[HTML1]

Five years ago yesterday, Grand Theft Auto 4 made its way onto store shelves and into the hearts of gamers everywhere. Its pulse-pounding action made it an instant hit, and fans everywhere were more than content with what the game offered. Fast forward to 2013 and gamers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of that game's successor, Grand Theft Auto 5, and it won't be much longer now until it hijacks countless hours of their time.

After teasing the arrival of several new trailers, Rockstar Games has finally pulled the curtain off of three new teasers that show off a little bit of the stories behind each of the three main protagonists in Grand Theft Auto 5. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are the new kids on the block this time around, and they'll all be uniting for some unknown reason to commit felonies together.

As the trailers explain, Michael is a former criminal of some sort that has gotten out of the game to retire in the luxury of Los Santos. He apparently can't keep up that charade during a mid-life crisis, however, and quickly seeks out a way to re-enter the life of crime. Franklin, on the other hand, is a level-headed gang member that's just trying to make a living without endangering himself or his friends. Last, but far from least, Trevor is the red neck, bat-toting psychopath that isn't afraid to cause bodily harm to secure what he's after.

All three of the characters should provide players with an interesting dynamic given how much they differ in their stance on organized crime, and the end result looks to be nothing less than the high-octane, shoot 'em up with comedic undertones that made the series such a hit to begin with. Each of the teasers should hit the spot for those who've been holding out for more GTA5 media, and hopefully the final product is as much fun to play as those trailers were to watch.

Grand Theft Auto 5 Character Trailers

Gamers that can't wait to dive into the latest GTA for themselves can actually get into the game through another means. Rockstar Games has put together a contest that will give fans the opportunity to be put into the game as actual characters. Under the guise of a website for a fictitious organization called Kifflom — which is actually a cult in Grand Theft Auto 5 — the 'Epsilon Program' (read: website) allows gamers to sign up for a chance to appear in the final game. A grand total of five fans will be chosen to appear in the title, so it's a neat little promotional item to help build excitement for the forthcoming product.

Grand Theft Auto 5's planned September release isn't that far off, and it'll be interesting to see what other promotional materials and secrets emerge between now and then. For the time being, the new trailers, old trailers, and even the copious number of screenshots should act as a solid reminder of what gamers have to look forward to later this year.

[poll id="48"]

-

Follow Riley on Twitter @TheRileyLittle.

Grand Theft Auto 5 will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3 on September 17th.