Rockstar says sci-fi GTA 'tempting, need a good reason'

[Blacksite]

The vice president of Rockstar Games has touched on the possibility taking the Grand Theft Auto series into a sci-fi setting.

Chatting with Ecrans, Dan Houser said that while a futuristic GTA is a “tempting” prospect, the company doesn’t feel it can justify moving into such a territory just yet.

"We will do it the very second we have an idea," said Houser, when quizzed if the multi-million selling crime series would eventually make the jump.

"One of our strengths is the consistency of the game world. We're not necessarily the best writers in the world, but we [know] how to write a video game.”

"When we decided to make a Western, it was because we knew we had something to say," he continued. "We have no interest in going into science fiction for the sake of flying cars and laser guns. The best science fiction stories are those that speak about the human condition.”

"So while this idea is very tempting and, by definition, anything's possible in a videogame, we lack the essential thing for the moment: a good reason."

Moving to a sci-fi setting would not only allow Rockstar to play around with a whole new bunch of ideas, but more importantly, it would also give the franchise a shot in the arm – not that Houser feels this is needed at present, though.

"I'm not worrying about this for a good while yet," he revealed. "In the past some of our titles have been successful, others less so, but as long as we have the ambition of making the kinds of games that nobody's ever made before, we're not going to get bored.”

"To offer an analogy with cinema, some films can be told in one page of text. Once the basic situation is there, you know exactly how it will evolve. But if you're careful to change the narrative structure, it can change everything. Chris Nolan's Memento is a good example. That's the kind of approach we've achieved."

The next entry in the franchise, Grand Theft Auto V, is due out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in spring 2013. The game introduces three playable protagonists with interweaving storylines, and takes place in Los Santos.

Stay tuned for more details on the game as we get them.

via PSU.

[Cybertox]

It might succeed and might fail, personally I dont really like this idea.

[ttech10]

it would also give the franchise a shot in the arm

I think the franchise will be alright with the looks of San Andreas. IV was stale and they realize the mistake they made with it and seem to be fixing it.

I would also much rather them create another western game than a sci-fi one. I honestly can't think of a sci-fi game I really enjoyed.

[Sylar]

Gangsta's in spaaaaaaaaaace

[Shingo]

They are not EA so this is normal Altough I am sure they may pull something awesome with that.

[Blacksite]

They kind of tried this with Grand Theft Auto 2. Although it was set "three weeks into the future", the general design was retro-futuristic. I remember you could pick up a gun that electrocuted people.

[claud3]

they did risk going 3D and guess what happened there... OVER 135 MILLION sales off the 3D games and now GTA V will increase that more

So a SCI FI move would be a great move for them, another risk is another possible winner

[podsaurus]

they did risk going 3D and guess what happened there... OVER 135 MILLION sales off the 3D games and now GTA V will increase that more

So a SCI FI move would be a great move for them, another risk is another possible winner

Yeah but the move from 2D to 3D is a much bigger leap than a change of setting. Black Ops 2 went futuristic and it was cool but not a huge leap.

The possibilities would be fantastic with that kind of setting. Something they should consider down the line some time.

[claud3]

But this is a free-roaming game, which makes it a lot harder

Because you have to expand the use of vehicles and cop chase's if the vehicles fly or drive or both... You have to contend with how big the buildings are and how narrow the city is to fit the massive buildings in... You have to contend with world power or powers struggling for the last resources, the struggle between the rich and poor

The old city being taking over with the new direction of epic tall buildings and compact cities eating away at the past cities look and feel

The setup of new laws and law enforcement's and what they look like and the way the people look and act

I see it being a massive leap and a hard one to pull off... But a possible winner if done right

[ttech10]

Gangsta's in spaaaaaaaaaace

Did you mean for this to invoke the thought of Bowie's in Space?

[Sir_Scud]

As a GTA game, I don't think it works. GTA has always been about parodying modern pop culture, ripping from mob flicks, and usually some kind of reflection on society (through comedy).

It would be much harder to do in a sci-fi setting. However, they could easily make a game that is not called GTA, but kinda plays like it (i.e. Read Dead Redemption).

[claud3]

Yeah take the GTA gameplay and put it into a completely in setting and re-name it... Sound logical that way

Because if it fails, it does not ruin the GTA series

[VayMasters86]

I don't know if we would need it. Watch Dogs looks kinda like futuristic GTA, granted I expect the game play to be a little different. Maybe if that game does well it'll nudge Rockstar a bit in that direction.

[Kuro]

Intergalactic G's lol

[claud3]

how far into the future are we talking and how far would they go and would it fit the GTA style

[ps3freak18]

As a GTA game, I don't think it works. GTA has always been about parodying modern pop culture, ripping from mob flicks, and usually some kind of reflection on society (through comedy).

It would be much harder to do in a sci-fi setting. However, they could easily make a game that is not called GTA, but kinda plays like it (i.e. Read Dead Redemption).

This is exactly the way I look at it. That is so much apart of the GTA formula that they would have to just make stuff up without a backdrop to work with like modern and previous culture. I just don't think it would work that well. Would the game be fun? I'm sure it would but I think it would love that special charm that GTA has.

[RedOrb_Collector]

I imagine it would be something like a Blade Runner-esque game.

I'm all for it.

[Silver_Knight]

This will get the main character all kind of jokes. "Hey, Baby, your a$$ is out of this world"

[DreDayDetox]

Yeah, the parodies and lessons of society would be limited in a futuristic GTA game..you'd only hear NASA jokes and parodies. And NASA is awesome.

[Fijiandoce]

i kinda like the idea

but its good to see a dev know not to go forward with something without having a care for it.

[darksora]

would be amazing to have a sci-fi open world game
Hope they find that reason next gen.

[claud3]

the vehicles and main missions would be interesting to see and how they would fit in with the SCI FI THEME and

What would be the side missions

[podsaurus]

But this is a free-roaming game, which makes it a lot harder

Because you have to expand the use of vehicles and cop chase's if the vehicles fly or drive or both... You have to contend with how big the buildings are and how narrow the city is to fit the massive buildings in... You have to contend with world power or powers struggling for the last resources, the struggle between the rich and poor

The old city being taking over with the new direction of epic tall buildings and compact cities eating away at the past cities look and feel

The setup of new laws and law enforcement's and what they look like and the way the people look and act

I see it being a massive leap and a hard one to pull off... But a possible winner if done right

How difficult it is depends on how far in the future they go. Would they do near future or are they talking way far ahead like Mass Effect sci-fi? Depending on how far they go that divide between old and new city might not exist. I doubt it because GTA games always have gaps between rich and poor.

[claud3]

you see that is what i and many would like to know... What SCI FI are they talking about, so many different thoughts on what SCI FI really is

and how would their GTA SCI-FI game actually look like

[Sylar]

Did you mean for this to invoke the thought of Bowie's in Space?

no but i wish i did haha

Intergalactic G's lol

poppin astro caps :P

i kinda like the idea

but its good to see a dev know not to go forward with something without having a care for it.

yeah man too right