[GTAO] Back To Basics with GTAO Classic

[fw3]

Based on much of the recent dialogue here, I'm curious who would go for this and who would balk at it.

Now, this is a wishlist concept, but rather more of a "would you/wouldn't" you idea.

If by some weirdo decision, Rockstar were to release a GTAO standalone product, say GTAO Classic, that was exactly the same as what was originally released back at the initial launch, for free, would you consider abandoning the current state of gameplay and go back to that simpler landscape of gameplay?

Some of the features might be:
• No future DLC updates to the standalone version. It will remain in launch status for good.
• All original vehicles are still available to purchase.
• Your RP is reset and you go back to zero, a level playing field for all players (in the standalone version, only)
• Your cash is reset and you go back to a zero bank account, again, level for all players (in the standalone version, only)
• All original missions, races, contacts, and jobs are available (Rooftop, Coveted, and Pot Shot are as they were at launch, and yes, Dom is back).
• All original side missions would return, like Armored Cars, Priority Vehicles, Gang Wars, etc.
• Weapons are only unlockable by level, as are certain vehicles, like the Rhino Tank.
• North Yankton location would be available via a special air transport found at all airports.
• There are also new non-invasive additions to the standalone that didn't exist prior, like Taxi, Police, and Ambulance Missions.
• Passive Mode would revert to it's last generation ability, where you could still be shot in a vehicle or run over by other players.
• And other potential features would be there, too... perhaps you might offer insight on those, here?

So, the question of the thread is that if this standalone GTAO Classic product were released, completely disconnected from the current GTAO game, would it be something of interest to folks?

What would get you to be on board with this style of game?
What would keep you from playing a game like this?
Would you play it and go back and forth from the current GTAO?
Would you abandon the current GTAO and solely play this GTAO Classic?

As always, this is a discussion just in the interest and love of the game, and not speculation, prediction, or wishlisting that any real product release of this nature will actually come... though, of course, I'd welcome it. lol! 

Curious about your thoughts, insight, and ideas. Cheers!!!


 

[JaberDoe]

Honestly, there has been more pros than the (many) cons in the updates, so I don't think I can go back.  Would probably feel empty now... 

[DrKrankenstein]

change is the only constant. you either adapt, or die out.

 

so, with that out of the way, what is your interest here OP with all these datamining threads?.

[Lonely-Martin]

Hmmm.

 

Minus the stuff R* removed though, we can still play this game that way. (No Yankton though of course, lol).

 

And I do play that game very much, but with all this added too.

 

My only real issues are the choices we had with that original version just don't exist outside of manipulating the game/internet to tailor it to do so, or get lucky. And the effect the cards have on the game in terms of the little bits they indeed nickel and dime us over. (Insurance/BS points, phone calks/texts, and the grind).

 

Of course, balance too. But with lobby choice, I could balance it, lol. We all could. However we wanted.

 

But I would download that in a heartbeat and be more than happy to go again too there in this scenario fw3, lol. I love GTA, 20 years in, more than ever too. So many good games. sh*t, I only started a fresh San An a few months back, RDR too. And even a 2nd account in GTA:O as I was waiting for After Life. (Got so many 50% deals with that CMM cash and is all set, lol).

 

And in this scenario, we'd have North Yankton online. Sold!!!

 

Not to sound greedy. Easily both.

Edited August 17, 2018 by KWF1981
Forgot those phone calls. Paige is fast becoming just another irritance. And, spelling is always on point. /s

[Sanches]

Snek, try to remember some of the basics of GTAO.

I voted for "other" because i really don't prefer any of the versions. Classic is boring, but the current one is dangerous!

[Guest]

Voted "other", too. Classic offered too little of what mostly-lone-wolf-tourist me seeks from this game, and nothing shall part me now from my nightclub

On the other hand, while DLCs have offered much desirable content, they also offered many concepts I strongly disagree with, foremost the forced public business.

 

I would certainly appreciate a new approach to online, but even then it would have to be an excellent deal for me to start over anew. Would rather pay for some sort of transfer package even, to be honest.

 

I hope it doesn't violate the confines of OPs proposal, but I like to add what I would like online to become is a primarily story mode/ single player based experience (including graphics) with safe and rewarding, strong multiplayer options; basically all the stuff already published, even the ridiculous stuff, can stay, tastes being different and all.

Edited August 17, 2018 by Guest

[GTA-Biker]

While I would love to see armored trucks, high priority vehicles, removed missions (Coveted, Potshot...) and other removed content return,and I'm not really happy about R* releasing a bunch of mememobiles since Import/Export DLC (Rocket Voltic, KITT, flip car, flying bikes, flying Deluxo, submarine car, Batmobile...),but I still wouldn't remove all the stuff that was added in all the DLCs in the last 5 years.There's a bunch of vehicles, weapons, clothes, missions (some contact missions, Lamar's lowrider missions, clubhouse contracts, VIP work, nightclub promo missions...) and other features that were added in DLCs,that I like.As someone who is into motorcycles,I waited 3 years for R* to release Bikers DLC,so I wouldn't want to go back to having only 3 chopper bikes to choose from and having to wear a leather jacket with some stupid stripes on it.

[R3CON]

It was better to start in 2013, not know what else is to come and enjoy what you have; slowly gaining content over time. Starting in 2018 and purposely losing five years worth of content - being fully aware of everything you're not going to experience - just feels like missing out. 

 

I understand the "less is more" concept that fuels this proposal and for a little while it'd keep me entertained. But once that brief exploratory phase ends, I'll be right back to current GTA or (better yet) a different/new game entirely.

 

Barren GTA aka GTA Classic wouldn't capture my interest over the long haul. You'd get rid of alot of weaponized content and PvP exploits, which would be nice in theory, but considering everything else you'd lose it would be tantamount to throwing out the baby with the bathwater. 

Edited August 17, 2018 by R3CON

[septimoose]

I voted for how things are now, because as messed up as some things are in the current game, there's a lot that was missing from the original release. It was so buggy back then.

 

Even though the original release remained essentially a GTA game, what we've got now has so many options for things to do and see (some good, a lot bad).

 

If there was an option to "roll back" to a certain update and leave it there, then that might be a good choice. Or if you got to pick and choose the updates you want incorporating into your GTA Online world, that would be awesome. But then it'd limit you to a much smaller player base. I'd love to remove the more Saints Row-esque updates such as flying bikes and explosive ammo (so GR), but I think removing anything to make it more playable would mean it's not GTA Online. Tbh I go to GTA Online to EXPECT the absurd.

[kcole4001]

I don't know, I had to say 'Other'.

 

I started playing late in 2016, so I have no conception of the original GTAO experience.

 

The current situation: could be better, and it could be worse.

It is what it is.

The game is still a lot of fun, I look forward to playing, but some aspects have gotten completely out of control.

Many aspects could have been better implemented, an overall grand plan would have been a huge benefit, but it really feels like that's either never been in place or been absent for a very long time.

 

I really don't know if going to a basic version of the game would be better, or even much fun after what's available now.

It's difficult to retrain people, and you can't erase what's already been

 

The experience has been useful, however.

I know I will absolutely avoid anything that will devolve into the same problems GTAO has been home to.

I've always avoided online gaming since it first appeared, for the very reason I think this current game has become such a sh*tshow.

Maybe it was always a sh*tshow, those that love that can have it.

Not my thing.

 

I'm a long haul player, a role-player, in for the grand campaign, character development, all that.

Seeing how many times I can kill noobs (or be killed) holds less than zero interest for me.

Totally irrelevant to my interests.

[Pete4000uk]

Yeah, in would go back to the start. Keep the non heavy artillery DLC vehicles.

[Bloodytears1666]

I would enjoy GTA Classic. May be leave only normal cars updates and remove businesses, military, unrealistic vehicles. 

 

Actually free ride extreme would work for gta online classic, like when on the map randomly in different places there will be like random spawn points for Smuggler's planes, MKII weapons, rare futuristic stuff etc. but they all limited for being single in session and hidden, so player who found them can use it until it's get destroyed. This will be cool, and people can explore map every day for random events with such nice prizes.

 

In the same manner there could be just battle for money bags, instead of crates, or even you need to deliver a stash to your lock out and gain money instantly. Freemode missions without any special vehicles or properties, simple some and random. Nothing makes gameplay like random events where everyone involved more or less.

 

In addition - limited ammo and load out. Could be even missions to gain ammo from NPC gangsters with stealth approach ability or even mugger can steal a gun or ammo from player and bring it to you. 

[Commander S]

I mean, I've actually toyed with the idea of just plugging my 360 back in, sticking to closed sessions like a solo game, and enjoying the simplicity of everything pre-Freemode Events. Said it before, but even while you can see the initial signs of reversing original design decisions as far back as the 2014 re-release (the more conventional character creator, for one), and particularly with the "f*** it - let's just sell jets with explosive cannons, now" of Heists, I think 'replacing truck hijacking and cop-baiting activities with ...bouncing around a realistic pastiche of Los Angeles as friggin' Teen Wolf' marks the earliest point of current leadership treating the game as less of a consistent virtual environment, and more as a big, context-free repository for Random Content™.

 

I think a complete reversion back to the launch version of the game, though, would be incredibly bare-bones - I remember people playing at launch, seeing all there was to see, getting bored and going off to play other things, and really only coming back in earnest when regular updates really kicked off with the Business Update. In other words, that was the point where GTAO stopped feeling like the simplistic multiplayer spin-off of GTA V, and started actually feeling like the kind of ever-evolving, dynamic, persistent experience that R* was selling.

 

There's not really much that can be done with the current state of Online in terms of turning back the clock (as much as I would like to see weaponised vehicles, bunkers/facilities, Freemode events, etc. get yanked from the game entirely - just f*** all of that sh**), and it's pointless to expect anything like that - but at the very least, R* could build on the nightclub side of After Hours, and let players do more stuff in closed sessions. That, and add a 'turn off repeat phonecalls' option, so that you only need to put up with in-game spam the first time, and then it's a non-issue. At the moment, you either have to miss out on most of the activities added over the last two years, or deal with intrusive gimmicks like the orbital cannon and Depressors - if we're allowed to do things like VIP work, nightclub management, Terrorbyte client jobs, etc. in closed sessions, then R* clearly doesn't see that as verboten.

 

Let players do most things in most session types, and that's a simple way of enabling people to filter out the bits they don't want to experience, without having to remove anything outright.

[gtafan26]

I wouldnt want to go all they back to basic's,  but some things like less weaponized vehicles and just less military stuff I would be ok with.

[Quinn_flower]

i just liked the quality of life updates we has post 2014.....now its kiddy crap with that cod stuff. 

[Rafae]

Despite all its faults there's definitely more good than bad in the current version of gtao so I'd still want that  but with changes made I.e quality control stuff, bug fixes and all that. When it comes to content I think they've given me everything I ever wished for more and more, with the exception of maybe casinos and mansions so I'm more than satisfied on that front.

[Nick1020]

I’d do the current if the Oppressor, Deluxo, explosive shotgun, and orbital cannon were removed. GTAO definitely gotten better with enough ways to make money but the the stuff I mentioned ruins the experience. 

[Giantsgiants]

I think a hybrid would satisfy most of the people. Don't go all the way back, but take out the troll stuff like orbital cannons and rocket bikes.

 

Not having DLC isn't always a good thing. I do remember back in the day, hardly any games had DLC or other extra content. What you saw was what you got, and we were fine with it. But now people's expectations have changed and now we've come to expect DLC. I remember when Forza Horizon 2 was announced, people were bitching and moaning about the Xbox 360 version not having any DLC. So yeah, we shouldn't go all the way back in time and not release any updates or DLC's.

[fw3]

On 8/17/2018 at 8:28 AM, DrKrankenstein said:

what is your interest here OP with all these datamining threads?.

I just try to post a variety of interesting topics about all kind of things that usually crop up while I'm playing.
Some work, some don't. 

Not for nothing, I wouldn't call it "data mining" so much as an innate curiosity to know exactly what's in the hoagie.

On 8/17/2018 at 11:42 AM, kcole4001 said:

I'm a long haul player, a role-player, in for the grand campaign, character development, all that.

Yes, I can wholeheartedly relate to this, as well.

For me, personally, I'd love the option to play the Classic "from day one" version, again.
Knowing what I know now... knowing how simple it was then.

There's a lot of folks, I'm sure who keep the grand campaign in perspective, yet go mouth-dry at the release of some of the more recent, cartoonish vehicles and such.
But, those in it for the long haul, like you, kcole4001, it's a nice progression to watch unfold, even if completion is about as far along as the Construction Site in GTAO. lol!

Thanks for the replies, all. Good reading the thoughts. Cheers!

[Nihilist.]

I wouldn't bother playing GTA:O Classic if it came out, and the reason is pretty simple - it still would be GTA Online, with its day 1 problems that exist to this very day. Horrible loading times, easy to crack architecture, game kicking you out from the session after accepting a job invitation just to see the lobby's full and you can't join, generally inferior gameplay experience compared to the story mode, damn K/D ratio and easy way out, awkward switching between your two online characters (involving more loading and session jumping), etc.

 

So long story short, it still would be GTA Online, with everything bad about it, except nothing good that came from its updates. No heists, for example, nor I/E. It would be a very bare-bones experience, one that's very shallow compared to today's GTA:O, despite terrible things that were added to it, like the orbital cannon, Oppressors, bulletsponge nemies from Doomsday Heist, or overall Saints-Rowization of the game.

That being said, I think there wouldn't be a big audience for such game - people who still play GTA Online would keep playing the original not bothering with its little Classic variant, and those who already quit because they've got bored or hate to see how R* is ruining it more and more, wouldn't return anyways. It would be a game fro nobody.

[SinZer0s]

I'm not going back to the crappy pants before lowriders even if this means having to tolerate a bunch of idiotic f*cks.

[Sov47]

I remember back in the very early days of GTA O, our motivation was making more money, leveling up and buying more expensive stuff. That's all we needed, and things really haven't changed if you look at it.

 

Back then, buying a mid-end appartment and my first sportscar (9F cabrio, still have it) felt like grinding for an office nowadays. The payouts got bigger and so did the prices, yet everything was so much more immersive.

 

Long story about contact missions ahead

Spoiler

 

 

But the real kicker is the experience and it doesn't seem like anyone else has experienced this (XBOX 360, long before Beach Bum): the pve side of the players had a real breaking point.

 

You had the players who died 5 times in Gerald jobs and basically wouldn't make a profit on the 6th try, and you had those who pushed forwards.

 

Back then, unlocking new Contact Missions was like progressing in a story mode of some sort, and that's how I roleplayed it. Then, many players came to the challenge that was "base invaders". You'd be around level 18-22. You unlocked the SMG and some better armour. You got this far, so you'd be getting invites from other players who also got this far. I remember it took me 20+ attempts with different players to finally complete that sh*t. And you KNEW a player was good when he got past that mission.

 

Every trip in that plane was like a heist planning board. I remember one group all had mics and we were planning our approach in voice chat. Back then, there was only a very basic first person mode (press B or Cirlce while in the passenger seat of some specific vehicles a.k.a. a replacement for cinematic cam) I remember looking out the window, looking right and seeing one of our team, who was laying out the plan, actually move his mouth. Stuff was so immersive, I wish we could go back there. That was also the first time we completed that mission. And after that, you'd see people who passed it help others, for now they unlocked the assault rifle or even *gasp* the sniper at lvl 27. And you'd be blessed to have a sniper covering your team. And back then, that sh*t made a difference, the assault rifle's range was far better suited for the battle on fort zancudo than the smg. And slowly you'd see more players get past Base invaders for you were now getting newer mission invites.

 

This would last for a long time. eventually people would get to that one point, being Rooftop Rumble, and that's when it got popular. Everyone would grind that one mission, and true popularity came from hitting the level requirement to host that job and inviting others. This model was doomed to fail at some point, when enough people reached the end (I think it was a mission at lvl 60, On Manouvers).

 

 

The era of contact mission progression died when everyone started grinding rooftop rumble. Then Rockstar patched the f*ck outta grinding contact missions and reworked the formula and that's when the era of coop contacts died for me and many others.

Then that whole formula was revived with Heists and it was twice as good as before.

 

I'd definitely go back to that time, but it wouldn't last too long, and it's mostly just nostalgia. I wish new players wouldn't be bombed with phone calls and offers and other information. Just give them contact missions to start with, and less people will be begging for money, as they will actually know what to do now.

 

Recently I created a new character along with some friends for a "hardcore" playthrough. My new character only owns a pistol and a micro smg. He is not allowed to buy weapons, only "source" them (gang attacks etc). I use old school tactics for losing cops among other things, so instead of calling lester, I take off my mask and switch to a personal vehicle, parked in a hidden spot, to prevent cops from recognizing me (this really works btw). 

 

It's so much fun having a new, basic and difficult character to play as, it partly takes me back to those days and partly makes it feel like a different game. We had to use whatever we could find and learn all kinds of cool ways to complete missions.

 

I wish we had a third character slot, only this one gets no properties, no cars or guns, nothing. Actually thought about this as a new lobby idea: triple the income, triple the risk. No personal anything, just pure skill and luck. (Read spoiler for breakdown, but really nothing interesting there, just brainstorm)

 

Spoiler

The gamemode puts your third character into a new lobby category, where only similar characters can interact. Nobody has personal vehicles, guns or properties. Cars can be stolen and modded at reduced price, but once they're gone, they're gone. Guns need to be sourced and found. Properties don't matter, your profits go to your other characters, or towards keeping yourself alive.

 

No weaponized vehicles spawn, not even at fort zancudo. The only weaponized vehicle that remains is the Annihilator (six seats, far from OP, skill required). Other, non armed vehicles from updates spawn in small events for those that want to be ahead of others. Weapons are more limited. No rocket or homing launchers, no explosive ammo. Sticky bombs and grenades are rare and limited. No minigun. Snipers disable movement when scoped. 

 

Player blips are hidden, police blips are hidden too but police behaviour is altered to be less cheat-y.

 

Money is earned through non-business related freemode events like business battles, only more low-tiers. Money earned is kept "in pocket". Banking the cash requires something similar to a sell mission, with a certain percent linked to the amount transfered (laundering fee). Character death means dropping all cash in pocket.

 

Imma think about this over the next couple days and maybe draft up a thread, see what the community thinks.

 

And don't forget we were wishlisting back then as well. The game lacked a lot of QoL things we have now. Back then we also wished for bare feet, ski masks and gloves.

 

Can you believe Pegasus deliveries costed 1000$ back then? It was cheaper to call Lester and source a helicopter! Who the hell even uses that anymore?

 

We used to be able to snipe people out of tanks. We didn't have Quick GPS. We didn't have a lot of things that we are so used to today. GTA O Classic would have to be a new build with simply weaponised stuff and businesses removed, because the lack of things we've grown accustomed to would be far too noticeable. Just wait 'till Johny on the spot gets mad about his salary, beats you up, and takes your supercar for a joyride around the map, AND GOOD LUCK CHASING HIM.

 

 

Edited August 18, 2018 by Sov47

[fw3]

3 hours ago, Sov47 said:

I remember back in the very early days of GTA O, our motivation was making more money, leveling up and buying more expensive stuff. That's all we needed, and things really haven't changed if you look at it.

 

Back then, buying a mid-end appartment and my first sportscar (9F cabrio, still have it) felt like grinding for an office nowadays. The payouts got bigger and so did the prices, yet everything was so much more immersive.

 

Long story about contact missions ahead

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

But the real kicker is the experience and it doesn't seem like anyone else has experienced this (XBOX 360, long before Beach Bum): the pve side of the players had a real breaking point.

 

You had the players who died 5 times in Gerald jobs and basically wouldn't make a profit on the 6th try, and you had those who pushed forwards.

 

Back then, unlocking new Contact Missions was like progressing in a story mode of some sort, and that's how I roleplayed it. Then, many players came to the challenge that was "base invaders". You'd be around level 18-22. You unlocked the SMG and some better armour. You got this far, so you'd be getting invites from other players who also got this far. I remember it took me 20+ attempts with different players to finally complete that sh*t. And you KNEW a player was good when he got past that mission.

 

Every trip in that plane was like a heist planning board. I remember one group all had mics and we were planning our approach in voice chat. Back then, there was only a very basic first person mode (press B or Cirlce while in the passenger seat of some specific vehicles a.k.a. a replacement for cinematic cam) I remember looking out the window, looking right and seeing one of our team, who was laying out the plan, actually move his mouth. Stuff was so immersive, I wish we could go back there. That was also the first time we completed that mission. And after that, you'd see people who passed it help others, for now they unlocked the assault rifle or even *gasp* the sniper at lvl 27. And you'd be blessed to have a sniper covering your team. And back then, that sh*t made a difference, the assault rifle's range was far better suited for the battle on fort zancudo than the smg. And slowly you'd see more players get past Base invaders for you were now getting newer mission invites.

 

This would last for a long time. eventually people would get to that one point, being Rooftop Rumble, and that's when it got popular. Everyone would grind that one mission, and true popularity came from hitting the level requirement to host that job and inviting others. This model was doomed to fail at some point, when enough people reached the end (I think it was a mission at lvl 60, On Manouvers).

 

 

The era of contact mission progression died when everyone started grinding rooftop rumble. Then Rockstar patched the f*ck outta grinding contact missions and reworked the formula and that's when the era of coop contacts died for me and many others.

Then that whole formula was revived with Heists and it was twice as good as before.

 

I'd definitely go back to that time, but it wouldn't last too long, and it's mostly just nostalgia. I wish new players wouldn't be bombed with phone calls and offers and other information. Just give them contact missions to start with, and less people will be begging for money, as they will actually know what to do now.

 

Recently I created a new character along with some friends for a "hardcore" playthrough. My new character only owns a pistol and a micro smg. He is not allowed to buy weapons, only "source" them (gang attacks etc). I use old school tactics for losing cops among other things, so instead of calling lester, I take off my mask and switch to a personal vehicle, parked in a hidden spot, to prevent cops from recognizing me (this really works btw). 

 

It's so much fun having a new, basic and difficult character to play as, it partly takes me back to those days and partly makes it feel like a different game. We had to use whatever we could find and learn all kinds of cool ways to complete missions.

 

I wish we had a third character slot, only this one gets no properties, no cars or guns, nothing. Actually thought about this as a new lobby idea: triple the income, triple the risk. No personal anything, just pure skill and luck. (Read spoiler for breakdown, but really nothing interesting there, just brainstorm)

 

  Hide contents

The gamemode puts your third character into a new lobby category, where only similar characters can interact. Nobody has personal vehicles, guns or properties. Cars can be stolen and modded at reduced price, but once they're gone, they're gone. Guns need to be sourced and found. Properties don't matter, your profits go to your other characters, or towards keeping yourself alive.

 

No weaponized vehicles spawn, not even at fort zancudo. The only weaponized vehicle that remains is the Annihilator (six seats, far from OP, skill required). Other, non armed vehicles from updates spawn in small events for those that want to be ahead of others. Weapons are more limited. No rocket or homing launchers, no explosive ammo. Sticky bombs and grenades are rare and limited. No minigun. Snipers disable movement when scoped. 

 

Player blips are hidden, police blips are hidden too but police behaviour is altered to be less cheat-y.

 

Money is earned through non-business related freemode events like business battles, only more low-tiers. Money earned is kept "in pocket". Banking the cash requires something similar to a sell mission, with a certain percent linked to the amount transfered (laundering fee). Character death means dropping all cash in pocket.

 

Imma think about this over the next couple days and maybe draft up a thread, see what the community thinks.

 

And don't forget we were wishlisting back then as well. The game lacked a lot of QoL things we have now. Back then we also wished for bare feet, ski masks and gloves.

 

Can you believe Pegasus deliveries costed 1000$ back then? It was cheaper to call Lester and source a helicopter! Who the hell even uses that anymore?

 

We used to be able to snipe people out of tanks. We didn't have Quick GPS. We didn't have a lot of things that we are so used to today. GTA O Classic would have to be a new build with simply weaponised stuff and businesses removed, because the lack of things we've grown accustomed to would be far too noticeable. Just wait 'till Johny on the spot gets mad about his salary, beats you up, and takes your supercar for a joyride around the map, AND GOOD LUCK CHASING HIM.

 

 

Wow, Sov47, so many great talking points in your reply! I like the idea of creating a new character just for the "starting over" feel. That's excellent.

I also really like the idea of the 3rd character slot getting nothing and having to earn via freemode events. 

Would love to see a thread idea based on that concept. Cheers!

[IceDree]

No, I wouldn't play a GTAO "Classic".

Early GTAO wasn't worth getting an Xbox subscription for me & I ignored it until I moved to next gen (just before IGG).

 

I'd play GTA V over a GTAO "Classic". At least with V I get the proper dynamic weather, traffic, cops & random missions.