Could UK Tax Breaks Pave the Way For GTA London?

BanjoTed writes "An interesting — if tongue-in-cheek — bit of speculation is up at MCV about the possibility of a Grand Theft Auto title across the pond. 'Chancellor Alistair Darling's pledge to support the video games development industry with tax breaks could do more than simply protect the future of the UK dev sector,' the site claims. 'It could also have dictated the setting of the next Grand Theft Auto.' Its reasoning? That developers will only be eligible for new UK tax breaks if their games can be proven to be 'culturally British.' Being based in the UK alone is not sufficient for this — instead, the games in question must promote Britishness. Hence MCV's conclusion that Grand Theft Auto V may well be set in London — saving Rockstar an estimated $16m in the process."

Comments

Been there, done that?

[Stormwatch]

A "GTA: London" is nothing new -- the mission packs for the first GTA were set in London.

Re:Been there, done that?

[jandersen]

And anyway, GTA, with its focus on wanton violence and abuse, is somewhat dated. How about a completely different approach: A game where the objective is to drive in a safe, economical, environmentally responsible and polite way through London City in the rush hour, taking into account the one-way system, the roadworks, the tens of thousands of pedestrians crossing the street in front of you, the fact that the London streetmap looks a bit like a Mandelbrot fractal and that streetnames change on average every 20 meters. Now that WOULD be extreme.

Re:Been there, done that?

[Canazza]

GTA's focus on wanton violence and abuse may be dated for London, but it would be highly apt for GTA:Glasgow.

Re:Been there, done that?

[delinear]

I'd be keen on seeing how they could implement the congestion charge into the game. Especially in the early parts where you're generally short on cash - somehow beating pedestrians and prostitutes to death for their spare change to pay the fee doesn't seem to promote quite the image of Britishness I would guess the law is aiming at.

On that note, a game involving binge drinking, violence, knife crime, teenage pregnancy, police brutality and political corruption would definitely promote "Britishness" at the moment, but I can't see Our Glorious Leaders giving it the official stamp of approval...

Re:Been there, done that?

[Canazza]

binge drinking, violence, knife crime, teenage pregnancy, police brutality and political corruption

So... GTA:Eastenders

Re:Been there, done that?

[Gordonjcp]

GTA's focus on wanton violence and abuse may be dated for London, but it would be highly apt for GTA:Glasgow.

One of the missions in the upcoming GTA:Paisley mission pack is to steal a jeep, set it on fire then crash it into the front of the airport terminal building. Then you have to avoid the irate locals and police, with three "wanted" stars.

Re:Been there, done that?

[mdwh2]

I think a similar game could be done though - something along the lines of Grand Football Hooligan: London.

Or how about, G20 Protest: London - you get the choice of playing either the police or a member of the public. You get to experience good old British tactics, such as kettling, or when that fails, a good old beating them to the ground. You'll face dangerous villains such as people trying to make their way home from work, and protestors armed with digital cameras. Be sure to arrest anyone who asks to see your ID number!

(Disclaimer: I am British. I just hate when politicians start talking about "Britishness", as typically it's a codeword for pushing their own moral or cultural viewpoints, even if it's not in line with the views of everyone who is actually a British citizen.)

Re:I hope the Americans are ready for this

[sopssa]

Maybe they can finally get more liberal with sex and have an actual hot coffee minigame. But from European cities, I'd rather have Amsterdam on it.

Re:I hope the Americans are ready for this

[Jedi Alec]

But from European cities, I'd rather have Amsterdam on it.

All the trolley trams and cyclists would make speeding around town...somewhat challenging i expect.

On the other hand, we dutchmen are well known for our fondness of...coffee. ;-)

Re:I hope the Americans are ready for this

[rishistar]

I'm sorry, but I strongly think the tax benefits should be withheld unless there's a hot tea minigame. Give me that cup of Darjeeling baby yeah baby yeah!

I'm sold, my only question is...

[billsayswow]

Would you have to pay the congestion charge when driving downtown?

name change needed

[Bazman]

We don't have "Grand Theft Auto" in the UK. We have the slightly politer-sounding "Taking without owner's consent".

TWOC: London

doesn't seem right.

Bad idea

[martin-boundary]

They'll never make their money back. Everyone knows that the Knowledge takes about 34 months to prepare, they'll never get enough gamers to pass the exam!

Re:It needs guns

[delinear]

Indeed, characters like Boris the Blade from Guy Ritchie's Snatch could supply the weapons instead of a Guns 'n' Ammo on the street corner, and more heavy duty weaponry could always be liberated from the military later in the game. Actually the idea of everyone being armed with slightly shoddy sawn-off shotguns instead of AR-15's makes it sound a bit more edgy and fun - especially if there's a chance of your gun back-firing during a bank raid, etc.

Re:Knightley, Clarkson

[delinear]

Driving like Jeremy Clarkson in some of his more manic modes would be fun, too.

Instead of pressing the left stick activating the car's horn, it could cause your character to shout, at full volume, "POWWWWERRRR!!"

Nobody? OK, Karma be damned...

[Hognoxious]

In Soviet Russia, game develops YOU!!!!

Re:Stupid score system

[salmacis2]

Really? What's a trunk? In England it's a an elephant's appendage. In the US, it's a boot.

Re:It needs guns

[xaxa]

And driving in London's no worse than in any other major city...

You've either never been to London, or you've never left.

Bonus points

[Yvan256]

Bonus points for putting an indestructible blue phone booth somewhere.