Just read some preview stuff about GTA's multiplayer functionality and it seriously made me mentally drool.
Here's just one of the modes:
"GTA Race
The setup: The whole of Liberty City again serves as the backdrop in this mode, with race routes winding through various boroughs and accommodating all modes of transportation, including boats and choppers. The host wields the power to choose the vehicle type, weapons, police, traffic, and more. The goal is simply to be the first (of up to 16) to cross the finish line, hitting all the checkpoints on the way.
Execution: The races may be straightforward, but the openness is divine. The ride you start with by no means has to be the one you finish with. In one match, everyone ditched their initial putt-puttering mopeds within minutes. In fact, it'd be an accomplishment if any original jalopy makes it to the end. With weapons enabled (which puts ordnance icons throughout the route you can run over to pick up) and collisions always encouraged, the action rarely focuses on precision driving. Hell, after falling hopelessly behind, Rockstar's Barrera seemed to take a perverse pleasure in setting up a makeshift roadblock of abandoned cars at the end of a bridge, and then waiting, weapon drawn, for the next lucky racer. A pain in the ass, no doubt, but a fun one. And the result? We wound up finishing the last 100 yards on foot. Also impressive: jets taxiing and then taking off through the airport race route. The fun of traveling by air or sea, however, turned out to be more muted. Controlling the choppers was easier than expected (and made for some impressive under-bridge needle-threading), but the wide-open airspace made for some lonely, if visually stunning, stretches. Meanwhile, the boats, even the "fast" ones, felt slow and floaty, and in terms of replayability, the water races had a short-term, one-and-done feel.
Best GTA moment: Corner-cutting is encouraged. But not over a fire hydrant. I did so on the first turn with a motorcycle and got knocked off the bike -- and 10 feet into the air -- from the resulting geyser. At least the guy behind me took a spill as well."
"Players create a character (no story-mode characters here) with a quick editor. As players earn money from killing opponents, they go up in rank and earn more -- and wackier -- customization options."
Danger
sweet
I still can't freakin wait!
bilbomarks
I feel your pain, buddeh.
ACMoxon
GTAIV is set to blow us all away. So yes, I am hyped.
Kamahl
:O
Awsomeness! I still play GTA2 MP, but seems I'll be moving VERY soon :D
DirectXpert
I want to finish the full game before touching multiplayer.
IncredibleBulk
that is gonna be wkd gief !
GuzzieStyle
Darkstlkr
This game is going to be awsome
bilbomarks
"I want to finish the full game before touching multiplayer."
Me too. I've always loved the way the story flows in these games. It always unravels like a movie.
*side note*
I don't know if anyone else did this in previous GTAs, but I usually tried to drive "real," just so I could get into it that much more. (stopping at reds and driving relatively slow compared to most players.)
Qbix
Meh. I want Gears of War 2! ;P
MAdB0MBER
Looks pretty good. Gears of War 2 will be good too. Its all good. Goooood. Donkey Boner!