Dan Houser's interview with IGN

Closing off the week on online previews for GTAV, IGN has posted an interview they conducted last month with Rockstar's VP of Creative and GTA writer Dan Houser.

Doing other cities just didn't seem appealing. Doing small towns is very appealing. There's a bunch of small towns and villages and whatnot in there to discover and play around in. Doing other cities, though, felt like it was going to create problems we didn't need. It wasn't going to add to the experience. Of course you could do a game with a bunch of cities now that could be pretty interesting, but we didn't think that was going to be this game. This map is going to be spectacular to people when they start exploring and playing around with it.

Read the rest of the interview at IGN

Community Roundup!

GTAV Trailer #2 remade in GTAIV, by forum member Golonka

Only a few weeks into November and we've already had a GTA V packed month so far. A variety of press previews, a ton of screenshots and artwork, all topped off with a brand new trailer, has left the Community with plenty of information to discuss and dissect. The overwhelming amount of information is a lot to take in, but it has no doubt left fans with an unquenchable thirst to get their hands on the game this coming Spring.

Read on for the latest community roundup, compiled from our own GTA Forums

The introduction of Michael, Trevor and Franklin as the series' first instance of multiple playable characters has split the Community in more ways than one. While their backgrounds are still not completely known, we can see they each have a distinct personality, and this has indeed shown us that Rockstar are taking Grand Theft Auto to even greater heights in terms of storyline. All fans have a different playing style, so one of the best things about this "bold new direction" is that every taste is catered for. Here's a few opinions from some forum members on who their favourite guy is:

Franklin
The reason why I like Franklin and I will play as him the most is because I feel I can relate to him, he is young and ambitious, and I think his story will be the most interesting out of the 3 protagonists. If you ask me, the main reason most people think he is bland is because they think he will be exactly like CJ, I liked Carl but I think Frank's story will be much different to CJ's story, like Dan Houser said, he is "the gang-banger in the post-gangbanging world" that's what got me excited.
- Gtaghost22

Michael
I really like Michael because he reminds me of the retired Vercetti, who always has been my favourite character. He seems to be the brain in the group and seems more like a real, classy gangster like the old days. He is a criminal with style.
- Jimmarn

Trevor
Trevor obviously has a messed up past. R* knows a psychotic protagonist like this (since it's new to the series) will deserve an interesting level of depth. Just think, Tommy was a badass, but he didn't revel in chaos. Tommy CONTROLLED chaos. CJ... I have to admit, came across a bit weak at times, but it made sense to his story. With Niko, we met a man confused with life. A man that yearned for peace of mind. His story was just the beginning of R*'s amazing new writing. Next, we had John Marston. A man who has made a lot of mistakes in life, and is trying to fix them. John's ultimate testament was that karma is very much real, and that he could never escape his inner demons.
And now, in GTA V, we have a new man, a man with no morals. A man who has NEVER made a mistake in his life. A man who dances with his inner demons, and who revels in the dark, chaotic truths of the world. That man... is Trevor. What dark secrets will unravel from the fresh, intriguing depths of this new character? SPRING 2013 holds the answer. If I was to guess though, his story would be similar to Claude screaming just one word. Thought I forgot about that silent protagonist didn't you? The way I see it, both Claude and Trevor are almost the same. Only difference is that Trevor can express himself a bit better.
- GTA-King

Game Informer Reader Q&A

As promised, GI Editor Matt Bertz has just posted a reader Q&A with answers to questions posted directly from fans on their website comments.

Whilst most points have been covered previously, there are some new tidbits of information such as character interaction and abilities.

And in case you haven't listened yet, Game Informer also released a special edition podcastyesterday, where they discuss their first impressions of the press demo they received at Rockstar Headquarters. Be sure to check GI's GTA V Hub for other features released so far.

Summary:

You can't play the entire game as one character; sometimes you have to a solo mission as each character to advance the story.

No co-op in the story.

Some missions with all three characters you have to switch between them and then are given the opportunity to choose afterwards.

Can't kill another character when playing as one of the three.

Michael can walk around his house and interact with his family.

Can buy new clothes.

In free roam you choose to play whichever character you want.

Each character is from a different part of Los Santos, but you can go anywhere you want.

Natural Motion Euphoria used just like in IV, RDR and MP3.

Entire map is open from the beginning.

LV and SF definitely not in game.

Downtown area of LS is smaller than Liberty City

During demo, game and switching characters ran perfectly without lag.

Swimming underwater confirmed, plenty of areas to explore.

Plenty of boats and hoes.

Internet on smartphone.

Lots of TV shows.

Trevor able to set things on fire when he wants, not just in missions.

Each character has his own inventory and money. Subject to change before release, though.

No CJ.

No characters from III, VC or SA.

Couple of familiar faces from IV will visit.

Variety of races included; cars, bikes, triathlons.

Still working on Wanted system.

Rockstar didn't answer when asked if Xbox will have multiple discs.

Discuss on GTAForums

Two new GTAV Screenshots

From Xbox's facebook page, here are two new screenshots.

The first shows Trevor climbing the Vinewood sign (previously seen from a different angle).

The second is from a mission featured in the press demo that various publications recently wrote about, where Trevor drops Michael off on the roof of the FIB tower.

Community Spotlight: GTAV's Art in Motion

We've seen several of GTAV's official artwork emerge over the last couple of weeks, which resemble a really a cool and engaging vibe. It's definitely interesting when you line up the art from the GTA games since GTAIII, as seen on the GTAnet home page.

A member of GTA Forums, jBhIpS, decided to take things a step further by putting some of GTAV's official art into motion by layering things out and animating it. All of us here at GTAnet have been super impressed and amazed by his work that we couldn't resist sharing it with the rest of the community!

Have a look on YouTube and discuss on GTA Forums.

New GTAV Screenshots

Hope everyone enjoyed today's trailer! Here's a little something extra. Check out these four new screenshots we just received. Click for full resolution versions.

Grand Theft Auto V Trailer 2

With a year since the release of the first trailer to Grand Theft Auto V, the second trailer is finally here! The song used in the trailer is Stevie Wonder's "Skeletons".

Discuss at GTA Forums.

IGN's interview with GTA Producer Les Benzies

IGN has put up their interview with Rockstar North studio head and GTA Producer Leslie Benzies. In addition, they've also released two new screenshots.

There's several bits of new and interesting information. We've pulled all of them out and placed them below in its original form, from the mouth of Les:

We do have a bunch of missions in GTA V that are far more freeform than anything we have done before. We tell you to go get something and the player decides how to do it - what characters they need on the job and what tools they need for those characters.

Animals aren't just a backdrop - you can expect to see dogs guarding areas and causing the player trouble when they try to sneak past them.

If the player wants to get their hands on one of the more 'high end' vehicles early in the game they'll have to work for it. For instance, airport security won't let you just wander in and steal a jet, they'll give you some serious opposition.

Weapons are slightly different since we have to find a balance between giving the player freedom and giving them a challenge. Letting players have any weapon they want, whenever they want it, would make earlier missions less of a challenge and less satisfying. That being said, as the player makes progress through the game they will build up a satisfying arsenal.

Refining open world multiplayer into something really special has been a huge focus of development and we are very excited to share more information with people soon.

GTAV Trailer 2 Debuts Tomorrow

 

With the Rockstar Newswire and the official Grand Theft Auto V website all updated to include a countdown, the community is prepared for the highly anticipated launch of Trailer 2 tomorrow.

Once the countdown ends, the trailer will be right here on GTAV.net as well as Rockstar's website. The trailer will be available from 11:00 AM your time (11 AM EST / 4 PM GMT).

After the debut, you can be sure to find a summary of events posted right here on GTAV.net. Also look out for a frame-by-frame detailed analysis by the GTA V community over at GTAForums as well.