I played every game since original top-down 2D, including GTA V, that last one for maybe 10 hours. I did 100% San Andreas and IV, but didn't really get into DLCs.

I like it for absurdist writing that makes the world look like hyperrealistic USA. I like it for the tunes. The missions were fun when I was more ok with railroad experiences. Secrets, references, sometimes hilarious dialogue.

I didn't like GTA V much though. Maybe it was just more of the same or maybe it got worse in some way I didn't quite notice. Or maybe I just like other things in video games after 20 years.

I think V especially has a huge following thanks to multiplayer, including RP servers. I never really cared for either.

Hope that helps.

I've played every GTA since 3. Easily hundreds of hours collectively.

For a fair while, nobody was doing what they were doing really. They were extremely unique games. The freedom of the open world, the modern setting, the criminal drama, the high production values (of their respective release eras), the scathing satire. All of it combined was exceptional.

For my own personal tastes, I have largely out grown their style of expositional story telling and mission structures, but I still think everything I listed above applies and at that no one else is really doing what they are doing. In terms of a free roam modern, immersive setting, there really is no competitor in my opinion.

Having said all of that, know that I do not intend on buying GTA 6. Not because I'm not excited for it, because I frankly kind of am for all the same reasons, but rather for reasons that more have to do with the company, management, and my shifting priorities and set of values in my own life.

Do you like crime movies from the likes of Scorcese, Mann, and Ritchie? We don't get many of those in video games anymore, but GTA lets you play out something like it. Car chases, shootouts, heists, and criminal conspiracies are all here. The next closest thing I can find anymore is something like Yakuza, which dips far more into the silly/anime/over-the-top and caters to a different set of tastes even when it's not a turn-based JRPG these days. So that's why I'm looking forward to GTA, and unfortunately Gang of Dragon is looking super cancelled now.

Ok, I'll bite. I've been a fan of the single player games since III.

As someone who learned programming and 3D graphics modding games, the series has always been special to me, and pretty directly lead to my career.

What makes these games special is that Rockstar develops their own in house game engine, and has the money and staff to take the time and do it right.

From what I've read and watched about this new engine, they are doing things so far beyond what any other company has invested in, that GTA VI is going to redefine what gaming can be.

While everyone else is on the Unity and Unreal band wagon, pumping out clones of systems everyone else is making, Rockstar is creating new low level technology to build a truly reactive, immersive environment.

Will they create a GTA Online that just milks money out of micro transactions? Sure, they will, be stupid not to.

But, I am honestly excited to see what kind of single player simulation of a living city they are able to produce with 13 years of development.

Did I buy the $100 premium version? No, I will never preorder a game again after Cyberpunk, but if the reviews are good I'll drop $100 dollars on a game that I'll easily play for 500 hours

without seeing a single non-cgi frame

I know what you mean, but they're all cgi frames in the game too lol

I'm pretty sure there was a study done that found that people with lower incomes tend to spend their extra money on experiences and such (tattoos, games, etc.) rather than save and invest. And they do that bc they figure they aren't gonna have the money for long so might as well do something enjoyable with the money when they do have some extra. Whereas people who have higher incomes often have some extra money, so they can make plans and invest with the expectation that they will have more extra money later

I've been around long enough to see this pattern play out a thousand times, kid.