Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto

developer	DMA Design / Rockstar North
Publisher	Rockstar Games
Designer	Dan Houser , Sam Houser
First title	Grand Theft Auto (1997)
Last title	Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Platform (s)	Android MS-DOS Dreamcast Game Boy Advance Game Boy Color Apple iOS Windows Phone Mac OS Nintendo DS PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation Portable Microsoft Windows Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One
Genre (s)	Action game , open world game

Rockstar Games publisher logo

Grand Theft Auto (often abbreviated as GTA ) is a computer game series by the Scottish developer studio Rockstar North (DMA Design until 2001), which contains action , racing games , open-world games and third-person shooter elements. The publisher is the Take-2 label Rockstar Games . The name is borrowed from the US criminal offense of serious motor vehicle theft (English "grand theft auto"). In 1997 the first part of the series appeared. With sales of approximately 300 million copies, the series is one of the most successful computer game series and the best-selling game series on the PlayStation 2 .

All parts of the series show a comparable plot, in which mostly a male protagonist with a criminal background in a large American city strives for a career as a criminal. In addition, he can accept assignments of varying complexity and difficulty, the fulfillment of which leads to further contacts at higher levels of the criminal hierarchy. In addition to these main tasks, the player can take on a number of voluntary additional tasks. These usually do not continue the main story, but reward the player with money, weapons or similarly useful bonuses.

Grand Theft Auto is characterized by great freedom of movement within the fictional world. The plot and visual presentation are often satirical and humorous. In addition, a large music repertoire can be used in the form of radio stations, as well as many animated films created especially for the games, in particular GTA V (Grand Theft Auto 5), which can be viewed in cinemas and which contribute significantly to the atmospheric design of the game.

Due to the criminal and sometimes violent acts depicted in the series as well as the often clichéd portrayal of ethnic groups, the games are often criticized.

The game principle

The basic principle of the game arose from the reversal of the first idea, which was that the player should take on the role of a traffic cop. But “it just couldn't come out a fast action arcade game if you were supposed to stick to the [traffic] rules.” So the developers turned the principle around and turned the player into a criminal who carried out tasks for his gangster boss should. Since game testers often showed no interest in the missions and preferred to explore the game world, the linear development of the game process was abandoned. The player can freely go on a joyride or, depending on the location, have his boss give him any missions. While the developers initially thought that a successful game had to have an end goal, they gave up this too when they thought of the analogy to pinball machines : a game that can potentially go on indefinitely with extras. The only limit is the intensity of the police search for the player.

Main missions

The player can take on various missions within the main storyline of the game. These are usually solved with the help of weapons and vehicles and include courier trips , chasing, intimidating and eliminating opponents, car theft , destroying vehicles, assassinations or more serious actions such as blowing up a police station with a tank truck loaded with explosives (in the first game in the series).

From the third game in the series ( GTA III ), in which a 3D world is used for the first time , the game terrain (terrain forms, building forms) is included in the mission design and can also be used by the player to solve the mission. The character also has skills that are useful in a 3D world, such as jumping and crouching skills. Since GTA: San Andreas , sneaking, climbing and swimming are also possible.

Many missions do not require the player to adhere to a specific approach. The choice of weapon and vehicle is left to the player: with motorcycles it is easier to shake off pursuers, with helicopters vehicles can be followed more easily and with sniper rifles, flamethrowers, grenades or rocket launchers, opponents can be fought at a distance. However, strong weapons are not freely available. They are either well hidden or can only be found, bought or acquired through side missions as the game progresses.

A typical example of a free mission solution is the mission "Fired!" From GTA: Vice City : The fulfillment of this mission requires the picking up of a guarded suitcase on a building roof. The heavy guarding of the surrounding area usually requires the player to fight his way through a courtyard and then over several roofs to the destination. However, it is much easier to land a helicopter on a roof opposite the suitcase. From there, the guards can easily be killed with a sniper rifle. Then the player can land with the helicopter directly on the roof with the suitcase, take it with him and flee.

A general principle of the game series is that the player himself has to drive to the mission locations within the game world . It is also not possible to save during a mission. If a mission fails, it has to be repeated in full. Both in GTA: San Andreas and in GTA V , however, there are one or more control points during (each) a mission, so only one part has to be repeated.

The game character has two properties implemented as a hit point system that quantify its strength: life force and armor. Both values can be increased by using appropriate power- ups that are distributed all over the game world. If the life force is used up, the game figure ends up in the nearest hospital, which results in the loss of a little money and, in some cases, the weapons. Then the game can be continued with replenished vitality.

Criminal acts increase the wanted level of the player, which leads to increasing pressure to prosecute by the police or, at the highest wanted level, by the military or special task forces. The wanted level can be reduced by collecting police stars, by repainting the vehicle, by changing clothes or by reaching a hiding place. If there is an arrest, all weapons and some money will be taken from the player. The game can then be continued again. In addition, arrest within a mission (as well as admission to a hospital) leads to failure.

All vehicles have a damage model , i. H. they can be destroyed or damaged in an accident. This element of the game forces the player to change his vehicle frequently or to have it repaired. If a vehicle is an integral part of a mission, the destruction of the vehicle means the failure of the mission. Vehicles can also be equipped with a bomb in most of the games in the series. It is also possible to carry out so-called drive-by shoots with vehicles , i.e. shooting from a moving car.

Side missions

Side missions are missions that are usually not part of the storyline. They provide a change from the main missions and serve as an incentive for the player to look around the game world. The rewards for completing the side missions vary depending on the game and mission: increased health, fire resistance, additional weapons in the hiding places, special vehicles, special clothing or money.

As a rule, the following side missions occur, which vary slightly depending on the game:

Usually, at least one collection action can be carried out in which hidden objects that are scattered all over the game world must be found. Afterwards or during the collection campaign, the player will be rewarded with free and more powerful weapons in the hiding spots.
There are also level-based special vehicle missions that can be started when the character is sitting in a certain type of vehicle, such as a taxi, ambulance, police car, fire engine or garbage truck. Level-based means that the player has to solve similar tasks several times in a row in order to be rewarded. To do this, the player must reach certain places or people within a specified time. In principle, these missions also include the part-time jobs as a courier driver , which the player has to carry out on a scooter or bicycle in order to deliver certain things (pizza, newspapers, drugs, etc.).
Monster stunts are special places provided by the developers to perform particularly long jumps with vehicles. At these locations either ramps are set up or there is a terrain or road course suitable for jumping.
Illegal street races can be driven within the game world and there are skill courses for special vehicles (such as off-road vehicles, motocross bikes or beach buggies) . Official races, on the other hand, take place in the stadiums.

An import / export garage or a crane are used to sell vehicles. The player must steal certain types of vehicles and deliver them to this garage or crane. The player is initially rewarded with money. When all vehicles have been delivered, the player can access the exported vehicle types. This has the advantage that the player no longer has to search for the vehicles in the game world.

Rampage ( shootings ) can be started at specific locations. The player must then kill a certain number of rival gang members with a specified weapon within a specified time. These side missions are usually removed from the German version of the game.

Independent acting

In addition to the main and side missions prepared by the developers, the player has the opportunity to independently search for adventures in the game world.

It makes sense to purposely increase your own wanted level in order to start a fight with the police. The goal is then to survive as long as possible in order to reach the highest wanted level and / or then to escape the police again through skillful maneuvers.

Furthermore, since there are also motorbikes and bicycles in the new games, there is the possibility of performing stunts . To do this, the player looks for places that are suitable for long jumps or jumps over high objects or deep falls. This can be done aimlessly or with the intent to get to places in the game world that are difficult to reach.

Ultimately, the player can drive through the area with the numerous and different vehicles (as fast as possible) or fly with airplanes.

Simulation of the game world

The game world is not only the setting for the plot and the missions, but also a simulation of a virtual world in which road traffic, passers-by ( interacting with the player and with each other ), the weather, the daily rhythm (i.e. the position of the sun ) and basic physical Laws are simulated.

The simulation of the road traffic is time and location dependent. For example, sportier and more expensive vehicles are more likely to be found in financial districts or villa areas than in “normal” areas. On the beaches people tend to wear swimwear, in financial districts they wear business clothes or work clothes in the port area. In addition, there are slightly more vehicles and passers-by on the streets during the day than at night.

Depending on the type (off-road vehicle, sports car, etc.), all vehicles have appropriate driving physics and therefore differ in acceleration, maximum speed and grip, the latter also depending on the surface.

A physics engine simulates gravity and inertia . However, the effect of these forces is not completely realistic, so that the character survives major falls and impacts.

Not only the police react to the actions of the player, but also the passers-by in the immediate vicinity. In GTA: San Andreas, for example, some drivers run away in fear after the player has stolen their car, while others fight back and try to get their car back. In addition, the passers-by not only run away when the player opens fire, but some run to the crime scene to take a closer look. Sometimes fire is returned. If the player causes a fire or if passers-by are injured (and not killed), the fire brigade appears shortly afterwards to put out the fire or an ambulance to treat the injured.

Not every action has to be initiated by the player: the police now and then pursue criminals on the run on foot or in the emergency vehicle or gang wars take place on the street between rival gangs.

Differences from other games

The GTA series is from the third part due to the third-person perspective and the use of weapons to solve the problem in principle in the genre of third-person shooter classified, but typical elements are not found in the genre GTA.

Third-person shooters usually consist of several game sections, also called levels , that the player has to traverse. These levels are designed differently, so that the player finds himself in each level in a new environment that he must first explore. A game in the GTA series, on the other hand, always takes place in an environment (a 3D modeled game world). The entire game world is open to the player, even if there are initially cordoned off areas. Since he is not forced to carry out any of the missions immediately, he can explore the surroundings and thus the future mission locations in advance.

Other third-person shooters or other games are played in the course of the game, i. H. in the later levels, more and more difficult. The levels become more extensive, the number of opponents increases, and they are better armed. This also only applies to a limited extent to the GTA series. Although the opponents are better armed in later missions and appear in larger groups, this disadvantage is offset by the better armament of the player. In addition, solving a mission usually only takes a few minutes, which is relatively short compared to first-person shooters . This also prevents the (intended) ammunition shortage that occurs in some first-person shooters.

Due to the open game world and the possibility of interacting with the environment, there is a certain similarity to the genre of role-playing games . But here, too, crucial elements are missing to view the series as an RPG. There is no possibility of choosing a role from several alternatives, as is typically the case in role-playing games (e.g. a role as a thief, magician, warrior, craftsman). After the player has made this decision, he usually has to train his character to improve the skills appropriate to their role. This training is a rather tedious task and is crucial for the upcoming tasks or fights. The characters in the GTA series, on the other hand, have all the skills required for the games from the start.

The cities of the GTA series are more elaborately designed than the game worlds of comparable games. In the games Der Pate (2006) and Mafia (2002), for example, the player can only move his character (with a few exceptions) on the streets. Therefore, there are no airplanes or helicopters in these games with which one could land on the roofs of the buildings. The cities of other games are also more planar and not fully modeled (e.g. Scarface ). There are only single roads connecting some parts of the city, or larger parts of the city are missing.

Games overview


year	title	developer	Platforms				universe
year	title	developer	console	computer	Handheld	Mobile	universe
1997	Grand Theft Auto	DMA design	PS1	Windows , MS-DOS	GBC		2D
1999	Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969		PS1	Windows, MS-DOS
	Grand Theft Auto: London, 1961			Windows
	Grand Theft Auto 2		PS1, Dreamcast	Windows	GBC
2001	Grand Theft Auto III		PS2 ¹ ² , Xbox	Windows, OS X		iOS , Android , Fire OS	3D (except GTA Advance)
2002	Grand Theft Auto: Vice City	Rockstar North	PS2 ¹ ² , Xbox	Windows, OS X		iOS, Android, Fire OS
2004	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	Rockstar North	PS2 ² , Xbox, PS3 ³ , PS4 ⁴ , Xbox 360 ⁵	Windows, OS X		iOS, Android, WP , Fire OS
2004	Grand Theft Auto Advance	Digital eclipse			GBA
2005	Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories	Rock star Leeds	PS2 ¹		PSP	iOS, Android, Fire OS
2006	Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories	Rock star Leeds	PS2 ¹		PSP
2008	Grand Theft Auto IV	Rockstar North	PS3, Xbox 360	Windows			HD 4k
2009	Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned	Rockstar North	PS3, Xbox 360	Windows
	Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars	Rock star Leeds			PSP, DS	iOS, Android, Fire OS
	Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony	Rockstar North	PS3, Xbox 360	Windows
	Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City		PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One	Windows
2013	Grand Theft Auto V.		PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 , Xbox One	Windows
Remarks: 1. Available for PlayStation 3 as part of the PlayStation 2 Classics franchise on PlayStation Network . 2. Available for the PlayStation 4 as a PlayStation 2 emulation on the PlayStation Network. 3. Originally available for the PlayStation 3 as part of the PlayStation 2 Classics franchise on PlayStation Network, later replaced by a native HD release. 4. Originally available for the Xbox 360 as part of the Xbox Originals range on the Xbox Games Store, later replaced with a native HD release.

Grand Theft Auto (1997) and GTA 2 (1999)

The first two parts of the series have an almost identical gameplay: In both games the character is controlled with a bird's eye view and the games are made up of criminal careers, each of which is played in a city. In every city the player works for one of three clients (factions). Only after the player has gained respect from a faction will the next jobs be unlocked, with the difficulty of the missions steadily increasing. This structure takes place over three levels of difficulty.

The player can accept orders at telephone booths, whereby the individual order targets are transmitted to the player via text messages. The player can use various vehicles and weapons to solve the missions. By completing a mission, the player earns money and, in the case of GTA 2, also the respect of the client's gang. A transition to the next city is only possible by reaching a certain amount of money. In the first city z. B. a million dollars is required to leave the level by visiting a special pick-up point (usually at the church). Between the races exist between sequences that form a rough framework for action.

In Grand Theft Auto, you cannot save within a career. With GTA 2 the possibility was created to save the game in a church. Furthermore, in GTA 2 not only the police react to the actions of the player, but also the opposing gangs. For GTA 1 , the add-on GTA: London 1969 was released later , which takes place in London in 1969 and could in turn be expanded with the free downloadable mini-add-on GTA: London 1961 .

GTA III (2001)

GTA III is set in 2001 in the fictional city of Liberty City, which is similar to the city of New York . The player slips into the role of a nameless gangster (in GTA: San Andreas you find out in a cutscene that his name is Claude) and works for various criminal organizations.

With GTA III , a 3D game world was introduced in which the character is controlled from a third-person perspective . The missions with cutscenes initiated, created for tighter storyline that appeal to Mafia movies and series about the Italian Mafia as Goodfellas and The Sopranos oriented.

So that the player does not have immediate access to all weapons and vehicle types, the city is divided into three islands, which are unlocked in the course of the game. The player has a hideout per island, in which the game can be saved outside of a mission. Unlike in GTA 2 , the character is no longer deducted from the account. The actions of the player affect the game world as in the predecessor GTA 2 .

GTA: Vice City (2002)

The action takes place in 1986 in the fictional city of Vice City, which is similar to the city of Miami . In this game, the player slips into the role of Tommy Vercetti and experiences how he develops from a little errand boy to the mastermind in Vice City. Optics and plot are based on the 1983 film Scarface and the television series Miami Vice .

The gameplay is similar to that of the third part of the series. As an innovation, real estate can be acquired for which the player can later also fulfill orders. The game can also be saved in the real estate. This has the advantage that travel times to the missions are shorter.

Another novelty is the possibility of dressing the character in different outfits . During a pursuit by the police, this reduces the wanted level.

Helicopters, a seaplane and motorcycles are added to the previous means of transport in GTA III . Motorcycles have the advantage that the player can better escape their chasers and shoot not only to the side but also forwards while driving.

GTA: San Andreas (2004)

The action takes place in 1992 in the fictional cities of Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas, which are similar to the real cities of Los Angeles , San Francisco and Las Vegas . The plot is therefore an interpretation of the conditions in California in the early 90s. The main character Carl Johnson (CJ for short) aims to get his neighborhood under control and free himself from the influence of the corrupt police officer Frank Tenpenny.

With GTA: San Andreas , some technical improvements have been implemented, such as dynamic real-time calculation of shadows, greater visibility and simulation of weather phenomena such as rain, fog, sandstorms and the flickering of the air in extreme heat.

The play figure is also able to climb, swim and dive over walls and fences. Furthermore, the appearance of the character can be influenced by hairstyles, tattoos, clothing, sports and food. By repeatedly using vehicles and weapons, the character learns how to better handle the objects in question. If the player starts a mission a second time, the first trip within the mission can also be skipped.

The number of bonus missions has increased significantly compared to its predecessors. At some points in the main storyline, the player must meet certain requirements (e.g. taking over enemy corridor areas or sufficient lung volume) before the story continues. Successful flight school attendance is compulsory while other driving school missions are voluntary. Another difference to its predecessors is the ability to no longer have to go through street fights alone. The player can e.g. B. Before a gang war, put together your own gang members in a team that follows CJ and supports them in fights. GTA: San Andreas has also been supported on mobile devices (Android, iOS, Windows Phone) since 2013 .

GTA Advance (2004), GTA: Liberty City Stories (2005) & GTA: Vice City Stories (2006)

The games GTA Advance , GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA: Vice City Stories did not bring any decisive developments to the game series.

GTA Advance (for the Game Boy Advance ) is played in the 2D bird's eye view and is graphically a mix of the original Grand Theft Auto and GTA III .

GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA: Vice City Stories are prequels of GTA III and GTA: Vice City and are therefore based on these games. The main missions are simpler compared to the three predecessors, as the games were only released for the PlayStation Portable and therefore had to be playable "in between". This becomes apparent in the length of the missions and in the ease with which enemy vehicles or people can be eliminated. The appearance of the game character can only be changed by specific clothing combinations that are available in the hideouts.

Only GTA: Vice City Stories offers some comfort for the player. The player can take over business in the course of the game. In contrast to its predecessors, in which the player had to collect the income, the income from these transactions is added directly to the player's account. Therefore the game offers the possibility to buy back the lost weapons for money after a hospital visit or an arrest. The player can also make it easier to get to a mission by buying a helicopter in his hiding place every time. If the player starts a mission a second time, the first trip within the mission can also be skipped.

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

The main character is the Serb Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, who comes to Liberty City to look for a person who betrayed him and his friends in the war. The plot location Liberty City, which was already used in the games GTA III and GTA: Liberty City Stories , has been remodeled and is more reminiscent of New York than in its predecessors .

Due to the platform change to the more powerful game consoles of the seventh generation (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3), the display of the game world is more detailed and the optical effects more complex. For example, the surroundings are reflected on smooth, wet or water surfaces. The "Euphoria Engine" used in the game calculates the movement sequences of the people at runtime , while in the predecessors precalculated movement sequences were used.

In direct comparison to GTA: San Andreas , the scope of the game has been reduced. The game character can z. B. no longer diving, there are fewer weapons available and it is only possible to change the appearance of the character by changing clothes. The role-playing elements have been removed, which means that the character's skills do not change over time. But typical multiplayer modes such as team deathmatch, free-for-all (everyone against everyone) etc. were added, which at times enjoyed great popularity. In addition, an online platform was set up on which progress, special achievements and pictures / videos (e.g. of special stunts) could be shown to other players.

Two add-ons (episodes) were released for the Xbox 360 , which were later combined under the title Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City . Both episodes take place in the same game world as GTA IV . In the first episode The Lost and Damned , the player takes on the role of the deputy leader of a biker gang. The second episode, The Ballad of Gay Tony, is about the bodyguard of nightclub mogul Gay Tony. The add-ons were released on April 16, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and the PC.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009)

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is the tenth installment in the GTA series and the first for Nintendo DS . The first release for this system took place in March 2009. In October 2009 the implementation for the PlayStation Portable followed in January 2010 for Apple's iOS and in December 2014 for Android. A Liberty City (GTA IV version) located in modern times serves as the setting again. The plot tells of a Chinese criminal syndicate, the " Triads ", to which the protagonist, Huang Lee, also belongs. The game uses cel shading in the display.

Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

Grand Theft Auto V is the eleventh game in the GTA series. It was announced in October 2011, the first trailer was released on November 2, 2011, and the second trailer was released a year later on November 14, 2012. Grand Theft Auto V is set in and around Los Santos, which is modeled after the real city of Los Angeles . Compared to the cities of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas , the entire game world is larger and more detailed than in any previous part of the series. While there were three cities in one world in San Andreas, Los Santos is the only large city in GTA V , but it is much more extensive. Outside the city there are mountain landscapes, desert landscapes and bodies of water. Compared to GTA 4, the scope of the game has been increased. As in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas , the character can dive again and the appearance of the character can be changed not only by changing clothes, but also by visiting hair salons and tattoo parlors. The role play elements have also been reintroduced. The campaign features three playable characters. During the game and within certain missions you can switch between characters at certain points. The first release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 was on September 17, 2013. The versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released on November 18, 2014. The version for Windows PCs was released on April 14, 2015.

Staff and cast

Sam Houser and Dan Houser have worked on each part of the series . Sam Houser directed the first game and served as executive producer in the other games . Dan Houser worked in all parts as a screenwriter and producer . Since GTA III he has been assisted by James Worrall in developing the plot. Lazlow Jones was the author of the radio station's presentations and also spoke as a presenter.

With the growing financial success of the series, Hollywood actors could also be hired. Since the same graphics engine is used for the intermediate scenes as for the representation of the game world and no real film recordings are used, only the voices of the actors can be heard. Outwardly, mostly only the skin color matches. Samuel L. Jackson took over the speaking role of the villain Officer Frank Tenpenny in GTA: San Andreas , his partner Officer Eddie Pulaski was spoken by the late actor Chris Penn . Peter Fonda also spoke for The Truth and James Woods for the mysterious secret service agent Mike Toreno . In addition, the borrowed West Coast -Rapper The Game of FIG Mark Wayne aka B Dup his voice. The radio station "K-DST" is hosted by Tommy "The Nightmare Smith", who is voiced by Guns-n'-Roses- Frontman Axl Rose .

In GTA: Vice City Stories there are three missions in which Phil Collins plays ("In the Air tonight", "Kill Phil" and "Kill Phil: Part 2").

In GTA: Vice City the actors Lee Majors , Burt Reynolds , Dennis Hopper , Philip Michael Thomas and Tom Sizemore and the porn actress Jenna Jameson spoke . The main character, Tommy Vercetti , was voiced by Ray Liotta . This was the only game in which a well-known actor voiced the main character. Sam Houser justified this in an interview with the fact that he could no longer identify with the character, but had the feeling that he was playing Ray Liotta.

In GTA III , Kyle MacLachlan took on the role of Donald Love . Also, Joe Pantoliano , Michael Madsen , Robert Loggia and Frank Vincent was hired as a voice actor.

In GTA IV , Bas Rutten plays himself on a television show called "The Men's Room". Juliette Lewis , Iggy Pop and Karl Lagerfeld can be heard as radio hosts. Even Ricky Gervais has a guest appearance.

In GTA V , radio hosts are voiced by Pam Grier , Cara Delevingne , Danny McBride , Bootsy Collins, and Kenny Loggins . Fred Armisen and Tyler, the Creator can also be heard in the game. The speaking role of Trevor Philips gave actor Steven Ogg his breakthrough. The protagonist named Michael de Santa took over Ned Luke and the speaking role of Franklin Clinton took over Shawn Fonteno , who already took on a small speaking role as a gang member (FAM1) in the Families in GTA: San Andreas .

Effects

Influence on the game genre

The series of games is expected to outperform itself. Thus, GTA Liberty City Stories of some game testers significantly worse than GTA III rated, even though the two games are almost identical in itself. The financial success and popularity of the series have resulted in similar games being repeatedly compared to the GTA franchise. These games are therefore also called GTA - clones designated. The games Der Godfather , Scarface: The World Is Yours , Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven , True Crime: Streets of LA , The Simpsons Hit & Run and True Crime: New York City have the same or similar game principles as the GTA - Line. In the case of Saints Row , the similarities go so far that GTA: San Andreas can be identified as a role model.

While the above-mentioned games have adopted the game principle, the Driver series has adapted to the GTA series. The first two games in the Driver series, which appeared on the first PlayStation before GTA III , are basically racing games in which the player drives from one place to another. After the success of GTA III (2001) and GTA: Vice City (2002), the series continued with Driv3r on the PlayStation 2 in 2004 . The game now included elements from the GTA series, such as the use of weapons and the ability to use vehicles other than cars.

Controversy

The GTA series is controversial because of the excessive display of violence . With scientists and American politicians, each new part of the series, especially since a 3D engine has been used since GTA III , sometimes arouses sharp criticism. In all parts of the series, acts of violence against people (including police officers) are possible. Killing people is punished with wanted stars, but has no serious consequences for the player or the course of the game. The most serious consequence is merely a symbolic arrest, which entails the loss of the weapons carried and a fine.

In order to prevent a USK-18 classification or indexing , content has been removed from the German versions of some GTA games. This affects some missions (GTA Vice City) as well as stepping on and robbing the victims lying on the ground. The rampages are either not possible in the German versions or certain variants are missing, such as rampaging against passers-by.

In addition to the glorification of violence, the games are also accused of racism , as some ethnic groups are portrayed as closed criminal and are afflicted with all sorts of negative clichés , for example the Italians , the Chinese and the Jamaicans in GTA III or the Cubans and the Haitians in GTA: Vice City .

The critics receive additional impetus from the fact that, especially in the USA, more and more adolescents and young adults have been involved in some serious crimes such as car theft, robbery or even vandalism , who stated after their arrest that they had committed to their deeds by playing GTA been inspired.

In July 2005 a mod for Grand Theft Auto called “Hot Coffee” caused outrage, but also amusement : San Andreas . "Hot Coffee" unlocks an interactive sex mini-game that was already included in the source code of the original program. Due to this modification, the game was withdrawn from the US and Australia and replaced by a defused version. On August 9, 2005, a patch for the PC version was released, which has the task of deactivating the "Hot Coffee" mod and completely removing the corresponding program code from the game.

Modifiability

In contrast to older consoles, computer games are installed on the hard drive of the PC . As a result, the program data can be accessed and changed by the user. Since the first part, fans have therefore made changes to the games and created so-called mods . Although the modders only received active support from the developers for the first two parts, the fans also programmed editors for the successor parts. B. enabled the replacement of vehicles or the creation of new missions. After the “Hot Coffee” mod was released, communication with the modders was finally completely stopped.

Since the release of GTA III , which had a 3D engine for the first time , changing the environment has come to the fore. This was first expressed in the creation of our own “fun maps ”, such as stunt parks, but also led to ambitious projects with the aim of changing the entire game environment and partially recreating authentic cities, such as B. in the "Berlin Mod".

In addition, mods are now available for all 3D parts that expand these games with multiplayer features. Since these projects are led by different, competing groups and have no common basis, a wide variety of possibilities has emerged in the multiplayer area of Grand Theft Auto. There are modifications of the game, for example, based on the way of playing World of Warcraft , projects that pursue the goal of creating a fun racer or take up the game principle of games like Counter-Strike . Well-known multiplayer projects include "VC-MP" for GTA: Vice City , "SA-MP" for GTA: San Andreas and Multi Theft Auto , which is available for all 3D parts of GTA.

Sales figures, awards and reviews

As can be seen from the following figures, the game series is very popular with the public and game testers. The games in the GTA III series ( GTA III , GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas ) are therefore usually at the top of the ranking lists.

Sales figures

The GTA series is one of the most commercially successful video game series. During a Credit Suisse Technology Conference held on November 27, 2012, Strauss Zelnick announced that the series had passed 125 million units shipped, of which GTA IV accounted for 25 million .

Every game in the GTA III series has been sold at least ten million times for the PlayStation 2, with over 150 million consoles sold worldwide (see PlayStation 2 ). Even in Japan , sales for a Western-style title are above average. For example, GTA III , which was indexed two years after publication in 2005 due to "explicit depictions of violence", sold around 350,000 units. In comparison, GTA III sold around 370,000 times in German-speaking countries. GTA: Vice City was just as successful with around 400,000 copies sold in German-speaking countries, of which 310,000 were sold in Germany.

On the Xbox , the selling GTA III series with three million units worldwide also successful in almost 22 million consoles.

Since the series is not as commercially successful on the PC as it is on the consoles, the publisher is holding back with press releases about the sales figures. 2005 (the year GTA: San Andreas was released for the PC) in the USA, buyers of PC games preferred first-person shooters , simulations or strategy games. The same applies to 2006. GTA: According to Yahoo, San Andreas fell from fourth place on the sales charts to 20th place shortly after the release for the PC.

When the website Kotaku misquoted the CEO of Take-Two Interactive on September 15, 2011, falsely claiming that GTA IV was the best-selling game in the series, a Rockstar Games spokesman corrected it, claiming that San Andreas had $ 27.5 million units sold worldwide.

Grand Theft Auto V generated on the first day of the publication of a turnover of 800 million US dollars (677.6 million euros, 728.4 million Swiss francs) and broke two days later, according to Take Two Interactive, the mark of one billion US dollars Sales. It is therefore the entertainment product that is the fastest to break this significant mark (as of September 2013). According to the Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU), the blockbuster has sold more than a million times on the German market in just one week. For this, the exceptional title receives the BIU Sales Multiplatform Award. In addition, the PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto V will receive the Sales Award Special Prize for more than 500,000 units sold and the Xbox 360 version will receive the Platinum Sales Award for more than 200,000 games sold. On October 29, 2013, Take Two Interactive announced the current sales of GTA V, according to which 29 million have been sold worldwide to date. At the beginning of February 2015, Take Two Interactive announced that 45 million copies had now been delivered.

Sales figures (worldwide) in millions of units

title	PlayStation	Xbox	total
Grand Theft Auto	2.28 ( PS )
Grand Theft Auto 2	3.42 (PS)
Grand Theft Auto Double Pack GTA III and Vice City		2.49 (Xbox)
Grand Theft Auto III	13.10 (PS2)		25.00
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City	16.15 (PS2)		25.00
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	20.81 (PS2)	1.93	30.00
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories	3.49 ( PSP ), 2.75 (PS2)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories	2.39 ( PSP )
Grand Theft Auto IV	10.52 (PS3)	11 (Xbox 360)	25.0
Grand Theft Auto V.	21.3 (PS3), 18.8 (PS4)	17 (X360), 8.72 (XOne)	135

Awards

VUD awards

All games in the GTA III series were sold at least 200,000 times in Germany and thus achieved platinum status.

Awards from the Association of Entertainment Software

GTA III : Gold (2001), Platinum (2002)
GTA: Vice City : Gold (2002), Platinum (2002)
GTA: San Andreas : Gold (2004), Platinum (2004)

Gold for 100,000, platinum for 200,000 units sold.

Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association ( ELSPA ) sales awards ( England )

In England the following games received Diamond Awards for at least one million, Double Platinum for at least 600,000 and Platinum for at least 300,000 units sold:

GTA 2 Platinum
GTA III Diamond
GTA: Vice City Diamond
GTA: San Andreas Diamond
GTA Liberty City Stories Double Platinum
GTA Vice City Stories Platinum
GTA IV Double Platinum

Game Developers Choice Awards

Game Developers Choice Awards for GTA III 2002:

Game of the Year
Excellence in game design
Game Innovation Spotlights

MTV Game Awards

MTV Game Awards for GTA IV 2008:

Game of the Year
Best Supporting Role (for the character Brucie in GTA IV)
You got the style

Guinness Book of Records

In 2008 GTA IV received two entries in the Guinness Book of Records: “Most successful launch of a video game” and “Most successful launch of an entertainment product”.

reviews

Results of some game testers
	gamezone.de	4Players .de	Gameswelt .de	eurogamer.net	Metacritic
GTA III	9.2	93%	94% (PS2), 88% (PC)	10/10 (PS2)	93% (PC), 97% (PS2)
GTA Vice City	9.5	93%	94% (PS2), 92% (PC)	9/10	94% (PC), 95% (PS2)
GTA San Andreas	9.6	94%	93%	9/10	93% (PC / Xbox), 95% (PS2)
GTA Liberty City Stories	9.2	91% (PSP), 80% (PS2)	90% (PSP), 68% (PS2)	9/10 (PSP), 8/10 (PS2)	88% (PSP), 78% (PS2)
GTA Vice City Stories	9.2	86% (PSP), 76% (PS2)	91% (PSP), 79% (PS2)	8/10 (PSP), 6/10 (PS2)	86% (PSP), 75% (PS2)
GTA IV	9.6	94%	97%	10/10 (PS3, Xbox 360), 9/10 (PC)	98% (Xbox 360), 98% (PS3)
GTA Chinatown Wars	9.3	90% (NDS)	91% (NDS)	10/10 (NDS)	94% (NDS)
GTA V	10/10 (Xbox 360), 10/10 (PS3)	88% (PS3, Xbox 360)	9.5 / 10 (PS3, Xbox 360)	9/10 (PS3, Xbox 360)	97/100 (PS3, Xbox 360)

As can be seen from the overview above, the GTA games are consistently rated positively. The strengths of the games are the detailed game world, freedom of action, variety, music (in version V Tangerine Dream, Woody Jackson, The Alchemist, Oh No, DJ Shadow) and atmospherically accurate reproduction of the respective epochs. On the negative side, there are mostly more technical aspects, such as the inability to save during a mission or minor graphics problems. The portrayal of violence is presented rather neutrally by the game testers.

For Paul Kautz from 4players.de, GTA III was “one of the best PC games ever” . He has "seldom seen a game with such freedom of action" . He praises “graphics, sound, wit and feeling right in the middle” . In his view, negative points "such as graphic errors, the limited storage system or one or the other bad mission" are " hardly able to slow down the fun of the game" . The game is only suitable for players who “have no problem with the sometimes violent depiction of violence” . His summary is: "Go and buy one of the best PC games out there right now!"

The same applies to GTA: Vice City : For Thomas Weiß of the magazine "PC Games", GTA: Vice City is an almost perfect game despite some flaws. He writes: “Why can't you save the game immediately after the mission begins? Why can't the mouse speed be adjusted properly? Why is Tommy running through the streets like he's got a jet engine installed? Vice City isn't perfect - but it's close. A gaming city has never been more lifelike; [...] Cutscenes have never been cooler [...] If you only want to buy one game this year, then this - there is no better way to invest your money. "

Christian Stöcker writes in “Spiegel Online” under the title “The perverted American dream”: “The titles of the Grand Theft Auto series are among the best-selling games of all. They are violent, amoral and highly controversial. The latest episode, 'San Andreas', is still a milestone - not only because it is probably the first really black video game. "

The title of the article refers to the typical actions of the games: "The aim of these games is to rise from the nobody to the top of the underworld of a big city with car theft, contract killings and the occasional errands: The perverted American dream."

Like other critics, he is enthusiastic about the freedom of action and the type of presentation: “And 'San Andreas' is another milestone. Never before has such a sophisticated story been told in a game with so much effort, combined with seemingly unlimited possibilities for activities apart from the story. ” In terms of content, he also establishes a level that is above the level of the usual shooters: “ Topics like that Iran-Contra affair or the Rodney King trial and the subsequent race riots in LA resonate in the background. None of this has anything to do with dumb shooters like 'Doom III'. "

And finally, he also finds some shortcomings: “Because the distances are so far, it is sometimes annoying to have to repeat a failed mission, and some are disproportionately difficult. The map in the game is imprecise and confusing, the graphics jerky every now and then - so “San Andreas” is not perfect. ” He concludes with the words: “ ... and if you want to know where the video games are going, you should at least have a long one Take a look " .

Even GTA V received good reviews. Mathias Oertel writes on 4players.de: “ Rockstar has done it again: Grand Theft Auto 5 is an action-heavy theme park that has never existed before as an open world game. The backdrop takes the consoles to their limits and repeatedly shows problems with edges, stable frame rates or small bugs, but when it comes down to it, everything fits. "

Trivia

The three games GTA III , GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas are the Grand Theft Auto III - trilogy , with the Rockstar North its own subjective view of the East Coast of the millennium, Miami 80 and California of the early 90 give.

A commercial published by Coca-Cola is a nod to the GTA franchise. The commercial, shot as an animated film, shows a hero racing through the city. The camera perspective and the overlays while driving correspond to the GTA games. After the hero has drank a bottle of Coke, however, he turns into a "good" hero who comes to the aid of other people.

In the episode “Yokel Chords” (in German “Selig sind die Dummen”) of the 18th season of the television series The Simpsons , Bart plays a game called “Death Kill City II: Death Kill Stories” (DKC2DKS for short). The name and cover are reminiscent of the GTA series. The game is rated "bad for everyone" and the first level is about destroying all of humanity. In the movie The Simpsons there is a scene in which Homer plays a computer game called Grand Theft Walrus . In this scene he drives a car as a walrus and shoots a dancing penguin with a shotgun . In The Simpsons Game there is a level called Grand Theft Scratchy that satirizes GTA: San Andreas , with part of the level scenery being modeled on the district in which CJ initially lives in Los Santos. Also in the series The Simpsons is a slot machine in the Kwik-E-Mart with the label "Grand Theft Walrus".

In the Chappelle's Show , GTA was parodied with real people in one episode , and there were also specific allusions to some of the game's quirks.

The GTA games usually appear with extensive equipment. For example, GTA: San Andreas was delivered with a travel guide in book form.

In the film My Wife, the Spartans and I , you can see a scene with Leonidas fighting in the classic GTA view (life announcement, map and wanted stars ). In addition, a San Andreas tattoo can be seen on his stomach.

In the series CSI: Miami in season 4, episode 9, Horatio Caine is shown a video game called Urban Hellraisers by Ryan Wolfe , which is reminiscent of GTA: Vice City in terms of both the cover and the game mechanics .

In many series, films and other computer games, you can hear a few short audio clips from the fictional police radio of GTA 2. This has become known as "5 George K", especially in forums, as this is supposedly said on the radio by a female person and its meaning, which has not yet been explored, is still widely discussed, not only because of the very unclear pronunciation.

The role of Sobchak in Better Call Saul - 1x09 - Pimento , played by Steven Ogg , has many similarities to Trevor Philips, who was modeled after the actor Steven Ogg in GTA V , due to his appearance and also his repertoire of weapons .

In the movie Inside Man , the little boy in the bank plays a game that alludes to GTA.

literature

David Kushner: Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto. Wiley 2012, ISBN 978-0-470-93637-5 .
Nate Garrelts: The Meaning and Culture of Grand Theft Auto: Critical Essays. Jefferson, North Carolina, United States, 2006, McFarland, ISBN 9780786428229 .

Web links

Commons : Grand Theft Auto - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Official website for all Grand Theft Auto games (English)
Link catalog on the topic of Grand Theft Auto series at curlie.org (formerly DMOZ )
Grand Theft Auto series at MobyGames (English)
German Grand Theft Auto Wiki
Articles about the history of the GTA series by IGN (English)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c Worldwide sales

↑ industrygamers.com: GTA IV Passes 22 Million Shipped, GTA Franchise Over 114 Million ( Memento of the original from September 6, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ The development of the game idea is based on: David Kushner: Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto , 2012
↑ The cordoned off areas only hide better weapons and special vehicles, such as tanks or aircraft, from the player.
↑ Grand Theft Auto III: Your Questions Answered - Part One (Claude, Darkel & Other Characters). Rockstar Games , accessed on August 24, 2016 (English): “The“ universes ”are the worlds interpreted at different definitions, 2D, 3D and high definition, so we felt brands and radio / back ground characters would exist in both, but 3 dimensional characters would not. "
↑ Shūhei Yoshida : 8 fan-favorite PS2 games launch on PS4 tomorrow. In: PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment , December 4, 2015, accessed August 24, 2016 .
↑ Michael Harradence: GTA San Andreas for PS3 gets rated for upcoming re-release. In: PlayStation Universe. November 16, 2015, accessed on August 24, 2016 .
↑ Eddie Makuch: GTA: San Andreas Re-Release Coming to Xbox 360 UPDATE. In: GameSpot . CBS Interactive , October 23, 2014, accessed August 24, 2016 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d 1up.com Interview with Sam Houser ( Memento from June 30, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
^ Spiegel.de Formula Houser
↑ Gamezone.de: GTA: Episodes from Liberty City
↑ Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - Review
↑ GTA V: Rockstar announces new part of the cult series ( Memento of the original from October 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (chip.de, October 25, 2011, accessed October 25, 2011) @1@ 2
↑ next-gen.biz: Grand Theft Auto: The Inside Story ( Memento from May 22, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0277723/
↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0802999/fullcredits#cast
↑ Three examples of the designation of Saints Row as a GTA clone: [1] [2] [3]
↑ Golem.de: Game test: Saints Row - Purple gangsters chasing GTA
↑ spiegel.de: Always step on the gas
↑ golem.de: Game test: Driv3r - Action racing game with quirks
↑ Heise Online: Mod for GTA doesn't just get Hillary Clinton going
↑ Golem.de: Haitians force censorship in the game Grand Theft Auto
↑ Golem.de: Take 2 sued for GTA
↑ newsday.com: Cops: This was no game
↑ ps3news.com: Cops: Grand Theft Auto videogame inspired teen crimes
↑ netzeitung.de: Thailand bans gangster play after murder
↑ Heise Online: GTA: San Andreas in Australia withdrawn from circulation
↑ joystiq.com: Grand Theft Auto franchise up to 125 million shipped, GTA 4 at 25m ( Memento from January 28, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
↑ eurogamer.net: As Grand Theft Auto game sales increase, Take-Two boss says annualized IP "eventually hits the wall"
↑ Gameswelt.de: Grand Theft Auto 3 - Also successful in Japan ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Gameswelt.de: GTA: VC - Most Successful PS2 Game in Germany ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ The top ten best selling PC games in the US in 2005 on Gamasutra (English)
↑ Top Ten Selling PC Games in 2006 in the US NPD: PC Games Bring Industry to $ 13.5 Billion in 2006 ( Memento of January 21, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
↑ Sales charts from June 2005 http://videogames.yahoo.com/newsarticle?eid=385121&page=0 ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2
↑ Sales charts from July 2005 Archive link ( Memento of the original from March 8, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ kotaku.com: GTA IV Overtakes San Andreas in Lifetime Sales
↑ Grand Theft Auto V® Retail Sales Exceed $ 800 Million Worldwide During First Day of Launch. Take-Two Interactive , September 18, 2013, accessed September 18, 2013 .
↑ http://www.ign.com/ : http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/20/gta-5-sales-hit-1-billion-in-three-days
↑ http://winfuture.de/news,77955.html
↑ Grand Theft Auto 5 - sales figures are over one million in Germany alone , gamestar.de from September 27, 2013.
↑ Gameswelt.de: Take Two announces current sales figures
↑ GTA 5: Take-Two reports 45 million copies shipped, online Heists come as a free update . February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
↑ Press release regarding the sales figures for GTA III and GTA: VC archived copy ( Memento of the original from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Sales figures in the USA http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml
↑ ^a ^b ^c scribd.com Benzies vs. Rock star. Accessed January 31, 2019 .
↑ These are the top 10 selling games for Xbox 360. September 17, 2017, accessed August 18, 2020 .
↑ gameinformer.com Grand Theft Auto IV Has Sold 25 Million Units To-Date
↑ GTA V has already been sold 135 million times, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions will be available in 2021. August 4, 2020, accessed on August 18, 2020 .
↑ VUD awards platinum award for the strategy game ...
↑ GTA Vice City received VUD Platinum Award
↑ VUD awards 12 sales awards ( Memento of the original from November 12, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ ELSPA Sales Awards: Diamond http://www.elspa.com/?i=3946
↑ ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum http://www.elspa.com/?i=3945
↑ ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum Archived Copy ( Memento of the original from May 15, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Game Developers Choice Awards http://www.gamechoiceawards.com/archive/gdca_2nd.html
↑ MTV Game Awards 2008 http://www.gamezone.de/news_detail.asp?nid=68571
↑ netzwelt.de: Record: GTA IV more successful than Harry Potter
↑ Game test for GTA III from 4players.de: http://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/2126/1180/0/GTA_3.html
↑ Review of GTA: Vice City in the PC Games magazine: http://www.pcgames.de/?article_id=178740
^ Spiegel Online The Perverted American Dream
^ Mathias Oertel: Test: Grand Theft Auto 5 . 4Players GmbH. September 24, 2013. Accessed April 25, 2019.

This article was added to the list of excellent articles on May 5, 2007 in this version .

[chartweltweit-1] Worldwide sales