Its been almost 20 years since Rockstar Games first released the titles that set their name for the entire open world gaming industry. Those titles were the 3D Trilogy of Grand Theft Auto. With Grand Theft Auto III’s 20Th Anniversary coming soon, Rockstar managed to surprise us with an announcement of a remaster of these three games: Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, the most loved instalments of the entire GTA franchise till now. Just a few hours ago, Rockstar released a small teaser for their new Remasters. The teaser didn’t reveal any gameplay or footage of the game (Just a short video to get fans excited) but their blog post in the newswire managed to reveal more. (Image is fan made and not actual footage or gameplay of the new remasters) What's going to be new? The Trilogy Remaster is going to come out later this year. This Remaster is going to be ported to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and on the Rockstar Games Launcher on PC (The titles will most probably appear on Steam and Epic Games in mid or late 2022). The remasters will make their way to IOS and Android devices later in 2022. According to Rockstar, the new titles will feature modern graphical and a few gameplay enhancements while retaining its classic feel and look. This could mean better lighting, up-scaled textures, more high resolution and detailed character models, better foliage and atmosphere etc. In gameplay, we can’t expect huge overhauls example Vice City having Grand Theft Auto V gameplay but we can expect much better physics and even movement and handling. This means driving and running around these nostalgic cities will have a much smoother experience. But Rockstar will most likely not redo combat and gunplay. Rockstar has specifically said that they want to remaster their titles while remaining the classic look and feel of their new remasters. This could mean that they will not change much of the gameplay or the world itself, even leaving out some places which need graphical enhancement. Nevertheless, I’m sure Rockstar will not disappoint us with this one, but there are things to take consider. For starters, the first remaster they ever did was the remaster of GTA San Andreas over to Xbox 360, the game had bad reviews, not only were there minor graphical and close to no gameplay enhancements, it introduced game breaking bugs and glitches which made it quite unplayable (that reminds me of something very similar). But this time, Rockstar seems to be taking this remastering business a bit seriously. Take Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, recently acquired a company called Ruffian Games Limited and renamed It Rockstar Dundee, the company specializes in video game remasters and even worked on Halo The Master Chief Collection. This is good news for the Trilogy Remasters because the developers behind it actually have skill in the game they’re going to make. According to leaks, these remasters will use Unreal Engine, this will be the first time Rockstar has made a game on another engine other than their own legendary RAGE. It will be interesting to see these games on Unreal Engine, considering the amazing games that have been made with it (Bioshock, Mass Effect 2, Batman Arkham City, Borderlands 2, Days Gone etc.) Besides graphical and gameplay improvements, new and modern UI, higher framerates and resolution, multi and wide monitor support, even ray tracing thanks to the new next generation consoles’ hardware all is possible to make its way into the remaster. Rockstar will reveal more information in the coming weeks and if this turns out to be good, I myself am personally excited to get my hands on these new Remasters and play my first ever video game in a new and more modern and enhanced world. After all the mods that were taken down by Take Two, this should better surpass our expectations, especially since the original versions of the games will start to be taken down from digital retailers next week. After twenty long years, our childhoods are going to be revived once again. If these remasters are a success, than we can get to see a Red Dead Redemption Remaster as well, along with Grand Theft Auto VI in the coming years which according to leaks and rumours is in the works.
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This post will contain spoilers of Red Dead Redemption 2's story, so beware while reading. Red Dead Online, the live service online game to Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 is in a pretty bad shape right now. The player base is mad and the updates Rockstar is adding are not so good. Even though Red Dead Online's latest update Blood Money's content was decent, it wasn't exactly what players were hoping for. But give this game a few years and Rockstar will fix it up, just like they did with Grand Theft Auto Online. After so many ways added in the game where you can make money (Which all are almost bad but they're there), there is still one question remaining: What are we supposed to spend that money on? There are barely any vehicles in the game and by now players have bought all the equipment and horses they need, so there has to be something in the game, something big, that players can spend money on and my mind comes to one thing: Properties. Properties weren't there in the base game of RDR2 since its a story with you on the run but properties can make it in Red Dead Online. Personally the idea of camps never satisfied me and having a house is what I prefer much more than a camp. Today I have brought together my ideas and made a concept of how Rockstar can pull of the Properties update, and not just buying a house and living in it similar to what we do in GTA, making a house yourself. In the Epilogue of RDR2, John Marston buys an pre-cut house and makes it with a few of his old remaining gang members, a similar concept can be added in Red Dead Online and I have put together a few ideas of how it could work. The System of Banking: In The Epilogue, John Marston is seen taking a loan from the Blackwater bank, with this I have developed ideas of how an entire banking system could work in Red Dead Online, kind of how you can deposit money in GTA Online. -All banks (4) across the map will now be open for business -You can go to a bank and create an account -The account will allow you to deposit your money for safekeeping, money in your bank can also be vital for some purchases which aren't accepted with hand cash -There will be limited amount of cash that you can deposit which can be upgraded -To deposit money, go to the nearest bank and talk to the attendant there -To withdraw money, either go to the bank or send a letter from a post office and collect the money in a form of a delivery -Players are able to take a loan from the bank now, going up to $5000 -Players will have 1 in game week to return the money back to the bank -If they are not able to give the loan back, the payback money will increase. Eventually after 3 weeks, the player will be wanted across the states and after they are killed or captured by the law, money will be recovered from them by force. -If a player does not have enough cash to fulfil the loan, their credit could go into negative cash. -Banks are now selling multiple plots of land across the country which players are able to choose and purchase. -These plots will range from $500 to $5000 -There are 3 classes in which these plots are divided: Small, medium and large -Plots can be sold for cash later on, though the value of the plot will be less Technically Marston buys both land and takes money from the bank in the story but you can do neither in free roam, adding these features in Online can be a good option for players who are low on cash or rich players looking to safeguard their money. House Building:Like I mentioned before, in the Epilogue, John makes a house in the mission "A New Jerusalem" after he has bought some land down from Blackwater. This entire concept can be created into a system and pulled off in Red Dead Online. -Cakes Hardwood and Timber is now open for business in Blackwater -If you own a plot of land, you are eligible to buy a pre-cut home -There are a variety of designs you can choose, which are divided into 3 classes: Small: Will include 1-2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room etc. Can be built on all kinds of land Medium: Will include 2-4 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room etc. Can be built on either medium or large size of land Large: Will include more than 6 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room etc. Can only be built on Large size of land. -The Fence is now selling two types of tool kits: The Standard and The Deluxe tool kit. Either of the two will be required to make your home but the Deluxe kit will allow you to repair your home (More details on that later) -After purchasing your home and selecting which plot you want it delivered, a delivery mission will start. -The mission will have you travel all the way from Blackwater to the plot of land you want the Pre-cut house delivered to -If with a posse, You can take the wagons yourself but otherwise, men for hire will accompany you and extra charges will be taken for that -Rival players or Bandits can attack you while delivering your supplies -After the supplies have reached to your plot, you can start building your property -Players can build a small house solo but to build a medium or large house, a posse or men which can be hired from Cakes Hardwood and Timber will be required Building a house yourself will be a very unique system which can set RDO apart from GTAO, this will also be a way for players to invest and spend money on. Properties was a great feature in Red Dead Redemption but unfortunately didn't make its way to RDR2, but Online can fix that. Home Customizations:In the Epilogue, John's old boss David Geddes sends John and his family old furniture he had from his farm Pronghorn Ranch, after John successfully builds his home. Of course we Red Dead Online players don't expect Jessica LeClerk or Guido Martelli to send us their old furniture to decorate our homes if this update arrives. But spending money on a huge variety of furniture can be a nice addition into this update. -After building your home, you will be left with nothing but an empty house -To start making it home, go to a furniture dealer, which opens for business after a player successfully buys and creates a house -The dealer will spawn across the five states in towns and settlements and sometimes even occupy stores -The furniture dealer's products will be sold in separate sections -You can select indoor or outdoor furniture to buy -Indoor will be divided into sections: Living room Bedroom's Kitchen Other accessories -Living room will include designs of sofa's, tables, fireplaces, bookshelves, consoles etc. -Kitchen will include how you want the shelves, counters, the dining table, plates etc. You will also be able to store food in the cabinets and kitchen. -Bedrooms will include beds, shelves, mirrors, wardrobes, tables, desks etc. -Other accessories will have a variety of unique and fun stuff to add -Things like game tables (Poker, Black Jack, Dominos etc.) will be available to buy -You can buy a weapon locker and clothes wardrobe, shaving kit etc. -Decorations like paintings, candles, animal skulls, clothes, plants etc. will be available to buy as well -More new household accessories will be introduced besides from story content -Outdoor section will also have a list of things that you purchase for your land -Things like a fast travel post and a personal bounty board (Will cost gold and tokens) will be available to purchase -Patios of different designs will also be up for grabs and even bathroom stalls -Campfires and outdoor dining areas will also be available, similar to the customizations you can make at your camp -A unique mini stable will also be available to purchase. This mini stable will allow you to access your owned horses and vehicles and customize them (Though you cannot buy new vehicles or horses and a lot of things will be limited) [Will cost gold and tokens] -At the fence, you can hire guards and place them around your home (More details on that later too) -After buying all your furniture, it will be delivered soon to the house you have ordered it to -Players will be given a Blueprint which will allow them to set up the furniture the way they want in rooms or outside Having multiple designs and pieces of furniture is an amazing way to stir up Players' minds and make them go crazy with their creativity and thinking. The RDO community in general is very creative and I personally would love to see what people come up with and how well they make their dream homes in this Wild West game Other Content:A few changes here and there always have space in Red Dead Online, and Rockstar can add a few more additions related to this update. The players who are action thirsty can also get a fill with this update. -Your homestead has a chance of getting robbed while you’re Online by bandits (NPC's). A pop up will appear when a robbery is taking place. Defend your home yourself or hire guards from the fence to protect your home -Rival players and possess may also be able to rob your homestead and steal valuables you may have left lying around as a free roam event. If low enough honor, you can also partake in these robberies and if you’re lucky enough to steal from a rich player, your payout can be lucrative -If robbed, you can pay $100 to repair your home or use the Deluxe Tool Kit to repair it yourself. -You can also move in some of your bought items from your camp to your home (Example fireplace, weapon locker, fast travel post etc) -Cripps can now set up the butcher table in your land if you own the Trader role. Only 1 Butcher Table can be set on one of your properties -A Blood Money agent can now come to your land and offer missions from there (Will cost gold and tokens) -Persistent Posses can now settle down in large homes and large plots of land. -The ongoing Outlaw Pass will have John's Home Design which can be claimed and bought as a pre-cut home for your property -Discounts, Extra XP in PVP modes, new clothing items and horses will also be available with this update This wraps up my update concept! Put some thought into it and borrowed some potential mechanics which could've been added in the story and some which technically made it but in the form of missions. I personally would love to see properties in this game, RDO itself has a ton of potential and it is sad to see Rockstar is throwing it away, but I have faith that one day they will make a ground breaking update and change the game. Right now the game needs more fun robberies and proper heists, and the next thing is something to spend money on. This update would make perfect sense in the winters and maybe here and there changes to the Blood Money update (R* is still updating it with new content every week). Red Dead Online is available as standalone and comes with the full game Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X & S, Google Stadia and PC. |