GTA 4 and mission selection?

So I picked up GTA4 and pretty impressed so far, quite good fun gfx ok and some great set pieces.

One thing I looked forward to that isn't quite as good as I wanted is the sand box element .. Although I may not of worked it correctly...

I came from Oblivion where you can accept all missions then choose the one that you fancied .. Great idea and I expected similiar.

When you select a mission ( by answering the phone ) you are automatically put onto that mission if I then start another mission that other fails... Is it better not to answer the phone ? and call them back at another time ?

Is there anyway to build up a 'bank' of missions to then select the one you want ?

Thanks
J

When you answer the phone in the middle of a mission and someone wants you to do something (i.e. Roman wants to go to a bar) Niko should say something to him like "not now, I'm busy," and you would be able to continue your current mission. I don't know why it won't do that for you. Until you get that figured out, I would think it would just be best not to answer the phone while you are currently in a mission. Usually if your phone rings during a mission, it is not too important (like above, if Roman wants to go to a bar.) So just don't answer your phone.

And as for a "bank of missions" I have never had more than 2 missions to do at once, so I don't think you can really bank the missions, just do the ones as you have time.

Some of the missions, by phone, however, you have to do pretty quickly in order to pass them. It may also affect the relationship of the other person with Niko. Like if you forget to pick a friend up when you said that you would meet them, your relationship with them may decline.

There are only some missions that you get a call and have to come running, some, you may get a call for, but you will get a Symbol of the person who gave the mission, that means you can do it whenever. Also, say you want to just roam, or finish side missions, or get your friends to like you more, you can go into your phone, and scroll down to options and as long as your not currently on a mission you can choose to put your phone on sleep mode, and that will prevent anyone that advances the main story from calling you.

You can "bank" missions. Not all missions are like that. Where they call you and you have to do it immediately.