Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Launch

The first of this year's AAA titles has launched, and the first reviews are in. Gamespot, IGN, and OPM all have looks at the game, and it sounds great. If you want to keep track of the pool-shooting race track driving everything-under-one-roof extravaganza, the GameRankings page is available as well. When you play the game this week make sure and tune in to WCTR News to catch Anchorman Richard Burns, TV's Wil Wheaton. More seriously, reviews aren't the only thing the developers are looking for. Commentary regarding Take Two Interactive's slipping stock is available on CNN Money's Game Over.

Comments

Awesome!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm planning to run out to the store and steal it as soon as soon as I can, even if I don't own a Playstation 2.

And TV's Wil Wheaton? Excuse me! I think you mean Slashdot's Wil Wheaton! Is he the first Slashdotter to do voicework for GTA?

Re:Awesome!

[Anonymous Coward]

> > No! Piracy is bad and wrong and sends you to hell. Stealing, however, is just fine.

> But, but... Piracy IS stealing!!

Technically yes, but only at sea, and even then only without a commission from a recognized sovereign nation.

Which month is it?

[SuiteSisterMary]

It's the end of October, and you think that 'GTA 3.2' is the first of the year's AAA titles?

Meh.

Rally Driving?

[fembots]

catch Anchorman Richard Burns

So we can finally drive world rally championship cars in GTA?

Study?

[Grayden]

GTA: San Andreas, Halo 2, and Half-Life 2 all coming out within a short span?

Man my GPA is screwed.

Hmm...

[Sheetrock]

Although I'm probably going to be right out there with the rest of you picking this up, am I the only one that's a bit concerned about seeing all the parents buying the game for their kids?

Supposedly the ESRB stuff is supposed to stop retailers from selling the game to people under 18, but I know that many parents don't have the time or the willpower to look into what media their children consume. And I know this series gets pretty bad, with things like picking up prostitutes, car theft, and massacre being rewarded in what some have termed a "pornography of violence".

As fun as the game is, maybe this is something that should be hidden behind the counter or maybe only sold in adult venues/online. We all know where to find it, and we're old enough not to be profoundly affected by murder simulations, but apparently there are still a bunch of chuckleheads out there that are completely unable to determine what's appropriate for their kids. And society pays the price.

I sure can't wait to play it, though.

Re:Hmm...

[NaugaHunter]

Normally I enjoy reading Slashdot, and your post seemed very insightful at first, but your constant use of "the" disturbed me to no end and I was completely unable to finish reading this thoroughly well thought-out post.

Sorry, but I just cannot understand how people can be offended by words without considering context at all. Would a rose smell any less sweet if it were called a dingleberry*? Is the value of a thought to be judged by the words that express it?

Further more, is deploring one's speech for its 'colorful idioms' any better than believing everyone should speak English, or French, or whatever? Both views hold the implication that one doesn't want to hear what one wouldn't say, so is there any distinction whatsoever?

I would be willing to grant you that it is easier to evoke an emotional response with strong language then with strong arguments, and that with fights over ratings and money it's almost self-propagating between popular culture reflecting and shaping reality. But I prefer to judge a statement for itself and not by the words used to make it. Maybe it's the logical part of my mind asserting itself, but I have hopes that I'm not unique in this respect.

In regards to GTA:SA, changing the language would be akin to air brushing out George Burns' cigars. The player is essentially role playing a character in an historical environment, and the language is part of it. Editing out specific words from a game with drive-by's, corrupt cops, drugs, etc. seems a little selective to me.

* - I had a much better word to make my point the 'dingleberrys', but in the interest of a civil discourse I have edited myself.

Not just more of the same

[thesandtiger]

I've played it, and at first expected it to be just more beating the crap out of random passerby and screaming "Git' out tha car, byotch!" at the screen.

Fortunately, it isn't - I found the main game much more interesting than the previous two, so it'll probably have a longer play-life for me.

I have to admit being surprised that they've managed to keep it mostly fresh - it seems like people can't make a sequel without fucking up the mojo these days.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:New Features

[smclean]

In diku muds you don't really die if you don't eat, you just lose the ability to regenerate your hit, movement, and mana points. Same with thirst.

God, did I really just bother pointing that out?

Re:GTA Source

[okayplayer]

And while many are saying that the engine in SA is the same as the one in VC and III, this isn't quite true. The engine has been modified greatly to allow for the much larger, fully streamed (no loading no matter where you travel) huge map.

For example now a "tree" like system is used for drawing in the various levels of details rather than the linear system that was used in the previous games. Yes, the look of the game is similar, but it is certainly a greatly improved engine to handle the new game's massive size. I mean you wouldn't say that an AMG V8 is the same engine as that honda 4 cyl would you?

WHERE ARE YOU WIL?

[Wraithlyn]

"And TV's Wil Wheaton? Excuse me! I think you mean Slashdot's Wil Wheaton!"

Captain's log, stardate 3.14159265

Ensign Crusher has been missing for nearly 6 months, which has been confirmed by the lack of entries in his personal log.

Tomorrow, I will instruct Commander Data to assemble an away team to look for our wayward ensign. He's probably hanging out with that Traveller nut again.

Still not Admiral. Riker may be sexier than me.

End log.
_________

Seriously though, he's probably staying away from Slashdot because of all the lame Star Trek references.