Prostitutes
Prostitutes have been in all Grand Theft Auto games since Grand Theft Auto III. They are mainly out on the streets at night, and to receive their services the player are required to drive close to them and stop. Prostitutes can raise the player's health past 100%, but they cost the player money. However, the player has an option to kill the hooker and take the money back when finished - probably the in-game situation most commonly cited by critics of GTA's violence/immorality.
3D Universe
Picking up prostitutes have been much the same for Grand Theft Auto III and Vice City, Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories; simply by pulling up to one. Honking isn't necessary in order to get a prostitute in your car; it might even turn away the hooker. The player can only have "sex" with them on any ground that can kick up dirt or sand as the game doesn't consider seclusion as a factor. Having "sex" with a hooker is just an effect of the player's car bouncing up and down. Money will be taken away as long as the hooker is in the player's vehicle.
In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, however, if a hooker approaches the player's car, one has the option to accept or decline her offer to enter the car by simply using the "positive" or "negative" response buttons. Seclusion is now considered the sole factor in order to be able to have "sex." Seclusion now includes paved areas, such as corners, garages, under highways, etc. The effect of "sex" is still the car bouncing up and down, and the camera angle will orient itself to obscure what's going on through the car windows (which is actually nothing, just the player character and the prostitute sitting there). If the Pimping missions are completed, prostitutes will pay the player instead. In San Andreas, prostitution is illegal. If your chosen secluded area isn't "secluded" enough, you can get a one-star wanted level, and be busted in the act.
HD Universe
In Grand Theft Auto IV, this is replaced with a "yes" option, or just don't press that button if you want "no". You can also have different types of sex in the game. It cost $20 for a "handjob", it costs $50 for a "blowjob", and it costs $70 for intercourse. You are unable to pick up prostitutes in emergency vehicles, the trashmaster, bikes and the bus, with Niko citing various reasons. One other major change is that the camera angle is not fixed, and more suggestive animations are shown of the sexual acts between the player character and the prostitute revealing the sexual act(s), although both Niko and her will be fully clothed (the animation is more clearly seen if a convertible is used). Niko also can't have relations with these prostitutes while in certain vehicles due to size, he will say things like, "I bet you're flexible but not in here", or "I think this car is a little to small for that..." Most tramps are seen in short shorts or skirts and heels, they sometimes wear hats and usually always have their hair up. All of them do a little "twist" or "twirl" after watching them stand on the street for a while. They can also be seen interacting with, and occasionally even being picked up by, AI drivers.
Appearances vary from overweight to slim, both African-American and Caucasian prostitutes are seen. Although the prostitute voices appear to be mis-matched and no specific voice is set to a specific character model.
At the end of the encounter, Niko (or Johnny or Luis) will usually make a comment ranging from gratitude to the hooker to a self-disparaging remark about what he just did.
In the Australian version of GTA IV, sex is censored so no animations are shown and the car will simply rock. However, the version is uncensored in subsequent episodes.
Notable prostitutes
- 3D Universe
- HD Universe
Trivia
- In the Ballad of Gay Tony, prostitutes giving Luis a $70 service will often sarcastically comment on Luis' penis size.
- In GTA IV, you can have multiple services with a prostitute by hitting the gas before the prostitute gets out of the car.
- As stated above, you can have multiple sessions with a prostitute, however, abusing it will cause her to become aggressive and will attack Niko if she ever got out of the car.