Grand Theft Auto - A brief history (Part 1)

1997, 'Grand Theft Auto' was released. Fast forward to 2015, a week before 'GTA 5' is released on the PC and the count is at eleven stand-alone games and four expansion packs. The series as a whole is up there with Mario and Pokemon when it comes to the best selling video game franchises and is the most successful game produced in the UK (It even beats Football Manager...I know!).


So where did it all begin? What happened along the way? Lets take a look.


Grand Theft Auto

After 'Lemmings' (which Rockstar also created), DMA hit it off with 'GTA'. It was praised for the amount of freedom players had and even knowing you had a set goal you could easily do side missions and generally cause havoc and destruction. It got generally good reviews and was praised for its soundtrack and use of radio stations (a GTA speciality) but also got into the press for its game play which included stealing, killing and most criminal activities. This spawned an expansion based in London which introduced 39 missions and 30 new vehicles.

Top-down perspective used in GTA and GTA 2

It was extremely easy to play and even without doing the missions you could have hours of fun creating mayhem and then evading the police.

The game was still available as freeware but may have been taken off now, you can keep an eye here.

At the time it wasn't touted as anything special but little did people know it was a the beginning of something very, very special.

Grand Theft Auto 2

'GTA 2' was released in 1999 to mixed/positive reviews, the game was still in 2D with the top-down perspective with the new element being that you could work for numerous gangs (Zaibatsu, Loonies, Yakuza, SRS, Rednecks, Russian Mafia and the Hare Krishna's) to gain reputation. This would effect the game world as when you completed missions for one gang and gained a higher rep, you would lose face with another. An added bonus to the sequel was the ability to save your game, in the original your game was saved when you completed a city, GTA 2 allowed you to save your progress by entering a church with a set amount of cash. The game also introduced 'side missions' which allowed the player to work as a taxi driver, bus driver and truck driver. This added to the sense of freedom.

Gang reputation was shown top right of the screen (GTA 2)

There isn't a lot extra I can add about the sequel, apart from minor game play tweaks and improvements it was generally more of the same. It was the next installment that really got things moving.

Grand Theft Auto III

Well what can I say, this is where things got interesting. GTA III was released in 2001 to critical acclaim and was the best selling game that year. Where the original was an underground hit, GTA III was a huge mainstream success and has been touted as one of the most important games of all time. Rockstar moved to a third-person perspective but kept the open world action game play. As well as the controversy that surrounded the original games, the third went a step further with its violent and sexual content. There were also lawsuits against Rockstar claiming their game was the reason for actual violent crimes.

The updated third-person perspective used in GTA III

Rockstar completely overhauled the game here, not only the look and feel but adding an actual protagonist into a story. The main character doesn't actually utter a word during the game but that doesn't stop the introduction of great characters and missions. This truly was landmark in the gaming industry, even if its average review score tied it with Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, a great game within itself but on the same level as GTA III? Not a chance.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Vice City continued what GTA III started, it was the best selling game of 2002 and until 2006 was the greatest selling game in Playstation 2 history (what was it overtaken by?? answer at the end!). The game was set in Miami 1986 with the same third person perspective game play. The game was once again praised for its game play and music but again caused public concern with its violence and sexual content. The series still stormed on though.

Rockstar now had a winning formula and Vice City continued the hot streak. With a different time setting and new surroundings it gave the game fresh appeal. They added to what was already great additions to the previous game, new side missions (ambulance and pizza delivery to name a few) and the opportunity to purchase properties. This would give you extra missions and once completed gave you regular income. It has sold well over 20 million copies, I think that speaks for itself!

So these were the first set of major releases, keep an eye out for part 2. 

@Joe_Copson

PS

Gran Turismo 4 outsold Vice City.