Red Dead Redemption 2: What we want from the sequel

Gerald Lynch Features, Gaming, Tech Digest news
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red-dead-redemption-2-hopes.jpgreview-line.JPGRed Dead Redemption is arguably this console generation’s finest game. Beautiful to look at with a gut-wrenching, emotionally charged storyline, it thrust you into the dark heart of the Wild West, and made playing the life of an outlaw an incredibly fun thing to do. It even had an amazing multiplayer component that made it possible to form posses and ride out, as well as take part in death matches.

While all eyes are now on Rockstar’s next crime sim GTA V, we’d put money on a sequel to Redemption being announced soon. Rockstar have hinted at it themselves, and with the game selling well over 12 million copies, it’d be ridiculous for Rockstar not to head back out onto the dusty prairie.

So saddle up as Tech Digest go through what we’d most like to see from the next Red Dead game.

review-line.JPGRed Dead Redemption review 1.jpegA NEW ERA

Red Dead Redemption showed the Wild West in its twilight years, with industrialisation leaving the likes of our hero John Marston marginalised and on the run. But we’d argue it’s not the most interesting period of Old West history. How about the period of 19th century expansion that saw the remaining indigenous Native American populations displaced and massacred. It’s a period of American history often overlooked, and as Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian novel shows, thoughtful exploration of the era could result in a remarkable work of gaming fiction.

KEEP THE CARS OUT OF IT!

I still find it incredible that one of the most oft-requested features for Red Dead Redemption was the introduction of cars. We’ve already got Grand Theft Auto and a zillion clones, do we really need another joy riding sim? Red Dead Redemption had incredibly life-like horses of many different breeds, that handled in a way so unique as to really separate its gameplay from other open-world titles. You also and an emotional connection to your steed; push it too hard and it didn’t explode, it died. If you’d found a favourite, it was heart-wrenching stuff. More of the same here Rockstar, if you please.Red Dead Redemption review 2.jpegMORE CHOICE

Red Dead Redemption gave us a sprawling open-world to explore, and indeed there was plenty of freedom to uncover all the secrets that each corner of the beautifully realised fictitious state of New Austin. However, when it came to the actual missions, the story played out very linearly. Could we not have a bit more choice as to how missions play out, and which factions to align ourselves with? We really didn’t want to have to work for the Mexicans so keen on committing horrible acts against innocents. Sure, we realise that linear missions can help when writing a tightly crafted story, but Mass Effect has proven that choice and storytelling can be harmoniously matched.

LA NOIRE STYLE FACIAL ANIMATION

Red Dead Redemption had an amazing, emotionally charged storyline and superbly drawn characters. They looked great, with some of the best motion capture and lip-syncing we’ve seen, and when paired with the top-notch voice acting it lead to a truly cinematic experience. Imagine if it had been paired with the MotionScan facial scanning technology of LA Noire, another or RockStar’s properties? We admit to being a little torn here, with the ever-so-slightly caricatured art-style of Redemption being so great. But MotionScan would allow for almost photo-real faces, and there’s no way to better convey emotion than having that at your disposal.Red Dead Redemption review 3.jpegRED DEAD…RENAMED

If we do get a sequel, one thing’s for certain; it won’t be called Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar’s premier cowboy series kicked off with Red Dead Revolver, with the sequel being Redemption, rather than Revolver 2. Expect then any Redemption sequel to have a similarly alliterative name. Reloaded? Revolution? Forget the Matrix sequels; we like the sound of Red Dead Renegades.

BETTER CONTROL

When shooting and riding horses, Red Dead Redemption controlled like a dream. When on foot? Not so much. Built on the ageing GTA IV engine, John Marston felt realistically weighty when moving around, but also turned in quite a tank-like fashion. This is one area where we can forego a little realism in favour of fun. We hope Rockstar’s next western protagonist moves a little more elegantly.

BETTER CAMPING

Anyone who’s ever spent a weekend at a festival like Glastonbury will tell you that you DON’T need a perfectly flat stretch of land on which to raise a campsite. Can someone tell that to RockStar too? It was really frustrating jogging around looking for somewhere to settle down for the night.Red Dead Redemption review 3b.jpegHUNTING AS PART OF MISSIONS

Red Dead Redemption took your standard collect-a-thon collectibles system and made it a really interesting mechanic with hunting. Collecting materials from beasts to sell in stores, hunting down the many species out on the plains was genuinely satisfying, especially when chasing down the legendary animals. Why not integrate some of the hunting into the main missions? Collecting food and supplies for some struggling settlements could make the hunting elements feel more vital to survival.

DLC ALIENS, NOT ZOMBIES

Undead Nightmare was a surprisingly smart expansion pack for Redemption. We thought we’d seen all that the world of zombies could offer, but Rockstar’s take on the genre was refreshing. Having said that, NO MORE ZOMBIES. They’re everywhere, almost like a real infestation. How about aliens this time around? The Nevada desert is notorious for its sightings, perhaps that B-Movie paranoia could be channeled. We recently saw the often-ridiculed Cowboys & Aliens, and found it to be far more entertaining than we’d expected it to be. Something along the lines of the action in that movies could be really good fun.

What do you think about our Red Dead Redemption sequel thoughts? Anything we’ve missed out that you’d like to see? Let us know in the comments below of via our Twitter feed @techdigestnews !

Gerald Lynch
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113 comments

  • Umm…… it’s 2014. Whoever in Rockstar put all resources to GTA V instead of RDR 2…. should be FIRED. I don’t understand how they can create a game like RRD, have it do SOOOOOOO well………. and then wait 5 years to make a sequel????? I’m tired of playing the same games over and over. GTA V??? I played that back in 2003… it was called GTA 3, and Vice City, and San Andreas…. RDR was a western, the first of it’s kind. I’m ready to play it again. Rockstar needs to get their act together.

  • Umm…… it's 2014. Whoever in Rockstar put all resources to GTA V instead of RDR 2…. should be FIRED. I don't understand how they can create a game like RRD, have it do SOOOOOOO well………. and then wait 5 years to make a sequel????? I'm tired of playing the same games over and over. GTA V??? I played that back in 2003… it was called GTA 3, and Vice City, and San Andreas…. RDR was a western, the first of it's kind. I'm ready to play it again. Rockstar needs to get their act together.

  • being able to start a gun duel once you unlock a certain outfit like the deadly assassin outfit instead of having to roam around until someone challenged you to one, and once you became so good at it you’d unlock a new name for yourself and everyone would know who you were and not everyone would want to duel and then the one’s looking to make a name for themself would come looking for you.

  • being able to start a gun duel once you unlock a certain outfit like the deadly assassin outfit instead of having to roam around until someone challenged you to one, and once you became so good at it you'd unlock a new name for yourself and everyone would know who you were and not everyone would want to duel and then the one's looking to make a name for themself would come looking for you.

  • For Red Dead Redemption 2 I would like to be still John Marston as the main character so that means it should be based on John Marston being in Dutch Van Der Linde’s gang before he got betrayed by Dutch, Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella.

  • For Red Dead Redemption 2 I would like to be still John Marston as the main character so that means it should be based on John Marston being in Dutch Van Der Linde's gang before he got betrayed by Dutch, Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella.

  • Maybe they could revisit marstons past with javier, bill and dutch gradually returning to where red dead redemtion started, This would take us back to the wild west before the cars and the civilisation in blackwater but keep it realistic and with the same characters. Also it may give a bit of contrast to marston always being on the right side of the law in the missions and for once having to escape and evade the law.

  • Maybe they could revisit marstons past with javier, bill and dutch gradually returning to where red dead redemtion started, This would take us back to the wild west before the cars and the civilisation in blackwater but keep it realistic and with the same characters. Also it may give a bit of contrast to marston always being on the right side of the law in the missions and for once having to escape and evade the law.

  • The next game should be a prequel. I’d be pumped to see the story of John Marston running with the Dutch van der Linde gang. It’d also be cool if the next game let you play a as a young Landon Ricketts.

    Yeah. I’d play that.

    Playing as Jack would be a bummer, because it’s too far into the future. The old west was on it’s way out near the end of RDR.

  • I’d like to see the series completely reinvent itself in terms of the storyline and setting and the characters. Marston’s story was perfect and finished the way it needed to and should be left that way. A whole new outlook would suit me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they choose a title without the 3rd word being an ‘R’, too – like for example Red Dead Damnation, something that still flows. I think the era of the Wild West when the Indians were being exterminated and the time of the gold rush would be perfect for any storyline Rockstar wanted to create. I also think they could break away from the whole outlaw vs lawman thing, and instead create a real character, a simple person caught up in the time trying to survive. Besides that, big, better and longer – a massive sequel, which seems likely since GTA V is meant to be 5 times bigger than RDRmption. Also the story line was a bit repetitive. But in my opinion, before Rockstar make a sequel to this, I think a pirate game is overdue.

  • Red Dead Retaliation?

    Where you can get a Red Dead Reputation!

    Let’s See,

    A really cool scenario would be a choice between fighting the natives for the government and fighting the government for the natives. If you fight for the government and win you get a lot of money but they build towns like blackwater over the settlements, but if you fight for the natives you get an exciting taste of native civilization

    Maybe make the damage done by guns more realistic, and when riding off trail make it so your horse has to jump over the larger rocks instead of stopping for them

    And maybe making some parts of the map really creepy with dead trees or willow trees and you can hear animal sounds and see hanging skulls or something

    Maybe a mission where you take psychedelic drugs with the natives and all of a sudden you get attacked and have to fight while you’re hallucinating

    The ability to build your own property anywhere you want so that I can have a hilltop mansion 😉

    Fishing would suck and be boring as hell, so shut up about fishing.

    Basically a ginormous map would be killer, with lots of different terrain, different cultures, different people and way taller cliffs to look off of and para sail off of like that one guy in red dead redemption

    Just some thoughts!

  • I'd like to see the series completely reinvent itself in terms of the storyline and setting and the characters. Marston's story was perfect and finished the way it needed to and should be left that way. A whole new outlook would suit me. I wouldn't be surprised if they choose a title without the 3rd word being an 'R', too – like for example Red Dead Damnation, something that still flows. I think the era of the Wild West when the Indians were being exterminated and the time of the gold rush would be perfect for any storyline Rockstar wanted to create. I also think they could break away from the whole outlaw vs lawman thing, and instead create a real character, a simple person caught up in the time trying to survive. Besides that, big, better and longer – a massive sequel, which seems likely since GTA V is meant to be 5 times bigger than RDRmption. Also the story line was a bit repetitive. But in my opinion, before Rockstar make a sequel to this, I think a pirate game is overdue.

  • Red Dead Retaliation?

    Where you can get a Red Dead Reputation!

    Let's See,

    A really cool scenario would be a choice between fighting the natives for the government and fighting the government for the natives. If you fight for the government and win you get a lot of money but they build towns like blackwater over the settlements, but if you fight for the natives you get an exciting taste of native civilization

    Maybe make the damage done by guns more realistic, and when riding off trail make it so your horse has to jump over the larger rocks instead of stopping for them

    And maybe making some parts of the map really creepy with dead trees or willow trees and you can hear animal sounds and see hanging skulls or something

    Maybe a mission where you take psychedelic drugs with the natives and all of a sudden you get attacked and have to fight while you're hallucinating

    The ability to build your own property anywhere you want so that I can have a hilltop mansion 😉

    Fishing would suck and be boring as hell, so shut up about fishing.

    Basically a ginormous map would be killer, with lots of different terrain, different cultures, different people and way taller cliffs to look off of and para sail off of like that one guy in red dead redemption

    Just some thoughts!

  • I think the idea of aliens would be an amazing addition also swimming instead of drowning,no cars, maybe some la noire style missions and like going back to john been in a gang missions would be cool too

  • I think the idea of aliens would be an amazing addition also swimming instead of drowning,no cars, maybe some la noire style missions and like going back to john been in a gang missions would be cool too

  • Put indians and screw the cars.Keep it old western style horses and plenty of new animals,maybe you can travel to africa fight lions,tigers,hippos,hyeenas.The game was awesome its better off they keep it basic!

  • Put indians and screw the cars.Keep it old western style horses and plenty of new animals,maybe you can travel to africa fight lions,tigers,hippos,hyeenas.The game was awesome its better off they keep it basic!

  • I would like a larger expansion into a more varied climate. When I made it up to tall trees, I was, and still am, floored and the marvel of how well the game captured such a landscape. I’d love to be able to explore this in more detail (including swimming). Add on top of that the ability to fish, and this game is a beast.

  • I would like a larger expansion into a more varied climate. When I made it up to tall trees, I was, and still am, floored and the marvel of how well the game captured such a landscape. I'd love to be able to explore this in more detail (including swimming). Add on top of that the ability to fish, and this game is a beast.

  • Swimming and Fishing should definitely be introduced. No character customization though. I mean I would love to be able to customize clothing but not the actual character eg. looks,name,voice

  • Swimming and Fishing should definitely be introduced. No character customization though. I mean I would love to be able to customize clothing but not the actual character eg. looks,name,voice

  • they need to make a way you can maybe have a team that work s with you like you could be the good guys or bad guys making it more intersting as it could alter how other charectors see you also it could make the robberies more fun.
    also dont put cars in it will just make it crap.

  • they need to make a way you can maybe have a team that work s with you like you could be the good guys or bad guys making it more intersting as it could alter how other charectors see you also it could make the robberies more fun.also dont put cars in it will just make it crap.

  • I think the knife is getting a little lonely in its slot, add stuff like a machete and matbe an ax.

  • I think the knife is getting a little lonely in its slot, add stuff like a machete and matbe an ax.

  • 1) Gambling has been an important part of the social aspect of RDR, so there should be a gambling riverboat reminiscent of those that traversed the Mississippi River (unlock the derelict near Thieves Landing). Also, riverboats and barges could figure more prominently in transporting players to different areas of the game map, similar to trains. New DLC Gambling and Co-Op (“The River”/”The Escape”) missions would be possible.
    2) Unlockable multi-player character customization. As the player progressively unlocks characters, you can customize their wardrobe (unlock as well as DLC) and appearance. The ultimate unlock would become available after achieving the final Legend rank allowing a player to customize from scratch a character’s body type, gender, general appearance (facial hair, skin tone, etc…), and accessories (binoculars, pocket watch, etc…).
    3) Similar to the zebra donkey, cars could be available as the final unlockable mount after achieving the final Legend rank. Why are there multiple bulls and buffalo?
    4) A Wright Brother’s Flyer could be available during special Rockstar events, similar to when 3xp becomes available.
    5) An alien DLC would be cool so long as it is an improvement on the “Cowboys & Aliens” story.
    6) Use 4 Horses of the Apocalypse during a new Undead Overrun mission similar to “The Kidnapped Girl” Co-Op, since only 4 players can play, this would allow each a unique mount. Maybe there could be a unicorn hunt?, chubracabra?, sasquatch?
    7) Special Aztec catacomb Undead Overrun mission, similar to “Walton’s Gold” Co-Op mission.

  • 1) Gambling has been an important part of the social aspect of RDR, so there should be a gambling riverboat reminiscent of those that traversed the Mississippi River (unlock the derelict near Thieves Landing). Also, riverboats and barges could figure more prominently in transporting players to different areas of the game map, similar to trains. New DLC Gambling and Co-Op (“The River”/”The Escape”) missions would be possible.2) Unlockable multi-player character customization. As the player progressively unlocks characters, you can customize their wardrobe (unlock as well as DLC) and appearance. The ultimate unlock would become available after achieving the final Legend rank allowing a player to customize from scratch a character's body type, gender, general appearance (facial hair, skin tone, etc…), and accessories (binoculars, pocket watch, etc…).3) Similar to the zebra donkey, cars could be available as the final unlockable mount after achieving the final Legend rank. Why are there multiple bulls and buffalo?4) A Wright Brother's Flyer could be available during special Rockstar events, similar to when 3xp becomes available.5) An alien DLC would be cool so long as it is an improvement on the “Cowboys & Aliens” story.

    6) Use 4 Horses of the Apocalypse during a new Undead Overrun mission similar to “The Kidnapped Girl” Co-Op, since only 4 players can play, this would allow each a unique mount. Maybe there could be a unicorn hunt?

    7) Special Aztec catacomb Undead Overrun mission, similar to “Walton's Gang” Co-Op mission.

  • They should keep zombies in the next red dead game. Make it like ArmA’s 2 Mod Dayz but also keep the multiplayer the same just an idea

  • They should keep zombies in the next red dead game. Make it like ArmA's 2 Mod Dayz but also keep the multiplayer the same just an idea

  • I think the new red dead redemption should be a prequel. If i don’t get to play as John Marston i will be very very sad. I think a really good setting would be Liberty City right after 1900. Make it about John and Abigail before leaving Dutch’s gang or when they first joined I’m not saying have the game take place entirely in Liberty City. Obviously it need’s to be mostly wilderness and a few smaller towns. An old version of Liberty City would be cool though. And i’m always in favor of more customization. Let me pic out John’s outfit. Honestly though the only thing i really really want is to be able to play as John Marston. Anything else would just be a bonus.

  • I think the new red dead redemption should be a prequel. If i don't get to play as John Marston i will be very very sad. I think a really good setting would be Liberty City right after 1900. Make it about John and Abigail before leaving Dutch's gang or when they first joined I'm not saying have the game take place entirely in Liberty City. Obviously it need's to be mostly wilderness and a few smaller towns. An old version of Liberty City would be cool though. And i'm always in favor of more customization. Let me pic out John's outfit. Honestly though the only thing i really really want is to be able to play as John Marston. Anything else would just be a bonus.

  • I think lasso’s would have been awesome in multiplayer but people are obviously going to drag other players around or hogtie them and leave them somewhere. If they added lasso’s they should make it so that when you lasso another player they grab onto your lasso and pull you down that way people can get the fun of the lasso but not be a ragdoll victim

  • I think lasso's would have been awesome in multiplayer but people are obviously going to drag other players around or hogtie them and leave them somewhere. If they added lasso's they should make it so that when you lasso another player they grab onto your lasso and pull you down that way people can get the fun of the lasso but not be a ragdoll victim

  • Even though its probably stupid, I think it would be really cool to have a prequel and see John’s past instead of just hearing bits and pieces in game

  • Even though its probably stupid, I think it would be really cool to have a prequel and see John's past instead of just hearing bits and pieces in game

  • I think they should include cars. Early cars are nothing like anything you’d see in a GTA so that arguement is moot. Furthermore, they are an important part of that era so it is asinine to exclude them. By all means, do not make them mandatory or overly prevalent but they should be present.

    • …actually cars weren’t too much of a part of the era at all, in America anyways. Car ownership wasn’t really widespread in the year 1911. I think it’s asinine to detract from the old west aesthetic that so clearly defines the RD series by inserting the automobile any more than Rockstar did, to be honest. I thought putting a car at the end of game, in the biggest, most prosperous fictional American city in the game was really appropriate. As far as Vincent’s point about swimming, I think they could flesh out the survival aspects of the game nicely by making swimming a part of the hunting/camping/outdoorsman “Roughing it” parts that you encounter throughout the storyline. You could even make it a little more about stealth (as I am sure ACIII is going to, incorporating their own hunting gameplay after seeing what Rockstar did with it) and have the character swim across a river to reach new territory, sneak up on an enemy camp, or even fish. Fishing was huge back in the 1800s-early 1900s.

      • One of the major themes that Red Dead Redemption espouses is the dying west. Technology and the federal government were encroaching upon the cowboy lifestyle. RDR is set at the end an era. Automobiles are an important aspect of the new era and should be represented as such. I am not saying that Model Ts should be everywhere. I am simply asking for the option to drive one.

  • I think they should include cars. Early cars are nothing like anything you'd see in a GTA so that arguement is moot. Furthermore, they are an important part of that era so it is asinine to exclude them. By all means, do not make them mandatory or overly prevalent but they should be present.

    • One of the major themes that Red Dead Redemption espouses is the dying west. Technology and the federal government were encroaching upon the cowboy lifestyle. RDR is set at the end an era. Automobiles are an important aspect of the new era and should be represented as such. I am not saying that Model Ts should be everywhere. I am simply asking for the option to drive one.

  • To be honest the western genre that redemption portrays is excellently created. I’ve beaten the game multiple times. But the story line, hate me for saying this, is really cliche, I know Rockstars never been a rpg maker, so im not exactly surprised with the limited role playing going on. But more open world would be nice, some depth, the wilderness should be the wilderness, when I ride from Blackwater to Armadillo I feel as if Im in a car thats how fast I get there. As a child I lived in Western books, I guess more creativeness would be nice, allow you to create your OWN story. Character customization, aspirations. Just a story with out the allotted narrow storyline that rockstar grants. To be frank character customization is good enough for me. Jack needs to die, the voice actor needs to lose his voice too. Give it more of a life like portrayal, limited budget and all I understand. But to allow a character of your own to grow into himself would win my heart♥
    Id like:
    Character, & gun customization.
    An open story line, allow your actions to choose the events and people you meet.
    If you die, no rebirths. Sends you back to the customization screen. Either make a name for yourself or said character dies a loser.
    Im going out on a limb and saying that a childhood would be nice.
    More life like summarizes it. The budget and all I understand, cut the cars, go back to the mid-19th century. Instead of such a narrow approach of shooting everyone that walks by. Ranching, marrying, death, trapping, indian raids, and forming bonds with people you actually meet. Your aspirations dictates your morals, youre either a bad guy or a good guy, no second guessing. Just all around a real life experience would be nice. A family life, children. Ever heard of the sims? Game sucks but the whole “You are your character, has a nice feel to it.” To be metaphorically funny, no getting off the rope. You commit murder, you hang. Restart play again.
    Those are my thoughts, I understand the budget and your gameplay wouldnt allow it, but this is what ID like to see in a threequel 😉 And before any of you f**kers comment telling me how dumb, and how none of this will ever make it. I already know. Suck the nads. RDR 3♥♥

    • What you’re describing would be akin to Mass Effect 2 revamping everything from Mass Effect and becoming a first person shooter. Games have genres for a reason. Certain game mechanics work well in RPGs but Red Dead Redemption is not an RPG.

  • To be honest the western genre that redemption portrays is excellently created. I've beaten the game multiple times. But the story line, hate me for saying this, is really cliche, I know Rockstars never been a rpg maker, so im not exactly surprised with the limited role playing going on. But more open world would be nice, some depth, the wilderness should be the wilderness, when I ride from Blackwater to Armadillo I feel as if Im in a car thats how fast I get there. As a child I lived in Western books, I guess more creativeness would be nice, allow you to create your OWN story. Character customization, aspirations. Just a story with out the allotted narrow storyline that rockstar grants. To be frank character customization is good enough for me. Jack needs to die, the voice actor needs to lose his voice too. Give it more of a life like portrayal, limited budget and all I understand. But to allow a character of your own to grow into himself would win my heart♥Id like:Character, & gun customization. An open story line, allow your actions to choose the events and people you meet.If you die, no rebirths. Sends you back to the customization screen. Either make a name for yourself or said character dies a loser.Im going out on a limb and saying that a childhood would be nice. More life like summarizes it. The budget and all I understand, cut the cars, go back to the mid-19th century. Instead of such a narrow approach of shooting everyone that walks by. Ranching, marrying, death, trapping, indian raids, and forming bonds with people you actually meet. Your aspirations dictates your morals, youre either a bad guy or a good guy, no second guessing. Just all around a real life experience would be nice. A family life, children. Ever heard of the sims? Game sucks but the whole “You are your character, has a nice feel to it.” To be metaphorically funny, no getting off the rope. You commit murder, you hang. Restart play again. Those are my thoughts, I understand the budget and your gameplay wouldnt allow it, but this is what ID like to see in a threequel 😉 And before any of you f**kers comment telling me how dumb, and how none of this will ever make it. I already know. Suck the nads. RDR 3♥♥

    • What you're describing would be akin to Mass Effect 2 revamping everything from Mass Effect and becoming a first person shooter. Games have genres for a reason. Certain game mechanics work well in RPGs but Red Dead Redemption is not an RPG.

  • love the rifles. no other games are big on rifle gameplay. the fist fighting sucked. hunting was great. no cars please. the average town should be a little bit bigger with slightly tighter alleyways. you should be able to pick more realistic fights. a mini game based on your skills to fend off hordes of lawmen or criminals, idc, should be added. i love fighting off the people but i don’t like to have to owe a giant bounty just to do it. RDR sequel: I WANT IT I NEED IT IV’E GOT TO HAVE IT

  • love the rifles. no other games are big on rifle gameplay. the fist fighting sucked. hunting was great. no cars please. the average town should be a little bit bigger with slightly tighter alleyways. you should be able to pick more realistic fights. a mini game based on your skills to fend off hordes of lawmen or criminals, idc, should be added. i love fighting off the people but i don't like to have to owe a giant bounty just to do it. RDR sequel: I WANT IT I NEED IT IV'E GOT TO HAVE IT

  • I’m a game dev of about 18 years now but not a minute at Rockstar. I’d just like to add a couple of things here.
    First, I can assure you that almost everything you may bring up here has already been talked about to great lengths during the development of RDR at Rockstar. That’s not to infer that this is a futile exercise to discuss what should be in a sequel. However, stuff like train robberies were definitely in the plans for RDR. A train heist game mechanic is an incredible feat to pull off in single player alone, and not likely to be in MP upon launch of a sequel. It is virtually a whole game onto itself and would take nearly a year to solidify it, depending. I would bet money that they were already in dev on it but had to cut it in favor of finishing and releasing the game in a reasonable and most ideally profitable timeframe.Second, is memory. A game can have only so much, and we are at a dawn on tech that can allow so much more than what ($) can be put into it. Moreover, the more you have the more it costs, and cost is risk, and risk is what keeps games(other creative media) from getting properly “finished”.
    Realize that there are two sides to artistic endeavors, creative and business. The artistic/creative side wants to do ALL these things and please audiences, the business side doesn’t care about train heist game mechanics, they just want the product to sell well and please their pocketbooks at the expense of anything, anyone, and everything else other than the money… (period).

    Extraneous rant: To young kids who want to get a job making games, your attitude and willingness of virtually working for free for the promise of working on games is why the game industry labor is the way it is, ridiculous crunch-mode. Veterans like me get squashed by the youth pool that works for free. Demand your earnings, fools. Realize that the Execs are dinning on your dime while you’re slaving your ass off in the office 12+ hours a day. And you think you found your dream job? That feeling lasts for about 3 years and then you’ll understand that this a just a job after all. And quite frankly, not a very glorious one. Chicks do not flock to you like a Rockstar. And in case you’re concluding, no, I’m not the garden variety fat and greasy geek like stereotypical game dev icon that the genre inspires. Your fans, almost comprised entirely of males, are mostly of that variety. And they all have opinions about why your game sucks and how they would do it better, even though they don’t know anything of what they speak of.

  • I'm a game dev of about 18 years now but not a minute at Rockstar. I'd just like to add a couple of things here.First, I can assure you that almost everything you may bring up here has already been talked about to great lengths during the development of RDR at Rockstar. That's not to infer that this is a futile exercise to discuss what should be in a sequel. However, stuff like train robberies were definitely in the plans for RDR. A train heist game mechanic is an incredible feat to pull off in single player alone, and not likely to be in MP upon launch of a sequel. It is virtually a whole game onto itself and would take nearly a year to solidify it, depending. I would bet money that they were already in dev on it but had to cut it in favor of finishing and releasing the game in a reasonable and most ideally profitable timeframe.Second, is memory. A game can have only so much, and we are at a dawn on tech that can allow so much more than what ($) can be put into it. Moreover, the more you have the more it costs, and cost is risk, and risk is what keeps games(other creative media) from getting properly “finished”.Realize that there are two sides to artistic endeavors, creative and business. The artistic/creative side wants to do ALL these things and please audiences, the business side doesn't care about train heist game mechanics, they just want the product to sell well and please their pocketbooks at the expense of anything, anyone, and everything else other than the money… (period).

    Extraneous rant: To young kids who want to get a job making games, your attitude and willingness of virtually working for free for the promise of working on games is why the game industry labor is the way it is, ridiculous crunch-mode. Veterans like me get squashed by the youth pool that works for free. Demand your earnings, fools. Realize that the Execs are dinning on your dime while you're slaving your ass off in the office 12+ hours a day. And you think you found your dream job? That feeling lasts for about 3 years and then you'll understand that this a just a job after all. And quite frankly, not a very glorious one. Chicks do not flock to you like a Rockstar. And in case you're concluding, no, I'm not the garden variety fat and greasy geek like stereotypical game dev icon that the genre inspires. Your fans, almost comprised entirely of males, are mostly of that variety. And they all have opinions about why your game sucks and how they would do it better, even though they don't know anything of what they speak of.

  • I would love to choose where to own a bit of land, build it up from scratch to make an honest living as a rancher, get married have a kid, or maybe a fort for my own gang, i agree with no cars, and the train robbery comments 😀 i would also like more secrets/easter eggs like do something in a certain location and something spooky happens much like what i wished they would add ghosts in tumbleweed in rdr

  • I would love to choose where to own a bit of land, build it up from scratch to make an honest living as a rancher, get married have a kid, or maybe a fort for my own gang, i agree with no cars, and the train robbery comments 😀 i would also like more secrets/easter eggs like do something in a certain location and something spooky happens much like what i wished they would add ghosts in tumbleweed in rdr

  • Free Roam could be hugely improved as well, like being able to do organized bank robberies perhaps? train robberies, which need to be improved on single player two, it was just mugging people that happened to be on a train, was nothing special to it. But back to the free roam. I had an idea about being able to collect money on it, and maybe having certain forts on the map that you could claim, more money people gather for it, you can craft up walls in an rts perspective, place gattling guns, and cannons, maybe collect a wagon, return it to a fort and armour it up, add a gattling gun onto that, if Natural Selection 2 have managed an rts with fps, why can’t rcokstar with this? Just an idea but, it would add more to just annoying other players and completing gang hideouts, would add more meaning to gang hideouts too, clear them out, get money and take it back to a sort you have claimed or something? would make things more interesting I think

  • Free Roam could be hugely improved as well, like being able to do organized bank robberies perhaps? train robberies, which need to be improved on single player two, it was just mugging people that happened to be on a train, was nothing special to it. But back to the free roam. I had an idea about being able to collect money on it, and maybe having certain forts on the map that you could claim, more money people gather for it, you can craft up walls in an rts perspective, place gattling guns, and cannons, maybe collect a wagon, return it to a fort and armour it up, add a gattling gun onto that, if Natural Selection 2 have managed an rts with fps, why can't rcokstar with this? Just an idea but, it would add more to just annoying other players and completing gang hideouts, would add more meaning to gang hideouts too, clear them out, get money and take it back to a sort you have claimed or something? would make things more interesting I think

  • How about dueling pistols. It makes no sense to be carrying around all of these guns and getting into big gun fights, yet you are never allowed to use 2 pistols at the same time. Is having the ability to shoot 2 pistols at the same time too much to ask?

    • Not impossible, obviously, but it is a relatively hefty development overhead. It was definitely discussed and was one of those things that got cut in favor of finishing the game as is.

      • I still don’t think that I believe you. Duel wielding isn’t a terribly difficult mechanic to work in.

  • How about dueling pistols. It makes no sense to be carrying around all of these guns and getting into big gun fights, yet you are never allowed to use 2 pistols at the same time. Is having the ability to shoot 2 pistols at the same time too much to ask?

    • Not impossible, obviously, but it is a relatively hefty development overhead. It was definitely discussed and was one of those things that got cut in favor of finishing the game as is.

      • I still don't think that I believe you. Duel wielding isn't a terribly difficult mechanic to work in.

    • As a game developer, I can assure you that there will never, ever, be a cowboy vs. Indians game. Think about it…….. get it, yet?

      • i agree i think we should bring cars in to it to take it to the next level and stuff like character customization online and bring trains online for the sequel that would be awesome u can push the handle to make them go pull it to make it stop at town to pick people up that would be awesome stuff like that to improve it

        • and what would rearly make it awesome someone said this bring lasso to online like if ur tied up u have to tap a button to get out but u cant always get out to make it fun

    • As a game developer, I can assure you that there will never, ever, be a cowboy vs. Indians game. Think about it…….. get it, yet?

  • Definitely no cars. The realistic horses are awesome enough. I’d like to see gameplay being more realistic on horse ownership. But not too much to the point it becomes a pony game. Just a few things like breeding them for better speed and money, feeding them and earning their trust. In real life you can’t own a horse as easily like in RDR. Also more missions to do with hunting would be good since the hunting was a very fun part of the game. And different weapons like crossbows. Also dogs would be fun! Like you could train them for hunting.

  • Definitely no cars. The realistic horses are awesome enough. I'd like to see gameplay being more realistic on horse ownership. But not too much to the point it becomes a pony game. Just a few things like breeding them for better speed and money, feeding them and earning their trust. In real life you can't own a horse as easily like in RDR. Also more missions to do with hunting would be good since the hunting was a very fun part of the game. And different weapons like crossbows. Also dogs would be fun! Like you could train them for hunting.

  •  RD:R was perfect except for one small thing: stables. In the GTA series you had garages, why didn’t RD:R have stables or a ranch where you could save the horses, carts and carriages you killed all those people for? More range of horses, carts and carriages and stables / ranch please!

  •  RD:R was perfect except for one small thing: stables. In the GTA series you had garages, why didn't RD:R have stables or a ranch where you could save the horses, carts and carriages you killed all those people for? More range of horses, carts and carriages and stables / ranch please!

  • The game is perfect as is – so I’d be happy with more of the same. However, a Train in Multiplayer would be nice (Co-op Missions, ProtectRob the Train). A Rope in Multiplayer so we can hog-tie other players and drag’em to death or leav’em on the tracks for the new Train. Let our characters drink in the bar, get drunk, and let us beat the ever loving shit out of each other – one big sloppy drunken fist fight like the old hollywood movies! Throw chairs and bottles, and break’em over peoples heads, break tables, players get knocked out and spectate until last man standing wins. Allow poker cheating online, and let us accuse player of cheating and challenge them to a dual – winner takes all. Let us “park” our character around the world when we need to step away and take a piss! (similar to the animation of chopping wood and smoking before Gang Matches).

  • The game is perfect as is – so I'd be happy with more of the same. However, a Train in Multiplayer would be nice (Co-op Missions, ProtectRob the Train). A Rope in Multiplayer so we can hog-tie other players and drag'em to death or leav'em on the tracks for the new Train. Let our characters drink in the bar, get drunk, and let us beat the ever loving shit out of each other – one big sloppy drunken fist fight like the old hollywood movies! Throw chairs and bottles, and break'em over peoples heads, break tables, players get knocked out and spectate until last man standing wins. Allow poker cheating online, and let us accuse player of cheating and challenge them to a dual – winner takes all. Let us “park” our character around the world when we need to step away and take a piss! (similar to the animation of chopping wood and smoking before Gang Matches).

  • i really would like them to make even more realistic horses of the west, i’m not saying they didn’t do an exellent work on horses….they’ve done an huge awesome work on horses, but still really when u get used to the horse (i played red dead redeption for 2 years pass) and even now i am not bored at all….but when u play it everytime u start seeing that the horses are like robots i mean, cantering for horses is just the same animation even if you canter 5  miles and the same animation, as well as galloping, and i would really fix the bridle handle by people i mean in the west they never held a bridle with two hands…..one hand and the other loose.

    • You have to understand that there is a budget for things. You can’t just have everything you want. What I mean by budget is two fold, there is the actual work in money to make stuff like different gallops and whatnot, but there is the memory footprint the game possesses as well. Imagine RDR with different gallops and canters but less and more monotonous dialog you hear around towns. Dialog can still get monotonous in RDR even though there is so much of it. I’m glad they put so much effort into the dialog as they did, I was impressed by that alone among so much else in RDR.

  • i really would like them to make even more realistic horses of the west, i'm not saying they didn't do an exellent work on horses….they've done an huge awesome work on horses, but still really when u get used to the horse (i played red dead redeption for 2 years pass) and even now i am not bored at all….but when u play it everytime u start seeing that the horses are like robots i mean, cantering for horses is just the same animation even if you canter 5  miles and the same animation, as well as galloping, and i would really fix the bridle handle by people i mean in the west they never held a bridle with two hands…..one hand and the other loose.

    • You have to understand that there is a budget for things. You can't just have everything you want. What I mean by budget is two fold, there is the actual work in money to make stuff like different gallops and whatnot, but there is the memory footprint the game possesses as well. Imagine RDR with different gallops and canters but less and more monotonous dialog you hear around towns. Dialog can still get monotonous in RDR even though there is so much of it. I'm glad they put so much effort into the dialog as they did, I was impressed by that alone among so much else in RDR.

  • i would like to see multiplayer customization in the sequel. this would help to give the clan aspect a level of unity. after beating the story multiple times i switched to multiplayer, and loved the game all over again. i await the next installment patiently.

  • i would like to see multiplayer customization in the sequel. this would help to give the clan aspect a level of unity. after beating the story multiple times i switched to multiplayer, and loved the game all over again. i await the next installment patiently.

  • I´d like to see the old weapons (Colt Navy 1851 and Remingtons) instead of the automatic 1911 and mauser pistols etc. A little bit of “customization” in costumes and weapons (color and designs on revolvergrip) would also be good. This was very restricted although you had several options upcoming game will be perfect if you can choose on hat, boots and this stuff instead of just “take the gunslinger or bounty hunter outfit. I would also support more choice in story missions for instance collaborate with the Bad Guys….I guess Indians and a story around was already mentioned in some other forums. The story of Marston as he rode with Dutch and Bill is something which could be very interesting.  

    • …good thinking with the throwback to Marston the gang member. Wouldn’t be as compelling as Marston trying to start a new life and being sent to kill them, but I’d still love to play those missions. Kind of like the gang member origin missions in The Warriors, that Rockstar programmed years ago. Man, head-to-toe character customization would be badass, as would more of the earlier pistols, shotguns, and rifles, and custom weapons. I felt like the Colt 1911 and Mauser kind of detracted from the old west authenticity, even if they were around in the year RDR took place.

  • I´d like to see the old weapons (Colt Navy 1851 and Remingtons) instead of the automatic 1911 and mauser pistols etc. A little bit of “customization” in costumes and weapons (color and designs on revolvergrip) would also be good. This was very restricted although you had several options upcoming game will be perfect if you can choose on hat, boots and this stuff instead of just “take the gunslinger or bounty hunter outfit. I would also support more choice in story missions for instance collaborate with the Bad Guys….I guess Indians and a story around was already mentioned in some other forums. The story of Marston as he rode with Dutch and Bill is something which could be very interesting.  

  • plus swimming instead of drowning would be cool and a fishing element with ur custome character creation would rule to

    • swimming would be great and fishing also would add a new element to the game, like gta san andreas you’d need to buy food or catch it or kill it to eat so your energy would stay up.

  • plus swimming instead of drowning would be cool and a fishing element with ur custome character creation would rule to

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