Create your own criminal empire in "Grand Theft Auto Online"

It’s been a long summer, gamers, but the wait is almost over. This fall promises to be one of the most exciting times in video game history as the next generation of consoles are released. Only, not everyone is ready for the next era of gaming just yet. Some folks, like the fine people at Rockstar, know there is plenty of life left in the current generation’s hardware and are ready to prove it when “Grand Theft Auto 5” is released this September.

I’ve written about “GTA 5” in the past and hopefully everyone is already familiar with Rockstar’s upcoming epic. Taking place in Los Santos and the surrounding wilderness of Blaine County, “GTA 5” stars three new protagonists, each of whom represent a different walk of life. Cash is king in “GTA 5” and the three protagonists will endeavor to make sure that all of the money is their money. “GTA 5” promises to be the biggest, baddest sandbox title ever created and with today’s announcement of “Grand Theft Auto Online,” the title could easily be Rockstar’s best offering to date.

The above video detailing the new mode just went live today. On the surface, “GTA Online” sounds very similar to the multiplayer component of “GTA 4.” But the more you hear about it, the more it sounds like “GTA Online” will be its own entity, separate from the single player experience of “GTA 5.” From the video’s narration, it sounds like the default lobby for a session of “GTA Online” is similar to Free Roam from “GTA 4.” From there, you will be able to embark on missions, that can be completed with the help of friends, plan heists, engage in minigame opportunities, take part in competitive games and, of course, just cruise around and have fun.

Though “GTA Online” uses the “GTA 5” engine, Rockstar claims that the single and multiplayer portions of the game are separate entities. In “GTA Online,” you will be able to create your own character in a huge, persistent world. The video suggests that there will be structured missions presented in “GTA Online” and you’ll also be able to organize your own heists as well as play competitive modes to earn money. The money you earn can be spent on customizing your character with new hair-dos and clothes but your money can also be spent on new weaponry, cars and even property. You’ll be able to buy garages to store vehicles as well as upgrade and customize your rides. You can even race your customized cars/planes/watercraft in competitive modes.

The video claims that Rockstar will be consistently updating “GTA Online” with new events, missions and other features to keep the world feeling fresh. But if you hate waiting, you’ll be able to create your own races and deathmatches with the built in Content Editor. After you’ve created something, you can share it with the “GTA Online” community as well as check out what others have made. Races and deathmatches were the only modes mentioned in the video, however, so it’s unknown just how powerful the Content Editor will be.

It seems like Rockstar is really going for broke with “GTA Online.” The mode seems so fully-realized and comprehensive that it basically sounds like a completely separate game from the single player portion of “GTA 5.” Rockstar did note that “GTA Online” wouldn’t be ready when the game hits shelves in September but should launch on October 1.

You’ll want to watch the debut video a few times to truly gather all of the little details presented about the ambitious mode. One of the most exciting aspects of the video is it seems that Rockstar has adopted the shooting mechanics from “Max Payne 3” for their upcoming sandbox epic. The gunplay in “MP3” was incredibly fluid and the character movement was smooth and lifelike. Incorporating those mechanics into the open-world freedom of “GTA Online” will make it a game that is incredibly hard to put down.

As I watched I had another, very interesting thought about what we could see in “GTA Online.” With the freedom afford to you in this mode, it’s obvious that most will use said freedom to pull off heists, rob liquor stores and generally act like lawless hoodlums. But as I watched, I envisioned people who would, completely for fun, play the role of peace-keepers, ruining other’s heists and law-breaking in the name of justice. With the ability to become a virutal crime lord in “GTA Online,” who’s to say that some players won’t use that power to become a virtual Judge Dredd?

Only time will tell what gamers will do with or how they will play “GTA Online” but however you want to spend your time in Los Santos, Rockstar seems to be doing everything in its power to offer the most comprehensive, open-ended, online, sandbox experience to date. Make sure you visit http://www.rockstargames.com/V/ to check out all the other amazing features that will be found in “Grand Theft Auto 5” when it’s released September 17.