Looking Back - 6 Years In

[REXX]

Haven't made a thread in absolutely ages, so now is the time!

 

The perpose of this thread is to generally look back at GTA Online, not necessarilly the bad times; but the good ones. I'm a nostalgic person and I like looking back at things that I enjoyed for a boost of motivation or something else.

 

Surprisingly enough, GTA Online provides me with that "something".

 

I know this thread is kind of more aimed towards players that started at launch (post-character deletion issue), but anyone is welcome to chip in.

 

So; straight to the question said as simple as possible. What did you enjoy when you first started out in GTA Online?

 

For me, it had to be the experience of creating my very own character and being able to customize their appearence; slowly developing their background too. Being the first ever full on online game I played, that had also contributed to it.

 

Rexx, out.

(Well, back to work )

 

[Spadge]

My favorite memory of GTA Online was discovering my favorite part of the map (morningwood, vinewood hills area, see below) and my favorite car, the Stinger. I did hundreds of laps on the track "Learning Curve" with my carbernet red Stinger. That race would take you through Morningwood and the beautiful twisty roads all across the Vinewood Hills at sunset. Another big one was discovering all the great songs on Los Santos Rock Radio, and loving the fact they had featured one of my favorite bands like The Doobie Brothers and got Kenny Loggins to be radio DJ, I was starstruck!

 

 

Edited November 3, 2019 by Spadge

[Big Molio]

Some of the old custom races before Cunning Stunts were a great time to be racing. There were a few Rockstar verified user created circuits that were popular, such as (I think these are the right names) "Jumps, jumps and more jumps", "Two Lane Freeway" and "Rattlesnake Road" which I played to death.

 

The other happy times I have (and will still have in a few weeks) are the periods over the holidays when the map is full of snow. It's great on Christmas Eve once you have done all the family stuff to just jump on for an hour later on with a nice drink in hand, and have a mess around in the snow. Aaaaah

 

 

[Pizzahut]

I remember when dlc cars had visual damage. And when this game wasn't a bunisess simulator. And when the cars in this game had realistic prices. (besides the showoff aircrafts, you know what I mean.)

 

I do also remember the joy's of stunning cunts,

getting dat cash from import/export, 

doing demo derby's with friends, 

racing dump trucks on the opposite side of the highway,

hooking up the rhino tank with the cargobob and failing to do a rampage,

doing the launch glitches with moving fences before that was patched out, 

 

back when that was still le funny haha.

[Geisterfaust]

Best memories? Probably around 2013-2014, when the game was new and I have played with @Gridl0k and other crewmembers from SURF. @Billy Pilgrim, @RowanSane and other OGs from Xbox 360. Simpler, better times when I was younger and everything felt a bit easy. No businesses, no Hydras, no militarized stuff, only old school contact missions. I remember hosting daily contact missions sessions for anyone interested and even advertising it in my signature. Sadly, these times are gone and it's a different game now: flying bikes, business deliveries. I remember infinite spawn of armored vans and original beer hats from the crates together with high flyer parachute. I was in the game since day one and I own a day two character (well, day one was removed as many OGs know) and I remember getting stuck before the first race with Lamar. Basic GTAO was much better game that we have now, disregarding the amount of the content we have at the moment. I remember playing V on 360 after EFLC on PC and I remember how smooth was the game after current gen remaster. I've never truly left the game until 2019 when I suddenly realized that there's nothing really new and interesting in it and I'm playing with hardcore grinders who can legitimately rank up from 500+ to 1200 doing Terrorbyte jobs in closed sessions. I launch SP from time to enjoy the views and even can play the Online once a week or two, mostly to do contact missions like I did in 2014, but it's different now. Soon I will feel the same about Online as I feel about IV/ EFLC: great game, great times but it's bygone era. I can feel it now, how actually playing the game is being replaced with the memories of the game. Still, good times and that's the longest time I've played one game in my life. I know it's not going to happen again. Waiting for RDR 2 on PC now, heard a lot of good things and testing it on XB1X was decent enough.

[Gridl0k]

True story not played for a month or more, have been off in Forza land, thought I'd fire it up, claimed my bullsh*t t-shirt wheel prize, went outside the casino, booted with a network error.

 

Maybe another 6 years?

[LL Cool L]

I dont think I will have another gaming experience like this again.....even in gta 6 online...my life is so different now to when I 1st started playing

 

but this has been by far as a whole the greatest gaming experience ever, I have never felt the need to join any other forum....I have never been so into and invested in a game ever. I have had so much fun playing this game. I will be genuinely be sad when it comes to an end.....

 

each DLC is like a different season to me....I can even look back to my first snaps and get nostalgic, this game got me into photography and I have made real life friends from across the world.....

 

I have been there on holidays like xmas and halloween...gone thru multiple girlfriends, birthed a daughter, had a near death experience, been tweeted by Rockstar....taken part in competitions, car meets and hours of random wackiness I would never be able to do in real life...

 

This game does a lot and I feel like people are really harsh on R* and what they expect from gta...I am grateful to have enjoyed this game, grateful to even be in a position where I can afford games, internet, tv, or have the time to play video games....

[Picadorito]

My favorite memory was discovering my own safe getaway to the Dinghy in the Pacific Standard heist, where me and the others won't lose money because it never fails since I can do it with any four door car with decent speed like a normal Buffalo, Oracle, Primo or even a Baller for example... That was May or early June 2015.

 

Now I don't play this game anymore since months ago because my country is one of those were their players are banned to play in the casino... And they even announce proudly when a new car is in their stinky podium.,,

Now I just play San Andreas like twice a week, but I don't really care since I proudly ahve other VG genres to play.

 

But the thing is, I suppose I won't ever buy a game of this company if they don't lift their casino ban to the players of another countries... Do you think that could happen someday?

[AdriiRozayXOXO]

My favorite memory was receiving glitched money on christmas 2013 because that money has since gone a long way to help me

Then I received some again on 2014 on one of my main accs right before they removed transfer so for that i'm glad too

And when the oppressor MKII was first released lol that was wild

 

Also when pacific standard was first released because of the money glitch at the very end, spent hours getting millions doing that

[ilovefreebird]

I loved flying the Luxor or Cuban 800 using the "hood" camera view (first person view wasn't available on previous generation) over the city at night or during sunset/sunrise. I remember being in absolute awe of the graphics and how beautiful everything looked.

 

I also LOVE the snow. I play a lot regardless, but during that week or so, I feel like my playing time doubles. It would be so nice to have a snow option somehow.

[Carlin_Stanhope]

 Some of the best times I remember, was when the game wasn't taken seriously.

  More specifically in the original days where everyones blip was just a circle on the map. When anyone could be in any vehicle and you didn't know what a random was driving until you met on the same street. 

You could still look on the map and guess from the speed that people were traveling, as to what they were traveling in.

That's why I still get a kick out of driving the nightshark when there is mk2s  out and about. Took the window plating off so I can retaliate with sticky bombs.

[nido997]

best memories in GTA were definitely back in 2016 , summer ´16 to be more precise . F&F and then Cunning Stunts were released back then , plus I had a lot of time to play and grind .... it was soo much fun ,  cunning stunts was one of the best DLCs ever , if not the best DLC in GTA ...

 

[TheLordMarvel]

One of my fave times in the start was

 

Working towards getting a large apartment. I remember that my Brother and I would face all the time until we had enough money to buy an apartment at Eclipse Towers. I had the cheap small apartment, so the upgrade was memorable. But now those apartments are pocket change! Lol

[J-Scott-D]

I'm only a "since 2016" player, but my favorite memories from my early days on PS3 was scoring a Dominator off of the street and driving jumping every hill, cliff, etc. and enjoying those crazy GTA physics. I would drive it until it literally died and would have to call MM to get a replacement.

 

I raised enough money to buy that $175,000(?) house that's kinda NW of Eclipse and stole/stored every Dominator in every color that I could find. Then a modder rained 40+ million on me, lol. So much for playing legit on my original account. I made two more accounts and 3 more characters in the past 3 years and kept them clean. Changing over to PS4 in October of 2016 helped.

Edited November 3, 2019 by J-Scott-D
words

[Willy A. Jeep]

The character creation was a big draw for GTA Online for me, too, but I think the best memories with this game from early on are of things I'm still doing. I still go out and explore the map, whether it's in a vehicle or by foot, just to enjoy the world that Rockstar has crafted. New tools and toys have added to the experience - the Ultralight is particularly fun for flying low and slow, while the RC Bandito or the new peyote plants provide a fresh perspective - but it's still all about getting out there and losing myself to the San Andreas countryside.

 

Online back then is far from the money-making empire of today, especially for a solo player, but it can still be downright peaceful when you're far from the madness of downtown Los Santos in a public session. Can't ask for much more than that, except maybe a "do not disturb" option for the phone, hah.

[Ramshka Reddy]

I love GTA Online I play everyday hourly each day. when I first purchased the game I became a hardcore player because I love to hunt bounties and become a huge friend player. I met many friends. I remember when I first glitched my first adder or my first zentoro and I rmemebr my first heist I do. when we had all to go see lester and try and start buggy fleeca heist. I miss those days everything simple

[HamwithCheese]

Man at the time I would've never thought a game like this could exist. A character I made owning everything I want in a map as vast as this. After servers stablized, I remember grabbing a sabre turbo and just grinding out things with other players. Buying clothes, guns, wheels, and just immersing myself in this new game. 

 

When you looked at the expensive things, you never thought about how long it took, or the paywalls to climb. The ai wasn't blatant about cheating or spongey, other players weren't bloodthirsty savages, and even if they were, they weren't that good at the game because there wasn't anything to be good with, aside from a Lazer or rhino. It felt like we all wanted an adder, or the eclipse apt, it felt like we all truly enjoyed just playing the game.

Edited November 3, 2019 by HamwithCheese

[Big Molio]

3 hours ago, nido997 said:

cunning stunts was one of the best DLCs ever , if not the best DLC in GTA ...

Cunning Stunts has been my favourite DLC, especially when considered hand-in-hand with the Stunt Race creator. God knows how much of my life I've wasted messing about with that thing and making races.

[kcole4001]

I've only been playing since late 2016, and GTAO only since late 2017.

Things have gotten better, and worse, but still every time I see the game world, I want to drive around on these streets.

I have spent several hours in Google Maps comparing reality to the virtual, and it comes off very well.

All previous GTAs had this element, and that's the strength of the concept, it allows you to forget the glitches and BS for a while.

 

Quite an achievement, despite the bad stuff.

[Big Molio]

50 minutes ago, kcole4001 said:

I have spent several hours in Google Maps comparing reality to the virtual, and it comes off very well.

Until you realise that downtown LA where all the tall buildings are is actually bloody miles and miles from Venice beach  

[No Homing]

Back when the orbital cannon didn't exist......

[Lonely-Martin]

I didn't know what to expect really as I'd never played an online game until this came out. Certainly not to still be here and an appetite to still play so keenly at times.

 

The idea of playing GTA but create my own character and grow into the adventure ahead, with friends or randoms alike was such an appeal. Heisting was a huge draw too, couldn't wait for the whole heist element to both story and online, and the racing and crew elements were another huge positive. The social club stuff early on was great fun, the event spells like Halloween or the snow at Christmas and fireworks of July 4th etc. Just good fun, and still got my free beach bum outfit as my main saved. 

 

Goes without saying, stealing and buying cars, property to store my babies, and LS Customs has been a huge part of my shenanigans. And still delivering today with instant classics like the pair of Gauntlets we got recently for example.

 

Very much enjoyed so much of that and more. It's not been a flawless run, hence a fresh start in 2016 and a few nigggles. But aside a couple of hiccups and that bollocks, it's still got that something that I just can't get elsewhere, even with RDRO unfortunately. That said, like @LL Cool L mentioned above, largely because this game came at the right time in my life where I could sink some hours into gaming. Not sure I'll get that much freedom for a while, but hopefully as it has been a hoot.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Lonely-Martin
More, lol.

[Standard Deluxe 59]

         I never played an online game before this one came out. Like many others I think the golden era was somewhere between 2014 and 2016 when the prices weren't quite outrageous, personal weaponized vehicles didn't exist yet, pay to win wasn't a rampant problem, the game still ran good and there weren't as many overly toxic players. Of course since then it's fallen from grace, everything that used to be rank or mission locked now has a "trade price" that allows anyone to buy the higher powered toys last gen players actually had to work for. Now it's pay a higher price and get it today. But as flawed as this game is, I don't think there exists any other online games that allow you to (For the most part) play your way and by that I mean utilising ways to play this like a single player game. It may not be the "right" way to play, but for someone like me who likely won't be touching the online portion of any other games, that option of bypassing other players and being able to essentially play it like a single player game surely kept me and many players around.

        Some people say it's a bad thing that rather than play with others in an online multiplayer game, many would rather play by themselves, but as far as I'm concerned, that the option to do that exists, it's a godsend. I'd have dropped this game long ago if I couldn't do my sales solo and in peace. Ok, once the game became blatantly pay to win and efforts to impede your financial gain became ever apparent combined with my lack of time to keep treating this game like a second job I chose to glitch. But unlike many others who glitch and become free roam pests, i stuck with invite sessions, playing with whatever car just came out, or playing missions and game modes for the hell of it rather than to chase a paycheck. Yeah people will probably scoff at me going from legit to glitch but hey I do my own thing, play my way and largely stay out of the way of others.

        So I guess that's my ultimate point, GTA online let me play it my way on largely my terms. It was good for wasting time and no other game allows the ownership of nearly any vehicle, let alone over two hundred personal vehicle spaces, of course I can always use another two hundred garage slots. 

[kobeni]

i actually started playing online pretty late into its life cycle, when all the sci-fi stuff was introduced, around mid-2018 if i remember correctly. That said after getting a nightclub i haven't touched it in a while.

 

Anyway, despite being aware of the notoriety of its players, griefers and all, i did have some fond memories playing it. 

 

I remember having a lot of fun creating my protagonists, as well as owning the 2-car garage at mirror park and driving around in a basic red dominator, with my girl character dressing up and pretending to be the female version of the Driver from Drive. didnt really care about grinding at that point, all i cared about was driving around and having fun.

Edited November 4, 2019 by DownInTheHole

[gtafan26]

OG 2013 player here, 6 years of f*cking with trolls here.

[AndenNewMountain]

Fun reading the posts here and reminisce. Been playing since launch, remember losing two characters in first couple of days of playing, like almost everyone else. On my third character I remember grinding for a few days trying to make 80k dollars for my first apartment. Filled the two car garage with a Bagger and a Gauntlet and felt like I didn’t need anything else. I enjoyed just being a small time criminal.

 

I remember one of my favorite things to do was to steal NPC cars just to get a bounty and then try to survive for 24 hours, that was a lot of fun!

 

Later I got gifted a couple of billions during the billionaire days and I bought a place at Eclipse tower and filled it with supercars. So many good times. I could go on and on

[Gridl0k]

I still remember parachuting down off the radar towards the hapless player enjoying the mountains in their offroad vehicle with a $3.2bn bounty on them. Nailed the airborne AP kill, collected my fortune, changed session to buy umm eeeeeeverything. Good times.

 

The other thing I remember is hustling SUV races on Criminal Records in my maxed out Dubsta, to unlock all the tuning and paints.

Edited November 4, 2019 by Gridl0k

[REXX]

4 minutes ago, Gridl0k said:

Criminal Records

These two words alone explain GTA Online back in 2013/early 2014. This was basically the Global Race-Trading meetup point

[Gridl0k]

Switching it to rally at the last second for the umm metal paints? i forget. But yeah

[REXX]

22 minutes ago, Gridl0k said:

Switching it to rally at the last second for the umm metal paints? i forget. But yeah

Guilty as charged