PC gamers often have the better end of the stick, and GTAV is another title that will be just a bit sweeter on a personal computer.
Since its September release in 2013, I have sunk days’ worth of time into GTAV, playing its online feature to death, and free roaming the wonderful city of Los Santos. We all have our own reasons for finding games fun, and with GTAV, there is so much variety to what you can do that the sandbox fun never ceases. With a next-gen release right on our doorstep and a PC release a few months behind, it makes you wonder what the delay between releases will mean for the players. The points chosen below represent my personal reasons for waiting for the PC release.
5. Graphics
4k is a pipe dream for most at this point, with a need for a truly tremendous PC to be able to run games smoothly at such a resolution, but at least the option is there. Now I feel sort of cheap for using graphics as a reason for a game to be better on PC, as I am not a gamer who often cares much about graphics so long as the game is playable and smooth. However, looking at screenshots of GTAV, even on the older generation consoles, makes me want to experience the game in its most beautiful form. With such an immersive world, and with the amount of detail in GTAV, it’s only right to want to experience that in 4k quality.
4. VR Headset Support?
Though this is only speculation on my part, the addition of a first person mode in GTAV has made me think about the extended use of such a feature. The idea of running around Los Santos, robbing liquor stores and car-jacking old ladies in first person is an interesting prospect, but the thought of doing it with a Virtual Reality headset is all the more exciting. Maybe I am jumping the gun and there will never be official support of VR in GTA, but if that is the case, I urge you to read number 2 in this list. Playstations Project Morpheus is a possibility, for consoles in the future. There is of course a chance that they will update GTAV to be compatible with Morpheus, but as it currently stands, mods will probably be the closest and easiest way to play GTAV with virtual reality.
3. Keyboard or Controller
This is really not that much of an issue for many, but having the choice of playing with a keyboard and mouse, or a controller will be important for a lot of gamers. Some feel that the free aiming in GTAV is sluggish, and while I feel it makes up for it with the auto lock feature, some prefer to claim their skill is what killed you. I personally feel that the auto aim compensates for the huge environment and that if there wasn’t such a feature, people would spends hours shooting around their target, but with a mouse, you are allowed a lot more control over where you aim. Whether they will implement the auto aim feature in the PC version of GTAV is unclear, though likely, but at least the people who want to use their own skill will stand a fighting chance when allowed to use a mouse.
2. Mods
This is the obvious answer for most PC gamers, and many would argue this should be number one on the list. GTAIV is prime example of how mods can expand a game’s replayablilty, with thousands of mods that have continued to make it a favourite. Whether they are implementing graphical updates/rehashes, extra skins, more in game vehicles, or just adding a whole host of crazy, mods will effectively make GTA a completely new game each time you go to play it. If GTAV gets the same treatment as its predecessor, you could be flying around Los Santos as Superman, whilst creating tsunamis and causing all the civilians to act like zombies in no time.
1. Video Editor
I love machinima. It holds a huge place in my heart as it’s the way a met a lot of good friends. Back in the old days when Halo 2 was THE game to play, I learnt about machinima and the fun you could have attempting to make it. Giants like Rooster Teeth made machinima into a true art form and ever since those days I have been trying to find the perfect game to make something fun and interesting in. GTAV’s San Andreas is a huge set in my eyes, with all the extras, stunt doubles and actors I could ever wish for. With the huge amount of detail available in GTAV, and the incredible graphics to go alongside it, I am truly excited for the video editor. All you need do is look at the videos made with GTAIV’s video editor on PC to understand the potential that there is, and when you think of all the immersive features in Grand Theft Auto V, it is fair to say that the cinematic value that could be obtained in the game world could really make for some interesting films.