Red Dead Redemption Sequel Proposal

Here's an idea: don't make it another Western, make it a Gangster game.

Red Dead Redemption, like The Wild Bunch before it, told the tale about the end of the west. The time of outlaws was ending, and the west was being tamed, etc. So, there's no reason to keep the setting in the west. Jack Marston has no family left, yet he's followed his father's path. Perhaps the time has come for him to move east?

Redemption ended in 1914. Shoot forward, 6-10 years. Prohibition has begun, and gangsters are taking over the big cities. The game could take place in a fictional midwestern state, with possible connections to the east coast, ala Boardwalk Empire. The state would be quite diverse, with cities, small towns, flat country, and great lakes, all with wildlife. Marston begins life anew in the only profession he knows: a life of crime. He starts off small, just as a mob enforcer or something, and works his way up from there. And, since the land in Redemption was bordered with Mexico, this fictional state could be across a giant lake from Canada. Since this is The Roaring '20s, Prohibition has begun, so the opportunities for criminal activity are endless. For instance, remember the drug trafficking mini-game in Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars? Imagine a rumrunning system, where you had to traffic alcohol into the various cities. You could do it by boat, plane, or across the frozen lakes from Canada by car. Different kinds of alcohol would sell better than others, and you would have the choice of selling it uncut or cutting it to make a bigger profit, possibly at the risk of losing more customers due to bad booze. As you progressed, you could build your own criminal empire across the midwestern state, coming across real-life figures and events as well.

I think this would be a good idea, because I have yet to play an old-style gangster game that has satisfied me. Mafia II, while fun, was quite disappointing in its lack of gameplay outside of the main story. I think we're well overdue for an epic gangster game, and the guys at Rockstar, who gave us Redemption, Grand Theft Auto, and LANoire are just the right people to do it.

Anyone agree? Or have better ideas? All opinions are welcome.

Personally, I really wouldn't want a sequel to focus on Jack. I don't hate him like most people, on the contrary, I actually like him, but I feel like his tale is over with.

I do like your idea, however. I just think the main character should be someone new.

Of course, that poses the issue of the game only being a sequel in name...

Kinda misses the point.

After all, GTA is Rockstars gangster game. RDR is the old west series.

^ Granted, no one has yet made an early 20th Century Gangster game. Not even Mafia went that far back.

It'd be an interesting setting, but I don't think it ought to be a Red Dead game.

If you pardon the pun:

LA Noire was probably closer to being Rockstar's "gangster" game, and GTA (in this case San Andreas) being the "gangsta!" game.

Infact, why not have a World War One themed level? Maybe as a tutorial/prologue (See Scarface videogame).