Talk:GTA V Era

Is this article needed at this point? Because to me, it simply looks like GTA V will be set in the same canon as GTA IV and its spin-offs. The term "era" is used for a generation of games, right? GTA III to GTA: Vice City Stories used the same form of engine and gameplay, and the story lines were intertwined. From what can be gathered from the trailer, GTA V again uses the RAGE engine (pay close attention to the car animations in the background, and the animations of pedestrians walking normally), and there's nothing to hint that the storyline will start off fresh like GTA IV's did. Plus, the GTA III era started and ended on the PS2/Xbox, and GTA IV began on the PS3/Xbox 360; GTA V looks to continue on the PS3/Xbox 360 too. I say that at this point, while we do not know GTA V will indeed mark the beginning of a new "generation" (which, I think, is also quite soon, considering the GTA III era spanned five real-world years), that this article should not exist. If it indeed starts a new era, it could be re-created or revived later on, but I think at this point it is speculation. -- Master Sima Yi (talk) 18:38, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

I dislike the term "era" (see also discussion). The "era" term is used for convenience sake but GTA V might break that up if it continues GTA IV's universe. Correction to what you said, games within an "era" do not necessarily have matching engine and gameplay. Advance is a drastic example, and the Stories games were built on R*'s custom engine. Games within an "era" are mainly within the same canon/universe. I'll have this redirect to GTA V for now.--spaceeinstein 19:02, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

I understand that they do not necessarily have to have a matching engine and gameplay, but it is worth nothing that the GTA III era and GTA IV era are notably different on those two areas. And yes, I'm not quite fond of the term "era" either, nor any name that is conjecture, but it serves its purpose to indicate the different universes. -- Master Sima Yi (talk) 19:27, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

So far there is NOTHING to suggest that GTA V will be in the GTA IV Era, except for speculation that it will include characters from the III and IV era. Until there is evidence for that, we consider GTA V to be the first game in the GTA V Era - just like every other numbered game previously. Yes, it might be based on the same engine, but so are other Rockstar games - that doesn't automatically put them in the GTA IV era. Yes some vehicles might largely be copied too. People might not see much difference between the 1+2 eras, but we still count them separately. Space has it right that the main difference between eras is the canon of the storyline - all III era games are in the same universe, with interconnecting storylines and (virtually) no rewrites or contradictions - the technical improvements over the course of the era don't split it up. Don't forget that GTA IV came out in 2008, so 2012 is 4 years later. The GTA III Era only spanned 5 years (2001-2006).

So (until a decision is made about Eras, or we KNOW for a FACT that this game DIRECTLY continues the GTA IV storyline) - the GTA V Era does exist, and it IS our official terminology to contrast GTA V to the previous generations of games. However, since there is only 1 game so far, it is fine for us to say "In GTA V" rather than "In GTA V Era" - except where that would break consistency. So for example, you can say that "XYZ is an X in GTA V", or you can say "XYZ is an X that appears in the the GTA IV Era and the GTA V Era". Both are fine. Just remember that, assuming we get more games or DLC for GTA V, we might have to rename a lot of things to be "GTA V Era" not just "GTA V'. --gboyers ^talk 20:12, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

I don't think you quite got my point. I pointed out that GTA V might just as much be in the GTA IV era, and doesn't necessarily have to start a new era. Until a conclusion to that is drawn, I say don't make a separate era called GTA V, as it is speculation at this point. -- Master Sima Yi (talk) 21:09, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

Disagree - it's the other way around. Every new-number game starts a new era. The possibility of GTA V doing something different (such as continuing IV era) is just speculation. There are many things in the trailer that back-up the new era, such as no recurring characters (ignore speculation) and 99% of brands in the game being new. It's a new era. --gboyers ^talk 21:44, 5 November 2011 (GMT)

I agree with Gboyers, as every other game in the franchise with a new number begins a new era, we should assume the same pattern continues with future GTA games unless anything changes. It would be quite confusing if Rockstar classed GTA V as a title existing in the GTA IV era, and then release a totally new era later on, also named GTA V. They cannot just name the new era GTA VI, as that would lose the chronology of era numbers, 1,2,3,4,6. Does this make sense to anyone? Or is the point I am trying to put across unclear.--Montario (talk) 22:03, 5 November 2011 (GMT)