Hey mister, have you gotta dime?

This topic in our series of discussing a GTA-like game economy is receiving money as payment for services.

Not being a gangsta myself, I'm definitely imagining this from the stereotypes and media hype that gets fed to the general public, but I think there are reasonable assumptions about what would be in this sort of game based on previous GTA exploits.

In our previous installment, we described the potential ability to fence goods for cash. The player in the role of the fence is in some way receiving money for the service of converting the goods into cash because I expect they would pay less than the "list price" of the item. Likewise for players who act as loan sharks when they receive interest payments.

Another lucrative service could be taking a job as a hit man or trying to collect on a bounty for another player (cop or bad guy). I doubt "snitch" would be a player class but maybe information about rivals would be valued enough that players would be willing to pay others for special information that's useful to their cause.

To tread lightly I'll use the term "companionship" a another form of employment or temporary service that could earn a player some cash. Gangs and police forces could even have specific job roles like collecting protection money from businesses in their territory or subservient gangs.

Given the role that entertainment plays in hip-hop culture, would gang bosses pay DJs and dancers to be at their parties? Maybe if the game supports these functions through streaming audio feeds, graphic assets (audio gear, dance outfits, etc.) and gestures for playing records and executing dance moves.

Get the idea? Okay - next up - the gang giveth and the gang taketh away...