Rockstar Games has revealed that it was so eager to capture the genuine sounds of the streets for Grand Theft Auto V that it recruited real-life gang members to contribute voice-overs for the game. Game producer Lazlow Jones confirmed the news during an interview with Chicago radio station WGN (via VideoGamer.com).
"When we record all these ambient characters that are in the world, we go towards authenticity," Jones said. "So in the game, part of the element of the story is that there's rival gangs.
"There's black gangs, there's Latino gangs, and we recruited a guy who gets gang members, like actual gang members, real gang members. I mean, El Salvadorian gang dudes with amazing tattoos and one of which literally had gotten out of prison the day before. And we brought these guys in to record the gang characters because, you know, you don't want a goofy LA actor who went to a fancy school trying to be a hard gang member. There's nothing worse than that."
Faced with the prospect of delivering dialogue that gang members would never actually say, Jones said they would often shelve the script for something more organic and true.
"They look at the lines and they say, 'I wouldn't say that. If I was upset at another gang, I wouldn't say that'. So…say what you would say. Authenticity, you know?
"There's a lot of sessions that we would have where we would just throw the script on the floor and be like, this thing we wrote is irrelevant, let's just work out something real."
Rockstar recently announced that GTA V will include 240 licensed music tracks and 15 radio stations. The game launches worldwide on September 17 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Discussion
............way to enable
I'm glad to hear they care about authenticity. San Andreas sometimes felt like a mediocre rip-off of Boyz n The Hood.
Latest news confirms Rockstar recruited juggalos for the voice overs.
ermahgerd it's like glitter out of your butthole. Y U SO GUD ROCKSTAR?
Real gangmembers like who, Dora The Explorer.
more news on gta 5 ffs ..... cant wait... getting frustrated
a bit dicey, but cool.
Good job Rockstar... More hardcore AND less cost ...I mean, I assume fresh-outta-prison gangsters cost less to hire than gangster actors right?? :)
Btw..Do you like Ninjas? You like the dance? Then you join the Ninja Dance Force 3 crew (Rockstar Social Club).
thats fukin g
This game is going to be talk of the town soon after launch. We heard so many great things about it so far.
holy shit you guys are hilarious
can't wait to hear myself
Wow, alot of dumbass people here. With the way that they complained, you would've thought they were born yesterday, "Oh em gee! Rockstar is rewarding gangster for having a life of crime by giving jobs on their game! THOSE MONSTERS!". Ignorance has busted a load on your eyes. NEWS FLASH: Many forms of entertainment exploits the crime life, like music, movies, tv shows, books, etc.... You don't think there are people from "dat lyfe" that were interviewed and paid (by actors, producers, authors, fake gangsters rappers, etc....) for their participation in the development of these things?! But ya upset because someone from R* came out and said it? How's the "The Godfather" trilogy, "Midnight Club Racing", "The Sopranos", "PayDay 2", "Thief", "Mafia 1 &2", "Hitman", "American Gangster", "Breaking Bad", "Dexter" All the previous R* games, Call Of Duty,.............Need I go on?!
Look up the term "gang", because it's seem you guys watch too many movies it's an overused term these days. I live in Brooklyn, N.Y., trust me I know. The way you guys talk about gangs, you might as well say that EVERY single person whose been to or in prison were sent there for rape and murder. It could be DUI, drug possession, public disturbance/lewdness, insulting an officer, underaged drinking, shoplifting, drug dealing, under the influence, bootlegging, operating without a licence, vandalism, etc...... It's not all bloods and crips anymore, it's not all bandanas, black shades, white tees, driving around slow in lowriders, and everyone in the car turning their heads the in the same direction at the same time. That whole "tattooed up" bit means NOTHING, these days being tatted up from head to toe is a trend, so it doesn't always mean that they have a checkered past.
What do I care, I will kill them all anyways. BOOM!
Like others are saying, you don't know what caused them to be in a gang in the first place, anyway it's getting them a paid job which means they have something to put on a CV and maybe start them on a career path. Why are some of you so eager to judge these people when you don't even know them?
that shit is kickass
I'm curious to see the difference
Yep, these comments are all over the place. I am one who always tried to put myself in someone else's shoes before I make any assumptions(though I can't really put myself in their shoes). We have absolutely no idea why any of these guys are in a gang. Some of them may not have really had any other choice. Some of them probably wanted to get into it. It's so easy to judge when you really have no idea what it's like to be in their situation. I guess I should say we all have our problems, and some of them may be much worse than others. It's really how you perceive it.
Wow, not a bad idea...hardly game changing though
Let me just say WGF?
Yay-uh! Rockstar North is straight up gangsta, representin' from the mean streets of Scotland!
And all my teachers told me Ebonics would get me know where ..... they lied naw mean son ???
they should this with the hookers as well.
Whoopty do. You hired criminals to help make your game.
Oh yeah that's just great, rewarding gang member scum by paying them to do voices for a video game.
It worked when Michael Jackson filmed Bad.
please god no more spoilers, I want my mind to explode when I play this game
Well that sucks, and is pointless.
One step closer to realism in a video game!
I heard they requested coke and guns as salary.
Lol, crazy bastards. XD
Really, first off, they had MC 8 play Ryder in San Andreas and he is a certified crip and they had Ice T who is also street certified in LA.. why not just go back and get these guys and a few others like snoop and the dogg pound. Its like they want to brag that they got gang members that are still active. What ever, as if most people playing would know what slang is authentic and what is false.... What they didnt tell Rockstar is that they are all now affiliated gang members and the only way out is death...so when the big homie calls you to go on a ride you better answer fool.
They gotta get the n-word sounding juuust right!
oh my
Interesting.
I agree. I don't see at all how this is something to be proud of.
@jark888 except everyone will be indoors playing it instead of outside talking about it :-P
To add, the only wrong thing is I see in this article is the way Laslow bragged about it.
@dummpymonkey123 Nobody has talked like that since like Wu-Tang back in 94...
@riclyrex "Hey guys, let's hire real hookers for the voice over work. Don't forget: 100% authenticity! Keeping it real! Let's go."
@KingJames304 people join gangs for all sorts of reasons. Not everyone in a gang is scum. Some people really do grow up in fvcked up situations. No need paint with such a broad stroke. Just saying though.
@AverageGameJoe Umm..... then why are you on this page?
@gamekingpin Maybe due to age? I'm guessing they got people that are close to the age of the game characters, those guys you mentioned are getting old :).
@gamekingpin I sincerely hope that wasn't you trying to do street slang....
@Senor_Kami @dummpymonkey123 Big L made a song called Ebonics in 1999
@3nd_Of_The_Lin3 @riclyrex Now I want to work for Rockstar
@3nd_Of_The_Lin3
LMAO!
Ok so I thought about it on my way home and decided to give you a better one, let me know if you approve eh hm hm....
Yo cuz i heard some fools was set trippin on the other side of town, you ready to put n work? Get down or lay down cuz.
I didnt really say much except for when the big homie calls evryone on a gang has someone they consider an OG or one of the big homies, homeboys whatever listen dont judge me
@UnrealPro @Senor_Kami @dummpymonkey123 powned