GTA 4, Massive Multiplayer?

As much bad press as gta3 has received in the mainstream media, I can only try to imagine the public reaction to a "gang simulation", which is what a multiplayer version of this game sounds like to me.

I'll stake out an unpopular position here & say that perhaps some ideas/games go too far, & should not be made.

When gta3 does come out for the xbox & pc, I will not be buying it. I tried the original gta when it 1st came out, thought it was ok, if a bit tasteless, & that the media reaction was overblown. I've looked at a lot of screenshots of gta3, & read a bunch of reviews, & find nothing worthwhile or rewarding about the concept. They took something that was acceptable in a more "cartoony" (gta) type format & made it way too realistic. From the sound of it, I won't be buying gta4 either, but I will give it a look before deciding.

I know my thoughts on this will be unpopular, but so be it, it's what I think. For those of you who would call me a hypocrite for enjoying standard fps type games, there's a big difference between running around some fantastic environment or historical battleground while fighting for your life and running around a city killing/stealing & in general being a thug. At least, that seems a reasonable distinction to me.

As initially cool as the idea sounds to me, I think it would have to be one heck of a large departure from GTA3 to be entertaining.

A big part of the attraction in GTA3 was that you were the one crazy driving wacko in the city, but if you fill a city with a bunch of wacky drivers then you are no longer a unique and wonderful snowflake.

I can see how cooperative missions would be a blast for sure. Perhaps just have worlds so huge that you arent constantly surrounded by other players. Just like 1-3 other guys tops in most cases.

I think one of the first things that will have to be laid down is that while you can steal cars, kill people etc etc.. it'll be harder to get away with it. You'll need to have buddies back you up and stuff. The cops will have to be much tougher and more strict in what you can get away with. This will definetely increase the need to group together.

It's an interesting proposition-to say the least. I say go for it, but I wouldn't want it in a GTA 4- more of a seperate game, 'cause if the MMOG flopped, I'd still like a Singleplayer based game to fall back on (not that GTA3 isn't good enough, but by that time, I'll be itching for an update).

I think that in order for this game to work, death would have to have a serious penalty. Maybe if you die, you're dead and have to wait a week until you can create another character. I think this is indispensable if this game is going to work. People would have to really think about their actions and really have to cooperate with their gang members to pull off successful missions. I think realism is important, otherwise what's the point? Just play unreal or q3 and run around shooting flashy guns at running eyeballs and robots.

Actually, I can see how not being able to play for a week would be annoying and maybe it's not realistic idea for the public. Perhaps if there were a few different games going on at once. You could juggle 2 or 3 characters at once, but if all three are dead, you'd have to wait.

example:
Monday you lose one of three of your characters.
Tuesday you lose a second one.
Friday you lose the third one and you have to wait until Monday to create one more character. You'd have to wait one week from friday to have all three again granted you didn't lose monday's and tuesday's characters before Friday.

I guess it's just a thought.