Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 1 • GameOn Magazine Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy What Can You Read Inside?

About GameOn 4 Highlights Editorial Staff GTA IV Welcome to the special edition, a Chief Editor - Steve Greenfield About 5 Review series which has held a special place in the heart of Editor - Kris West gamers across the globe. Its unique spin on a life of Take a look back at crime and free roaming world captured the imagination Games Critic - Neil Hetherington Growing Up With our review of GTA of players from all walks of life, old and young, from Games Critic - Gary Durston Grand Theft Auto 6 IV from the time seasoned veterans who started at the beginning, to Games Critic - Ryan Davies of it’s release and those starting their experience towards the later titles. Games Critic - Boffey Steffan relive the excitement Games Critic - Matt Girdler Five Ways of Cocking About in of bein Niko! We will be showing how this one series has been in the Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer 12 life of one gamer from the its first inception to current Research & Proofing - Edward Field iteration, how you can have fun cocking about in GTA IV’s Research & Proofing - Luke Greenfield multiplayer, our favourite missions from the franchise Grand Theft Auto GTA V and introducing you to the protagonists which star in Memorable Missions 20 Protagonists the hotly anticipated next installment to to the series. Special Thanks

Read full biographies While many games try to emulate the success, Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto IV Review 29 for the trio of Grand Theft Auto keeps coming back to stamp Take-Two Interactive leading men in the down its authority as the dominant king of its Edward Field newest installment genre. While some games prefer to cut their own The Vehicles of ot the series. unique niche within the market by simply not giving two fucks about the competition and do Grand Theft Auto 38 their own thing (Hi Saints Row), others try to closely imitate GTA but fall short of the bar.

Join us in our humble tribute to a game which we hope lives on for another decade. The Series Protagonists 44 However, we have to wonder, where will the series go after GTA V?

Best If you want to get your hands on our monthly copy of the magazine, you can simply click here for Missions the UK Kindle version, here for the International Kindle version or here for the tablet version. Character Bios 52 Read our recap of the If you’d like to get in touch with us, you can drop us an e-mail at [email protected]. best missions from Grand Theft Auto V the original GTA all Alternatively, you can find us on @TheGameOnMag Will Be Amazing: Here’s Why! 54 the way to GTA IV. and Facebook at Facebook.com/GameOnMagazine The Editor Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 2 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 3 • GameOn Magazine Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy

ABOUT GAMEON ABOUT ROCKSTAR GAMES GameOn Networking Ltd was founded in 1997 with the aim of providing “lag free” gaming Rockstar Games is split into mutliple studios for different sectors of the world so, as they solutions for dedicated online gamers. Online connectivity in the late 90s was such that are the studio for the Grand Theft Auto franchise, we will be focusing on . realtime gaming was beyond the reach of the average gamer, and so GameOn began hosting LAN parties throughout the UK. To date, GameOn has hosted almost 100 LAN parties. Founded in 1988 by David Jones, Russell Kay, Steve Hammond and Mike Dailly under the name DMA Design and based in the small, rainy city of Dundee, Scotland. In this year, In August 2008, GameOn began producing GameOn Magazine, an online PDF magazine DMA Designs developed Menance and Blood Money for the Amiga. These gained the covering all aspects of gaming including reviews, previews, news and articles. The studio credit within the gaming industry due to the design and difficulty of the games. dedicated magazine staff also provided coverage at high profile gaming events such as and gamescom. In 1990, DMA developed their breakthrough title, Lemmings, the classic puzzle game. It sold over 20 million copies on 21 different games systems, debuting on the Amiga and ending up In February 2012, GameOn Magazine launched in ebook form on the Amazon Kindle on the Macintosh. The next few years were spent developing sequels to Lemmings however; marketplace in both the UK and US and has since developed from strength to strength. they also developed Walker in 1993, and along with in 1994. With the same quality coverage as always and dedicated writing and research staff the magazine has gained a loyal following and secured its position as one of the best selling Alongside Rare, Paradign, Acclaim, Midway Games and LucasArts, DMA were gaming magazines on the Kindle store. asked to join ’s “Dream Team”. The result of this collaboration was and after numerous delays, was released in 1998. During this four year Later in 2012 GameOn lauched the colour version of the magazine via Magzter store which span, DMA Designs released a little game by the name of Grand Theft Auto. is avilable on Android, iOS and Windows. In 1997, DMA was bought by Gremlin Interactive, a British publisher and published For more information, please visit www.gameonmag.com two DMA titles: the UK release of Blood Harvest and the PC version of Wild Metal Country. Gremlin Interactive was later acquired by a French publisher, Infogrames who in 1999 sold DMA Designs to Take-Two and were rebranded as Rockstar Games.

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 4 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 5 • GameOn Magazine Growing Up With Grand Theft Auto Growing Up With Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto, Growing Up With where do I begin with this classic, the Grand Theft Auto freedom it offered in its unique top down view of life, crime and breaking the law. The visuals of this was part of still remember how I was able to get my hands its charm, with the on the first Grand Theft Auto, I must have only camera zooming in Ibeen 16 or 17 at the time. I was taking a game and out depending back to my favourite retailer (yes I’m intentionally how fast you keeping names out) as it wasn’t working and I were moving in a asked what I could get. I was told that I could swap car, to the crude it for the same game if I wanted and that’s when I animations of cheekily asked if I could swap it for something else. the populace as you strolled past Upon being told I could by the guy behind the burping and farting because I decided to hammer course the gouranga multi kill after mowing counter I wandered up to the shelves of games the special ability key to do so. down a train of Hare Krishnas, the fun came thick knowing exactly what I wanted to chance my luck From the mindless rampages of shooting and fast in this fantastic sequel. I still remember on, Grand Theft Auto. This BBFC 18 rated game everything just so you can get the highest wanted battling the Yakuza for Zaibatsu around the city was like the forbidden fruit for me at the time, level in order to steal the goodies from the police, streets, being pursued by the Yakuza around every being under the age limit of this title, it felt more running down all the pedestrians on the streets to corner and having to deal with the police was risky trying to obtain this with my exchange than the great missions the game had in store, everything heart-poundingly intense gameplay. Furthermore, something else. was just so fun to do. What stands out from all the the introduction of multiplayer in this title was an So, heading back to the counter my palms were rest is that opening menu music, Joyride by Da absolute scream, was so frantic and getting a little sweaty, I handed the game over and Shootaz. This one track has embedded itself into filled with explosions, gun shots, swearing and asked if I could exchange my copy of Heavy Gear the core of every GTA fan on the planet, this one bonkers mayhem; we didn’t think this could get (a cracking mech game at the time) for GTA. track IS the sound of GTA. any better.

A few moments passed as the employee looked Moving onto GTA 2 and things go from good to Well, how wrong I was thinking GTA couldn’t cautiously at me then asked if I had checked the great. The introduction of a three way reputation improve. When Rockstar landed the bomb that specifications to make sure the game would work system was such a fantastic addition to the game; GTA III was going to be 3D and back in Liberty on my system, I nodded and bam, transaction do a job for one faction and your reputation with complete. I literally flew home on a cloud of sheer the others would change in the opposite direction glee and excitement as I was about to dive into a meaning you would have to think which crime ‘The introduction of world of crime and corruption that would become syndicate you wanted to work for very carefully. multiplayer in this title part of my gaming life for years to come. With some tweaked visuals, a completely different area to rampage around, new vehicles and of was an absolute scream’ Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 6 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 7 • GameOn Magazine Growing Up With Grand Theft Auto Growing Up With Grand Theft Auto

are something I can relate to in my what it may have been like for all of two seconds am never disappointed in what Rockstar create. personal life. Magnum P.I., Miami then thought f**k this, what can I blow up today?! With Grand Theft Auto V on the horizon, touting Vice, Scarface, Jan Hammer, Mr. even better improvements over IV and an even Mister, Reo Speedwagon, Ozzy, So onto the final chapter of this wee article, Grand bigger area to run around in, with three playable David Lee Roth, everything I grew Theft Auto IV and bugger me sideways did things protagonists and a dedicated online component, a up with was in this game. Vice City, change dramatically. Rockstar created a new engine first for the series, my anticipation meter is nearly I salute you! for this title which improved upon everything you at breaking point. For me, the key point of this can possibly imagine. From the visuals, to the series is the freedom to do what you want, even Rockstar changed the theme again actual size of the city scape, car handling, celebrity if it’s just jacking a car and driving around the city when introducing us to the lands of voices and appearances, storylines, animations, taking in the surroundings while listening to the Los Santos, gone are the wingtips everything was brand new and it certainly showed. awesome radio stations, no matter your mood and neon signs, hello 90s hoods, there is usually something for you to satisfy your gangs and lowriders. San Andreas Featuring the biggest map to date, Grand Theft thirst for whatever you want in these games. took the player into an adventure of Auto IV showcased Liberty City like you have never gangland America, inspired by films seen before, spanning around 10 square miles Having grown up with Grand Theft Auto, I can City, I squealed, yes I admit I squealed like a kid such as Boyz in the Hood and Menace II Society. and hosting around eight million inhabitants, the safely say that going from top down to 3D was on christmas day opening a present containing a Taking control of CJ to restore the once proud and city evolved into a living, breathing entity. Letting one of the best moves Rockstar had made with Nintendo 64. The switch from top down to full 3D, feared Grove Street Families after returning to the us loose in the shoes of , we were able the series, yet it leaves me wondering where they with a living city that you can roam around and do area upon the news of the death of his mother, we to perform so many activities in the game, from can go next? Maybe Oculus VR support on a 360 what you want? Well I went into overdrive causing tread a path of personal grief, determination and simply watching on stage, to a game degree treadmill? Who knows, what is certain is mayhem on the streets, from punching random revenge in order to set the record straight. of pool, performing robberies and even dating that I’ll be welcoming every GTA with open arms old ladies in the face to gunning down hordes of multiple women at the same time. There was that allows me to lose myself from the troubles people just so I could steal police equipment again Featuring a personal customisation level never so much content hidden away that players lost of the real world, lets me escape from my worries was fantastic fun. The voice acted characters in the seen before in previous titles, we were able to countless hours, not to mention the hours lost in and lets me enjoy gaming hour after hour. game offering you missions and advice just sucked take CJ to the gym, martial arts dojo’s and run multiplayer, performing jobs or pretending to be Neil Hetherington you into the game even further, you felt like part of minigames in order to improve the fitness and cops and robbers in the namesake this city and you were making an impact. strength of our protagonist. On the flip side players gamemode. could just do the opposite and feed on junk food However, what came next was the pinnacle of to turn CJ into a more rotunt and jolly person. San There are numerous other Grand the GTA series for countless fans of the franchise. Andreas brought even more to the table with big Theft Auto titles that I have not Vice City, the neon glowing throwback to the 80s Hollywood names parts of the story, gone over, such as Chinatown is a fan favourite across the globe; following the Samuel L. Jackson instantly springs to mind voicing Wars on the Nintendo DS or the adventures of and his Hawaiian the corrupt Officer Tenpenny which just oozes first spin-off in the series of London shirt, cruising around a fictional Miami blasting class out of every orifice. 1969, however to keep this article the power ballads from the stereo, so many Grand Featuring the musical talents of NWA, Guns & from spanning many pages of this Theft Auto memories can be accounted for with this Roses, 2pac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and many magazine, I kept my view to the single game. While all the GTA radio soundtracks more, everything just felt like you were part of this key core titles. I’ve been around are awesome, the one which accompanied Vice gangland 90’s America and really sent the message from the birth of this franchise and City is a personal favourite, having grown up home of what life for someone growing up in these seeing this game continually evolve during the 80’s, a lot of the songs and references conditions might have been like. I too wondered from installment to installment, I Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 8 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 9 • GameOn Magazine Art Page Art Page

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 10 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 11 • GameOn Magazine Five Ways of Cocking About in Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer Five Ways of Cocking About in Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer

they’re no longer Five Ways of part of the event? Well time to step Cocking About in that up a notch. Have everyone Grand Theft Auto start in the airport and run IV Multiplayer or drive up to the helipads, everyone gets into their own chopper to start helicopter e all know that the best way to have fun destruction with your friends in a game is generally derby. You may Wcocking about rather than doing the need to run objectives. I mean why give us all this freedom away in order if we weren’t meant to create our own jaunts to to make more entertain ourselves? Well here’s what we think are choppers spawn the best five ways of wasting time in Liberty City. depending on how many people you have playing, we need everyone to start in the airport and have but once you’re all in the skies then it becomes everyone dive into the choppers, fill up all the seats Method One (Requires Lost and an aerial ballet of disaster. Last chopper airborne and fly as high as possible. Damned DLC) wins, simple as that. Once everyone is at maximum altitude, have Here you gather your friends up for a bike race, Method Three (Requires Gay Tony someone coordinate the timing so everyone jumps only allow baseball bats and recreate the classic DLC) at the same time, now everyone is free falling Sega title of the 90s; Road Rash. Hilarity will ensue towards the concrete below them. The winner of and the air will turn blue as you race around the Now this one requires the parachute which was this particular death-filled game is the person who city streets trying to bat your friends off their bikes introduced in the last DLC pack for GTA IV as we’re was able to deploy their parachute at the lowest while pursuing first place. about to do some extreme base jumping. Again possible altitude. This is a lot harder than you think This is more tricky than you may imagine as it’s not due to terminal velocity and your own reactions, particularly a weapon of finesse in the first place not to mention that you’re fighting against your and now you’re on moving vehicles, it makes the ‘The winner of this own instinct of self-preservation in order to not job ten times worse. particular death-filled press the ‘chute button too early. Method Two game is the person who Method Four was able to deploy their Everyone’s heard of Destruction Derby yes? The With this one you need to turn off all player sport where people drive around trying to ram into parachute at the lowest indicators so that you’re only able to identify the their opponents in order to disable their vehicle so possible altitude.’ other players when they wander into your direct Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 12 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 13 • GameOn Magazine Five Ways of Cocking About in Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer Five Ways of Cocking About in Grand Theft Auto IV Multiplayer line of sight. This takes some key elements from jouster, then simply have them in the middle of Assassin Creed’s own multiplayer modes where the runway on each side of the centre markings. you have no idea what your target looks like however you still have to assassinate them. Once the call has been made, our brave knights upon steel horses, ride full speed towards each In this cocking about version, there are no set other with baseball bat readied in order to deliver targets as it’s a free-for-all deathmatch. However; a decisive blow to their dastardly opponent. The you have no idea if you’re being followed by your player that survives, wins and the next pair of friends or just some random AI bystander. All of combatants face up against each other. You may this adds to the tension and paranoia as you simply want to arrange some form of elimination bracket don’t know what is around the corner until you listing in order to fully arrange a structure to look. Like I said, only direct line of sight reveals the determine who is king of the bat joust, or just go in other players to you and you never know if trailing pairs till you fancy doing something else. someone will net you a kill or lead you straight into a trap of imminent death. So there we have it, five different ways of killing time in GTA IV multiplayer that doesn’t involve Method Five (May require Lost the preset modes that the game offers. All of the and Damned DLC) above are guaranteed to give you some hilarious moments with your friends and to get you warmed Jousting, the noble sport of knights in the middle up for GTA V and whatever they have in store for ages. Facing each other on noble steeds, hoisting us in terms of multiplayer madness. aloft their poles of justice while raising their shields Neil Hetherington of courage, charging headlong towards each other, the poles of justice will collide into the shields of courage or somewhere else less favourable and the victor will be the person who is able to stay upon their trusty steed.

Well as we don’t have horses in GTA IV, nor are we playing Redemption, motorbikes will have to suffice. Again we’re off to the trusty airport to use their runway markings as our jousting arena. You need to wound those ready to joust down to red flashing health so that one hit will kill off each Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 14 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 15 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Map Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Map

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas Map

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 16 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 17 • GameOn Magazine Art Page Art Page

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 18 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 19 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions ‘Bus Side Mission’ Grand Theft (Grand Theft Auto)

Auto Memorable ‘There’s a bomb on a bus’ was the plot of the 1994 movie Missions Speed. Fast forward three years and GTA emulates the experience for you. You step inside a seemingly abandoned bus, pick up a bit of speed, then get the message – don’t panning 16 years and 15 incarnations, slow down, or the bomb on the the Grand Theft Auto franchise has bus will detonate. What ensues Sseen its fair share of wacky, crazy, over- is a difficult rush through the-top and downright enjoyable missions. motorway traffic as you avoid In no particular order, here are some of being blown up. the most memorable missions from across the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise. I just knew there was a reason for Liberty City’s big gap in the bridge in the centre location. An epic firefight ensues as several guards ‘Three Leaf Clover’ (Grand Theft of the map – the perfect nod to this iconic 90s over several floors try to shoot me dead, and finally Auto IV) movie which you can recreate yourself... providing butchering my way out of the window above the you live long enough driving above 50mph, a task back entrance door, down to my last flashy piece As the epicness of GTA IV draws to a close, what easier said than done. of health, I stumble into a car and drive off, only better way to say goodbye than ‘Three Leaf Clover’? to be pursued by some very jobsworthy security Liberating a bank vault of all its millions, Niko’s ‘Final Interview’ (Grand Theft Auto guards. After losing and / or killing the remaining simple robbery naturally goes tits-up when all of IV) enemies, I fall out of the car, crawl to a hot dog Liberty City’s finest show up, and he and his goons stand and slowly regain my health, alive to fight take to the streets in a desperate run from the Ever had a job interview that hadn’t been going another day. law. Several officers get torn to pieces by machine so well so all you could do was imagine killing the gun fire as Niko’s gang clear a path to the subway, guy opposite you? Niko organises an interview at Apparently it’s just easier to knife Goldberg silently and more officers, all no doubt only one day from reputable Goldberg, Ligner and Schyster law firm and walk out the front door. retirement, are gunned down as they make their in order to acquire certain sensitive documents, way on foot down the tracks after them. and realises the wishes of the quiet psychopaths ‘Assassinate the President’ (Grand in all of us. Midway through the interview, Niko Theft Auto) But with the ever- LCPD cannon fodder naturally kills Goldberg, steals the files and flees. arriving once again, there’s no let-up in pace as a Working for the Vice City Rastafarians, you are sent final car chase ensues, leaving even more dead It turns out I enjoyed this mission a lot more than to the local radio station where the one and only cops in their wake. Seriously, so many dead cops. other people, probably because I made the mistake President of the United States of America, or rather I don’t advocate any genocide of authoritative of taking out Goldberg with a shotgun blast to the ‘The High Priest of Babylon’, is being interviewed. figures, but it is fun. guts, alerting the entire gun-toting security to my As he’s leaving, your task is simple – assassinate Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 20 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 21 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions the President! The gun-toting Secret Service are The ‘strangely animated’ Tanner is ‘more or less / Grand Theft Auto trigger-happy and open fire as soon as you get useless out of his car’, a reference to the poor IV: The Lost And near them, and the limousine you must vault in implementation of Driver 2’s attempt at a free- Damned / Grand the way of the only entrance is highly explosive. roaming game, which had bad animations and an Theft Auto IV: The arbitrary ability to get out of your car and walk. Ballad of Gay Tony) Despite the epic nature of the task in hand, this Naturally GTA III trounces Driver 2 in all stakes, short but crazy mission is tucked away posing as but this is simply kicking a man when he’s down. Three distinctly different a regular GTA mission. Oddly, assassinating the Which you can also do in GTA III but not Driver 2. missions across three games, President is the hard part, but getting away with it Museum Piece sees GTA is a lot easier. A quick police chase or spray job later But at least Driver 2 bothered to name its IV’s Niko meeting up with and the police give up looking for the killer of the protagonist! The Lost and Damned DLC Leader of the Free World, who goes about his daily brethren Johnny Klebitz for a business delivering drugs to whores and running ‘Freefall’ (Grand Theft Auto: San good old fashioned diamond over several Hare Krishnas in a row. Gouranga. Andreas) catch up with the incoming plane, and jump out deal at the Libertonian museum. And whadya onto the wing. Sneaking in through a handy door know?! Luis from The Ballad of Gay Tony is the ‘Two-Faced Tanner’ (Grand Theft An example of GTA: San Andreas’s OTT missions, in the side of the plane, CJ finds the unsuspecting man who cuts the meeting short with some gun Auto III) ‘Freefall’ precedes Just Cause by 2 years and is just hitmen enjoying some First Class entertainment, murder. Johnny scarpers with the cash, Luis gets as crazy. and promptly kills them. Simple – but now the his boss’s diamond back, leaving Niko with the It was never going to be a close competition, but pilot’s trying to be a hero... now he’s dead. Oh well, rough end of it all. Like The Weakest Link, he leaves Rockstar pulled no punches when putting Grand Your boss, holding Shaun Ryder hostage, gets a tip- if only CJ took some flying lessons, he could... oh, with nothing, except a significantly increased body Theft Auto III’s closest rival, Driver 2: Back on the off that four hitmen are flying into San Andreas and he has. Ridiculous and awesome in equal measure. count as he shoots his way to freedom. Johnny Streets, in its place. A simple mission, undercover are there for the sole purpose of killing him. The has to deal with police, backstabbing associates cop ‘Tanner’ has been rumbled and, as no-one natural solution, of course, is to get only-recently- ‘The Job’ (Grand Theft Auto: Vice and even more police during his escape. And Luis? likes a rat, your task is to kill him. a-base-jumping-enthusiast CJ to hop in a biplane, City) Always the more extravagant of the trio, he takes to the skies in his helicopter, taking out a fair few Nothing much to say about this one. Tommy and of Liberty’s flying finest. his goons want money, so they go all Payday, don some Jason Voorhees masks and rob the joint. No matter which of these intertwining missions you Enjoying the same luck as Niko in Three Leaf Clover, play, they each have their own unique perspective someone trips the alarm, and suddenly leaving the on three very original stories using the diamond bank alive suddenly becomes a pipe dream for Mr deal as their focal point. This ambitious trinity of Vercetti. Naturally a lot of police bodies pile up, not missions executes perfectly the uniqueness of the to mention a few unfortunate ‘collateral damages’, Grand Theft Auto franchise, and shows the three and a desperate 5-star wanted level chase through the city ensues, or more likely a quick jaunt to the nearest Pay ‘n’ Spray. Needless to say it’s exciting, ‘Tommy Vercetti is no though fairly GTA fare. prude, in fact he’s got a ‘Museum Piece / Collector’s stake in a pornographic / Not So Fast’ (Grand Theft Auto IV movie business.’ Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 22 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 23 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions characters, despite doing the same kind of things for money, are actually different, well-rounded protagonists who deal with their own stories within the same situation in their own ways. Luis is of course the bringer of death in the most over- the-top fashion by bringing down choppers, and Niko is a killing machine when backed into a corner. A great collection of missions which brings the whole GTA of bullets and bodies, a lot of people have to die IV saga round full circle. for you to survive and keep as much money as possible, as all the while the are trying to ‘Dildo Dodo’ (Grand Theft Auto: steal it from you. Vice City) Emotions run high too, as you not only have to Tommy Vercetti is no prude, in fact he’s got a stake kill recent backstabber and trusted friend Lance in a pornographic movie business. But when it’s Vance, but you have to say goodbye to one of the not making him enough money, he can think of most iconic games in the GTA franchise. only one plan... a leaflet drop. A leaflet drop from GTA III defined the genre, and San Andreas was the sky!

No-one likes litter, but when it’s litter with porny ‘GTA III defined filth strewn all across Vice City from a seaplane, you the genre, and San know it’s gone too far. But as guerilla advertising goes, it’s genius. No-one across Vice City could Andreas was sheer miss their city being covered in InterGlobal realised ambition, but Studios’ filthy literature. How’s that for market penetration? nothing could touch Vice City’s identity’ ‘Keep Your Friends Close...’ (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City) sheer realised ambition, but nothing could touch Vice City’s identity, capturing the 80s in perfect Final missions are generally the better ones, but fashion in its use of prime 80s music and the feel Vice City’s sends up Scarface’s climax perfectly of the Miami-inspired city. And of course Tommy with a shootout in Tommy Vercetti’s own mansion Vercetti’s shirt. References like this Scarface- against the Mafia. Epic in terms of sheer numbers inspired mission, along with many other 80s Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 24 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 25 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions Grand Theft Auto Memorable Missions

parachuting, coupled with a kidnapping him and handing him over to some Hidden away at the end of Chinatown Wars is a delicious serving of authority less than desirable people Roman has crossed secret pair of ‘Xin’ missions, with this being the genocide. in the past, right after putting the frighteners on most memorable of the two. him and making him empty his bladder and colon ‘Blog This’ (Grand simultaneously. Good riddance to the ‘fat Slav with The simple task, like a lot of GTA lore would have Theft Auto IV: The a bladder problem’. you do, is to steal a tank from an airport (of course) Ballad of Gay Tony) and simply cause a load of mayhem on the streets. ‘Penal Ties’ () Despite all its clever touches and originality, a An online celebrity calling mission of this magnitude is perhaps what was himself The Celebinator To take revenge on the guards who made Billy lacking from Chinatown Wars, so the sheer ballache has defamed one too many Bob’s time in prison not altogether harmonious, required to gain access to this mission makes it all celebrities, and now he has good old Claude Speed gets himself purposefully the more worth it. Seriously, you have to collect to learn the error of his ways. incarcerated, Michael Schofield style. While serving all the trophies, including the Lions of Fo, and only As Luis, it is your task to scare time in prison, you make your way to your inside then register and sync your device with Rockstar the crap out of him... literally. man, get a gun and start a riot. Amidst the chaos Social Club, then await an in-game email. After kicking his ass, Luis that ensues you unleash your boss’s revenge on throws him from a helicopter these guards, downing their bodies like there’s no The carnage through the city is worth the effort, movies and TV shows throughout the game really only to dive after the slanderous bastard, grab tomorrow. Once enough of these probably nice however, as previously Chinatown Wars hadn’t gave Vice City its immortality amongst the more him and parachute him to safety. Fun, silly and people just doing their jobs have been slaughtered, offered much in the way of typical and expected nostalgic of gamers. satisfying, The Celebinator leaves the whole ordeal it’s just one dramatic car jump over an opening GTA-flavoured OTT death and destruction. Deadly walking the streets of Liberty City with his own bridge to freedom. Xin remedies this and does so perfectly. Bit ‘Caught With Your Pants Down’ waste all down himself. And you’d have thought annoying that you’re forced to sign up for some (Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad he’d spread enough shit around town, hyuk hyuk. The change of scenery and approach to this mission arbitrary online gubbins, but a necessary evil to of Gay Tony) is what stood out amongst all the missions of GTA get maximum enjoyment driving through Liberty ‘Roman’s Holiday’ (Grand Theft 2, even though the total time spent inside is less City blowing stuff up. Omid Djalilli-voiced Yusuf wants a tank. You get Auto IV: The Lost and Damned) than Paris Hilton’s stint. Where was Claude Speed Gary Durston him a tank. Being The Ballad of Gay Tony, however, then, huh? means this is no ordinary steal-a-tank request. While on the subject of characters voiding Flying over Liberty City by the military, this so- themselves, The Lost and Damned’s Johnny Klebitz ‘Deadly Xin’ (Grand called N.O.O.S.E tank can only be transported, it offers some delightful payback on GTA IV’s most Theft Auto: Chinatown seems, by a military chopper carrying it by wires. annoying character. Wars) Seems legit. Roman Bellic, Niko’s cousin, is the most needy If someone offers you the Once Luis shoots the bolts holding the wires in and easily offended person in the universe. Liking opportunity to go to the airport place, the tank lands on the road beneath, and you less on the friendship meter for not dropping and pick up a tank... that’s exactly he parachutes down to climb inside and kill the everything mid-mission so you can go bowling with what you do, right? Loads of incredible number of cops who want the tank back. him and appease his bleak, friendless existence, destruction, escape as the body Annoying precision shooting from a turbulent Roman can fuck right off. count stacks up. Hidden Mission, a helicopter to small targets on a swaying trajectory ballache to acquire as you have to is instantly rewarded by the always-satisfying How awesome, then, that Johnny is tasked with log in to Rockstar. Worth it. Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 26 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 27 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto IV Review Grand Theft Auto IV Review Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft Auto IV Review IV Review

Platforms Available: PC. 360, PS3 Date: April 2008 Genre: Action Adventure Publisher: Rockstar

ife is complicated. I’ve killed people, smuggled Lpeople, sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different. These are the words of Niko Bellic, a troubled soul hailing from the eastern bloc, and the game’s main protagonist who you control through the living breathing world of Liberty City. From the outset you can tell that this latest incarnation of Rockstar’s epic Grand Theft Auto series is nothing short of spectacular.

Forget what you may have learned or appreciated in the previous iterations of Grand Theft Auto as this has been completely reworked, built up from scratch and polished to a fine sheen. Yes this is Liberty City, but a completely reworked Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 28 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 29 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto IV Review Grand Theft Auto IV Review

The increased individuality other sections of the game, Algonquin () efficient subway system that runs 24 hours a day, that is visually apparent as and Alderney () are currently under motorcycles, choppers (a type of motorcycle for the you wander about had an lockdown due to a terrorist threat. uninformed), boats, planes and helicopters also influence on all aspects of feature as forms of transport for our protagonist. the game. Rockstar’s design I do not recommend trying to wander into these team has created brands for blocked locations as you will initiate a 6 star police Now like the previous games, your first few missions countless companies; clothing, chase which will ultimately lead to either your are very basic allowing you to learn the controls foods, banks, drinks, movies, arrest or death, also do not try and hijack a plane and get to know the area, for example; drive car credit cards, everything you from the nearby Francis Airport as unlike San from A to B while picking up XYZ on the way. would expect to see in a city. Andreas, aircraft aren’t freely available and the Nothing very taxing but enjoyable nonetheless as All of which carry over to police will attempt to arrest/kill you, I learned out you are able to take in the sights of such a beautiful radio, internet and TV for an this information the hard way. city. The cars also handle differently to previous amazingly complete, coherent incarnations of GTA. Each car has its own mass, experience. Also gone is the little sheriff badges of joy to remove handling characteristics, power outputs and other your wanted level, in this version you will have a various factors making each make of car stand out and expanded version to what we saw in GTA III. Ok, ok, I’ve rambled on long enough, time to get flashing red and blue area which the police know from the others, also they require some respect in Everything has been worked upon to give this game into the game itself. For PS3 owners you will have you are in. What you have to do is drive out of this order to get the best out of them. a heartbeat, you no longer feel like a stranger in to wait a few minutes longer to jump into the search area without the town, now you feel more connected to the shoes of Niko as the game will install information being spotted by any city, pedestrians now have their own agenda’s and onto the hard drive, also perform a system update other police and keep personalities instead of being bonnet fodder. Pick if needs be, while 360 owners I believe are able to a low profile until they a fight and they’ll generally fight back or if you’re load up the game and play without any fuss. stop searching for you. unlucky, they’ll fight back along with several other Right the game begins with Niko entering Liberty This, however, only pedestrians joining in to lay the smack down upon City on a ship with cousin Roman Bellic arriving works up to a 2 star you for disturbing their peace. Make no mistake, soon after you set foot back on stable land to take wanted level, anything Liberty City is now alive. you back to the safe house which is located on the above that then you’re island of Dukes () and Broker (), either going to die in a Rockstar’s obsessive attention to detail is quickly Bohan (Bronx) becomes quickly available, while the blaze of glory or drive obvious, everything feels like it’s in the correct like Steve McQueen place, nothing sticks out like it should not be there, around liberty city and all the advertisements, TV shows, radio stations ‘Now cars are not the dive into a spray shop immerses the player into this beast of a game. The only form of transport to remove the wanted visual outlay has a gritty realism about it, after all level, as long as the Liberty City is based upon . Deliberately in Liberty City, there is police did not see you moving away from the bright cartoon-like style also the efficient subway drive into the garage. of the previous installments, Rockstar created an unmistakable visual style that is consistent system, ...motorcycles, Now cars are not throughout the art design, the storytelling, the choppers, boats, planes the only form of physics, mission design and the interactivity found transport in Liberty within the metropolis of Liberty City. and helicopers’ City, there is also the Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 30 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 31 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto IV Review Grand Theft Auto IV Review

Some other characters you meet early on are Vlad Glebov, a loan shark and ill tempered womanizer, ‘Your mobile phone and Little Jacob, a Jamaican arms dealer with a thick, heavy, Jamaican accent. Once your is also the main point relationship with Jacob reaches a certain level he of contact for the will gladly deliver you weapons wherever you are in Liberty City. myriad of women Niko is able to date’ Speaking of weapons, the combat system for this whatever barrier you have chosen as cover, from game has been reworked too. Now we have a here you are able to blind-fire, peek out to pop off akin to Gears of War or Rainbow Six: a few caps or take careful aim at your assailant. Vegas 2, just not as complex. Basically hit R1 and It may take some time to get used to but after a Niko will press up against the wall, car, pillar or while it becomes second nature to duck and cover in gun fights. There are 16 weapons in total, ranging from side arms to sniper rifles, oh and a RPG thrown in for good measure.

The voice acting, script writing and Your mobile phone is also the main point of Well that wraps it really, we’ve been waiting with storyline for this title is rock solid, every contact for the myriad of women Niko is able to baited breath for a long time for this title and I character you come across has his or date, simply ring them up arranging a meet and personally believe that it does live up to the hype, her own personality which is expressed generally they will either say no or ask you to pick and is certainly one which i recommend to be a very well indeed through the voice-overs them up in an hour. must buy title, whereas others may disagree. but and physical gestures, it’s apparent that do not base an opinion of the game from what this storyline took more than 5 minutes The interactivity does not stop there though, if others say, experience what this title has to offer and a couple of napkins to create. The you feel like wasting some time you can actually for yourself and enter with an open mind free from interactivity between Niko and other call a vast cavalcade of numbers that appear judgement and you shall be rewarded with hour main NPC characters is generally around Liberty City, albeit advertising banners TV upon hour of excitement and entertainment. Even initiated through Niko’s mobile phone commercials or internet adverts, also you may call if you do just switch on the TV to watch a section of which he receives from cousin Roman at the emergency services if you feel like it. Again just the Ricky Gervais stand up show. the beginning of the game. another little detail that goes to bolster the big Neil Hetherington picture of immersion for the player. From here you can ring your contacts to arrange excursions out with them to So you may have noticed that I have not mentioned gain respect, such as frequenting the the multiplayer side to this game and to be honest I local boozer or partaking in some sort of shall not be covering that area of Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft other activity like darts or visiting a strip IV as I feel it warrants a review in its own right. Also club, also you may call certain contacts because I have not had the opportunity to try out Auto IV for jobs when you are in need some this side of GTA yet as I have been too engrossed Scored: 8 out 10 quick cash. in the single-player storyline. Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 32 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 33 • GameOn Magazine Art Page Art Page

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 34 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 35 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto IV Map Grand Theft Auto IV Map

Grand Theft Auto IV Map

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 36 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 37 • GameOn Magazine The Vehicles of Grand Theft Auto The Vehicles of Grand Theft Auto The Vehicles of Cheetah The Cheetah is one of Grand Theft Auto the iconic GTA sports cars and features in every game from III to San Andreas. It’s a relatively rare car in each game that eing the title of one of the biggest game can only be obtained franchises in history, it’s easy to forget that in certain areas. Bgrand theft auto is more than just a catchy Interestingly, you can slogan. It is, of course, the American legal term for match the design of theft of a motor vehicle, and it’s in this meaning the car throughout its that the origins of the game came about. But you history and see comparisons with real life super real world; it makes sense, then, that not every already knew that, I hope. The point I’m trying cars of the time, in particular the varying types of car driving about is an absolute dream machine. to make here is that GTA has always been about Ferrari Testarossa. The Grotti Cheetah is set to make The Sentinel has always been an ugly car from its vehicles, specifically the thieving and driving of a return in GTA V as a blend of modern sports car inception in GTA III all the way to V. It’s the kind of them. While other design features have come and designs like the Pagani Huayra and Ferrari Enzo. car you nab when you’re in a hurry and the only gone, the implication of vehicular transportation other option is a Faggio (don’t worry, I’ll get to (and everything else associated) has remained Sanchez that). That role as the mid-point vehicle between a constant. So in many ways they’re GTA’s most poverty and exotica gives it a place as a classic GTA significant feature. This is a compilation of some Originating in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the car. I can’t wait to see how they can ugly it up this of the best vehicles in the game’s long history, plus Sanchez has been a series staple ever since. Its time around. some info and speculation on the transportation place as the series dirt bike has earned it a great in GTA V. reputation amongst players and for many it’s by Rhino/Tank far the best way to get around any of the GTA The Squad Car cities. The various dirtbike challenges, from beach So from something totally tame to something speed runs to stadium freestyles, are all brilliant totally ridiculous. If ever there was an argument Unsurprisingly, the squad car can be found in every examples of the variety on offer in GTA and to suggest that GTA doesn’t glorify violence, as GTA game to date and is probably the most regular represent what makes the game so enjoyable. The weak as that argument would be, the Rhino vehicle in every game. After all, most players spend Sanchez is a liberating vehicle that lets players live would obliterate it in a second. Tanks have been about 70% of their time in the game running from their dreams of driving a dirt bike through cities, a mainstay in the series and while a couple of the the cops or stealing their vehicles. The police car suburbs and cycle paths. Thankfully, the Sanchez games have actually included them in the storyline, will forever have a place in the vehicle hall of is returning for GTA V, so you better get those ear they’re often a rare toy saved for special, especially gaming fame as the most resilient and unforgiving mufflers ready. destructive, moments. Of course, they’re also set of wheels ever invented. There’s just no end to probably the most used cheat spawned vehicles in them! Plus, they’re great for chaining explosions. Sentinel history, so their actual rarity should probably be called into question. GTA is supposed to be a parodied reflection of the Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 38 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 39 • GameOn Magazine The Vehicles of Grand Theft Auto The Vehicles of Grand Theft Auto

games’ most stylish vehicles. The low riding Voodoo is a favourite of the rather lacklustre GTA IV, there’s sure to be a ride. Of course, it’s many, and the PCJ-600 Superbike will bring back few surprises. a toss up between many speedy memories. I haven’t even mentioned this and the Infernus the Taxis, or the Limos, or the Caddy! Anyway, I’m Sports Cars: which will also be sure you can understand that GTA has some great returning. vehicles. So what about Grand Theft Auto: V? The biggest sports cars like the Infernus, Banshee and and the Comet will all be returning for V but Faggio There’s actually been a lot confirmed already. it will also feature a bunch of new quick cars. The I’ve already mentioned a bunch of the returning Grotti Carbonizzare is a car heavily influenced by I couldn’t resist. It’s vehicles including the Sanchez, the Cheetah and Koenigsegg, a Veyron-esque supercar will also one of the slowest the Banshee. There’s a lot more on offer though. feature as well as the Voltic, an electric sports car. vehicles in GTA (except It’s all super cool stuff. if you lean forward Planes: in IV), probably the Standard/Luxury Cars: Maverick ugliest, and definitely the least ‘bad-ass’, but it’s got Firstly, making a return from San Andreas, is the an indistinguishable charm. A key element of the Hydra. Modelled after the Harrier Jump Jet, the The brilliantly titled Tailgater is one of the no doubt To most people this is just known as ‘the normal 80s feel of Vice City, the Faggio, based on the world Hydra is pure fantasy gone wild. A career criminal near endless array of standard and luxury cars chopper’. Airborne transportation was an instant famous Piaggio bikes, can be found in every game stealing and flying a state of the art military jet, why available in GTA V. The Sabre, Buffalo, Washington, hit during its introduction in Vice City. It’s quick, since the 80s spoof classic. A true classic despite its not? The plane features in a bunch of the current Vigero, Regina and quad bike have all been spotted it’s liberating, and it’s often beautiful. The Maverick often humourous flaws. GTA V trailers and looks to be a key part of at least in the trailers so will almost definitely be present may be the most common and tame helicopter one main mission. Other aerial vehicles already in the final game. Hundreds have been promised, in the series, but for me, it’s what I think of first Jetpack confirmed include the small attack chopper, and will allegedly be the biggest game in GTA when I think flying in GTA. Those first moments Buzzard, from The Ballad of Gay Tony. Plus, there’s history in terms of number of vehicles available. when I found the Maverick in Vice City were truly GTA: San Andreas upped the ante on airborne a chance the huge military plane from San Andreas, unforgettable, and the following memories of travel by including various different flying options the Andromada, could be making a return, despite Odd vehicles: jumping out were just as good. The choppers are including the WW2 fighter plane, The Rustler, The previously only being accessible via a glitch. With back in GTA V and look to continue the airborne Hunter helicopter and a whole airports worth of many fans crying out for plenty of planes following No GTA would be complete without a host of weird tradition in style. jets, choppers and crop dusters. The undisputed and wacky rides. The classic highlight of aerial antics in San Andreas, however, BF Injection buggy looks to be Banshee is the brilliant Jetpack. The number of times I making a return, so too does spawned this while pissing around makes it easy to the dune buggy Bandito. An air The vehicle of choice for many a GTA gamer. The forget that it was actually part of the mission Black blimp is another rather mad Bravado Banshee is quite possibly the best looking Project. It’s just a simple virtual representation choice of transport, as well as vehicle in every game. Its American Muscle looks, of the lunacy of GTA, not totally outlandish, but the return of buses and trains. based on both the Firebird and the Viper, make it outright awesome. The fact that fat CJ actually GTA V will feature the first use highly distinct. The Banshee is one of those cars slowed down the jetpack was a nice touch. of a Submarine in a Grand Theft that you can’t find for hours, but then will suddenly Auto game, as well as a collection appear en masse during one two minute slot. Classic There are so many memorable GTA vehicles; I’ve of new boats. Don’t worry, the GTA, that is. The Banshee has been confirmed for barely scratched the surface. The long lasting Dodo Caddy will also be back. V and will no doubt continue the tradition as the plane is another one of those terrible, but timeless, Ryan Davies Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 40 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 41 • GameOn Magazine Art Page Art Page

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 42 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 43 • GameOn Magazine The Series Protagonists The Series Protagonists

fight your way from The Series being a nobody to the sole man who Protagonists runs Liberty City.

One year later in 2002 we were greeted with a new installment With the GTA release just around the corner, I will of GTA. This time take you through all of the memorable playable we headed to the characters who have been allowing you to break sunny beaches of the law on a daily basis without the consequence Vice City to follow of visiting prison. the story of Tommy Vercetti. Tommy is So let’s start from the beginning all the way back an Italian American in 1997 with the release of Grand Theft Auto on PC thing we were told is: “You’ve been betrayed and fresh from a 15 year prison sentence for multiple and PlayStation. On this the first installment of the left for dead. Now you take revenge, mob bosses murders while working for the Forelli family in franchise, you had the choice of eight characters. need a favour, crooked cops need help and street Liberty City. He is sent to Vice City to start working Four male and four female, but because this is gangs want you dead. You’ll have to rob, steal and again for the Forelli family in a rather large drug 1997 and graphics in video games aren’t really at kill just to stay out of serious trouble”. But after deal, he gets ambushed and loses the drugs and their peak, all characters, no matter which one you a long wait of three years, we finally find out the a ton of money. This then leads you on an action choose, will look the same in a yellow sweater and name of the savage criminal that was the frontman packed tour of the beautiful beach city to track jeans. The only difference will be the hair colour. of GTA III, from internal files in San Andreas. From down and make the people responsible pay. here we find out that 1999 saw the release of Grand Theft Auto 2, which Claude is the name of is set in the near future with a new protagonist to the mystery man of take control of. This time you have no option of Liberty City. He arrived what character you would like to play with, so all in Liberty City with players take control of Claude Speed, a small time Catalina and another thug who over the course of the game becomes unnamed “friend”, one of the most feared people in all of Anywhere and from here they City. By the end of the game you will be running successfully rob a the whole city after you have worked for all of the bank, but Catalina gangs and killed their leaders. shoots and kills the unnamed character In 2001 the release of the first “over the shoulder” and shoots you perspective Grand Theft Auto was released. In 2001 (Claude) leaving you and the years after we weren’t told the name of the for the police. From protagonist that we would be controlling. The only here is where you Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 44 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 45 • GameOn Magazine The Series Protagonists The Series Protagonists

and also finds to the world of Serbian Niko Bellic, a Bosnian War Firstly Michael is a “retired” bank robber after himself working for veteran. Niko spent seven months on a cargo ship having a decent deal with the FIB in which he got the same corrupt smuggled away to get to Liberty City, all because rich enough to leave the life of crime and live in cop that nearly took he wanted to go and live the American dream, but luxury with his wife and two children, in a mansion the family down, if upon docking with the ship the only thing in America with a handful of sports cars and private tennis he doesn’t do the for Niko is his cousin Roman. Niko hasn’t endured courts. But with all the wealth his life does seem cop’s work he will a seven month sea voyage to live with his cousin to be going downhill, spending most of his time be framed for his and run the family taxi firm together and just keep and almost all the family’s money in high end mother’s murder. his head above water, his trip is a lot more sinister shops. Wife and children have little or no time for Together Carl and than that, America has two of the people Niko him anymore and his best friend, Trevor, has a Sweet fight, kill hates the most: Florian Cravic and Darko Brevic, serious falling out with him. With all his loved ones and deal to get one betrayed him and the other nearly killed him emotionally moving away from him and lack of the Grove Street in the war. Niko had made a promise with himself money, Michael goes back into the criminal world. family back to the that one of them will die. place where they Next is Trevor Phillips, best friends with Michael De feel they belong, Introduced in 2009 and 2010 were two stand- Santa. Trevor is an ex-military man who has served on top, running the alone add-ons for GTA IV. Firstly was The Lost And as an aviator pilot. Upon leaving the military, city from the small Damned, which followed the day to day life of Trevor met Michael due to their mutual interest Next up was GTA: San Andreas set in 1992, you time of jacking vehicles to the larger scale drug Johnny Klebitz, a member of the motorcycle club, in robberies. In the time of the game, Trevor has take control of Carl Johnson or CJ to his mates. Carl deals or gang murders. The Lost. Johnny is the acting president of the club spent all the money he acquired from the banks so spent his childhood and early adulthood in a small but everything gets too much trying to balance lives in a filthy caravan park. This is reason enough Cul-de-sac on Grove Street, from here Carl and his 2008 saw the release of the full HD version of GTA, running the club and being a model citizen. This to start on the wrong path of crime again. brother Sweet were entered into the gang life. In this time set in Liberty City and simply called GTA leads to some members losing faith in him and 1987 Carl left Grove Street for Liberty City due to IV, this also meant a new protagonist. Welcome things go from bad to worse. Released later was Lastly is Franklin, the youngest of the three men the family getting The Ballad of Gay Tony, where you take control you control throughout the game. Franklin has involved with a of Luis Fernando Lopez. Luis is the right hand had a hard start in life with no family, money corrupt police officer man of “Gay Tony” and they are inseparable even or education, so ended up as a small time drug and the family going though they argue most of the time they are in dealer but this got him a small stretch inside. down hill. While in each other’s company. As well as Tony, Luis has Upon release he turned his back on the drugs Liberty City, Carl’s many other friends who, let’s say, are in the wrong and started work for a car dealership that was a mother get tragically business, all of whom, in some way, will need your front for loan sharking, Franklin was in effect the killed in a drive- help somewhere in the game. bailiff repossessing mainly sports car that got him by shooting. Upon wanting more money, and to become one of the hearing this news, GTA V marks a new landmark in the franchise, most feared men in Los Santos. Franklin then meets Carl heads straight for the first time you will be able to take control Michael on a job, in which Michael sees potential back for San Andreas of three characters throughout the game. Each in him and introduces him to Trevor-here is where where he finds character has their own unique characteristics the game begins. that he is no longer and lifestyle. The three playable protagonists are Boffey Steffan a member of the as follows: Michael De Santa, Trevor Phillips and Grove Street family, Franklin (last name unknown). Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 46 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 47 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto V Map and Advert Grand Theft Auto V Map and Advert

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irritation, Michael is drawn back to the life of crime, Franklin (Last name unknown) Grand Theft Auto partnering up with his former partner Trevor and newfound ally Franklin to hit San Andreas’ biggest Last but not least we have Franklin, a native to V Character Bios banks. South Los Santos and youngest of the three protagonists. Growing up without money, a family Special Ability: or an education to rely on, Franklin began drug dealing at an early age, which eventually lead to a Trevor Phillips spell in prison. After his release, Franklin decided to leave his life of petty crime in the ghetto behind long with huge, sprawling open worlds, Our second playable character is Trevor, a drug and started working for Armenian gangster Simeon explosive action and humourous satire of abusing psychopath. Trevor was formerly a military Yetarian. Simeon is a ruthless loan shark who owns AAmerican culture, memorable protagonists pilot before becoming Michael’s partner in crime a car dealership which doubles as an extortion are a key component of the Grand Theft Auto series. and close friend back on the East Coast. It seems business; the dealership sells cars to customers From West Coast gangster CJ to Eastern European that at some point he and Michael had a major who can’t afford them and it’s Franklin’s job to ex-soldier Niko Bellic - each GTA protagonist is falling out - perhaps due to the deal Michael made repossess the vehicles when the poor suckers can’t unique and comes with their own motivations with the FIB. Far from the Hollywood lifestyle lived keep up with the payments. and personality traits. The latest installment in by Michael, Trevor has spent all the money from the highly popular series is the first to his bank robbing days and now lives in a filthy While Franklin’s job does mean that he is often able feature three separate protagonists that the player trailer in the Blaine County desert next to his best to drive expensive sports cars, his ambitions are can switch between at will. friend Ron, a paranoid conspiracy theorist. much higher, and he wishes to become a leader in the criminal underworld. Through his desire Michael DeSanta It’s unclear exactly what this unpredictable lunatic’s to expand Franklin meets Michael and the pair motives are for getting back into the heist business complete their first job together. Due to Franklin’s The first of the three playable characters is Michael, - possibly because he’s out of money, although lack of a family and Michael’s trouble with his own, a former bank robber from the East Coast. In his more likely to satisfy his appetite for destruction they develop a father-son relationship. younger years Michael partnered up with Trevor and chaos. Phillips to pull off some highly successful heists, Special Ability: Slow-motion driving with the pair becoming close friends in the process. Special Ability: Frenzy Mode (Deals double damage, Matt Girdler Michael eventually got out of the game by making takes half) a sweetheart deal with the FIB, landing him a cushy lifestyle living off his criminal success.

Now in his 40s and sharing a mansion in Rockford Hills (based on Beverly Hills) with wife Amanda and children Tracy and Jimmy, Michael’s life might sound perfect, but appearances can be deceiving. With a resentful wife spending the fortune on luxuries and the kids becoming increasingly distant, Michael becomes dissatisfied with his life and has weekly sessions with a therapist. Due to his Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 52 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 53 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto V Will Be Amazing: Here’s Why! Grand Theft Auto V Will Be Amazing: Here’s Why!

initially, astounding, claiming that the map size is explore it, both online and off. Grand Theft way bigger than it was in previous titles such as and Grand Theft Auto IV. 3) Multiplayer Auto V Will Be Early trailers and gameplay seem to suggest that the game runs perfectly well, but then again, Instead of going for a simple Deathmatch and Amazing: Here’s only a foolish developer would show footage that multiplayer set-up, Rockstar have demonstrates characters flying high into the sky, chosen to take the entire experience of the single Why! cars disappearing into the floor and other such player and put it online as well, with the setting glitches. But this is Rockstar: even despite the sheer as rich, detailed and living as it is offline. Explore amount of detail, Red Dead Redemption ran, apart the map with friends and rob banks together, from a handful of minor niggles, impeccably well. cruise the streets together or just hang out in your With many delays surrounding GTAV, it’s clear that customisable apartment; roam the streets alone, Rockstar want to release this game at the best stage preying on all those who get in your way as a aying that Grand Theft Auto V has a lot of it possibly can be, with many of the pushbacks down dangerous criminal of the night; even better, just hype surrounding it is somewhat of an to finalising and smoothing out the experience. So get a bike, drive it off a cliff and parachute to safety. Sunderstatement: pre-order numbers have if GTAV proves to be a bug-riddled mess, many will Sounds brilliant to me. Of course, bundled with this entered the stratosphere and both gameplay raise an eyebrow, point a finger and shout: “We are the regular inclusions like the aforementioned videos and trailers have entered the numerous waited months more for this game! What the hell , but they seem not to be the main millions within days. Coming from a developer have you been messing around at?” focus for the multiplayer experience. It’s so big, it with such a high level of consistency, with very few even has its own name: . of their titles seen as ‘disappointments’, it’s fair 2) Something New If that doesn’t sound awesome, then you’re just to say that Grand Theft Auto V is a title many are too hard to please. hoping with all their hearts to succeed. No matter Grand Theft Auto V, at least from the trailers, seems where you go, there are those who will suggest that to not stray too far from the established formula: So, that’s it! GTAV is barely two weeks away from its the title may fall short or may even be a steaming huge open world, lots of cars, lots of characters, release and excited does not even begin to cover pile of crap but those, at least in my eyes, are just lots of shooting, ladies of the night and a well- how I feel towards this game, in the same fashion ignorant humans who simply cannot see what is structured, well-written story. It is Grand Theft that my article barely covers the insane amount staring them straight in the face: Grand Theft Auto Auto after all: these are elements we’ve come to of things that will all contribute to make this title V has to be and will be utterly brilliant. Here are expect. But Rockstar have taken this formula and such a fantastic one. Just watch the gameplay three reasons why. altered it slightly, not to alienate fans but to set videos to see what I mean! Come September 17th, it apart from other titles in the franchise and not my social life will be kissed goodbye as all my time 1) Pushing Boundaries make it ‘Just Another GTA Game’. Inclusions such as outside will be replaced by shooting, scuba-diving three protagonists instead of one, varying settings and even more crazy, crazy things. So, I end with Technically, Grand Theft Auto V looks sublime: and the ability to craft your own missions ensure a pledge: please don’t disappoint me, Grand Theft the level of detail is simply unprecedented, from that GTAV is a title that stands well above the Auto V. Is that too much to ask? Is it? Just, please the character and car models to weapon designs rest. Customisable cars, scuba-diving, purchasing do me proud. and way back to, most importantly, the setting shares: just a few of the new inclusions that makes Adam Woodward itself, a destination that ranges from a bustling sure the setting of Grand Theft Auto V has the same city to abandoned mountainous outcrops. What strength of life within it just like its characters do. Rockstar are attempting to cram into the game is, This is a living, breathing world and I can’t wait to Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 54 • GameOn Magazine Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 55 • GameOn Magazine Digital Distribution and The Publisher/Reatiler Hypocrisy

See you in Los Santos

Grand Theft Auto Special Edition 2013 56 • GameOn Magazine