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Grand Theft Auto

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File:GTA Logo.jpg
Post-GTA2 design of the Grand Theft Auto logo

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a video game series created and developed by British developer Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design), published by Rockstar Games and debuted in 1997. It includes seven stand-alone games and one expansion pack for the original, GTA: London 1969. Grand Theft Auto III and subsequent games in the series have been best-selling blockbusters which are also critically acclaimed. The series has won many awards, including several game of the year awards from various sources. In addition, the series has emerged as being so popular and profitable that a long list of Hollywood stars have lent their voices to the games. Gangster film veterans such as Michael Madsen, Samuel L. Jackson, James Woods, Joe Pantoliano and Ray Liotta have all voiced major characters. Other famous voices that have been incorporated in the games include Luis Guzman, Danny Trejo, Gary Busey, Dennis Hopper, Burt Reynolds, Miss Cleo, Philip Michael Thomas, Tom Sizemore, Ice-T, Chris Penn, Robert Davi, Deborah Harry, The Game, Shaun Ryder, David Cross and Faizon Love.

Series overview

The games allow the player to take on the role of a criminal in a big city, typically a lowly individual who rises in the ranks of organized 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 through the storyline. Bank robberies, assassinations and other crimes feature regularly, but occasionally taxi driving, firefighting, pimping, street racing, or learning to fly are also involved as alternate adventures.

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, offering many accessible buildings and minor missions. Grand Theft Auto III and subsequent games have been notable for their storylines, high quality of voice acting, and "radio stations". All of this is seamlessly integrated in the realistic setting of a dysfunctional urban environment which parodies a real-life city.

However, the series has courted a great deal of controversy since the release of Grand Theft Auto III. The series generally revolves around the focus on illegal activities, in comparison with "hero" roles that most other games offer. For specific incidents, see the individual game articles.

History

File:Gta1-pc.jpeg
The original Grand Theft Auto (PC version)
File:PSX GTA2.png
Grand Theft Auto 2 (PlayStation version)
File:Gta3-pc-police.jpeg
Grand Theft Auto III, the first game in the series which immersed players in a truly 3D environment

There are 3 different trilogies in the whole GTA series.

Grand Theft Auto-era

The first title in the series, Grand Theft Auto, appeared on the PC and PlayStation in 1997 as well as a reduced Game Boy Color port, and subsequently two expansion packs were offered:

Grand Theft Auto 2-era

Grand Theft Auto 2 for the PC, PlayStation and Dreamcast, was released in 1999. It featured updated graphics and somewhat different gameplay based upon the player's appeal to various criminal organizations. A reduced Game Boy Color port was also produced.

Grand Theft Auto III-era

Grand Theft Auto III (2001) brought a third-person view to the series, rather than the traditional top-down view of earlier titles. Multiplayer was discarded but GTA III improved in many other areas such as voice-acting and storyline. The game sold very well and became the first blockbuster game in the series, setting the precedent for subsequent GTA titles to be very successful. GTA III also attracted heavy criticism for its violent content, making future games in the GTA series synonymous with violence. Following the success of GTA III, there have been three stand-alone Grand Theft Auto sequels (two of which are actually prequels to GTA III), and one more to be released:

  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), set in 1992 in a fictional state resembling California, and features some of the first attempts at series continuity, and included many new RPG elements. Throughout, there are references to previous games, most notably the main character from GTA III and several posters referring to GTA: Vice City. San Andreas received particular attention by the public when an unused sex minigame was discovered in both the console and PC versions of the game (See Hot Coffee mod article). As a result, GTA: San Andreas was pulled from a number of retail outlets and was re-rated from "M" (Mature) to "AO" (Adults Only) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB); the first game in the series to be given an AO rating.
  • Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004), originally intended to be a topdown conversion of GTA III, it ended up becoming its own completely original adventure featuring both new and familiar characters.

Rockstar North has also developed the controversial Manhunt video game, which is set in the GTA world (Carcer City, which is mentioned on one of Grand Theft Auto III's radio stations as a neighboring city)

Grand Theft Auto IV-era

Time periods of GTA games

GTA Cities

Known protagonists in the GTA series

  • Tommy Vercetti - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  • Carl "CJ" Johnson - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
  • Claude Speed, also known as "Fido" and "Kid" - Grand Theft Auto 2 and Grand Theft Auto III
  • Mike - Grand Theft Auto Advance
  • Toni Cipriani - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

See also

Soundtracks (Radio stations)

Official Sites

Fan Sites

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