GTA Hollywood: Could It Work?

Or have we seen it all before?

Published 26/07/2010 at 13:30.
By newsbot.

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The problem with the rumour this morning that Grand Theft Auto V will be set in Hollywood is that, in general terms at least, we’ve already been there. Not that I’m disputing the details of the rumour because I’ve no reason to – there’s every chance the next ‘Auto could well be set in Los Angeles’ most celebrated locale even though this is the first we’ve heard of it.

However, as some of the comments in our post this morning can attest, a fair chunk of Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was already based (however loosely) on Hollywood.

Vinewood, as Rockstar dubbed the subset of the first island, incorporated the famous sign; Vinewood Strip with the theatre and other tourist attractions; a Chinese area and the Walk of Fame.

The thing is, though, that unless Rockstar are going to go down the same route as they did with Grand Theft Auto IV (and Liberty City) expanding on what’s there and building much more in and amongst what they’ve already made in San Andreas, Vinewood’s going to be a pretty small place. Hollywood’s ripe for the picking, though, not least in terms of the mileage the developers could get just focusing on the movie industry.

There’s plenty more around and about Hollywood, though – Beachwood Canyon, Melrose Hill, Cahuenga Pass – with over 200,000 people living in the district, and landmarks are numerous: the Hollywood Bowl, Kodak Theatre, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not for starters and that’s in addition to the areas already riffed in San Andreas: Sunset Strip, the Sign, etc.

And then there’s the hugely exciting prospect of Rockstar expanding their scope, if indeed they are going down this line, to cover more of LA. Could we see a return to the areas already seen in San Andreas just as we did with Liberty City in GTA IV? We’re assuming if they do go down this route a lot of the open space would be condensed somewhat, but that wouldn’t matter one iota.

And as to the validity of the rumours themselves? Well, it appears some people are happy to read between the lines, citing the film poster and the seagull theatre as Hollywood based themes. And the erection volcano? That’s meant to be a penis parody (vine, wood). And the volcano poster’s location in the sex shop? Again, that’ll be Hollywood’s border with the San Fernando Valley.

Of course, Vinewood itself was referenced several times in Grand Theft Auto IV (and at least once in Chinatown Wars) so Rockstar at least never let go… Could it work, then – GTA Hollywood? Yes, and with Rockstar on form after the sublime Red Dead Redemption we’ve every faith in the developers, especially based on the enjoyable and cleverly put-together expansion packs for the last main Grand Theft Auto.

Time, as ever, will tell, and all this talk just makes me want to boot up San Andreas again and go for a big long bike ride!

Comments

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Burgess_101 | 26/07/2010 13:34
Member
616 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

Second to last paragraph you may want to change the VI to IV :)
dirtyhabit | 26/07/2010 13:36
Member
1760 TSA Points | Member since: Forever

I’d like to see a post apocalyptic GTA. Red dead gameplay (dead eye etc) ……..
- gideon1451 | 26/07/2010 14:56
  Member
  829 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009
  
  There are far too many post apocalyptic games already, in my opinion. I’m getting a bit bored of the same grey landscapes :/
  That said, I’m looking forward to Rage though.
jonny_bolton | 26/07/2010 13:36
Chooses The Impossible
2636 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008

I still think that Vice City was the bet location for GTA. The problem I had with San Andreas was that it was a huge map with a lot of open space. The desert and the wooded areas were just so dull and unnecessary.
- icuyesido | 26/07/2010 13:46
  Member
  1090 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010
  
  I liked them areas to give you a break from the cities, I would have been very boring without them, some of my favourite missions were in there.
- webby_15-0 | 26/07/2010 13:48
  Member
  560 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
  
  I always loved the enormous size of san andreas because of the freedom you had. i hated it when they took it to liberty city and made it so much smaller with just the same theme of buildings thoughout. plus with a smaller area it will be less likely to have planes (which in my opinion was the best part of san andreas and vice city). in a GTA game I think bigger is always better as long as each area has a specific theme.
- citizeninsane45 | 26/07/2010 13:48
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  1356 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
  
  I agree, bring back Vice City!
- 3shirts | 26/07/2010 13:56
  Member
  4343 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
  
  I think they learned from that though. GTA4 was much more compact and I expect 5 will be as well. They just need to strike the balance of a reasonably large map but with plenty going on.
  - jonny_bolton | 26/07/2010 20:27
    Chooses The Impossible
    2636 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
    
    Much like the Just Cause 2 map. I’m really enjoying the scale of it, while not being bored of locations to visit.
webby_15-0 | 26/07/2010 13:37
Member
560 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

even if this is the next game i doubt it would be GTA V. it would just be a small step up from GTA IV like how vice city and san andreas were small step ups from GTA III.
icuyesido | 26/07/2010 13:43
Member
1090 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

I liked SA because I like having a huge area and a massive collection of vehicles to explore it with. I hope they don’t do one set in Hollywood, I wan’t a completely fresh, made up place that would take days to explore.
- Danza Di Fuoco | 26/07/2010 14:23
  Member
  3439 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
  
  London?
  - OBBICH | 26/07/2010 15:22
    Member
    102 TSA Points | Member since: May 2010
    
    I concur. I’d love to see that!
  - GodDarnKat | 26/07/2010 17:29
    Member
    147 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2010
    
    Grand Theft Gridlock ?
    
    Although if it means we can hijack black cabs and bendy buses, I could very easily be convinced.
Tuffcub | 26/07/2010 13:48
Team TSA: Writer
6054 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008

Couldnt give two monkeys, never liked any Rockstar games. Same thing over and over again.
- webby_15-0 | 26/07/2010 13:51
  Member
  560 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
  
  no, your thinking of activision and those call of duty games
- 3shirts | 26/07/2010 13:57
  Member
  4343 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
  
  Bit of a generalisation. What about Table Tennis?
- djsunna | 26/07/2010 14:30
  Member
  154 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2010
  
  i want 2 monkeys give em to me please tuffcub
- cc_star | 26/07/2010 14:39
  Team TSA: Writer
  12558 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
  
  Exactly my point in a conversation in the earlier article
  
  GTA III was new but Red Dead Revolver, GTA Vice City (R*’s best game by far) GTA San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories, GTA IV and GTA Episodes From Liberty City, Red Dead Redemption… There are also striking similarities with Max Payne & Manhunt games.
  
  Then the forthcoming LA Noire sounds exactly like GTA LA 1930′s and Agent sounds like GTA 1970′s
  
  One would expect sequels and a franchise (Fifa/CoD/Gran Turismo etc) to retain gameplay across releases but a whole studio’s output to be just reskinned versions of the same game? The only changes are Midnight Club & Table Tennis. Poor show R*!
  - andytorr | 26/07/2010 16:45
    Member
    2171 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
    
    How can Agent sound like a GTA 1970′s, when we know absolutely nothing about what type of game it is.
  - cc_star | 26/07/2010 16:57
    Team TSA: Writer
    12558 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    “the world of counter-intelligence, espionage and political assassinations”
    
    Looking at R* output to date it doesn’t take the biggest leap of faith to see that it will be an open world game, where you have to; befriend people, kill them, kill others, blow stuff up.
    
    In other words like a reskinned GTA – the same as everything they’ve ever done except Midnight Club & Table Tennis
  - skibadee | 26/07/2010 21:07
    Member
    15748 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
    
    mate you are knocking the most creative & give you the most for your money company.
  - andytorr | 27/07/2010 11:03
    Member
    2171 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
    
    and Manhunt? It could well be something along the lines of Manhunt. Which in my opinion, was an incredible series.
andytorr | 26/07/2010 14:37
Member
2171 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008

Has everybody forgotten about Agent? I know guys at Rockstar North, and I know for a fact over 90% of the main GTA team is fully involved in Agent. So who’s making GTA? I love GTA, but I don’t want it passed to another team. I’d rather wait.
SeLwOoD-X | 26/07/2010 15:01
Member
148 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009

Instead of GTA V, why dont R* just re-release GTA: San Andreas with updated HD graphics & trophies.

Would be awesome.
jayjay119 | 26/07/2010 16:48
Member
299 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2010

I agree with the people above who say that GTA: London would be a welcome return, London is a historic, beautiful city that is the only currently existing location Rockstar haven’t yet reused and expanded.
Paris, I imagine would make a very good GTA setting too, perhaps better than London, or even a 1970′s epic set in Spain’s Basque Country.
Just something new please Rockstar, Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City are getting pretty old now.
hazelam | 26/07/2010 17:08
Member
6286 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

weird thing, i dug out my xbox copy of san andreas just yesterday to see if it worked on the 360.
it did. :)
that was a cool game, what was with those freaky hands everybody has in that game though?
i remember an action replay code for the ps2 version that reduced the gravity, made the pile ups on the freeways a laugh riot.