By Miguel Lopez
Contributing Writer
Although the new generation of gaming consoles (Playstation 4 and Xbox One) are right around the corner, some of the biggest titles of the year will still be released in the current-generation Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Among those titles is the latest adventure in the Grand Theft Auto series: Grand Theft Auto 5, scheduled to release in just a few days on September 17.
With almost five years since the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 in 2008, which took place in “Liberty City,” a fictional location based on New York City, Grand Theft Auto 5 visits “Los Santos,” an area inspired by southern California.
The upcoming title features a wide-open world for players to explore, from big cities and urban decay to backwood areas and mountainous wilderness. The player has several options to explore the world, from diving into the waters to using one of the game’s many vehicles to drive or fly.
The game features three lead characters: Michael, an ex-bank robber who enjoys a rich life but is riddled with family troubles; Franklin, a street-smart hustler who simply believes he’s surrounded by idiots; and Trevor, your classic Grand Theft Auto nut who would blow up a gas station out of boredom. The three characters all contribute to create a new style of play for missions and an interwoven story which follows three narratives.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is an ambitious project for its developer, Rockstar. According to the Huffington Post, the game is the most expensive in history, costing $265 million to produce and market.
While this may sound like a lot of money, the game already has 3 million pre-orders under its belt and is estimated to pull in at least $1 billion in revenue during its first year alone.
