R* doesn't care so much about continuity as much this era.... Edited November 20, 2015 by JStarr31

[DBrasco]

To me it just seems R* doesn't care so much about continuity as much this era....

 

That's because they're more focused on making money than they were ever before.

Edited November 20, 2015 by DBrasco

[§†range]

Where does turning into a werewolf play into all of this?

 

So many questions...

[-BTTB-]

Heres a wrench in your gear bro. How come anyone at any rank can go to the movie theater and watch Michaels movie "Meltdown". Something that takes place well into the 6 months you're talking about. Before our character makes it to LS.

 

R* talks out of its ass and cant back up half the sh*t they claim. Its just random events, online has no story or timeline other than what you make of it.

Edited November 20, 2015 by -BTTB-

[Sangers]

Longest 6 months I've ever lived.

[luisniko]

Yes, there's a subtle background story that's linked to SP.

 

However, the time freeze at the point of event, which is "few months before GTAV event started".

 

Just like when you play any other GTA games, example: Vice City, you started in 1987 and the time will stay at the season and year of the event, even after you played it for 10 real-life years.

 

Some updates (especially the early ones) aren't just mere thematic. Instead, it gives emphasize in the background on how our Online Protagonist is rising up.

 

Of course, there are plot holes here and there. But the overall concept of the timeline is actually really simple to grasp.

[lorgin_2003]

I had figured everything was all going on at the same time. I was watching Fame or Shame in my garage in Online, and it was Tracy's performance, which doesn't happen until the end of single player. While some stuff clearly takes place before, and some clearly takes place, there's some stuff that takes place during. Which shows there's a definitive flow to the timeline. It's just a matter of figuring out what happens when, and putting all of the pieces in their approximate places.

[xInfamousRYANx]

You all are overthinking this sh*t lol.

 

Online takes place a few months before SP

 

Tracey being on Fame or Shame and Meltdown being shown online is developer oversight or laziness.

 

Lester Mentions Michael and Trever in "Pacific Standard: Signal" he mentions Trevor's cannibalism and Michael's sting in North Yankton.

 

Trevor goes to LS in Series A but being a meth head and gas huffer not to mention he bangs his head on that tree, who knows if he remembers going which is why he claims he never has been there. He also doesnt personally attack The Lost so it makes sense how he starts a personal war with them in SP.

 

Lester Mentions your online character in SP when he says you are unpredictable

 

Franklin mentions Lamar's gas tanker licks such as in "A Ticket to Elsyum"

He also mentions Martin Madrazo's jurors from "Judging the Jury" and the documents from "Rooftop Rumble" is likely evidence.

 

Dom is not dead at any point online

 

The garment factory is intact

The O'Neil farm is intact

 

Just because real time passes doesn't mean the in game timeline passes.

[Razar]

You all are overthinking this sh*t lol.

Online takes place a few months before SP

Tracey being on Fame or Shame and Meltdown being shown online is developer oversight or laziness.

Lester Mentions Michael and Trever in "Pacific Standard: Signal" he mentions Trevor's cannibalism and Michael's sting in North Yankton.

Trevor goes to LS in Series A but being a meth head and gas huffer not to mention he bangs his head on that tree, who knows if he remembers going which is why he claims he never has been there. He also doesnt personally attack The Lost so it makes sense how he starts a personal war with them in SP.

Lester Mentions your online character in SP when he says you are unpredictable

Franklin mentions Lamar's gas tanker licks such as in "A Ticket to Elsyum"

He also mentions Martin Madrazo's jurors from "Judging the Jury" and the documents from "Rooftop Rumble" is likely evidence.

Dom is not dead at any point online

The garment factory is intact

The O'Neil farm is intact

Just because real time passes doesn't mean the in game timeline passes.

This, expecially considering you can see Meltdown and Fame Or Shame from the start of SP. Which pretty much confirms that it is indeed a developer oversight/laziness.

 

And to anyone who keeps saying that Online is set after SP: What if I kill Trevor?

Edited November 20, 2015 by TheIceWarrior

[Lhabia]

Lowriders update proves that GTAO has passed GTA5's events because Lamar was planning some stuff during GTA5 (he mentions this in the mission where the drug deal goes wrong at the recycling plant) and in Lowriders he's done something big for himself.

[Quinn_flower]

But will we get a update that push us into the present time what happened after gta v

Edited November 20, 2015 by Quinn_flower

[xInfamousRYANx]

Lowriders update proves that GTAO has passed GTA5's events because Lamar was planning some stuff during GTA5 (he mentions this in the mission where the drug deal goes wrong at the recycling plant) and in Lowriders he's done something big for himself.

He is a f*cking idiot who always thinks he is gonna do big things and they all turn out to be major flops

 

Maybe in sp his big things for himself was when he ended up at the sawmill in Lamar Down. Maybe that was his big things he mentioned in The Long Stretch

Edited November 20, 2015 by xInfamousRYANx

[xXepicjasaXx]

GTA0???? you mean GTAO???

[JStarr31]

Damn.... Sad to say, but, this is the EXACT reason gaming is DEAD

 

I got more people telling me I'm dumb/overthinking it than I have actual participating like fans to figure it out.... Duh, I'm overthinking it because I actually am interested in GTAs universe and making sense of it

 

You know guys, Im fully aware of certain things being a developer oversight and isn't canon... But damn, what happen to actually being interested in the lore? Why not help fix it for them, you guys do it to every other part of GTA (ahem, mods)

 

Anytime you bring up timelines/history/lore in this place you're immediately attacked with "who cares, you're overthinking it..". Oh well I'm old school and care about these things...

 

Freeroam and all missions before heists take place 6 months prior to SP

Heists and Lowrider missions take place 6 months after SP

 

The time travel occurs during the loading screen when your up in the clouds... Just like when going from SP to Online

 

When you start a Heist or Lowrider mission you're taken to that timeline... When the mission is complete your "transported" back to the freeroam timeline... Freeroam is a kind of like a timeline "limbo", depending on what mission you accept determines what place in the timeline your are in

 

Basically only the missions are time placed while free roam is well, freeroam.... IMO

[xInfamousRYANx]

The dumbest theory i have ever seen ^

 

There is no universe traveling or anything

[psymin]

For me the story in gta has always been 2nd to gameplay.

While they are some of the best written games, the appeal to me has always been the freedom of the gta sandbox.

With online, I have the freedom to imagine my own story, that I often played out in other gta titles, finally with a character of my choosing and freedom to have my own little criminal life.

So I don't care about lester or trevor or w/e, its a neat touch, but they could just as well be ken and ryu and it wouldn't bother me much.

[dzian]

You all are overthinking this sh*t lol.

 

Online takes place a few months before SP

 

Tracey being on Fame or Shame and Meltdown being shown online is developer oversight or laziness.

 

Lester Mentions Michael and Trever in "Pacific Standard: Signal" he mentions Trevor's cannibalism and Michael's sting in North Yankton.

 

Trevor goes to LS in Series A but being a meth head and gas huffer not to mention he bangs his head on that tree, who knows if he remembers going which is why he claims he never has been there. He also doesnt personally attack The Lost so it makes sense how he starts a personal war with them in SP.

 

Lester Mentions your online character in SP when he says you are unpredictable

 

Franklin mentions Lamar's gas tanker licks such as in "A Ticket to Elsyum"

He also mentions Martin Madrazo's jurors from "Judging the Jury" and the documents from "Rooftop Rumble" is likely evidence.

 

Dom is not dead at any point online

 

The garment factory is intact

The O'Neil farm is intact

 

Just because real time passes doesn't mean the in game timeline passes.

The references to Michael and Trevor connect to the story mode prologue not the present day events.

 

When you first start gta5 story mode your essentially having a flash back to 9 years before present. Which means 8 and a half years before your online character arrives in Los Santos.

 

This is where lester knows Michael and Trevor from. The Yankton job 8 and a half years ago.

 

Any references to Michael and Trevor originate from this point in time 9 years before 5. Not from some time paradox from the future

 

The online timeline hasn't moved at all. It's still the exact same day you got off the plane and arrived in Los Santos. Even if your character is now rank 900. Because in the online mode nothing has happened to evolve the world. Or move it forwards. You've done 10 thousand jobs for Martin but he can't remember a single one because there erased from history the second there done and thus the game never moves forward in time

Edited December 7, 2015 by dzian

[nicktestbranch]

Did you just use a zero in the title?

 

what the f*ck

[codedoddertdervbs]

Online story begins 6 months behind SP. That time is where online protagonist completes Simeon, Lamar and some Martin and Lester missions for definite. There is no mention of online protagonist while Franklin works for Simeon and neither is there import/export in SP. Lamar's fuel tanker missions are referenced by Franklin, as are the Martin court case missions.

 

Lester refers to the online protagonist in single player, saying they are unreliable. This means that the online heists take place after SP story. This is a bit confusing regarding the Series A heist. We know this is before the story as it is how Trevor gets his impotent rage statue, yet he says in SP he's never been to LS before. Explanation people have used is that he forgot due to being drugged all the time, and as it's the only reasonable one, lets run with that. So from this, the only thing that fits is that the Fleeca heist is before SP, and maybe there's a gap until the Pacific Standard heist as he thinks they are unreliable. Pacific Standard is the only 'ending' of online, so lets put that at the end. This is what I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Online player arrives in LS

Gerald, Lamar and Simeon missions run alongside

Player gains reputation, some Lester, Trevor and Martin missions

Fleeca heist

Single player story and any online missions that take place within it

Prison break, Humane labs raid (there's some stuff that relate to the FIB-IAA storyline in SP that could mean these play a part but can't remember)

Some more Trevor missions

Series A

Some more Lester missions

Pacific Standard

(Lowriders can fit in anywhere after SP story ends)

[GTA-Biker]

I actually came to a conclusion that the timeline of GTA Online is somewhat similar and comparable to that of The Simpsons:

The Simpsons are being shown for around 25 years,and while the show is no longer set in early 1990s like in the first season,Bart is still 10,Lisa is still 8 and Maggie is still 1 year old,simply because the creators of the show decided that the character will not age no matter how much time passes.

GTA Online was launched 2 years ago,but it´s still set a few months before the singleplayer events (despite getting some vehicles which were made after 2013,like Jester or Vindicator),again because the creators of the game decided that the Online is set a few months before SP.

It´s just a decision made by the people who created that stuff,I don´t think we should look too deep into it.

[xInfamousRYANx]

Online story begins 6 months behind SP. That time is where online protagonist completes Simeon, Lamar and some Martin and Lester missions for definite. There is no mention of online protagonist while Franklin works for Simeon and neither is there import/export in SP. Lamar's fuel tanker missions are referenced by Franklin, as are the Martin court case missions.

 

Lester refers to the online protagonist in single player, saying they are unreliable. This means that the online heists take place after SP story. This is a bit confusing regarding the Series A heist. We know this is before the story as it is how Trevor gets his impotent rage statue, yet he says in SP he's never been to LS before. Explanation people have used is that he forgot due to being drugged all the time, and as it's the only reasonable one, lets run with that. So from this, the only thing that fits is that the Fleeca heist is before SP, and maybe there's a gap until the Pacific Standard heist as he thinks they are unreliable. Pacific Standard is the only 'ending' of online, so lets put that at the end. This is what I can think of off the top of my head.

 

Online player arrives in LS

Gerald, Lamar and Simeon missions run alongside

Player gains reputation, some Lester, Trevor and Martin missions

Fleeca heist

Single player story and any online missions that take place within it

Prison break, Humane labs raid (there's some stuff that relate to the FIB-IAA storyline in SP that could mean these play a part but can't remember)

Some more Trevor missions

Series A

Some more Lester missions

Pacific Standard

(Lowriders can fit in anywhere after SP story ends)

No no no!

 

How the f*ck do heists come after sp. When lester says he has been working with someone he meant he had worked with an unpredictable person for a heist. Because Michael was interested in a heist crew not a street thug brigade

 

Gta online storyline

A FEW months before story (never said 6 idk where that came from)

 

Player arrives in LS

Player does petty jobs for Simeon and Gerald as well as helping with Lamar's gas truck licks (referenced in SP by Franklin)

Lester picks up on a group of strange silent people running around LS causing havoc

Lester gives them Jobs

Jobs for Gerald interfere with TPI Trevor contacts you

Trevor gives you jobs to help get things needed for TPI Startup

Martin Madrazo picks up on your criminal acts and asks for help with other drug gangs as well as the incriminating evidence and Jurors on a trial filed against him.

Lester thinks you are getting proficient and decides to take a risk to see if you can handle a small organized bank stick up (Fleeca)

He then informs Agent 14 about you (Humane and Prison Break)

He then somehow gets in touch with Trevor presumably anonymously (Series A)

Trevor plans large scale TPI startup with help (Series A)

Seeing as you completed all the previous heists Lester decides to let you in on a "big one" (Pac Standard)

Lowriders fits in around this online storyline.

 

So f*cking simple people