Money: Difference between revisions

As the vast majority of settings in the series takes place in the [[United States of America]], the currency unit of money is the [[dollar]]. The London add-on packs for GTA 1 ([[Grand Theft Auto: London 1969]] and [[Grand Theft Auto: London 1961]]) are exceptions; as the games are set in the [[United Kingdom]], the pound symbol substitutes the dollar symbol.

For progression into new cities or areas and storyline in [[Grand Theft Auto 1]] and [[Grand Theft Auto 2]], money must be earned to the point a certain amount is fulfilled, often in millions.

The use of money for other purposes was explored in GTA 2. With the ability to save games, the player must have a certain amount of money in hand to enter [[Save Points|save points]] (comically represented by a "Jesus Saves" evangelical place of worship which demands donations in order for the player to "save" his "soul"). The game also offers several drive-in shops where the player may remove their [[Wanted Level in GTA 2|wanted level]], upgrade their [[Vehicles in GTA2|vehicle]] with equipment, or install bombs, all at a cost.

In [[Grand Theft Auto III]], the money system was completely refashioned. While certain street crimes still award players with small amounts of money, the score multiplier is removed, and [[pedestrians]], except emergency personnel, drop cash onto the street upon death. [[Missions in GTA III|Missions]] still provide substantial amounts of money, but sub-missions, which debuted in GTA III, serve as an additional source of income, awarding the player with increasingly more money as the sub-missions progress.

Money in GTA III is assigned a secondary role in game progression for specific missions only, when the player is required to pay [[8-Ball]] large sums of money to construct a bomb in "[[Bomb Da Base Act II]]", and when the player must pay a large ransom to secure [[Maria Latore]]'s freedom, who is kidnapped by [[Catalina]] and the [[Colombian Cartel]], in "[[The Exchange (mission)|The Exchange]]". Outside missions, money remains important in the purchase of [[Weapons in GTA III|weapons]], [[Pay 'N' Spray|respraying]] of vehicles and the installation of car bombs. Sessions with [[prostitutes]], another addition in the game, also incur a cost to the player, depending on how long the player requires her services.

In [[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]], instant monetary awards for street crimes are largely eliminated (saved the destruction of helicopters, which was later removed in GTA San Andreas), leaving [[Missions in GTA Vice City|missions]], sub-missions and dropped pedestrian cash, and robbing stores (in addition to the destruction of parking meters in [[Downtown (Vice City)|Downtown]]) as the only visible sources of income. The average amount of money awarded to the player and cost of items were also divided by 10 (i.e. the use of [[Pay 'N' Spray]] costs $100 in GTA Vice City, compared to $1,000 in GTA III). The game also reduces the number of missions where large sums of money was needed; only one such mission remains, "[[Keep Your Friends Close]]".

Maintaining the relevance of money in GTA, the player is offered the possibility of purchasing properties and businesses at varying costs. Upon completion of missions or sub-missions for one of said businesses, the business will begin amassing a certain amount of money each day, which the player may pick up at their own leisure. As a joke, the player can earn $50 "Good citizen" bonus by beating criminals chased by [[police]] (but without use of any weapons).

While the money system is largely unchanged from the last installment, [[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]] expanded on the number of options to earn money and spent it, by introducing a variety of new sub-missions, establishments where players may purchase food or clothes, vehicle customization and gambling. Monetary pickups in gang turf are present, and, like GTA Vice City, properties may still be purchased and produce income of their own.

The player gets large sums of cash for missions like in GTA III, however there are no more needs for the money aside from weapons.

The money system works just like the previous installments from the [[GTA III Era]]. Aside from a [[Bringing the House Down|mission]] which requires the player to have enough money to pay for some explosives, the only other thing the player can spend it on is weapons, [[Ferry|ferries]], Pay 'n' Spray and bombs for cars.

Money's importance increases by a bit and aside from the previous purposes. The player can again purchase [[Empire Building|properties]] and build the business assets from them into whatever type they please. Money can now be gained easily through the new addition of the empire building and instead of picking up the money from each property, the player gets it through a pager message at 16:00 each day.

The core of the money system is unchanged in [[Grand Theft Auto IV]]. However, profitable sub-missions, which were sources of income since GTA III, are reduced to [[Brucie Kibbutz]]'s [[Exotic Exports]], [[The Fixer's Assassinations]], and [[Stevie's Car Thefts]]. The game also allows the player to open cash registers for small amount of cash (robbing the business), and blowing up a [[Securicar]] armored truck (scattering money on the street for the player to pick up).