Why haven't there been more open world games set in Miami

[Zello]

It's been 13 years since Vice City stories and the Scarface game came out in 2006 the last time Miami was featured in a video game (There was also Godfather 2 that came out in 2009 but we wont count that mess lol) When Vice city came out in 2002 many fell in love with that game. I'm surprised that there hasn't been another developer or studio that hasn't made another open world in Miami. Maybe it's out of respect to R* or because open world games are hard to create and cost a lot of money and time with a possibility that it could flop.

[feckyerlife]

Miami is small area and not much there outside of the coastal cities, in real life you can drive from Ft Lauderdale to Miami in about 25-30min the everglades for most part is the majority of southern Florida. Also i feel the map would feel like too much like the New Bordeaux map.

[Mister Pink]

Or you could ask: "why has there been so many games set in Miami?"

 

Driv3r

Vice City

Vice City Stories

Scarface: The World Is Yours

The Godfather 2

 

I think of all the cities in the US and Miami is almost overrepresented, with perhaps New York and L.A. ahead.  When I see cities like Boston with little-to-no representation ( Fallout 4).

 

But if I was to answer my own question, I would suspect Scarface and Miami Vice really inspired all those games to be set there. Coupled with the fact that it's a holiday town for tourists, a gateway to the US for cocaine and immigrants and a retirement city for the old. The fact that it's picturesque too in a postcard kind of way. 

 

I don't mean to be smart but although I like Miami, I don't think it's lacking open-world videogames there. When you consider the amount of cities and cities with open-world games set in them, Miami must be in the top 3. 

Edited February 16, 2019 by Mister Pinkerton

[Tchuck]

2 minutes ago, Mister Pinkerton said:

I would suspect Scarface and Miami Vice really inspired all those games to be set there.

Ding ding ding ding. The only reason most people gave a damn about Miami in popular culture are those two. And we've had good games set in that period/time.

 

Other than that, Miami is a tourist hotspot. And Disney. I don't even think a new Vice City would work, if Rockstar maintains their "realism" like they've done. 

 

I'd love to see other cities being explored, like Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston...

[Mister Pink]

 

I drove through Miami in The Crew and I just thought, wow, this is cool, I could see a GTA here. Well a modern one. But I'm a little burned out on Miami. I like games to take me somewhere new. I'm sure there's some awesome city out there that I don't know that I want to go there but just haven't discovered it. 

 

I knew nothing of Miami before playing Vice City and watching Scarface which I did around the same time back in 2003. I loved how foreign it was to me. How glamorous it was portrayed. 

 

And if we're talking about next GTA cities, like Tchuck said, I could do with a new city. I know nothing of Philidelphia, except some charcters in The Wire did drug runs between Baltimore and Philly and New York. I know a little about Chicago and Boston would be totally new in an open world. I "know" Boston from a bunch of great films set there. Could see a game being there.

 

Imagine what Scarface did for Miami.. Grand Theft Auto could to a new city... you feel me?  GTA could Scarfacize an otherwise medicore city on the surface and turn it in to a great big curiosity. 

 

GTA: Delaware  

 

Then future little Zello comes on here and asks... 

 

Why haven't there been more open world games set in Delaware?

 

Then little Mister Pink responds...:P 

Edited February 16, 2019 by Mister Pinkerton

[Static]

Because the cities in Delaware are so irrelevant that you had to use the name of the state instead lol

 

 

[Furry_Monkey]

No - OP is right.  Miami is the only place in the only country in the world.  There should be at least all the games set there, if not moar!

 

Lel.

 

Variety, dude.  I want games all over the world - places I know, places I don't and places that make me want to go see them.  I want games in imaginary worlds, in space, in other universes.  The universe we're in is a lot bigger than a 150 square km chunk of land, so I think more than 1 game set there is already enough.

[OurJud]

I'm still wondering what's so special about Miami.

Edited March 2, 2019 by OurJud

[The Coconut Kid]

I am eager for another game to tackle Miami and I truly hope Mafia IV - if it ever happens - steps up to the plate. Miami has been represented in countless games (see Mister Pinkerton's post) but I don't think that one game has ever completely nailed the Miami drug culture and the organized crime element that developed around it. This, in my opinion at least, is the case for a new open world crime game set in South Florida.

 

Vice City had the 1980s Miami Vice atmosphere down to a fault. But it completely side stepped the cocaine trade. The game starts on Tommy trying to buy drugs and finishes with Tommy establishing himself as a psychotic killer and drug dealer, but we never actually touch the stuff. Vice City Stories is similar with the protagonist being only a reluctant participant in the drug trade.

 

Scarface: The World is Yours comes along in 2006 and completely fills this gap. This game provides players with probably the most extensive drug dealing system in any game and in it's day was truly as addictive as the substance you're peddling in game. You literally cannot advance in this game unless you are hauling shipments of cocaine, managing heat with other gangs and bribing corrupt cops. Scarface also deserves major props for making the most of Miami's proximity to the Caribbean where we can meet, observe and do business with the people who make the drug trade tick. The map is also probably the best rendition of Miami I've seen in a video game. But the story lacks. It's carried mostly by the fact that we're playing as Tony Montana and even then, most of the time he isn't written very well.

 

DRIV3R (and arguably even the original DRIVER) fares much better at nailing a mature, complex story set in Miami, even if our time there is only fleeting. In the case of these games, Miami is important to the narrative because it offers itself as the base for purveyors of major criminal activity who make big things happen, such as multi-million dollar car shipments, weapon trades and top tier drug smuggling. Driver's version of Miami presents an interesting and complex environment that would be awesome to rise up in as a small time criminal to a major player GTA, but this was never the aim of the Driver series and ultimately we ended up with what was probably the death knell of a fantastic series because it tried to be something it wasn't.

 

The Godfather II made an attempt at empire building in Miami and eliminating rival gangs to claim their turf, but that game turned out pretty poor and was a massive disappointment after the previous Godfather game. Sadly, Miami in GFII offered none of the extensiveness of the NYC depicted in it's predecessor and could have been any generic sunny setting. However, the feature of selecting, promoting and running your own crime family was definitely a standout and could be revisited in a future open world title.

 

An open world game that addresses these gaps would arguably be like playing in a completely new sandbox, even if it would be another game set in an overrepresented Miami. Throw in the Everglades (Mafia III did the Swamp very well), the Caribbean and neighboring areas (somewhere like Palm Beach would have a totally different flavour to Miami + Miami Beach) and the map would be different to the previous versions of Miami we've seen. There's also the proximity to Cuba, which lends itself well to Miami historically and provides several eras (60s, 70s, 80s) for a game to be set in and draw its satire from. Again, this is something the writers of the Mafia series would do very well.

 

Why haven't there there been more open world games set in Miami? Because all of this would take a ton of funding to research and produce and would likely generate very little return unless it was produced by Rockstar, because Vice City is always the yardstick by which a Miami game is going to be based on. But I like to think (as above) that another developer would pick up the torch, do the definitive Florida game and leave Rockstar to move onto other locations entirely.

[Static]

mfw 5 games is considered "Countless" and "over-represented".

 

Meanwhile in NYC & LA

 

Even if you considered all the games set in Miami, which is 37 btw, it's still but a fraction of NYC or LA.

 

 

[luisniko]

On 3/2/2019 at 8:35 AM, OurJud said:

I'm still wondering what's so special about Miami.

A maritime city with iconic long beach, seaside hotels, villas, and bungalows, home to 80's cop and crime dramas with cocaine drug deals, featuring men with fashion from the opposite to 70s and 80s macho-wacho style, wearing pastel suit and tropical pattern shirt.

 

 

[The Coconut Kid]

17 hours ago, Static said:

mfw 5 games is considered "Countless" and "over-represented".

I'm slightly disappointed you didn't attach an actual picture of your face when you read that but I like to think it looked something like this:

 

 

Let me reword what I said so it's clearer: Miami has been represented in countless open world crime games. In these games, cliched and cardboard cutout characters are overrepresented, because for some reason open world crime games set in Miami only seem to follow one formula. I haven't got a problem with Miami as a setting. You only have to read Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen to see how much mileage is in it. Producers of these games specifically should take note if they want to revisit the area and do something new with it.

[Static]

mfw when you still use countless wrong.

[universetwisters]

Miami is overrated. Make an open world game set in Orlando. I wanna drive down I-4 from Winter Park to Disneyworld and trip over a child and break my hip.

 

I'm the only Floridian in this thread so that makes my opinion credible js

[Zello]

18 minutes ago, universetwisters said:

Miami is overrated. Make an open world game set in Orlando. I wanna drive down I-4 from Winter Park to Disneyworld and trip over a child and break my hip.

 

I'm the only Floridian in this thread so that makes my opinion credible js

Yeah but Orlando is boring aside from Disneyworld and there are no beaches there 

[universetwisters]

1 minute ago, Zello said:

Yeah but Orlando is boring aside from Disneyworld and there are no beaches there 

 

Who gives a sh*t about beaches? They're just sand and water.

[Static]

Orlando is the armpit of Florida.

These are facts.

sauce:lived there

[lewiz6235]

Indeed, I do vaguely recall there being some classic areas from Miami set in the classic Scarface PS2 game, although it has been a while since I last played it so I may be misremembering here.

[Daz]

I was somewhat disappointed that GTA skipped Miami this time around. I get that there would be less hills and elevated terrain, however I feel like it excels over other cities due to its varied landscape. Sun, beaches, bridges, intercoastal waters, high valued property, docks and even swamplands, rare wildlife and the overall chaos vibe of the drug trade and crime in the 80s. The cityscape is never boring because it is mixed in with water and beaches that twist through the built up areas. Less boring built up city blocks like other cities. I am dying for another Miami Vice inspired game. I just feel like Vice City perfected it and nobody wants to dare do anything similar in fear of becoming a Vice City clone, despite the fact it was like 16 years ago.

 

Driv3r was awesome, I don't give a f*ck what c*nts say. I thought the Timmy Vermicelli joke was great. This game beat GTA to it on swimming abilities.

[Zello]

In the time we've waited since VCS and since V. Some studio could have made an open world crime game in Miami.

[Bloodytears1666]

Really surprised to see so many mentions in this thread. Driv3r was really good:). But Miami itself isn't that great, on my tastes.

[Zello]

On 4/10/2020 at 8:47 AM, Bloodytears1666 said:

But Miami itself isn't that great, on my tastes.

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2020 by Zello

[Mister Pink]

On 3/3/2019 at 3:28 PM, Static said:

mfw 5 games is considered "Countless" and "over-represented".

 

Meanwhile in NYC & LA

 

Even if you considered all the games set in Miami, which is 37 btw, it's still but a fraction of NYC or LA.

 

 

But we're talking about open-world games, not games in general. Bringing up the fact there are more games (in completely other genres) set in other cities more than Miami doesn't negate that Miami has been covered a lot in open-world games. More specifically, open-world, crime-based, GTA-style games.  

 

The logical way to do it would be to compare cities and the amount of open-world games set there. Using that criteria Miami is represented a lot. 

 

GTA: Vice City

GTA: Vice City Stories

Scarface: The World Is Yours

Driv3r

The Godfather II

 

Honorable mentions (not fully open-world or GTA-esque):

The Crew

The Crew 2

Driver 

 

I think the 5 open-worrld games set in Miami is impressive for any city. It's the 3rd highest city with open-world games, I believe. New York and Los Angeles being ahead. 

 

I'm not trying to argue against more games being set there. I think it's just a fallacy that they there aren't enough or a lot of open-world games set there.  

 

I could do Miami again. It's been a while. And I just watched Scarface again, so I'm craving some action down there. 

 

 

[Night Machine]

On 2/16/2019 at 2:10 AM, Tchuck said:

Ding ding ding ding. The only reason most people gave a damn about Miami in popular culture are those two. And we've had good games set in that period/time.

 

Other than that, Miami is a tourist hotspot. And Disney. I don't even think a new Vice City would work, if Rockstar maintains their "realism" like they've done. 

 

I'd love to see other cities being explored, like Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston...

Miami Vice not only made it popular they actually saved that city and fixed it up and made it what it was then and now. It was already in total economic collapse and wasn't even a tourist destination anymore before that point.  So yeah, that show totally saved that place single handedly and not to mention started an entirely new style and culture craze that rocked the world. No show before or after it ever had half the impact it did. 

[Edward Nashton]

 

4 hours ago, Night Machine said:

Miami Vice not only made it popular they actually saved that city and fixed it up and made it what it was then and now. It was already in total economic collapse and wasn't even a tourist destination anymore before that point.  So yeah, that show totally saved that place single handedly and not to mention started an entirely new style and culture craze that rocked the world. No show before or after it ever had half the impact it did. 

 

You do realize what inspired Miami Vice, do you? It was the cocaine boom that started in the late 70’s and lasted well throughout the 80’s. Miami was the cocaine capital in the US during that time. The Miami banking industry, real estate, retail and wholesale sectors experienced a massive boom - so did the night scene, largely because of the growing drug culture. There’s an analysis that indicates that in 1978 and 1979, the United States’ entire currency surplus was ascribed to Miami based banks. I’m sure there are some people out there who would like to attribute Miami’s rise to a TV show and some kick ass tourist destinations, but the real reason is very embarrassing to certain people. Same could be said about Vegas and the Mob.

Edited August 24, 2020 by Edward Nashton

[Night Machine]

1 hour ago, Edward Nashton said:

 

 

You do realize what inspired Miami Vice, do you? It was the cocaine boom that started in the late 70’s and lasted well throughout the 80’s. Miami was the cocaine capital in the US during that time. The Miami banking industry, real estate, retail and wholesale sectors experienced a massive boom - so did the night scene, largely because of the growing drug culture. There’s an analysis that indicates that in 1978 and 1979, the United States’ entire currency surplus was ascribed to Miami based banks. I’m sure there are some people out there who would like to attribute Miami’s rise to a TV show and some kick ass tourist destinations, but the real reason is very embarrassing to certain people. Same could be said about Vegas and the Mob.

Since I lived in Florida back then I'm well aware of how things happened and that Mimai Vice was the thing that saved Miami and their reputation. Sorry to burst your bubble but It's a well known fact to Miami and Florida locals that were actualy around back then. So you have some learning to do. Her's just a little inside on it from Miami's own newspaper celebrating the 30 year mark of the legendary show that helped save and recreate Miami.   

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2266518.html#:~:text=The show not only helped,the idea of South Beach.

[Bloodytears1666]

12 hours ago, Zello said:

vids

This is not convincing, but nice music. Still, I found Miami very generic scenery, it is neither cool tropical place, neither fantastic city to ride around. Yeah, all this glamour thing around it, and 80's vibe, but apart from it - current Miami uninspiring. It is still a personal opinion, and I'm from Europe, you got to understand:).

[Furry_Monkey]

10 hours ago, Night Machine said:

Since I lived in Florida back then I'm well aware of how things happened and that Mimai Vice was the thing that saved Miami and their reputation. Sorry to burst your bubble but It's a well known fact to Miami and Florida locals that were actualy around back then. So you have some learning to do. Her's just a little inside on it from Miami's own newspaper celebrating the 30 year mark of the legendary show that helped save and recreate Miami.   

 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article2266518.html#:~:text=The show not only helped,the idea of South Beach.

 

You're agreeing with each other.  @Edward Nashton is saying that it was the massive drug culture that made Miami a focal point that has influenced the reasoning behind it's use for so many drug & violence related media titles, and you're showing that possibly the best known of those influenced titles went on to rejuvenate the city after it had been raped clean by cartels and violence.

 

Yes.  You're both right.

Edited August 25, 2020 by Furry_Monkey

[Night Machine]

4 hours ago, Furry_Monkey said:

 

You're agreeing with each other.  @Edward Nashton is saying that it was the massive drug culture that made Miami a focal point that has influenced the reasoning behind it's use for so many drug & violence related media titles, and you're showing that possibly the best known of those influenced titles went on to rejuvenate the city after it had been raped clean by cartels and violence.

 

Yes.  You're both right.

I never said Miami Vice wasn't influenced by the drug cartels anyone that's seen the show knows that goes without saying. But it is a clear fact that the show saved the city and made it what it was and is today after the shows beginning. They literally painted the new life of that town from the buildings, the night life and the style of people and way of life that people started to come from around the world to experience. He's trying to say that the drug culture there saved the city with a big boom before Miami Vice ever took place which is clearly false. So no I'm not agreeing with him at all. 

[Furry_Monkey]

1 hour ago, Night Machine said:

I never said Miami Vice wasn't influenced by the drug cartels anyone that's seen the show knows that goes without saying. But it is a clear fact that the show saved the city and made it what it was and is today after the shows beginning. They literally painted the new life of that town from the buildings, the night life and the style of people and way of life that people started to come from around the world to experience. He's trying to say that the drug culture there saved the city with a big boom before Miami Vice ever took place which is clearly false. So no I'm not agreeing with him at all. 

No-one is saying that what you said is untrue, but you saying that @Edward Nashton is wrong is incorrect.  The drug culture in the 70s and 80s massively bolstered Miami - that is a fact.  It went to sh*t after that, for a while, and then it got back on its feet afterwards.  Miami Vice, as you said, was partly responsible for that.  There's no disputing those facts.  Just get over it - we all know you lived in a place at a time.  Whoopee-fkn-do - well done for being somewhere.  Now chill out and accept that the guy made a correct statement that you've taken weirdly for some reason and just try and leave it at that.  It's not a big deal dude