Chapter 1008: Robbery Guide
The GTA Photography Contest caused the game's popularity to skyrocket once again.
In reality, the photography contest was just one of the many derivative gameplay modes within the game. As players delved deeper, they would discover that this game hid a wealth of entertaining content.
Discussions among players about the game began to expand from basic mechanics to these derivative features.
At the start, everyone was talking about how to clear certain story missions, the correct posture for shooting, whether there were any special tricks for driving, and so on. Many players experienced the realistic sensation of firing guns and piloting planes in the game, a novelty that kept them excited for days.
Once they gradually got used to it, their attention shifted to other areas.
For example, how should one make money in GTA?
Strictly speaking, money in GTA isn't as crucial as in real life. Generally, players won't be too short on cash—at least not to the point where it affects their ability to complete missions. But regardless, being broke means you can't afford good guns, can't upgrade your car, can't buy properties, and even feel a bit embarrassed when trying to comfort a scantily clad lady. It's still quite frustrating.
So, how to make money quickly became a hot topic for many players.
The most basic method was to do missions. GTA is a game centered on crime as its core gameplay, and its biggest selling point is the wildly imaginative heist missions.
From jewelry stores to the Federal Reserve, if you could think of it, it was possible. As long as there was money somewhere, the three protagonists dared to rob it.
In the final "The Big Score" mission, the trio set their sights on the Federal Reserve. This heist was arguably the most thrilling and dangerous robbery operation, with both Plan A and Plan B having their own unique features.
Plan A was slightly easier, requiring more manpower and preparation, so the cut was smaller. Plan B, on the other hand, involved a direct confrontation, with higher risk but greater rewards.
For Plan A, you first needed to steal a police van and three modified "Gauntlets" (American muscle cars). Then, you'd change into the uniforms of armored truck security personnel, head to the tunnel entrance, deploy spike strips from the police van, and intercept two armored trucks. At that point, teammates would arrive to replace the tires on the trucks. Michael and Trevor would hijack a security guard, then drive the armored trucks to the Federal Reserve.
Once inside the Federal Reserve, they'd use forged documents to fool the manager, load the gold bars onto the armored trucks, and drive away. Meanwhile, a hacker would take over the traffic light system, ensuring Michael and Trevor in the armored trucks had a clear path while blocking pursuing Merryweather agents.
After driving the armored trucks to the destination, they'd load all the gold into the modified Gauntlets. At that point, Merryweather forces would arrive, sparking a fierce gunfight. After wiping them out, everyone would speed away in the Gauntlets loaded with gold bars. Once inside a tunnel, the four cars would drive into pre-arranged large truck trailers, pulling off a deception to escape. Mission accomplished.
Plan B was even more brutal. First, you had to steal a tunnel boring machine used for subway construction. Then, you'd switch the railway switch to stop a train. Trevor would fly a helicopter to lift the train's locomotive and flatbed trailer, transporting them to Trevor's small airfield. After that, you'd steal a getaway vehicle.
During the actual operation, Michael and another gunman would draw fire at the front entrance, while Franklin drove the tunnel boring machine to breach the wall of the Federal Reserve's underground vault. Franklin would eliminate the arriving FIB (Federal Investigation Bureau) team, and teammates would take the opportunity to haul away the gold. Two helicopters would arrive to airlift the gold directly, while Michael fought his way out through the front entrance, using the getaway vehicle to shake off the police.
During the helicopter flight, Merryweather agents would intercept in their own choppers, and Lester would use an RPG to take them all down. The helicopters would then drop the gold directly onto the stolen train for transport. Job well done.
As one of the most spectacular heists in the game, robbing the Federal Reserve pushed the robbery mechanics to their peak. Whether Plan A or Plan B, both involved a series of high-difficulty operations: car theft, infiltration, gunfights, vehicle driving, and escaping high-star police wanted levels. The entire mission took over half an hour, with a plot full of twists and turns.
Players had a blast robbing in the game, and then someone asked: Could a real-life robbery go this smoothly?
Soon, a "professional" answered: Of course not! To pull off what happens in the game, you'd first need a nearly all-powerful hacker like Lester. Second, you'd need a body that could survive a dozen bullets without dying. You'd also need a fourth-dimensional anus to smuggle an entire arsenal of AKs, submachine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, sticky bombs, and more through security. And you'd have to ensure the police only search the fan-shaped area in front of them and give up after two minutes without finding you—not even issuing a wanted poster. The next day, you could strut around town as if nothing happened.
Of course, the most important thing is that after being shot dead, you only need to pay a few thousand dollars to respawn at the hospital, instead of kicking the bucket for good...
Traffic conditions are also a crucial factor. Given the traffic in most cities today, even if you successfully robbed an armored truck, you'd likely be stuck on the road, unable to move, and easily caught like a turtle in a jar.
As for the Federal Reserve heist, the real Fed wouldn't just let you in after a manager glances at your fake ID, nor would they allow you to bore through the wall with a subway tunnel boring machine.
So, the heists in GTA are designed purely to give players a thrill. The game is inspired by reality but elevated beyond it—everything is crafted for players to have fun and feel the excitement. Don't ever treat this as a crime guide, or you'll die without knowing how.
Many players found mission-based money-making too slow. Even after all that effort to rob the Federal Reserve for 200 million dollars, it had to be split among several people—too inefficient!
Players racked their brains and quickly came up with many ways to make money.
Methods like killing people on the street and picking up their cash were common knowledge. What players mainly explored were safe and efficient money-making strategies.
For instance, the "on-the-spot money pickup" method: Drive your car, call 911 to summon a police car, then follow it. Soon, the police would engage in a shootout with suspects. Dead people would drop money and weapons. Just get out, pick them up, get back in the car, and follow the police while enjoying the scenery and collecting cash.
Of course, some chose to drive taxis, tow trucks, or buy a hangar and fly cargo planes. Among these, taxi driving was the most popular. Many even jokingly called GTA a "Didi simulator" (a ride-hailing app), saying you could truly experience the life of a taxi driver in this game...