What If the Money Aspect Were Removed from GTAO

[fw3]

I'm just curious as to how others would perceive GTAO, a game which we obviously all adore and cherish (and even loathe, at times), if the entire money aspect of the game were reverted.

For example, let's say Red Dead Redemption came out and was a big hit, drawing a large portion of the GTAO user-base away.

As a move to keep players loyal and playing GTAO, they decided to just get rid of the whole GTA$ methodology and made everything in the game accessible: weapons, vehicles, clothing, snacks.

So that now, the only reason to race is to win. The only reason for a Survival is to beat it. The only reason for any job, mission, adversary, etc. would be to simply win the competitive aspect of it and to gain RP.

Would RP become the new denomination for players to strive for?

Would Job Points possibly become valuable in some way, beyond their almost non-existent benefit, now?

How do you think you or other players would react and respond to a GTAO where money was no longer a factor?

As always, this is just a curiosity that I got thinking about and figured I'd put it out for discussion.

Cheers!

"Dude, R* just made GTAO all moneyless – everything FREE now! I upgraded my Faggio, dude! omg!!"

[whywontyoulisten]

People would just blow each other up, money or no money.

[Matrelith]

I recently acquired a pretty large sum of money that'll keep me satisfied for months (if not years) to come. I've got to say, not having to worry about money anymore makes the game so much more enjoyable for me. You don't have to worry about grinding anymore and if you want something, you just get it. It's pretty liberating. While I don't see Rockstar removing the cash aspect of Online any time soon (all hail Shark Cards), I do think the game would become more enjoyable for people if it became a game again instead of work to chase the almighty dollar.

[Nyamber]

It would allow people to play what they want, instead of having to play the best paying job all the time to keep up.

[oli_152]

If they do : they will sell Shark Cards which add RP, I guess

[SHADOW OPS]

People would just blow each other up, money or no money.

This. All out war from day 1.

[Black-Dragon96]

I recently acquired a pretty large sum of money that'll keep me satisfied for months (if not years) to come. I've got to say, not having to worry about money anymore makes the game so much more enjoyable for me. You don't have to worry about grinding anymore and if you want something, you just get it. It's pretty liberating. While I don't see Rockstar removing the cash aspect of Online any time soon (all hail Shark Cards), I do think the game would become more enjoyable for people if it became a game again instead of work to chase the almighty dollar.

Thats true!

Im currently in a somewhat similar situation.

All my garages are full and im not willing to sell some of my vehicles, my hangar has only space left for the hunter and the lazer and I already got plenty of money to buy and customize both of them, so im not on the hunt for more money at the moment.

I got back into racing, I play deathmatches on a regular basis again and I simply enjoy every aspect of the game without needing to worry about money.

[el carlitos]

Weather forecast for Los Santos...Heavy rain of Merryweather airstrike in the South Side the hole day

[Nick1020]

It depends. You didn't seem to cover freeroam, which most people usually play at. If GTAO was just PvE and PvP game and no free roam, Online would of had a short life. Especially with folks using cheats to get the advantage, assuming if GTA5 just came out.

 

Moving on to freeroam, it would just be a big ass deathmatch. We probably wouldn't have most of the stuff we have now since most of them would be useless. I'd say we would of gotten a sp release some time after the CG version of gta 5 or be given the last part of it.

Edited November 1, 2017 by Nick1020

[Rafae]

Money isn't the sole reason for my playing, it's more of an ulterior motive. Even if the whole monetary system was removed, I'd still be playing just for the immersion factor of this game/series alone.

[Lonely-Martin]

I think people wouldn't care about grief, and maybe even do it more often (though, it actually wouldn't be called grief by then, more in a mo) as if I'm driving down the road, I really do enjoy those spontaneous battles, and if i wish to avoid them, passive worked just fine...

 

Like I said, it wouldn't be grief... There'd be little reward to kill, other than bragging rights of course, and RP, but if all is unlocked RP, really would mean nothing at all to many, that and when you do get killed, there's no way it'll cost you any time/money... In many cases, hours, days or weeks of getting crates etc. just gone in seconds... Because without money in game, the busineses in freemode would be all but obsolete too... It'd either just be one big battle, or join game modes to again compete only.

 

Everything then would be simply about competition, not structure or growth within your own story, or what-not, if it makes sense... To me, it'd become one big giant game of COD online... With racing, and other competitive modes... Teamwork, crews and such could suffer, without the need for cash/unlocks, stuff like heists are not worth repeating, so everything becomes much less played, co-op suffers that way... The more we needed to do drove us to do more, by default we talked more through boredom of 'the grind' and we learned much about each other in a gaming sense to build those efficient teams and groups...

 

Money goes, much goes with it... Too much for it to be a GTA game for sure dude, IMO, as you said, there's nothing to achieve other than bragging rights/RP for wins/kills...

 

Don't even slightly sound appealing being fair, doing this would make it too easy, and about only one thing, killing/winning... Less about the immersive/achievement based gaming I, and I believe many GTA longer term fans thouroughly enjoy...

 

But on the flip side, it is still hugely popular, so it does seem that a basic free-for-all is the preferred playstyle thee days, and I can see the competitive side to GTA really flourish, for those that want that...

 

But those that don't, like me, never been a PvP/shoot 'em up fan, but will embrace some combat in A, a balanced way, or B, versus NPC's and such as we invest in stories like this... Some like to be poor, some like to chase money, some like to be all kinds of characters over a game like this dude, many with multiple accounts/online character's too, to fully invest in different themes.

 

TL:DR, was in a rush as busy day, might be a ramble... I do feel competition would prevail, but equally feel more harm than good would come in the long run of a game like GTA, given it's history... More 'GTA' would suffer than not.

 

Peace.

[deadx23]

Uh actually, I've been "money aspect" free for 2 years now I don't play as I've used to but every now and then I'll log on and stare at the sun

 

I enjoy pve game play but it mostly dried up already

[StangOne50]

I actually like this idea. I often find myself doing things I would probably not normally do just to make a few bucks. There are alot of things in gta that I dont even bother doing because the money you get out of it is sh*t. Taking the money aspect out of it I think would open myself to trying some things I normally would not.

My grinding days are for the most part behind me and now most of my money comes from bunker sales. Its easy money but I consider running to the bunker every 2 hours to resupply a grind of sorts and would be much happier if I didnt have to do it.

But everyone is different. Some players still like to grind and work to grind money to buy the things they want. At this point in my gta career I am totally sick of grinding and Im over it.

I have one account that is rich and never had to worry about money and one that is dirt poor. I rarely use my poor account any more because it just sucks.Just thinking about all the grinding I would have to do to get the things I want makes me dizzy.

I love having all the toys at my disposal and not have to worry about spending the next week playing condemed just because its 2x money.

I have put alot of time into this game, way more then Id like to admit. Have ranks 715, 410, 195 and 135 so yea I think I have paid my dues to this game and would love nothing more then for the need to grind for money to end.

[R3CON]

As someone with immense ill-gotten gains, I agree with Matrelith and The-Irish-Hunter that the game is actually better when money isn't on your mind.

 

There's far too many players who refrain from playing the game how they want or acting on their natural desires because they're dead focused on their bank account, ammo costs, potential insurance, etc. Can't fire this weapon, can't go after that person. Can't play XYZ mission because it doesn't pay as much. Players forcing themselves to play 2X Cash & RP adversary modes and races they don't care about simply to get an extra buck. Taking advantage of sales on things they'd rather not buy, but have to because money is tight and this is their only shot.

 

The price & grind structure of this game has burnt out nearly everyone I know simply because GTA has to become a job before you can play freely. It's very restricting.

 

Yet if money is not an object, you have the freedom to pick and choose what you want to play in real time. Not after you've grinded or budgeted with a multi-step itinerary of what to do hour by hour. The gameplay becomes smoother and there's more variety in jobs and activities when you don't care how much they pay or what your cut is. You can say no to the Pac Stand invite and yes to low-paying contact missions. You can say no to playing Headhunter or Piracy Prevention for the millionth time or you can decline any of these freeroam businesses.

 

By the same token, it allows you to take in much more risk than you normally would. I actually welcome the violence and destruction of freeroam when moving my own product in a packed public lobby. Actions like this can be exciting and suspenseful instead of nerve-wracking or stressful. Its not an issue blowing through ammo, vehicles, insurance and contact services to help other players sell their product. Or to assist friends who are in need. For all the talk of Oppressors and Hydras and Vigilantes, it's much less of an issue when you can afford to avoid it and when you can afford the burdens of a response.

 

Ultimately, if money wasn't an object, players could enjoy GTA for what it actually is. It gives control back to the player. There's a counter-argument that if there's no financial pay off and if everything comes easy then what's the point of even playing? But think about it, if you're only doing something because there's a carrot attached, are you really doing it because you want to or because you have to?. If the gameplay of any given mission, vehicle added, weapon, business, etc is worth it's weight in salt, you would play it regardless of the pay-off. It would be fun, organically! Something you naturally enjoy doing.

 

I think the quality of the DLC we get would be drastically improved if players weren't so preoccupied with every single expense and payout; their energy and time drained in repetitive grinds. Without a carrot in front of us, Rockstar would have to be much more innovative and the gameplay would need to be more fleshed out and lasting. I can't possibly predict what the playerbase at large would evolve into, because we all have different ideas on what GTA is and should be. But we can all agree that freedom of choice and a variety of options is what makes the sandbox great. Taking money out of the equation goes a long way towards that goal.

Edited November 1, 2017 by R3CON

[fw3]

If they do : they will sell Shark Cards which add RP, I guess

Now that's an interesting thought, right there. Buying RP.

 

The idea of having new content developed for the game that's only accessible based on RP/level, would be interesting.

Even moreso, what if there were new content only accessible based on Job Points?

R* had a great opportunity to leverage a three tiered setup, with Cash, RP, and JP, but instead focused all resources on getting people to buy into the Cash aspect, that the other two tiers fell away as both unimportant and/or irrelevant.

 

I mean, who are you more likely to fear, the player at level 8000 or the player with 645 Job Points in your lobby?

[ash-274]

If you took away the money you would have GTAIV’s Multiplayer.

Everyone would have access to everything, everything would be owned and you would have a true Armageddon of everyone in freeroam with the only the most-powerful weapons killing each other because all PvE activities would be pointless.

I would be boring as hell, just like IV. The only goal would be PvP kills and K/D ratios.

[fw3]

As someone with immense ill-gotten gains, I agree with Matrelith and The-Irish-Hunter that the game is actually better when money isn't on your mind.

 

…

 

But we can all agree that freedom of choice and a variety of options is what makes the sandbox great. Taking money out of the equation toes a long way towards that goal.

I can only agree with both points.

If you took away the money you would have GTAIV’s Multiplayer.

Perhaps, but without all the hacker insanity. lol!

Edited November 1, 2017 by fw3

[ash-274]

 

As someone with immense ill-gotten gains, I agree with Matrelith and The-Irish-Hunter that the game is actually better when money isn't on your mind.

 

But we can all agree that freedom of choice and a variety of options is what makes the sandbox great. Taking money out of the equation toes a long way towards that goal.

 

I can only agree with both points.

If you took away the money you would have GTAIVs Multiplayer.

 

Perhaps, but without all the hacker insanity. lol!

 

I only played Multiplayer during the time before TLatD came out. The modders were rare, if present at all (excluding the cheating lag-switch a-hats) and it was BORING AS HELL. The few PvE co-op modes were buggy and there were fewer of those than Survivals in Online. Edited November 1, 2017 by ash-274

[Commander S]

See, I don't mind purely in-game money, as 'sand in the machine' when it comes to progression - it's basically a more malleable unlock system, where you don't need to 'hit level ____' or 'achieve feat ____' in order to access something, simply 'earn _____ amount of funbucks' in whatever way you fancy. Well, assuming that a decent variety of activities offer comparable amounts of cash, at least...

 

That's something I like about Elite Dangerous - it's a real grind for the highest-level vehicles, but that's just because so much of the progression is 'free-form', and left to the player. You can make an easy million retrieving salvage, or collecting bounties on pirates, or taking passengers sightseeing, and do with it what you wish (buy better gear, new ships, etc.). And if you don't particularly enjoy combat, you can still unlock that sweet, sweet Federal Corvette or whatever purely by playing space taxi instead.

 

 

As for removing currency (and I'm guessing unlock systems in general) entirely, that's fine, but then you risk turning the thing into Garry's Mod. I've been playing Conan Exiles lately (buggy though it is), and it's also a grind, but that 'keep hacking away at a cliff face until you have enough stone to build something' way. Now, I could just go into admin commands and spawn anything I want in seconds, and it'd probably be fun to play with things like that, but ...ehh, I'd probably burn through things almost as quickly, and get really bored, really fast.

Having in-game 'speed-bumps', like money/unlock systems, just helps 'regulate' the way in which you play (although make them too steep, and you just lock players out for long periods). I do implement my own ones, too - like only buying a new car when it's on sale, rather than ALL THE THINGS on Day 1 of a new update, so I can appreciate each car individually for longer. So yeah, I'd probably do that, but I think it's better to have those 'baked-in' granular systems as well, rather than leaving all that solely to the player.

[elfoam]

Commander S, I haven't bought Elite but I've been thinking long and hard about it.. I was a huge fan of the original back when I was a kid. Anyway.. How is it overall as a legendary game vs GTA online? better?. I see a bulk ton of people are playing it day and night and can't stop. That's the thing.. I'm not sure I have the time for it.

[Big Molio]

I stopped worrying about the money aspect a long time ago. I never have a vast amount of money, and I have never really had a vast amount of money. At most I hover between $500k and $1m. As long as I have enough to buy lots of Ghost Orgs for mischief making, I'm happy. That and insurance.

[Rafae]

I stopped worrying about the money aspect a long time ago. I never have a vast amount of money, and I have never really had a vast amount of money. At most I hover between $500k and $1m. As long as I have enough to buy lots of Ghost Orgs for mischief making, I'm happy. That and insurance.

.

 

Is this you??

 

[Commander S]

Commander S, I haven't bought Elite but I've been thinking long and hard about it.. I was a huge fan of the original back when I was a kid. Anyway.. How is it overall as a legendary game vs GTA online? better?. I see a bulk ton of people are playing it day and night and can't stop. That's the thing.. I'm not sure I have the time for it.

 

Well, it's a good game for just dipping in and doing a short mission if needed - a bit like how in GTAO, you can just pop on for 30 minutes, do some quick things, and have a decent time without needing to play for several hours.

 

Main thing is it's not for the impatient - the grind is probably on a par with GTAO, but with no microtransactions, so the entire thing is built around you doing activities for the sake of doing them. I've no problem with that - again, it's a great 'log in and chill out' game for people with varied amounts of gaming time, so provided you don't set your sights on owning a 150-million-credit gunboat within the first week (or month), you probably won't get frustrated.

 

And yeah, I kinda feel that a lot of the design ethos works for me in a way that GTAO used to, but increasingly doesn't (and I'd probably blame that on Imran Sarwar not really caring about those aspects of GTA, going from what he's said in interviews). It's pedantically committed to realism, with bounties being less about 'here's a way to get players to go after each other', and more 'we want criminality to feel like the Old West, but in space'. If you like classic sci-fi and real-world space exploration, and like the verisimilitude/immersion side of GTAO over the 'mayhem' side, then you'll probably enjoy it.

[Kiethblacklion]

If money wasn't an issue, I would still play. In fact, a while ago I resided to the fact that I would not be able to afford all that I want to in the game simply because I A) refuse to buy shark cards and B) simply don't have the game time (the joys of being an adult and a parent) to grind out ridiculously low paying missions for items that are ridiculously overpriced. So rather than worrying about trying to afford bunkers and hangars, I just hop into a private session and have fun. I found some great crew mates and we run missions and heists, races and other pvp jobs just for the sheer fun and laughter.

Would I like it if money wasn't an issue? Of course. I would love to see Rockstar adjust the payouts for missions and heists (which never felt like they paid out enough for all the work that is put into them) and lower the prices on some of the items ($4mil for a ruiner 2000? Seriously?). But nonetheless, I will always find something fun to do in Los Santos.

[.Diana McFarland.]

Would be just like the old days..

 

 

Back in 2013 when people didnt care about money.. we just cared about getting RP and leveling up

 

 

 

But in the end, I dont care about money these days, I just want to have enough to fund pvp because she it gets expensive sometimes when you spam explosives on people hiding or who are in dumb vehicles like the vigilante

Edited November 1, 2017 by .Diana McFarland.

[Commander S]

Come to think of it, money isn't really an issue for what I do in GTAO, anyway - I like to just customise vehicles, make new outfits, take pics, and generally enjoy interacting with the game world. That's why I've long said I'd enjoy a Freemode business that doesn't require a public Freemode session, even if that meant reduced payouts - if something's fun to do, particularly in GTA's trademark 'living, breathing world' manner, then it doesn't matter if it's a good way of earning money or not, IMO. There's more to GTA than just 'blowing stuff (or each other) up and causing mayhem', and 'scraping together enough money to pay things to blow stuff up/blow it up with'.

[III-Ari-III]

Gta wouldn't be gta if we weren't looking for $$$, i mean in gta 2 you would "win" the stage by achieving 1 million bucks, so the objective is always the money, kinda like in real life. Be that because you need it to live, or to have power over others, it's capitalism.

[Sanches]

Sandbox.
Well, almost.

[EggsAndJam]

Good thread.

 

I reckon people would enjoy the game more and would be more likely to play a bit of everything the game has to offer, rather than having to grind the same things over and over.

It would even the playing field and things would be more competitive for competitions sake, rather than a big dick-swinging contest.

[PwnageSoldier]

There'd be a lot more tryhards, a lot more PvPing.

 

Regardless, since I PvE more than others, I would love this.

 

Yes, people would strive for RP.

Is this you??

I stopped worrying about the money aspect a long time ago. I never have a vast amount of money, and I have never really had a vast amount of money. At most I hover between $500k and $1m. As long as I have enough to buy lots of Ghost Orgs for mischief making, I'm happy. That and insurance.

 

 

Oh god.

Edited November 1, 2017 by PwnageSoldier