I've played through parts of GTA III, VC, and SA, and while I like the free world aspect, I'm honestly not really hooked on the series. It just seems to take the violence and sex portions of life, and blow them to almost unreal proportions, pushing the line of acceptable in a videogame. Along with that, while the storylines are generally good, none have really gotten me interested. While that's true, GTA IV looks like the first Grand Theft Auto game I might pick up. The story looks interesting, and characters seem to be depcited unlike ever before.

 I agree, the cloud surrounding the series is ridiculous. That's why I created this thread, to try to dissolve that cloud, at least for some of the users here. It appears my efforts have not had the effect I had hoped for.
 I am glad that you are opening up more to games outside of Nintendo's circle. Understand that I have always been a Nintendo fan, but I have always felt that to deny oneself the experience of playing a particular game simply because it wasn't a Nintendo offering is foolish.


 
 I would strongly suggest that you at least try San Andreas. The shear amount of stuff to do in that game is outstanding. Not only that but SA offered upgradable elements like driving ability, motorcylce handling, piloting skills, and much more.

 Still even if the last gen GTA games aren't quite your cup of tea, GTA 4 is a proper evolution of the series and shouldn't be judged based on prior installments. If you own or have access to a PS3 or 360, give it a rent.

I've never played a GTA game and I'm fine with that.

I've seen enough of it to know that it would not be a good gaming experience for me -the violence is just too over the top. I also don't like to listen to profanity and crude language. I just believe that stories can be told without using a four letter word every other word.

Someone mentioned GTA being like a "interactive mafaia movie." That's ok for some, but I don't even like mafia movies. Law and Order and L&O: SVU are as deep as I go into crime drama. I like Psych on USA for crime drama.

I've never had any interest in playing a GTA and the new one hasn't swayed me at all. I haven't really researched any of the GTA games, so some would say that I do not have an informed opinion. Seeing footage of the playable character beat prostitutes with a baseball bat was all the reasearch I needed. There is enough mafia/violence/cheap sex/robberies/murder and all that other crap on the news and in the real world for me to want to play a game like GTA.

I would much rather play a fantasy game that has a moral and a happy ending. I get enough sad endings from reality. Just watch Prime News on CNN at 5ET and you will see what I mean. About 90% of the storys they report on are simply disturbing. 

If people want to play GTA and its ilk, that is their right if they are 17 or older. I want nothing to do with it. I personally believe that GTA represents a lot of what is wrong with the culture today.

What I would like to see is a sandbox game that is similar to that Coke commercial they made for a Super Bowl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wt5FiZQrgM

Closest thing I've ever played was True Crime: Streets of LA. Of couse, you're a cop in that game so it's ok to "commandeer a random vehicle," but you can try to either be a good cop or a bad cop. Good cops do their duty and bust people for committing crimes with minimal killing. Bad cops drive around recklessly and beat up and kill people just cuz. I always try to be a good cop, but I'm not good enough at some of the missions so I end up losing good cop points and having to follow the bad cop storyline.