10 UNSETTLING Facts About Your Favourite Games
4. Gang Members Turned Actors (GTA V)
Authenticity is important to crafting a believable gaming experience, even in a title as wacky and over-the-top as Grand Theft Auto. If someone can't buy into the reality of gangsters and criminals in the open world, how can they get lost in it? GTA V knew this very well and took a pretty intense approach to make sure they hit the nail on the head.
Lazlow Jones, a producer on the game, revealed during an interview with WGN Radio that Los Santos' voice cast was populated by real-life gangsters. These legitimate gang members were often recruited directly from the street, with representation from all walks of criminal life. Jones even claimed that one voice talent recorded for them after having "gotten out of prison the day before."
These figures knew exactly what it was like to live the kind of life depicted in the GTA franchise, often forgoing the script and speaking from the heart. You've got to respect Rockstar for not pulling their punches when it came to capturing the reality of gang life.