Grand Theft Auto 5 is set to be released in a little under 10 weeks - and that's almost soon enough to start getting really excited.
And with good reason. Rockstar's brand new open world driving-shooting-running-mayhem simulator for Xbox 360 and PS3 already looks to be a huge upgrade over the previous generation. Set in the massive LA-like city of Los Santos - as well as its wild environs, including the ocean - it will give gamers an amazing range of activities, missions and insane set-piece terror in which to lose themselves.
But ahead of the game's release, actual details about how the game works - the vehicles, mission types, even the in-game graphics - remain frustratingly slight. Yes, we know the character and backstory of the game's three lead lunatics. But so much is left unrevealed it's almost - whisper it - genuinely exciting.
Luckily Rockstar recently engaged in an online Q&A with fans, in which some of the beans were, if not spilled, at least tipped a little closer to the edge of the tin.
Here are six things from the Q&A you probably missed.
1. You can't kill any of the main characters.
While the game allows you to play as any of the three leads - and switch between them at any time - you can't find yourself, and then kill yourself. Rockstar explains:
"You’ll certainly be able to hang out with them, annoy them should you choose, and maybe even assault them, but you won’t be able to kill them. They all have remarkable powers of recovery and good health insurance. The game is based on playing all sides of these three characters’ interwoven stories rather than having generic, interchangeable leads, so permanently killing a major character in that way wouldn’t make sense. If a player is determined enough though, they may well find a way to badly injure one of the characters and switching to that character would just put you in the hospital to continue where you left off."
2. The game will come with a map.
Rockstar has confirmed that a printed map will be included with all boxed copies of GTA 5: "As in all previous Grand Theft Auto games, we’ve made a point of including a map of the world to aid players in navigating the city. In all versions of GTAV, the game disc will accompany a map with all the details players will need to navigate the world."
3. Both weapons and cars will be customisable.
Rockstar has said that both vehicles and guns will be editable by players. "Without going into detail just yet, we can tell you that both will be very customizable – with a range of weapon upgrades as well as some very deep car customization. Stay tuned for more very soon."
4. Next-gen versions aren't confirmed... yet.
There's a lot of speculation that GTA5 will also be released for PC, Xbox One and PS4 - but Rockstar isn't telling us anything yet. "We don’t have anything to share about the possibility of a next-gen or a PC platform release at this time and we are completely focused on delivering the best possible experience for the consoles people have right now."
5. Multiplayer is coming - and it has a new name.
"It’s called Grand Theft Auto Online and we’re very excited to unveil it for you sometime this summer."
6. You probably won't be able to cheat.
Rockstar is keen to make sure that this version of GTA is as unhackable as possible - and is working hard to cut off various methods of cheating, especially in online play.
"Ever since Grand Theft Auto IV was released, we’ve continued to integrate newer and stronger methods of cheat detection and prevention for each of our games. While we have yet to reveal specifically what new anti-cheating measures we have planned for GTAV, rest assured that we’re focused on creating as level a playing field and as fair, fun (and healthy as you say) an experience as possible for everyone. There will always be some people who want to cheat but we are going to do our best to stop it. We have spent a lot of time and effort making an incredible Online experience and proper support is part of that package."