| Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a video game series
created and developed by Rockstar North (Changed from DMA Design) which debuted
in 1997 and published by Rockstar Games. It includes five standalone
games, and one expansion pack for the original, GTA: London 1969.
The games allow the player to take on the role of a criminal in a city, typically a lowly individual who rises in the ranks of
organised crime over the course of the game. Various missions are set for completion by the figureheads of the city underworld,
generally criminal, which must be completed to progress in the game's plot. Bank robberies, assassinations, and other crimes, but
occasionally taxi driving, firefighting, pimping, street racing, or learning to fly are also involved.
The Grand Theft Auto series is notable for the large amount of freedom given to the player in deciding what to do.
Unlike most action games, which are structured as a single track series of levels, in GTA the player can pick and choose
which missions they want to undertake, and their relationship with various powers are changed based on these choices. Players
also often cite the music, humor, and "stress relieving factor" of the series in explaining its appeal. The vast cities of the
games can also be roamed freely at any point in the game with many accessable buildings.
However, the series has courted a great deal of controversy in its time, as covered in the individual game articles. The
contention revolves around the gameplay's focus on illegal activities, in comparison to the "hero" role found in most games.
Series history
The first title in the series, Grand Theft Auto
(game), appeared on the PlayStation and PC in 1997.
There was one expansion pack for the original PC and PS game:
There have been five standalone Grand Theft Auto sequels:
GTA: London, 1969 was a continuation of the original GTA, except it is set in London. GTA2 features updated graphics and somewhat different gameplay based upon the player's appeal to
various criminal organisations.
GTA3 brought the series into a third-person view
rather than the traditional top down view of earlier titles.
GTA: Vice City is set in the mid 1980's in a city inspired in different ways by the movie Scarface and TV series Miami Vice.
GTA: San Andreas is set in the early-1990s US, and features some of the first attempts at series continuity.
Throughout, there are references to previous games, most notably the main character from GTA3 and several posters
referring to GTA: Vice City.
Rockstar Games has since released updated copies of the original Grand Theft Auto (http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/gta.html) and Grand Theft Auto 2 (http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/index.html) as a free download.
An unofficial version of Grand Theft Auto 3 is under development (http://www.grandtheftendo.com) for the NES.
Rockstar has also announced that work is underway on titles for Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP).
There are also unofficial modding communities who edit the game, adding realistic
cars and shops (RealGTA3) and have even
made online multiplayer versions (see Multi Theft Auto) of both
GTA3 and Vice City.
External links
--Jake 01:30, 9 Mar 2005 (UTC)
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