Removing Player Blips from the Map; The Definitive Discussion

[evd]

so lets assume it just fix the toxic community problem.

 

nobody will sneak up on you, bc.. how? you think someone will wait hours by your garage/house? lol, get different one.

[PaeganLoveSong]

Player blips should only show up when firing a weapon or wanted by police.

[gtafan26]

Player blips should only show up when firing a weapon or wanted by police.

Or have a bounty

[evd]

agree

 

this idea basically fix and reinvent the whole concept of gta online.

 

for sake of those fishy 28% lets make it optional.

Edited November 11, 2017 by evd

[SaturdayNight]

Honestly gtaiv had a good concept of player blips being proximity based along with great shooting mechanics, more realistic run and gun mechanics that encouraged you to stand still to be more accurate. The only problem with that is you would need to encourage big payout events to entice players to come out of hiding as just leaving the player blips out would be discouraging player interaction. But i would much rather have my eyes glued to the gameplay and not the map like EVERY OTHER GAME.

 

Crouching was great too. Literally going "stealth" in gtav has absolutely no purpose when it comes to gta online which is terrible.

 

I swear we need to come together and compile a list of great mechanics and present it to a developer.. or do it ourselves.

[Karen Daniels]

I was actually shocked when GTA Online didn't have a "friendly" option like Red Dead Redemption offered. Sure, your horse would end up being plugged everyone you called for it... but you at least knew you couldnt be killed.

[StangOne50]

No I think the game would become incredibly stale very fast with no interaction. It would be very similar to playing in a solo lobby.

Something like this will never happen because you would be basically taking pvp out of the game.

[Nyamber]

No I think the game would become incredibly stale very fast with no interaction. It would be very similar to playing in a solo lobby.

Something like this will never happen because you would be basically taking pvp out of the game.

Yeah it's not like there were like, twelve super successful GTA games that came out before this one that were fun, even though they had no PvP.

 

Clearly PvP is the only thing that makes these games fun.

 

/s

[StangOne50]

 

No I think the game would become incredibly stale very fast with no interaction. It would be very similar to playing in a solo lobby.

Something like this will never happen because you would be basically taking pvp out of the game.

Yeah it's not like there were like, twelve super successful GTA games that came out before this one that were fun, even though they had no PvP.

 

Clearly PvP is the only thing that makes these games fun.

 

/s

 

Um yea those were single player games. We are talking about a online mp game. It doesnt matter anyway because blips will never be removed.

Edited November 11, 2017 by StangOne50

[Biter]

I voted to remove player blips and icons.

 

-Other aircraft should be on radar while your in an aircraft yourself.

 

-Players making noise from firing weapons should appear on the mini map (2mins) but not on the lobby map. So you have to go listen and go towards the gunfight to find them. This would also allow non hostile players the ability to escape by running away without firing a weapon and disappearing.

 

-Players getting two star wanted level should appear on the lobby map, as players detect them with their police scanners (Lore) and disappear when they lose the two star wanted level. So you can use remove wanted level to disappear.

 

You should have a couple of new trace abilities.

-Use a police contact to find a player. When used if the player passes within the vision cone of a police vehicle the player is notified and the target visible for 2 mins.

-Use a criminal contact to find a player. If the player drives through the wrong neighborhood, gets spotted by hookers or the Lost MC they are viable for 2 notifies for 2 mins as above.

[Sov47]

In no way do I think that I know the only correct answer and neither do I think anyone in here is wrong when they provide their vision, but I think this needs to be approached from all viewpoints.

 

There's some of us, here on gtaforums, who consider completely removing blips is the best option. But GTAForums does not represent all of GTA's playerbase, more like a fraction of it. A lot of "tryhard" would give up on the game if they couldn't get their share of kills.

 

Rockstar wouldn't exactly benefit from it either, at least not that much. But it all depends on the implementation of a blip-less system.

 

Keep in mind:

-Making "no blips" a lobby option splits the playerbase, and that is a very strong negative. Aim settings split the playerbase enough as it is.

-Many here want CEO/MC cargo/ freemode event/ freemode job objectives to be hidden too. This makes these businesses a whole lot easier, and that's a negative for Rockstar. It'll also get stale when there's never any competition.

-People who are in it just for some mindless PvP will get disappointed when they can't find a player to harass. That's a negative both for those players, as well as for Rockstar (smaller playerbase).

 

My point:

-A blip-less system would have to be a personal player choice. Some players will want to stay on the radar. Don't make it a lobby choice, make it an interaction menu choice. But once again, this a very difficult question because:

--This also means there has to be a tradeoff for those who decide to stay on radar. There was once an off-radar glitch that also made the lobby invisible to you. Good tradeoff, but it favours the player who wants to stay away from player interaction.

--Players who are solely in it for the PvP will be at a disadvantage when an off-radar PvP enthousiast approaches them from unknown directions.

-Cargo and Freemode objectives appearing on the map are a good incentive to have players participate/disrupt these operations. Any player who wants in on some PvP knows exactly where they need to go to get it, and the lack of any distracting freemode wars will motivate them more to get into the action. This is a negative for those who want to run their business in peace. But IMHO you either take the risk, or go to a solo public lobby. (I prefer having players try to disrupt my operations, as long as it isn't in a "cheap" way)

-Certain factors will put you on the radar. Bounties MUST appear on the map. I'm still in doubt on wanted levels putting you on the map, but I think there's potential here. Cargo and events must also appear on radar. If it bothers you, use ghost org.

-Additionally a new blip system must be adopted, similar to the "firing" blip setting from TBoGT. Shooting players briefly appear on the map. Silencers counter this. Running will also put you on the map for those who are very close. You could also use a system like in deathmatches where a visible player appears on the minimap, but there's a problem. Oftentimes a player that you didn't necessarily see, but that the game registers as seen, will appear. In this case, a player in a stolen streetcar will still be spotted, so that leaves less room for blending in.

-A new blip system can also make good use of the game's stealth mechanic, in many ways that already work (eg. hiding from the police in bushes).

-This opens up Lester's reveal players ability in freemode. This is a very sensitive topic though. Needs to be implemented right.

-Lastly, job payouts need to be tweaked accordingly. For example, if after a couple weeks we see that getting a bounty guarantees more bounty hunters than usual, buff the bounty survivor payout. If this new system makes Sightseer or some other VIP job far more difficult, buff the payout. But this isn't something we can expect from Rockstar if you think about it.

 

All in all, I'm 100% in favour of a new blip system, as long as it doesn't split the playerbase, or makes a considerable amount of players lose interest. It would also have to be well-implemented, and we know that that quality is not to be expected from Rockstar (though there's still hope).

 

------------------------------------------------------------

 

Slightly off topic, but here are my experiences with the off radar-abilities that we DO have now.

 

-The ultralight's OTR ability is a ton of fun, we need more vehicles like this.

-Nothin more satisfying that sneaking up on a bounty and stabbing them. Must try!

-Ghost org is kind of a hard case. It can easily be abused but opens up many stealth possibilities. Too bad players rarely think in that direction.

 

-Now here's an interesting case: Executive Search.

Executive search used to be fairly mediocre, was fun hiding from players but could get stale. Then we got Thermal Scopes and Goggles. Some say that stuff ruined Exec Search but I MUST disagree.

Why? Because it promotes creativity. How do I hide from an enemy that can see throug walls? Blend in. And that's what I did. Started up a solo Exec Search in a populated low-to-mid-level lobby. Stole a Sentinel off the street, picked up a hooker and got into the hiding area. Spent the whole game driving around the neighbourhood, blending in, imitating peds. I had, legit, an org of 2 and 3 non-org players looking for me. Sometimes they passed me real close but didn't notice. It was unbelievably exciting, easily the most fun stealth-experience in gta. Then ofcourse I messed up at the last 30 seconds. Passed a player too close and I appeared on their minimap (or my overhead display showed up, idk, but they discovered me). I strongly suggest you guys to try this out!

Edited November 13, 2017 by Sov47

[_47_]

I wonder if it is too late to implement this in a future update. Wishing someone with connections would pitch this idea to rockstar.

[aaronBLUEeyes]

I've been saying this since launch, free roam should opperate the same way as Deathmatches, no player blips by default but will display if:

 

- Call Lester to REVEAL player(s)

- Discharge a Fire Arm without Surpressor within it's audible radius (already in-game and is designated on minimap as sound occurs)

- Part of A Free Roam Event

- Player(s) with Bounties on their heads

 

If Free Roam was like this it would be infinitely better!!!

[The Wandering Hunter]

i recon passive mode should be toggled on at the start of a loby. you can use guns but they only damage cops, and civilian vehicles. your blip and other players blips are also hidden.

 

i think with such a large map, general blips need to stay otherwise you'd basically be playing solo except for occasionally being noticed and jet strafed once, before sniping it from cover, then never seeing them again.

 

and honestly hidden blips would just make trolls target deliveries etc which are the only targets left.

[Rewdalf]

No I think the game would become incredibly stale very fast with no interaction. It would be very similar to playing in a solo lobby.

Something like this will never happen because you would be basically taking pvp out of the game.

 

Do you honestly think PvPers and griefers would just give up?

 

Worst it could do is breed a new range of griefers who actually have to hunt their targets.

It would also remove a lot of people who just target low levels who they know don't have access to higher tier weaponry.

True PvP would be a lot better, rather than having high levels farming low levels to raise their oh-so-important K/D...

 

i recon passive mode should be toggled on at the start of a loby. you can use guns but they only damage cops, and civilian vehicles. your blip and other players blips are also hidden.

 

i think with such a large map, general blips need to stay otherwise you'd basically be playing solo except for occasionally being noticed and jet strafed once, before sniping it from cover, then never seeing them again.

 

and honestly hidden blips would just make trolls target deliveries etc which are the only targets left.

 

How is being strafed by a jet once worse than being camped at each new spawn for an indefinite amount of time?

 

What you just described sounds better than the latter.

 

Not to mention, keeping cargo blips in a game with none is a massive step backward.

Cargo needs to be the first thing they hide from the map, so that potential hunters have to work harder to find and destroy them.

[HamwithCheese]

I wonder if it is too late to implement this in a future update. Wishing someone with connections would pitch this idea to rockstar.

How the meeting would go:

 

"I have an idea for-"

"YEAH DOES IT MAKE US MONEY?"

[Xiled]

Makes gta iv multiplayer and rdr multiplayer, and doesn't bring there well done and balanced lobby settings into the game.

GTA IV Multiplayer with blips.

Far- you only see blips far away, not up close Near- you only see blips near you. All- you see everyone all the time None- there are no blips

.All this refers to the mini map and full map.

 

RDR Multiplayer with Lobby Types.

Normal Freeroam - players can attack and kill other players and players can choose any targeting mode based on their preferences. Other players appear on the radar and the map.

 

Hardcore Freeroam - except that only expert targeting is allowed, and other players' blips only appear on the radar when they sprint, fire their gun, respawn, or gallop on a horse. *Expert Targeting is 100% Freeaim Only

 

Friendly Freemode - Though players are still able to shoot each other, players cannot be killed by each other. *PvE only

 

GTA Online would be a much better to enjoy game with those 2 simple things from gta iv and rdr multiplayer. GTA IV and RDR both used peer to peer like gta online does, so if they say they "can't" do it, its bs.

Funny that most players I see "PvP" have to rely on there minimap to find players. Wan't proof? Call a mugger on one of them, they will get mugged 9 times out of 10 since muggers don't show up on the minimap until they mug someone. It wouldn't be removing "PvP" from the game, it would just get rid of those without skill finding players without there radar. Want a more fun PvP experience? Have a group of friends play a deathmatch but all with there radars off. If those who like to "PvP" want to be truly good at the game, turn your radars off to find other players , but they won't because there normal easy mode gamestyle wouldn't be possible anymore.

[Dondara]

Remove the blips. They won’t do it but it would have been better without them. Impatient players could just play dm’s. We know where warehouses are. You could stake them out, plan your ambush and get away without having every dipsh*t on map who had nothing to do with your plan screwig it up for you.

[Biter]

Ultimately for all the nice ideas here, it will not happen.

 

What sells SharkCards more than anything? Armoured military vehicles with machine guns and rockets!

 

Take away the need for these vehicles and SharkCard sales will nose dive.

 

Make me fear for RDR2. Everyone will role around in armoured carriage with Gatling gun turret on top... You know its true!

[SaturdayNight]

I honestly think a mini map should be placed on the gps of your car or your phone. I just think instead of failing at trying to make a game as grand as you can. Start with making simple game mechanics and interaction more thrilling and engaging.

[daricusGTA]

It does make the game incredibly more immersive. For examples of how it affects gameplay try playing on a FiveM RP server, the majority of which have these options disabled. Further, if one wants to "hide", it brings up whole new dynamics of driving a "sleeper" car, obeying the speed limit, stopping for lights, making sure your car is not damaged as to be distinctive, etc.

 

I believe the original "off the radar" intent was inverted... that is to say, you would call Lester to reveal non-friends/crew on the map, and you were not able to use the phone to deposit money, neccessitating the use of ATMs across the map for that purpose, and the potential danger of them being staked out by player thieves. That would have been incredibly more interesting, but likely a bit overwhelming for new players, or at least enough that this decision was reversed. I have no proof of any of this, just a gut feeling.

[Skeve613]

I can see a lot of ways this could help... but I can also vividly imagine the undignified sounds I would make if I were to walk out of the store and find a Rhino Tank sitting outside which wasn't on my radar...

 

More on topic, muggers might be less effective with no radar present, because people might be paying more attention to their surroundings than their minimaps, and might spot them more easily as a result.

[Big Molio]

Remove the blips. They won’t do it but it would have been better without them. Impatient players could just play dm’s. We know where warehouses are. You could stake them out, plan your ambush and get away without having every dipsh*t on map who had nothing to do with your plan screwig it up for you.

That would be fun, camping outside a warehouse all day waiting for somebody to turn up. Also, the howls of anguish and vitriol would just turn towards those people, who would suddenly be at the top of all bitch-and-moan topics as the griefers nobody wants.

[Xiled]

I can see a lot of ways this could help... but I can also vividly imagine the undignified sounds I would make if I were to walk out of the store and find a Rhino Tank sitting outside which wasn't on my radar...

 

More on topic, muggers might be less effective with no radar present, because people might be paying more attention to their surroundings than their minimaps, and might spot them more easily as a result.

Your more likely to get mugged in game than killed by a tank in 2017.

 

 

That would be fun, camping outside a warehouse all day waiting for somebody to turn up. Also, the howls of anguish and vitriol would just turn towards those people, who would suddenly be at the top of all bitch-and-moan topics as the griefers nobody wants.

Don't worry we still find a way to play in public solo lobby's. They have "fixed" hundreds of money glitches since launch and players still find more.

Edited November 14, 2017 by Xiled

[SaturdayNight]

It does make the game incredibly more immersive. For examples of how it affects gameplay try playing on a FiveM RP server, the majority of which have these options disabled. Further, if one wants to "hide", it brings up whole new dynamics of driving a "sleeper" car, obeying the speed limit, stopping for lights, making sure your car is not damaged as to be distinctive, etc.

 

I believe the original "off the radar" intent was inverted... that is to say, you would call Lester to reveal non-friends/crew on the map, and you were not able to use the phone to deposit money, neccessitating the use of ATMs across the map for that purpose, and the potential danger of them being staked out by player thieves. That would have been incredibly more interesting, but likely a bit overwhelming for new players, or at least enough that this decision was reversed. I have no proof of any of this, just a gut feeling.

I think an easy fix for that would be to allow more facets to make large amounts of cash. Make it just as easy to get cash, albeit maybe a bit longer of a task than losing it, possibly having an npc based team that looks after new players until they gain enough noteriety to run their own enterprise. Also the idea of stealing someone's hidden shipment seems like a great addition to what you just mentioned concerning lesters ability have a choice to reveal a players in a rival crew. For example lets say you got a million dollars worth of coke youre saving for a sale in 2 hours and you choose not to have it looked after but rather hiding in a shipment container.

 

 

I can see a lot of ways this could help... but I can also vividly imagine the undignified sounds I would make if I were to walk out of the store and find a Rhino Tank sitting outside which wasn't on my radar...

 

More on topic, muggers might be less effective with no radar present, because people might be paying more attention to their surroundings than their minimaps, and might spot them more easily as a result.

 

Which would add to the paranoia aspect and value of the game. I think adding in more npc types other than kill them or mug them would have been cool. Theyve already proven npc can protect and steal things. Hiring a group of npc to steal a shipment or protect someone would be awesome too.

Edited November 14, 2017 by SaturdayNight

[El Payaso]

I've been a long time advocate for this. It's stupid that all players are constantly shown on the map. The map should be used strictly for navigation purposes. Period.

[El Payaso]

Why not just have options for different lobbies with different settings like map or no nap.

[Hécate-II]

Why not just have options for different lobbies with different settings like map or no nap.

Becoz it would split the playerbase, like if the playerbase wasn't already splited in five damn platforms, 2 or more aiming types, and millions and millions of lobbies. It would be catastrophic if hardcore options were enabled like in other games.

 

 

GTA is like MacDonald "Come as you are". R* Devs have decided that all players must eat their f*cking Happy Meal composed of meme vehicles, crappy physics, crappy ballistic, where humans are carrying electronic devices, where genuine strategy and tactic are literally nullified by gamey features like radar blips.

 

I'm even surprised that Free Aim lobbies exist at this point. Even if they're still part of the Happy Meal, as FA and FA A lobbies are the same ones.

[0cta]

I remember posting this earlier, but i can't find that post anymore.

 

This while blip thing comes down to R* never completely overhauling or rebalancing existing game mechanicy when adding new content.

 

I played V from release, but only started Online last year, so i had to dig through some history.

 

"Back in the day", which means before crates, the huge moneymakers where in group-instances: Contact missions, races or heists. The only military vehicles buyable where the buzzard, annihilator and rhino, with the lazer only available in fort zancudo. The heist-update added a few more. With this, i think the machineguns on the JB700 were disabled because we weren't supposed to go on fulll war in FR and it was a bit over the top. The last point gets really funny if you think about what we have now.

 

Players that "really play the game" or trying to make money did not stay in the lobby for too long, as they started CMs, heists and such. FR was a playground for relaxation, people messing around and showing off. But from the gameplay aspect, it was entirely optional to participate. There are even rules that try to encourage not getting on someone else's nerves: Car insurance, bad sport. In that time there was absolutely no need to hide the players locations.....what was the worst harm? Going passive while searching for jobs had no downside.

 

But with crates, they start shoveling PvP oriented content into FR without adjusting FR from "optional PvP/messing around" to "PvP oriented gameplay". To keep up with the inflation and even to play the new content, players are forced to participate in FR without the chance to go passive, something it wasn't supposed to be at the start. Rockstar obviously wants to encourage PvP-Battles in FreeRoam, so why shouldn't they rebalance FR to fit its new purpose? We know GTAO can do it and R* knows what to do with PvP, did it before: Deathmatches. GTAO FR is the only PvP-Game i know where the very exact spot of an enemy is displayed on the map on default. And why? Because FreeRoam became what it wasn't suppoed to be. I think they're also called lobbies. These are usually a place to hang out until you do something else, staying in them shouldn't be their point.

[DBrasco]

The player blip was done in order for players to be able to meet up.... and then f*ck each other over.