OS Neutral GTA San Andreas: Need some help

[vrDrew]

OK, Here's the deal: I'm not a gamer. I'm the ultimate noo8. Spawnrape victim par excellence. But for whatever reason, I bought GTA San Andreas for iOS and a Steelseries Nimbus controller.

Why do these games come with virtually zero documentation? Why do manufacturers and game publishers simply assume everyone automatically knows what all the buttons and joysticks do?

Why do the publishers of San Andreas (Rockstar) provide zero help for anything? OK. I can figure out I need to make money on my own. That committing armed robbery right in front of a cop isn't a good idea.

But when I'm told to "toggle (some inscrutable icon) for taxi mission" - what does that mean? Why don't they provide any source, anywhere, to let you know what you've got to do? They tell you to eat food to replenish energy. OK, fine. But why not tell me a) how to recognize when I come across a source of food and b) what buttons to press, actions to take when I do that?

I'm not interested in cheats or hacks. Just a basic understanding of how to interact with this world they've created.

 

[Paulk]

First off, I don't know the game (1) but just a guess is that you can earn money by escorting characters to some destination that they want to go to in return for payment.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

The way I learned to play GTAV (not the same game you're playing, but you get the point), was to watch game reviews, like...

OK, Here's the deal: I'm not a gamer. I'm the ultimate noo8. Spawnrape victim par excellence. But for whatever reason, I bought GTA San Andreas for iOS and a Steelseries Nimbus controller.

Why do these games come with virtually zero documentation? Why do manufacturers and game publishers simply assume everyone automatically knows what all the buttons and joysticks do?

Why do the publishers of San Andreas (Rockstar) provide zero help for anything? OK. I can figure out I need to make money on my own. That committing armed robbery right in front of a cop isn't a good idea.

But when I'm told to "toggle (some inscrutable icon) for taxi mission" - what does that mean? Why don't they provide any source, anywhere, to let you know what you've got to do? They tell you to eat food to replenish energy. OK, fine. But why not tell me a) how to recognize when I come across a source of food and b) what buttons to press, actions to take when I do that?

I'm not interested in cheats or hacks. Just a basic understanding of how to interact with this world they've created.

 

[vrDrew]

The way I learned to play GTAV (not the same game you're playing, but you get the point), was to watch game reviews, like...

Thanks, that helps.

I've finally figured out how to pick up fares, take them to their destination, and restore my energy from time to time. My driving and navigation skills still suck, but I do at least feel I'm making progress.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

Keep playing. Like anything, the more you do it, the easier it gets...

Thanks, that helps.

I've finally figured out how to pick up fares, take them to their destination, and restore my energy from time to time. My driving and navigation skills still suck, but I do at least feel I'm making progress.

 

[vrDrew]

Keep playing. Like anything, the more you do it, the easier it gets...

You're right. Now I'm hooked.

There is obviously a tremendous amount of detail and depth in these games. I'm still working out how to use the controller, so my first day or so I was just running around shooting people and getting wasted by the cops. But now I've got a couple of sub-missions under my belt, I've figured out how to get healthy, etc. And it seems like a lot of the game is getting to know the geography of the game, which streets to take, etc.

I will say I continue to be amazed at the the gameplay in these games. They seem to have gotten the balance or realism and playability (and entertainment) just right in the physics engine. I almost pulled off a barrel roll in a Checker Cab.....

 

[garnerx]

Have you read the manual?
https://support.rockstargames.com/h...806/Grand_Theft_Auto_-_San_Andreas_Manual.pdf

The physical versions of the game came with a fold-out map that I found totally essential, I'm sure that's available online too.