Grand Theft Auto III

]
GSpy = 94 of 100]
MG = 95 of 100 [cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/ps2/grand-theft-auto-iii/mobyrank|title=Grand Theft Auto III for PlayStation 2 - MobyGames|publisher=MobyGames|accessdate=2008-07-01] Upon its release, "Grand Theft Auto III" received very positive reviews; while minor problems and comments pertaining to graphics, performance and controls were noted, "GTA III" was touted as revolutionary by several game review websites and publications. With reviews of 9.6/10 from IGN and GameSpot, 8/10 from "Edge", 10/10 from "Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine", 94 from GameSpy and an average score of 95%, according to Game Rankings,cite web | url = http://www.take2games.com/index.php?p=news&page=5 | title= "Grand Theft Auto 3" Awards | work = Take-Two Interactive | accessmonthday = May 6 | accessyear= 2006] the game won several awards, such as GameSpot's Console Game of the Year, Game of the Year from GameSpy and Cheat Code Central, and Best Action Game of 2001 by IGN. The game's average review score of 97% on Metacritic ties it with "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" for the highest ranked game in PlayStation 2 history. It was also inducted into GameSpot's Greatest Games of All Time list.cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/features/6171873/index.html | title = Greatest Games of All Time: Grand Theft Auto III | work = uk.gamespot.com | accessmonthday = September 22 | accessyear = 2007]

"GTA III" unexpectedly emerged as a smash hit at its initial US$49.95 price and became the #1 selling video game of 2001 in the United States. Later discounted to $19.95 as part of Sony's "Greatest Hits" program, it continued to sell well and went on to become the second best-selling video game of 2002, behind only its sequel, "". "GTA III" was bundled with Vice City for the Xbox Double Pack, which enjoyed strong sales in December 2003, even though "GTA III" was two years old. The Double Pack's success for Xbox was due to several factors; the critical acclaim and controversial game content for the games, the graphical improvements specifically for the Xbox, and having two games in one, which led to GameSpy giving it their Best Value Award. [ [http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/grand-theft-auto-double-pack/499307p1.html GameSpy: Grand Theft Auto Double Pack Preview ] ]

As of September 25 2007, "Grand Theft Auto III" is the ninth best-selling video game in the United States with 5.7 million copies sold, behind its successors ' and ', according to the NPD Group.cite web |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070925-9999-1n25halo.html |title=Microsoft pins Xbox 360 hopes on 'Halo 3' sales |accessdate=2007-10-29 |author=Jonathan Sidener |date=2007-09-25 |publisher=Signonsandiego.com] As of September 26 2007, "Grand Theft Auto III " has sold 12 million units according to Take-Two Interactive. [cite web |title=Take-Two Interactive Software at Piper Jaffray Second Annual London Consumer Conference |publisher=Thomson Financial |date=2007-09-26 |url=http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/confLobby.zhtml?ticker=TTWO&item_id=1642557 |format=Webcast: Windows Media Player, Real Player |accessdate=2007-10-29 |quote=Grand Theft Auto III launched in 2001 and sold over 12 million units. We then shipped another sequel in 2002 which sold over 15 million units, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. And then in 2004 we shipped Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which sold a remarkable 20 million units...] As of March 26 2008, "Grand Theft Auto III" has sold 14.5 million units according to Take-Two Interactive. [cite web |url=http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12 |title=Recommendation of the Board of Directors to Reject Electronic Arts Inc.'s Tender Offer |accessdate=2008-04-01 |date=2008-03-26 |publisher=Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. |pages=12 |format=PDF]

Although the "Grand Theft Auto" series had been an underground hit prior to the release of "GTA III", it was this game that first brought the series mainstream success and widespread accolades. The success of "GTA III" resulted in two console and Microsoft Windows sequels ("Vice City", "San Andreas"), both of which were able to build upon "GTA III's" success, as well as three additional titles for handheld consoles ("Grand Theft Auto Advance", ' and '). The next generation in the series, "Grand Theft Auto IV", was released on April 29, 2008.

GamePro recently called "GTA III" the most important video game of all-time, explaining that the game's open-ended gameplay elements have revolutionized the way all video games are made. Similarly, IGN ranked "GTA III" among the Top 10 Most Influential Games.cite web | url = http://games.ign.com/articles/840/840621p2.html | title = IGN's Top 10 Most Influential Games | publisher = IGN.com | author = Ryan Geddes and Daemon Hatfield | date = 2007-12-10 | accessdate = 2007-12-10]

Video game critics and players have used the term "GTA clone" to describe the slew of video games released which attempted to emulate the sandbox gameplay of "GTA III".

Reviews of the game had been generally positive; while minor problems and comments pertaining to graphics, performance and controls were noted. There are some glitches such as clipping (when characters and objects get "half-stuck" in walls and the ground), a bug which caused vehicles to disappear, relatively poor AI for NPCs; many of these issues were not fixed in "Vice City". Other complaints have come up when GTA clones have been released; "GTA III" and "Vice City" have comparatively fewer cars or pedestrians on screen, short view distances and "disappearing" cars, and very short-term street damage, when measured against which featured many cars and pedestrians on screen at once, along with collateral damage lasting the length of a mission.

Controversy

[
Microsoft Windows version. The ability to kill police officers was one of the points of controversy for "GTA III".] "Grand Theft Auto III" was and remains very controversial because of its violent and sexual content, and it generated outrage from many upon its release. Various critics hypothesized that if children were to play the game, they might acquire sociopathic attitudes toward others.

For examples of video game violence, many TV news channels often show a play session of "GTA III" where the main character is gunning down pedestrians and blowing up police cars. The player is rewarded with cash for various illegal and immoral actions . Frequently cited in the press is the opportunity for players to carjack a vehicle, pick up a prostitute, have (implied) sex with the prostitute, and then kill her and steal her money.cite web | url = http://www.brettdouville.com/mt-archives/2005/12/comparative_med.html | title = Comparative Media: Prostitution | work = Brett's Footnotes | accessmonthday = December 11 |accessyear = 2006] This action, while permitted ("sex" restores the player's health, up to 125% of its normal maximum), is never actually required, nor is any particular suggestion made in the game that the prostitute should be killed. In addition, all in-game crimes incur the wrath of the police.

It was because of "GTA III" that the Wal-Mart chain of retail stores announced that, for games rated "M" by the ESRB, its stores would begin checking the identification of purchasers who appeared to be under 17.Fact|date=February 2007

After its initial release in Australia, the game was banned for a period and a censored version of the game was to be released in its place.cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/grandtheftauto3/news_2832465.html | title= Australian "GTAIII" ban upheld | work = GameSpot | accessmonthday = May 6 |accessyear= 2006] A key reason why this course of action was taken was that Rockstar did not submit "GTA III" to the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC), the body that, among other things, rates video games according to their content in Australia. Lacking a suitable R18+ rating (the highest rating being MA15+), the game was "Refused Classification" and banned for sale because they felt that the game was unsuitable for minors. Australia still does not have an R rating for video games like it does for movies. Among other things, the censored version had the gore (except for the “Gore Mode” cheat) and the ability to kill prostitutes immediately removed; however, it was later found that the uncensored version was also playable by changing the computer's time zone to that of the United States.Verify source|date=May 2007

While the Australian version of the sequel "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" was censored by Rockstar, the next sequel "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" was not, despite featuring more "mature" content (although, later, "San Andreas" was once given a Refused Classification rating amid the "Hot Coffee" controversy).

On October 20, 2003, the families of Aaron Hamel and Kimberly Bede, two young people shot by teens William and Josh Buckner (who in statements to investigators claimed their actions were inspired by "GTA III") filed a US$246 million lawsuit against publishers Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software, retailer Wal-Mart, and PlayStation 2 manufacturer Sony Computer Entertainment America.cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/22/videogame.lawsuit.ap/index.html | title= Lawsuit filed against Sony, Wal-Mart over game linked to shootings | work = CNN | accessmonthday = May 6 | accessyear= 2006] cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/grandtheftauto3/news_6077161.html | title= Families sue over "GTAIII"-inspired shooting | work = GameSpot | accessmonthday = May 6 |accessyear= 2006] Rockstar and its parent company, Take-Two, filed for dismissal of the lawsuit, stating in U.S. District Court on October 29, 2003 that the "ideas and concepts as well as the 'purported psychological effects' on the Buckners are protected by the First Amendment's free-speech clause." The lawyer of the victims, Jack Thompson, denied that and is attempting to move the lawsuit into a state court and under Tennessee's consumer protection act.cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/grandtheftauto3/news_6081737.html | title= Rockstar seeks to dismiss "GTAIII" lawsuit | work = GameSpot | accessmonthday = May 6 | accessyear= 2006]

Ports and remakes

Six months following the initial PlayStation 2 release of "Grand Theft Auto III", versions for the Microsoft Windows and Xbox had been made available. "GTA III" is notable for being the first game in the series to be released on a video game console before a PC version was available. Following "GTA III", PlayStation 2 "GTA" games generally followed "GTA III" release pattern, in which the Microsoft Windows port is released within seven to eight months after the PlayStation 2 versions' release. [http://www.mobygames.com/game/grand-theft-auto-iii/release-info "GTA III"'s release information] at MobyGames. URL accessed on June 11, 2006.] [http://www.mobygames.com/game/grand-theft-auto-vice-city/release-info "GTA: Vice City"'s release information] at MobyGames. URL accessed on June 11, 2006.] [http://www.mobygames.com/game/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas/release-info "GTA: San Andreas"'s release information] at MobyGames. URL accessed on June 11, 2006.]

The Microsoft Windows version of the game, released on May 21, 2002, has been criticized for performance problems, especially in light of the much smoother performance of "Vice City". This was due to technical issues; the game engine rendered everything within the draw distance, even things hidden behind buildings or trees, whereas "Vice City" only rendered what could actually be seen.cite web | url = http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/action/grandtheftautovicecity/news.html?sid=2881042 | title= "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Graphics Q&A" with Aaron Garbut | work = GameSpot | accessmonthday = July 16 | accessyear= 2006] The Microsoft Windows version does, however, support higher screen resolutions, has more detailed textures, a customizable player skin, and a custom option for MP3s playback in cars.

The Xbox version was initially supposed to be released in spring 2002 but it was shelved when Sony signed an agreement with Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games' parent company), making the "GTA" series a PlayStation 2 exclusive until November 2004. However, the agreement was amended in 2003 and the "Grand Theft Auto: Double Pack" containing both "GTA III" and "Vice City" was released for PS2 and Xbox in December 2003. The Xbox version of the "Double Pack" has improved audio, polygon models, and reflections over the Microsoft Windows and PS2 versions of the game. The "Double Pack" was not released for the Microsoft Windows. In November 2005, "GTA III" was re-released again for the Xbox and PS2, this time bundled with "Vice City" and "San Andreas" in a trilogy compilation, dubbed "Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy". There were no new changes, though the set retained "Double Pack"'s graphical improvements for "GTA III" and "Vice City". A Nintendo GameCube port of "GTA III" was also planned to be released alongside the Xbox version,cite web | url = http://www.gamecubicle.com/news-nintendo_gamecube_grand_theft_auto.htm | title= "Grand Theft Auto III" and "Vice City" on Nintendo GameCube | work = GameCubicle | accessmonthday = May 6 | accessyear= 2006] but was cancelled for unknown reasons.

Two handheld titles based on "GTA III" have also been released. "Grand Theft Auto Advance" was initially intended as a Game Boy Advance port of "GTA III", but has since introduced a new storyline set in Liberty City, roughly one year before the events in "GTA III". ' was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005 and later ported to the PS2. The game, which is also set in the same location as "GTA III", takes place in 1998, three years before the events in "GTA III". Also, ' will feature a new storyline set in Liberty City, it has been confirmed that Chinatown Wars will use the Grand Theft Auto IV, rendition of Liberty City. cite news |first = |last = |author = |coauthors = |title = Big Trouble in Little China|work = Nintendo Power!|publisher = |pages = 59-62|date = November 2008|accessdate = 2008-10-05|language = English] . It will be released on the Nintendo DS and is to be released in the winter of 2008.

Notes

#note label|Claudes_name|1|a Despite being officially nameless in "Grand Theft Auto III", the player character's name is later revealed to be "Claude" in a brief cameo in the series' later game, ""; because of this name he is theorized to be Claude Speed from "Grand Theft Auto 2".
# While the game lacks official support for multiplayer, user-made mods such as "Multi Theft Auto" enable players to play "Grand Theft Auto III" online against each other.
#note label|Nasty_limbs|3|a In the PC and PlayStation 2 version of "Grand Theft Auto III", it is possible to enable detachment of limbs and "popping" heads using a "nasty limbs" cheat code. Though there is no on-screen confirmation when entered successfully like other cheat codes, the cheat is still activated. However, the PC version "already" had detachment of limbs without the cheat entered.

References

External links

* [http://www.rockstargames.com/grandtheftauto3/ Official "Grand Theft Auto III" website]
* [http://www.us.playstation.com/PS2/Games/Grand_Theft_Auto_III "Grand Theft Auto III" at Playstation.com]