GTA San Andreas: Shops & Robbers

Yet more info and screens for our fifth update, before we get to actually sit down and see the game in action tomorrow!

We're all excited at Kikizo right now as the opportunity to see Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in action tomorrow beckons... but hope is not lost for you guys either, as the official trailer is released this week. And in the meantime, the tantalising screen and info treatment continues, this time looking at "shops and robbers", as we ingeniously coined.

Yo Mind On Yo Money

You're going to need to keep close tabs on your wallet. There's a lot to spend money on, and to get where CJ wants to go, you'll need to have plenty of cash coming in. Like in previous Grand Theft Autos, you will sometimes earn money by successfully completing missions, but not always. Not all missions are the kind of things that you get paid money for, CJ isn't a hired thug and his motivations and rewards are often more complex (involving personal interest, respect, loyalty to family and set) than just cash. So, for that extra bit of green to make ends meet, side missions have taken on a new level of importance. One of the new ways you can get hold of it is by fencing other people's stuff!

Robbery might be a crime, but you need to know how to do it right. If you don't do it well, you're going to get caught, one way or another. Get away with it, and you'll come off with a pile of cash. For your larcenous habit, there are dozens of places in San Andreas to rob. For example, in Los Santos there are a number of residential houses that can be broken into, most contain a variety of goods that you can make off with and hock to build up your wealth.

So, before you start, you need to plan ahead a little and find yourself a getaway van. Jack a moving truck and hit R3 and you're good to go!

Dress the part: A number of clothing stores sell ski masks, which help to conceal your appearance. Once you have a ski mask, or balaclava, CJ enters a full-time sneak mode. Very handy when trying to keep from making any noise.

Bring the right tools for the job - a lot of people in San Andreas are trusting small-town folk and they often leave their doors unlocked, but if you stumble upon a house with people inside, you could need a bat, a shotgun, or a knife since this is the quietest weapon, to silence them before they alert the police. You'll need to wait until nighttime before making your move - people will be sleeping, and you will have an easier time slipping in undetected and making off with the stereo or VCR. You can't rob a house during the day - people are too likely to be home (unemployment seems to be a real problem in San Andreas)!

Creep through the house. If you make a lot of noise the inhabitants, if any, will be alerted to your presence. Make sure to check out every room in the house-grabbing the 13 inch kitchen TV might seem like a smart move, but you might be passing up some real finds. Look for valuable items that are easy to carry-TVs, stereos, and VCRs.

Go room to room, and if anyone is home, well, that's what you brought the bat for. The people you run into might do any number of things, cower in fear, attack you (some citizens in San Andreas roll strapped!), scream for the police or even call the police - so its important to take care of them as soon as you are spotted. It's hard to get rid of stuff when the police are onto you!

With the homeowners out of the way, you can take your time and unload everything of value in the house.

Once you've gotten your haul secured in your van, a trip to your fence is definitely in order. Make sure you get a fair price for your efforts. Robbery is a growth industry-the money you make can be used to purchase any number of items from clothes and food to guns and properties-even businesses.

The smart thief is the one that travels. Don't just hit up the houses close to home, the ritzier neighborhoods tend to have a wider selection of luxury items, and the mark up is always great, particularly at the price you're paying-no price at all.

Compulsive Shopper

Like it or not, people are judged by the way they look. In San Andreas how you dress and look after yourself says a lot about you. As a result, your clothes and your haircut are important factors that affect the respect that those around you show towards you.

Haircuts: There are several barbershops located throughout San Andreas. In Los Santos, Reece's barbershop is a staple, and very much part of the neighborhood. Inside the barbershop CJ sits in the chair and checks his reflection, he can select from a number of different looks for both his hairstyle and his facial hair. If he has enough money, CJ can get the cut of his choice.

The sharper CJ looks, the more he is respected. The women of San Andreas will take notice of it, as will the gangs-rivals will be a bit more wary, and CJ will command a bit more authority within his own gang, the Orange Grove Families.

Some of the many different looks for CJ include bald, afro, jheri curl and here he is with cornrows:

Clothing: Of equal importance to CJs look and the respect it generates are the clothes he wears. CJ begins the game with a very basic, no-frills pair of pants and t-shirt. As he progresses in the game, his fellow gang members will gain respect for him when CJ successfully completes missions, and will suggest that he start dressing in gang colors. At first, this means sporting traditional Orange Grove Families colors. Wearing colors has consequences. Other members of the Grove Street Families will respect you more, however, rival gangs and police will be able to tell your allegiances easier.

If you happen to find yourself in Ballas territory or stumble into the middle of a gunfight, the impact of your clothing choices can be significant. Gang colors are not the only choices available to CJ. There are a number of stores in San Andreas that allow CJ to select a full line of clothing choices. New clothes affect the level of respect people have for you. Some missions will even require CJ to be wearing a certain outfit. These are some of the places to shop in San Andreas:

Binco: Binco is a discount store found a few blocks away from CJ's cul-de-sac deep in Orange Grove Families territory. It's a discount store, so the clothing selection is utilitarian and cheap.

Binco features a small selection of low cost clothing. Most people in the Grove will be wearing clothes of the type sold here. The clothing choices are affordable to those in CJ's neighborhood-and since the Orange Grove Families aren't what they were, expect to find a selection of plaid shirts, khakis, and sneakers on a budget. This is a good place for CJ to go after he returns to the grove and needs to wear the colors - but the clothes aren't free and he will need to have enough money to get what he needs. Locals will respect CJ more after he's switched back to more familiar threads.

SubUrban: Located near the Towers in Ganton, SubUrban specializes in a full line of clothing brands, such as Mercury and Base 5.

The selection here is different than Binco. SubUrban favors name-brand apparel popular amongst those in Los Santos with a bit more disposable income, and since the store is located in Ballas territory, it is very popular amongst the gang set. The colors and clothing choice reflect the neighborhood, and are priced to reflect the prices one of the more successful gangs in town can afford. Your respect will go up higher than if you were shopping at Binco. At first, CJ might be able to afford one or two items here. As he completes missions, his budget will increase and he will be able to purchase more items. You needn't be a gang member or a Rock Star to shop at SubUrban, but you'll find clothing selection that both would be comfortable wearing.

ProLaps: For a full selection of the ProLaps brand apparel and footwear, head to the flagship store located west of Downtown Los Santos.

ProLaps is the leading choice of athletic gear in San Andreas. The clothes are decidedly more athletic and are the perfect choice to show of CJ's musculature or just to switch his look up with shorts, sneakers, hats and other items. Also, CJ can find some very specific items-motorcycle helmet, boxing headgear, even a hockey mask. Concerned about looking too much like a gang member? The clothing choices here are more mainstream, and though the TRAIN HARD tagline might implore you to work out, the clothes themselves are popular amongst the other inhabitants of San Andreas. The prices are a bit higher here, and CJ will have to earn a good deal of money to afford the pieces offered here.

As CJ attains the material trappings of success - clothes, the right hair, sneakers etc - he will gain respect. Women will notice CJ and be more responsive to him, while the men will be wary and in some cases even fear him.

CJ will get to keep all the clothes you buy for him, if you change your mind as to what you want to wear, you don't have to go back and repurchase an outfit after you've changed into something new: just walk into your safe house, go to the closet, and every single piece of clothing you've earned/purchased so far will be there. This provides for a huge amount of customization, and adds an amazing collecting dynamic for the truly hardcore player. Want to mix and match? Once your wardrobe is stocked, you can change into any combination of shirt, pants, hat, shoes, and accessories as easily as you can save or load a game.

Rockstar also released an in-game basketball shot, teasing slightly about yet more activities you'll be able to enjoy in the seemingly infinite world of San Andreas.

Click here for our original preview, update one, update two, update three and update four.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com