Today is the release day of "Grand Theft Auto 5" (GTA5), but the subsidiary applications of the game have been quietly launched on the platform. Under such circumstances, will they add luster to the game, or are they purely a marketing gimmick?
A mobile extension of the game world
These two applications are launched together in Apple stores in many regions where the game is released, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Players can download them for free and can use the Traditional Chinese interface. This means that the gaming experience is no longer limited to the console screen, but extends to the mobile phones that players carry at all times. For players who are accustomed to traditional console operations, this is a novel attempt, and it also heralds a new exploration of the game industry in the mobile Internet era.
When participating in the binding process, players must use a Rockstar Games Social Club account and then select the matching PS3 or Xbox 360 console platform. After the binding is successfully completed, the game data you have, such as the status of the character and detailed information on assets, can be synchronized to the mobile phone in real time. What this means is that no matter where you are, you can use your mobile phone to access the world of Los Santos. Such a seamless design enhances the immersion and continuity of the game.
A mobile workshop for vehicle modification
For this application, the "LS Customs" function gives you the ability to carry out in-depth modifications to your car at any time and anywhere. From the engine, gearbox, to paint, and wheels, every customization is the same as the in-game options; you can even design a unique license plate for the vehicle, and these changes will take effect immediately in the console game; modifications are not free, and the game coins consumed on the mobile phone will be directly deducted from your console account to ensure the unity of the economic system.
This design facilitates players to use fragmented time to manage assets and avoids the complexity of searching for a car modification shop in the game. It makes the "car purchase-modification" cycle in the game more convenient and efficient. At the same time, it strengthens the emotional connection between players and virtual assets, making a carefully modified car more exclusive.
Deep interaction with pet system
There is such a "Chop the Dog" function, which allows you to take care of the protagonist Franklin's pet dog Xiaocha. With the help of the mobile phone application, you can feed it regularly, take it for a walk, and help it clean. These interactions will be converted into Xiaocha's intimacy with the owner, and will directly affect its behavior in the console game. The higher the intimacy, the more Xiaocha may be able to help in tasks, such as attacking enemies more efficiently.
This system transformed the cultivation of pets from a specific task on the console into a continuous daily activity. It drew on relevant elements of the popular mobile pet cultivation games at the time, with the intention of establishing a more lasting emotional bond outside of the core game, thereby increasing players' motivation to return to the game.
Mobile encyclopedia
Another electronic manual application that serves as a complete guide to the game. It contains detailed information, starting from the basic operation buttons, the background stories of the three protagonists, to the performance of various vehicles and weapons. For a game like GTA5, which has a huge world view and complex systems, an offline official manual that can be quickly consulted is of great practical value, especially suitable for novices to consult when they are on the road.
The biggest highlight is the high-definition interactive map built into the app. Players can zoom in and out freely to view any corner of Los Santos and Blaine County. All weapon stores, clothing stores, mission starting points, stunt jump points and even subway lines are clearly marked on the map, which greatly facilitates players to plan routes and explore, and reduces the time cost of blindly searching in the game.
Cross-platform strategy and business model
At that time, these two applications were only available on the iOS platform, but officials have announced that they will be adapted to Android and Windows Phone systems in the future. This means that developer Rockstar is deliberately building "GTA5" into a cross-platform ecosystem, using mobile applications to extend the life cycle of the game and cover a wider user group.
Although the application itself is free to download, it contains in-app purchases, which opened up another revenue channel for Rockstar besides game sales and online models. This type of "free application plus in-app purchases" model was not common among large game companies at the time, showing its early attempts at a profit model in the mobile market.
Changes and limitations brought about by applications
It must be admitted that these applications provided an innovative "second screen" experience at the time, allowing players to stay connected with the game world even when they were away from the console. They enhance the social aspects and daily stickiness of the game, and are a key experiment in the transformation of traditional console games towards mobile and service-oriented games.
However, given the network conditions and existing technical limitations at the time, its functionality was still relatively simple and experimental. There are occasional issues with the app's stability and real-time synchronization, and its core functionality doesn't use deep methods to change the main course of the console game itself. They are more akin to thoughtfully designed fun accessories than what could be called a necessary part of the game.
If you used these applications when GTA5 was released, do you think they have really improved your gaming experience, or have they been left in the corner of your phone after all?
