Mo' money, mo' options: how cash actually matters in Grand Theft Auto 5

GTA5 changes the money dynamic quite significantly, encouraging players to do whatever they can do secure some dollar bills, by introducing "insanely expensive" new items to buy.

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Rather ironically, the Grand Theft Auto series has never really figured out how to let players best spend the mountains of cash they earn in the game. There was never really any need to get cash in previous GTA games, as players were rarely hard-pressed to spend it on anything.

GTA5 changes the money dynamic quite significantly, encouraging players to do whatever they can do secure some dollar bills, by introducing "insanely expensive" new items to buy.

In addition to purchasing property, you'll be able to buy "higher-end guns and vehicles," according to Polygon. Unsurprisingly, things like fighter jets will prove to be quite costly, so "you'll actually have to think about how best to spend your take."

Perhaps one of the more unique ways of getting money in GTA5 is through deep sea diving. By exploring the underwater depths of Los Santos and the surrounding areas, you may discover old cargo ships with loot, or cave systems with long-forgotten treasures. "You head down with no idea what you might find," CVG says in their preview. "Because of that, the world beneath the waves will likely prove a compelling and productive part of your time in GTA V, with the reward system an incentive to repeatedly dig out your scuba gear."

Heists will also play a large role in making--and spending--bank. These challenges require getting additional equipment and hiring additional AI squadmates to help. "Regardless what the end goal is, every aspect has to be constructed by you. That includes sourcing a crew, disguises, locations, vehicles, weapons and no doubt a ton more as you piece together the intricate nature of the criminal puzzle," VideoGamer details.

As a player, you will have to question how much you're willing to pay to get the job done. Obviously, the higher the risk, the higher the return. "More skilled squaddies will cost more, but limit the amount of risk you're liable to face if a heist goes bad," Polygon says.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 2, 2013 12:00 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Mo' money, mo' options: how cash actually matters in Grand Theft Auto 5.

    GTA5 changes the money dynamic quite significantly, encouraging players to do whatever they can do secure some dollar bills, by introducing "insanely expensive" new items to buy.

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      May 2, 2013 12:25 PM

      Sigh, I can already picture the political spiel, "GTA V is training people to conduct heists! Ban this game, its the root of all evil!"

      that aside, this sounds like its going to be a lot of fun.

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        May 2, 2013 2:19 PM

        Truth be told, my health didn't really improve when I had sex with that hooker.

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      May 2, 2013 12:26 PM

      Those are awesome ideas. I never had reason to spend time on activities in GTA 4 because they offered no rewards, and when they did pay out, why buy what I can just steal?

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      May 2, 2013 1:06 PM

      When the cheat codes are found out this will mean nothing really.

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        May 2, 2013 1:17 PM

        Why is that? There were cheat codes for GTA4 and RDR but gameplay was more interesting.

        You didn't get a lot of cash from treasure hunting in Red Dead, but searching out landmarks from the maps was still more fun than anything else in that game. Pulling off a bank robbery or exploring the ocean in GTA5 could be just as satisfying.

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          May 2, 2013 9:19 PM

          I don't use cheat codes in games, I feel it cheapens the experience. I did my Doom and Quake godmode days to just rampage through games. Maybe there wont't even be cheat codes for money or vehicles in this game?

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            May 2, 2013 9:27 PM

            I don't understand your original point then. Cheat codes only make a difference when you use them.

            So how will all these features mean nothing to you and I, and all the other millions of people who ignore them?

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              May 2, 2013 9:41 PM

              I think I'm just being all "get off my lawn" really. I think cheat codes are terrible, but I remember when I used them all the time in games like Doom and Quake. There's a whole generations that are at that point.

              I guess another thing is that the devs are all, "Money matters now, it takes a lot of time to get the really awesome stuff." but then they may trivialize it by having codes that get you that stuff instantly. Why hint down the fastest car in GTA4 when you can have instantly? It makes the claim of "money matters" kind of weak.

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                May 2, 2013 9:58 PM

                I still don't understand. How does it trivialize anything if you aren't using them?

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                  May 2, 2013 10:10 PM

                  Do you really think they'd purposefully invalidate all this content and all these gameplay systems many people worked so many hours on to create and implement if they thought cheat codes made any significant difference?

                  Rockstar is one of the handful of developers even including those sorts of easter eggs in console games these days. They aren't stated outright, most people won't even use them, more won't know they even exist. They're there for the folks who like to mess around in these open worlds and play how they want to when they get bored of playing by the rules. It doesn't affect you or me or the developers or majority of players in the end. I actually admire them for continuing to include cheat codes in their games, and it's better than people hacking them for similar functionality.

                  Being upset about cheat codes in a game like GTA is like being mad at mods in Skyrim. It doesn't make any sense. You don't have to use any of them if you don't want to.

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        May 2, 2013 5:48 PM

        or *GASP* refrain from using cheat codes!

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          May 2, 2013 9:19 PM

          I don't use cheat codes, I feel they cheapen the game.

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            May 2, 2013 11:47 PM

            then for you and all the other cheat code haters, it's not going to cheapen the game now is it?

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              May 3, 2013 12:08 AM

              I'm already fuming in anticipation of the "if other players get what I get easier than me it's devalues my efforts (in this SP game)" response.

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      May 2, 2013 1:12 PM

      Did they get rid of dating and hanging out with friends? I hope so.

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        May 2, 2013 2:22 PM

        Yeah, they are distracting and felt like chores.

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      May 2, 2013 1:20 PM

      I hope they bring back buying properties... I loved that from the earlier ones.

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      May 2, 2013 1:21 PM

      Wait I'm confused didn't Rockstar say themselves when they did the spread for Game Informer that you wouldn't be able to purchase property?

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        May 2, 2013 2:06 PM

        "You can pick up hitchikers, do stunt jumps and flying challenges, take part in yoga, golf, tennis or bike races, and - despite Rockstar being coy on this up until now - buy property too. Houses, garages and businesses can all be snapped up, providing a useful, additional revenue source that drip-feeds cash over time. Rather neatly, there seemed to be the suggestion that the men would remain true to their characters too: twentysomething Franklin will like the idea of buying a nightclub more than Michael, who might fancy investing in a marina."

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          May 3, 2013 9:39 AM

          That's freaking awesome, thanks for the reply, I must have misunderstood when that info came out what now seems like such a long time ago. Stoked to see property back in the game, that was one big thing I missed in GTA IV, after playing VC and SA and having the ability to buy all sorts of different properties to even Saints Row being able to do that as well, made it stand out even more in GTA IV that you couldn't. Very happy to hear this. I also did some looking around the internet and found out that there will more stuff besides property that you can buy like really expensive planes and such. Can't wait.

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      May 2, 2013 2:06 PM

      hopefully they don't make it a chore that gets in the way of fun

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      May 2, 2013 2:24 PM

      So now it's a money 'em up?

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      May 2, 2013 2:26 PM

      I spend all my money on armor weapons and ammo so I'm stocked for every mission run

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      May 2, 2013 2:38 PM

      Man this sounds so awesome. Not only did the series desperately need ways for the player to spend their money, but one of the key methods of getting money is by scuba diving for sunken treasure?

      How fucking awesome.

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      May 2, 2013 2:47 PM

      GTAV needs to have a tank you can steal. And missions that aren't rehashes of each other.

      GTA4 suffered from both of those problems. No tanks and shitty mission design. The best part of the game was rolling with Brucie because his lines were hilarious.

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        May 2, 2013 4:21 PM

        This game doesn't need a tank. It needs excellent set pieces, and basically everything mentioned in this article. So I'm all in, quite frankly.

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          May 2, 2013 4:50 PM

          It still needs a tank so that I can go on a rampage with it.

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          May 3, 2013 2:17 AM

          Trying to go really fast in a tank by using recoil of the main gun is fun.

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            May 4, 2013 6:37 PM

            True, but it's not a necessity, in my opinion.

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        May 2, 2013 4:46 PM

        In Gay Tony there's a mission for Yusuf where you steal a SWAT tank (APC?) and get to kill hundreds of cops with it.

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      May 2, 2013 5:43 PM

      Please oh please oh please let there be a multiplayer version of the Heists.

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      May 2, 2013 6:05 PM

      It'll make the microtransactions that much more desirable.

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      May 2, 2013 8:40 PM

      Who cares about the economy system, bring back the vigilante missions kkthx.

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