Flay

I would have liked to see what Rockstar could have done with the XBox. Oh well. I hope they can cure the graphical PS2 issues of GTA3.

Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto: Vice City; Next Installment of Grand Theft Auto Franchise To Hit Streets in October

5/21/2002 8:33:00 AM

NEW YORK, May 21, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rockstar Games, the world-renowned publishing division of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) , proudly announces Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the follow-up to the global blockbuster title Grand Theft Auto 3.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the latest installment in the gaming franchise that has exceeded 11 million units in total sales to-date. It will be available exclusively for PlayStation(R)2 and is expected to hit retail shelves in the United States on October 22nd.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City will surpass the unprecedented gameplay, cinematic graphics and immersive audio experience that gamers associate with Grand Theft Auto 3, which was released in October 2001 and has rapidly become the fastest selling, highest grossing game for PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system to-date, with global sales exceeding 6 million units. Rockstar Games will release additional information about the game's content in July, but the following details are clear: It's an entirely new game set in the '80s, the location is Vice City, and the vibe is glamour, power and corruption...

Sam Houser, the executive producer of the Grand Theft Auto franchise and president of Rockstar Games, commented, "The success of Grand Theft Auto 3 has made us very proud, but it has also motivated us enormously. The work currently being done by our development and production teams in Edinburgh and New York is going to surpass the efforts of last year, as we set our sights on making an even more revolutionary gaming experience. This will be reflected in the size of the game, the scope of the gameplay, the extent of the gameplayer's freedom, the quality of production value and the all-important sense of style."

Les Benzies, the producer of Grand Theft Auto games, noted, "Although it may appear to be a challenge to develop a game superior to Grand Theft Auto 3, our progress to date on Vice City makes me highly confident that we can deliver a truly innovative game."

Kelly Sumner, Take-Two Interactive Software's Chief Executive Officer added, "Grand Theft Auto 3 has become the "must-have" title for PlayStation(R)2 and is appropriately regarded as a landmark in interactive entertainment. We are delighted with the plans for Vice City, and are totally committed to supporting Rockstar's creative efforts and investing in the development and marketing approach that made Grand Theft Auto 3 such a tremendous success."

Groucho

They should have named it Grand Theft Auto: License to Print Money because that's pretty much what it is.

s}{ammer

Flay, what graphical issues are you refering to? I have yet to run into any on GTA3 that I can think of. Now Blood Omen 2 is a different story, but I knew that going in.

Flay

Maybe I'm picky, but I don't like the fade-in and pop-in, particuarly when I'm are driving fast. I also didn't like the texture clipping. Plus the visuals are pretty bland.

Anyway, I'm buying Vice City regardless. I just hope they can clear those things up.

dek

WooHoo

Draven

The one thing I hope they implement is the ability to dive out of your car when you are driving.

That or the ability to swim would be nice. Also a better aiming system for the weapons, thought I've gotten used to it.

I understand the problems people have with the graphics, but frankly it has never for one second bothered me to have a little pop-up and fade in. I'm usually concentrating too hard to notice.

chanster

Sweet....

Icculus

There's a new article up at IGN that says all Grand Theft Auto games are PS2 exclusives until October, 2004 - Link

darkside

Awesome. Graphics are fine, because gameplay is where this game excells. Looks like this and Kingdom Hearts will be my big fall purchases.

Cardiff Giant11

Nice, it's set in the 80's! This is gonna be one great game.

CaptainMarvel

Neat. First they out-Drivered Driver, now they're going to out-I-82 I-82.

Lethal Nemesis

Isn't it great to be a PS2 owner?

Although the graphics weren't the greatest, I didn't mind them at all. With the great gameplay, the minor graphical imperfections weren't really a factor.

I can't wait!

spainlinx0

So is this GTA4 or is that a different game?

darkside

No. GTA4 is supposed to be a completely new engine. This game will look and play a lot like GTA3 since its using the same gaming engine. It's kind of like GTA3 part 2 I guess.

Edison

I wonder if this means I'll have to wait 6 months again to play the PC version.

DVDHO

Nice great news,with Stuntman,The Geteway and Driver 3 coming out all exclusive to the PS2 means some good gaming for action fans such as myself.

ScandalUMD

Funny. I was excited about all of these before I played GTA3. Now I could care less. The Getaway looks kind of neat, though, hopefully with a sort of slick, jetsetting sort of criminal vibe, rather than the Grand Theft Auto homicidal thug aesthetic.

Gallant Pig

So is this going to take place in Miami like what was earlier speculated?

I'd love to see a GTA where you could go to Vegas and try and knock over a casino.

I wonder if we'll see some sort of GTA knock-off on the Xbox since PS2 threw tons of money at Take Two and tied up the rights? If they're smart enough, that's what will happen.

s}{ammer

Knowing MS probably but is it the right thing to do? No way, who wants a cheap knockoff? What they should do is think about it and get an exclusive that people would want. I know the Getaway is supposed to be like Get Carter, the old one not the new one, so why not make a Get Carter and see if they can get Mel Gibson to do the voice work on it. They could make one hell of a game from that with the right people.

Adam Tyner

What about a high-quality knockoff?

s}{ammer

It would still be a knockoff. What happened to originality? One other thing to consider is that when GTA series is no longer PS2 exclusive you might not get it because they would be pissed that MS was stealing their idea and they weren't getting paid.

Adam Tyner

I don't think anyone's suggesting an out-and-out carbon copy, but I wouldn't find it offensive if a company were to take similar themes and expand/improve upon them.

spankyj

Slammer -
FYI Stallone did Get Carter, Mel Gibson was Payback.

Gallant Pig

What's so offensive about a high quality knock-off? The masses want shoot up the police, and go on gangster missions, why not satiate that urge on other consoles? I'm sure some company could make a game that competes with it on some level.

If MS was really smart, they would make it Online and have something like roving gangs in a city that play against each other doing drive bys, tagging each other's territory, running each other over, stuff like that. Allowing the teams to organize and outdo the other team. Sounds like good fun to me.

Not so much a knock-off, but another in the same genre. Like the FPS genre or the football/sports genre.

s}{ammer

Spanky thanks I totally miffed that one, and forget my idea. I don't want to here sly attempting to speak for an entire game.