Some things I'd like to see would be:
1. I like the red-marker that you can place in SanAndreas to chart where you need to go etc, but they should take this a step further. How about customizable markers that you can place and name yourself and have the game save this so you can know where certain things are. Example would be the RC Shop, after you complete it, it disappears from the map as a marker and you need to 'remember' where it is, or chart it yourself on an external map. How about being able to add a marker saying 'RC Shop'. Or if I find a good base-jumping spot, to mark it as such. I think it should be a marker that you can choose from say a list of 10 different graphics and change their color, this way at a glance you can see where something is you want marked (like the location of an M5 or a rocket-launcher).
2. I really like the gang-member recruiting, but this again could be taken a little farther. Since we are in a gang (or a mob, etc) how about a mercenary purchase spot. This way instead of just recruiting anybody, you could specifically recruit 2 pistol guys, 3 ak guys and 1 rocket-launcher guy, etc. Keep everything the same as far as the more respect (or whatever) the more you can recruit. Also you could mod this a bit more by having the prices of the mercenaries decrease as your respect level increases. This way a rocket launcher guy could be like 20k in the beginning, but later on may only cost $500, etc. Another REALLY cool thing to add would be saving the mercenaries, and being able to upgrade or level the mercenaries up. Like the pistol guy would be leveling the more action he sees, and eventually be able to wield 2 pistols. You could then equip them with armor. Also being able to drop them off at a safe house so you could have them 'rest' and heal. Then you could leave them at the safe house to 'store' them like a car. Of course there is a limit to the number of people you can store at a house (depending on the size, like the garage).
3. This one's short, but I would like to be able to drop any weapon (or item) that my char is holding and have it show up on the ground, so I can pick it up again. This would only be necessary if they continue to have weapon sets that overwrite the previous weapon. This will allow for you to drop the current pistol for example, pick up the floating silenced pistol, use it then drop it and pick back up the original pistol.
4. The vehicle AI could be smarter and a little more accurate. If anyone has ever jumped on the roof of a car to see where it goes, you'll notice that it doesn't fully follow the rules of the road, also it has no idea if it is heading straight for an obstacle or not. I was riding on top of a cop car and it came to a red light and stopped. As soon as the light turned green it tried to take a right and directly hit a pedestrian. It then stopped for about a count of 20 seconds, then continued forward. This may be unnoticeable in the game as a problem, but it's stuff like that that, to me, makes the game loose the 'reality'. The pedestrians are all retarded too, they will dive INTO your vehicle trying to get out of the way. Geezz.
5. They need to take the food idea a little further. Like a hunger meter to indicate how hungry you are, and if you eat only low fat foods it makes you hungry faster. The higher fatty foods slow down your hunger, but at the cost of gaining fat. Also as you work-out or run around or anything related to stamina, your hunger would increase.
6. Some what related to point (4) is that the AI for the cops need to be more accurate. Like other posts I too would like to see the cops arrest you when on foot and have one star, rather than the 'shoot first, questions later' kind of approach. Obviously after about 2 stars you have done some real damage and may merit gun-fire. Also the cops need to be more 'on-your-side'. I can stand in enemy territory, get shot at by multiple thugs while 3 cops stroll by without a glance. Then as soon as I open fire on my opposition, not only do I have the gang to worry about, but now IM the target for the cops. GOSH!!
7. As with most other posts, I'd also like to see more business opportunities that are more 'user-controlled' rather than mission style assets. For example, you should be able to get a regular job at the burger place, and now you need to spend at least 2hrs (or whatever) delivering burgers or pizzas in order to make a living. You can get fired too for not showing up, or for killing the patrons etc. The point of making a living would only be relevant if there was some sort of 'expense' associated with the game, i.e.. rent. In all the places that you can purchase in the game, they are only one time buys. I'd like to see more places that have an up-keep cost associated with them like rent. This way when you have completed the game and are like a millionaire, you still have a need for the money, to upkeep the places you own, or you could sell them back to the open market. The assets like shops you own would still have an asset money amount in the front, but the max it could reach would be based on the asset missions you complete. For example the RC shop gives you 5k max. You should be able to do some things (mini-games, missions) to increase this amount (or in other words to decrease the overhead for the shop, thus giving you a bigger return.) This way until the asset is acquired, it costs you money to keep it in business.
I of course have allot of other thoughts, but I think I'll save them for a later post.
