I just dont understand how a development crew can spend all that time to make such a beautiful environment, put all the effort into making the clothes flow correctly, to bring a feeling of being in a real space and timeframe, etc.. to then add something like that to the game. They really do think we're all 9 year old boys.
..and my rant wasnt even about that specifically. Everyone knows you can't get a car to blow up by shooting it with a freakin pistol, let alone causing a minor nuclear visual effect when it does blow up. Why make a game based in reality if you arent going to stick to it fully? With Sci-fi/Fantasy, the only boundries are the ones you create for your particular world, no problem, but if you're going to go real... stick to it! Its insulting to the intelligence of the player and the development team. Thats why the only conclusion for me is they must think prepubescent kids are the ones playing these titles; kids who need big explosions and over-the-top gunfights.
Imagine this game if it played out like the real Mafia.. You could be Elliot Ness and The Untouchables on one side of the single-player (hunting down evidence and lesser mobsters in order to nail Big Al) and Al Capone and his crew on the other (working your way up to a made man within the organization while dodging the G-Men); actual deep storylines, connection to whats going on much like watching a movie, but participating in it.
..then it gets even more confusing cause no kid is going to be able to afford a machine strong enough to play something like this. So what the hell? What's the target audience for a game like this? 20-somethings who only know Mafia related info from Hollywood movies and at the same time dont mind being patronized with gratuitous explosions and prolonged gunfights/Playboy magazines? Where are the games for the savvy adults? Theres a huge market of educated 30+ year olds who've been gaming since the Atari 2600 and they've seen all this slop a thousand times. We need some adult themes, real connection through deeper stories, more complexity, continuity, etc..
