Grand Theft Auto V

GTA V

Grand Theft Auto V is the newest and fifth installment to the main series of the GTA franchise. Rockstar was created by Sam and Dan Houser. After the first GTA was released in 1997, there have been 4 more main series games, as well as several spin off games such as GTA: Chinawars and GTA: Libery City Stories. GTA is planned to be released in Spring 2013, and will likely continue the aura of controversy that accompanies Rockstar, and in particular the GTA franchise. There was a constant use of 'drip-feeding' information about the new game to the public, starting with a the first teaser trailer late 2011 and only releasing vague screenshots, up until official details where released last week.

GTA is a third-person, open world sandbox that includes an extensive series of both main and side missions aswell as the ability to simply free-roam the world. the next installment will is being developed by Rockstar North (Rockstar's Edinburgh Division), published by Rockstar and distributed by Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive. Grand Theft Auto V is going to return to the LA mimitation city of Los Santos (perviously seen in San Andeas) but is reportedly going to incorperate a world bigger that those of GTA: San Andreas, GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption combined. The player will be allowed to control 3 protaganists throughout the game, each with a different set of skills and abilities, and with intertwined story lines. Their names are Michael, Trevor and Franklin. Michael is a made man and former bank robber in his forties with a dysfunctional family, Trevor is a drug-fuelled psychotic man who lives alone in the desert and Franklin is a young repo man who lives in Vespucci Beach (a mimitation of Venice Beach).  Unsurprisingly, it has been announced that there will be a multitude of side missions, activites and vehicles for the player to interact with in GTA V. These will include activities such as yoga, triathlons and scuba-diving. The wide range of vehicles that is expected from a GTA game will return, including an extensive range of new cars,bikes, bicycles, ATVs, boats, helicopters and planes. With favourites like the 'Cheetah' sports car also returning.

The first glimpse of GTA V was seen in the teaser trailer that was released in November 2011. Since then, screenshots, posters and an approximate release time have been either 'leaked' or oficially released. With more, official infrmation coming out bit by bit throughout the recent week or so, with more information coming this week and next. This tactic used by Rockstar is extremely efective in getting as many people as possible to talk about the release of GTA V. This is an especially sly move by Rockstar, as they have chosen to release a second trailer and important information about the new game in and around the same day that Halo 4 was released. This directly challenges Halo's release and directs attention towards Rockstar and GTA V that would have otherwise been focused on Halo 4.
In the marketing of GTA V there have also been examples of cross-media convergence. The first teaser trailer had many elements of that for a new movie, with large cinematic shots and usig movie-style editing. The Trailer even opens with a voice over (from who we now know to be one of he three playable characters). This is a common feature used in theatrical trailers and overall, it is clear that this trailer inparticular was influenced by the film industry. 

It is clear by looking at the past games in the series, as well at the information that has been released that GTA V, will continue the series' adult orientated gameplay and overall experience. The trailers and artwork that has been released include swearing, women in bikinis, hints/use of drugs and guns. This game is specifically tailored for those who are 18+, quite possibly more to the male population, and Rockstar know they have loyal audience in that age range.#

Grand Theft Auto V will only be available on Xbox 360 and Playsation 3. Rockstar have stated that it would ruin the experience if 'motion-control' devices where catered for as it would retract the player from the in game situation. The game is available to pre-order from places such as Game, Play.com, HMV, and Amazon in the UK. However, very few pre-order bonuses have been announced, with the current information telling us iconic posters and image-viewers that depict scenery from the game are available for those who pre-order.

The second trailer (released today) has broadened the amount of information on each of the protagonists and how their lives differ and end up entwined. It also gave us a further look (in Rockstar's Typical cinematic fashion) at Los Santos and the activities and vehicles that the player will be able to interact with.