grand theft auto iii open world action adventure video game developed published games released october playstation microsoft windows october xbox released anniversary version platforms fifth title main entry set fictional based new_york_city game follows left dead quickly world gangs crime corruption game played person perspective world foot vehicle open world design lets players freely consisting main islands development shared design edinburgh new_york development work constituted transforming popular series elements world game delayed following september attacks allow team change references gameplay deemed inappropriate release game received critical acclaim praise particularly directed concept gameplay game generated controversy criticism directed depiction violence sexual content best selling video game sold million copies considered significant titles sixth generation video games critics greatest video games time won year end accolades including game year awards gaming publications release received numerous ports gaming platforms successor vice city released october gameplay action adventure game played person view players complete missions linear scenarios set objectives progress story possible active missions running time missions require players wait instructions events outside missions players freely game open world ability complete option missions composed portland islands unlocked players story progresses players run jump use vehicles navigate game world combat auto aim assistance enemies players damage health meter fully use health pick ups body armour absorb explosive damage process health entirely depleted gameplay stops players nearest hospital expense losing weapons armour money players commit crimes playing game law enforcement agencies respond indicated wanted meter head display meter displayed stars indicate current wanted level example maximum star level efforts law enforcement players aggressive law enforcement officers search players leave wanted vicinity wanted meter enters mode eventually players hidden officers line sight game lets players control mute criminal story meets new characters gangs players completes missions different gangs fellow gang members defend players rival gang members recognise players subsequently shoot sight free game world players engage activities fire fighting activity taxi cab service completion activities grants players context specific rewards example completing mission allows players bribe police committing crime players use melee attacks firearms explosives fight enemies firearms include weapons rifle game dimension environment allows person view aiming sniper rifle rocket addition game combat reworked allow players commit drive facing sideways vehicle game gives players wide variety weapon options purchased local firearms dealers found ground retrieved dead enemies found city plot bank ambitious criminal shot betrayed girlfriend accomplice survives wound arrested sentenced years prison transported prison van fellow prisoner ball guru inadvertently freed attack police convoy escape ball later introduces crime family sex club owner don son work family finds fighting led new drug trophy wife begins liking grows suspicious death trap maria saves time flee begins working city leader maria close friend assassinate revenge cuts ties family work leads criminal sources corrupt police detective enemy later saves cia helping flee vice city meets charismatic media maintains huge media effort start war love organise death brother blame later love asks rescue man kidnapped prison truck finally confronts narrowly escapes partner believing knowledge brother death war intensifying maria learn history order attack operations eventually exploits attract attention result kidnap maria murder demand pay ransom exchange maria release confronts attempts killed escapes resulting attempts flee helicopter makes final attempt life killing remaining members rescuing maria shoots helicopter effectively killing leaving scene maria complains kidnapping particularly state clothes nails credits gunshot heard maria voice development core development team consisted people design edinburgh worked closely publisher games new_york early team designed city cars weapons online multiplayer mode initially planned game ultimately dropped time resource limitations producer described crime simulation game game microsoft windows team delayed playstation release order ensure quality citing issues simultaneous platform release previous games open world design game series criterion games game engine designing game development team expanded concepts introduced previous games stated intention recreate freedom diversity previous games living breathing world power playstation console ability use dvds improvement playstation limit cds allowed team store data animations music environments despite team found difficult fit game scale game size created difficulties variety options felt creating living city underlying principle game concept development executive producer felt game element allowed chemistry team come perfectly time major difficulty team encountered converting game elements world including sound radio stations designing voicing non player characters existed open world producer said lines recorded dialogue game audio programmer estimated basic technical elements game began work mechanic prototype stable streaming model streaming initially intended reserved music map geometry elements eventually included apparent team data entered designing game world team initially created hybrid city producer describes post industrial midwest slash east coast generic city developing game world team realised basing design real location meant lot things result team redesigned previously featured basing loosely new_york_city city broken islands industrial section representing brooklyn queens commercial center resembling manhattan suburbs similar new_jersey islands unlock story progresses team wanted players start feeling poor work richer describes hybrid generic american city including chicago pittsburgh detroit new_york philadelphia felt parallel realism world allowed team social commentary previously cited films shows like heat inspiration setting wanted emulate game cited influence legend series present film describing cross gangster movie rpg story characters team developed story design simultaneously use story expose mechanics use mechanics tell story said found difficult create narrative game strongly focused player freedom wanted story nuanced interesting generic rise fall rise superhero bad guy game script focused mission objectives attempting implement high amounts felt mission short story overarching story writer drew influence mob films featured films writing story regularly met designers filled room post notes reconstruct story components shape game game characters animated motion capture filmed rented studio limited technical restraints character movement treated cinematic limited heavily non player characters entering driving cars proved difficult team variety vehicle designs involved dozens different animations altering key frames code recalled software engineer team varying camera angles animated game cutscenes order evoke different emotions voice acting team wanted natural subtle performances proved difficult actors head idea video games animated performances needed animated explained motion capture director game playable protagonist unnamed game officially revealed appearance san silent protagonist speaking appearances team decided silent primarily like major issue challenges faced development partly allow players identify character sound design features half hours game radio material music team sought broad diversity recreate real sensation radio stations reflecting gangster movie culture invoked game team talk radio stations add character city provide unique american life described look america team real portray radio team wrote unusual dialogue seeking effect high production values absurd content music director assembled assets radio station music advertisements dialogue station imaging cuts changes effect prior initial release modifications game changes frequent game development changes noted time september attacks led speculation changes motivated attacks september delayed game release weeks citing attacks influencing factor delay uncle brother impacted attack said president distributor changes shortly colour scheme police cars original colour scheme blue white stripes specifically resembled changed generic black white design common police departments united_states los_angeles san_francisco changes include altering flight path plane avoid appearing fly skyscraper removing mission referencing terrorists changes pedestrian dialogue talk radio cut game character revolutionary vowed bring city economy references found game code speculation arose character related explained character cut months release reports previews stating game featured school children pedestrians prior release dismissed rumours nonsense stated game different biggest change cover art felt original cover ultimately released cover europe felt raw changed signature style series claims cover designed evening instantly preferred original cover cover inspired movie posters 1960s films critical reception initial release released critical acclaim metacritic calculated average score indicating universal acclaim based reviews sixth highest rated game metacritic tied number reviewers liked game sound gameplay open world design criticism directed controls eurogamer called epic named innovative brilliant video game gamespot described game incredible experience shouldn missed ign named best titles year playstation system reviewers found graphics welcoming change previous games gamespot particularly praised character vehicle models overall texture quality city gamespy found graphics impressive describing car models greatly improved midnight club eurogamer considered graphics generally pleasant look considered inferior games like game informer described game world stunning scope detail perry ign found scale truly epic game revolution called city technological marvel captures essence gritty city life amazing detail ign perry considered game sound delivered particularly praising soundtrack voice acting sound design stating approached movie eurogamer echoed similar remarks describing city sounds perfect soundtrack monstrous sound described terrific gamespot game revolution appreciated subtlety game radio stations named music true star game reviewers considered style game missions welcoming departure previous games described missions wonderfully creative appreciated diversity ign perry similarly appreciated variety scale missions praised available missions gamespy described game story paced coherent featuring plot elements akin mob film gamespot found missions entertaining challenging noted exploring game world offers great deal fun players reactions game controls mixed gamespy found game controls beautifully driving foot game revolution identified control issues game flaw praised driving mechanics game informer similarly described driving great noted combat gamepro eyed dragon found cars simple manoeuvre edge described game combat awkward system play noted particular flaws targeting system explaining focuses wrong guy microsoft windows version grand theft auto iii released microsoft windows received similar critical acclaim metacritic calculated average score indicating universal acclaim based reviews highest rated windows game metacritic reviewers liked visual enhancements control improvements criticised port demanding system requirements game features controls port generally received ign praised higher precision mouse controls finding aiming mechanic precise gamespot commended mouse controls disapproved replay system particularly lack options timing camera controls appreciated addition custom radio station availability custom skins gamer praised gameplay provided port criticised lack major additional features overhead map game city port visuals received positive response reviewers gamespot praised port reworked textures criticised frequent advanced system requirements ign similarly criticised necessity advanced system stable play ultimately felt port looks bit original game gamespy felt port looks playstation version noted animations mentioned advanced settings resulted crashes game informer noticed little difference visuals original port mobile version grand theft auto iii released mobile devices december received generally positive reviews metacritic calculated average score based reviews reviewers liked enhanced visuals criticism directed controls port visuals received ign commended textures especially condensed mobile screen noted improvements character vehicle models gamespot wrote game runs high end devices like noticed significant frame rate texture issues pocket gamer identified game short draw distance leading sudden found models textures given tune port controls received mixed response eurogamer appreciated driving mechanics felt moving foot way navigating world criticised clumsy shooting mechanics ign felt controls half experience frustrating sterling described far biggest barrier enjoying port brown pocket gamer found hasn hindered game drastically commending simple movement driving mechanics critics identified better controls use external felt hinder game commercial performance sales highest selling game united_states selling million units february game second best selling game sequel stock significantly increased following game launch game included playstation greatest_hits selection united_states game sold million units june million units united_states december japan sold copies week january game earned diamond award united_kingdom indicating million sales game achieve milestone region march game sold million units worldwide accolades received multiple nominations awards gaming publications awarded game year game developers choice awards gamespot gamespy named best playstation game game revolution gamespot gamespy ign won best action game game revolution gamespot ign innovative gamespot excellence game design game developers choice awards gamespy awarded game offensive best use radio tied controversies prior release game generated controversies gamespy awarded offensive game year calling absolutely wrote game rewards players causing killing innocent people dozen ultimately questioning industry notoriety resulted decision check identification appeared age purchasing mature titles essay assistant professor identified lack conclusion player violence ability death found denies reality mortality simultaneously forces players speaking game depiction violence producer claims intended comedic game meant taken seriously producer stated team conscious offence game attract marketed way exploited game allows players commit sexual activities prostitutes murder reclaim payment met widespread controversy game received controversy depiction crime allowing violence police officers psychologist family stated game criminal activity purpose game crime response writer wrote game reward players proficiency crime matter accused boston_globe noted adrenaline players feel committing crimes game game violence mature classification spoke game january asking withdraw game sale encourages violence degradation women new_york_times wrote activities game crossed line bad taste initially released australia classification reviewing game banned depiction sexual content violence prostitutes prompted distributor appeal reaffirmed banned status december game seeking professional opinion forensic psychologist prompted recall game australia appropriate changes game modified version released classification january removing instances sexual acts prostitutes june teenage william shot killed statements investigators claimed actions inspired response october families filed million lawsuit games interactive filed dismissal lawsuit stating united_states district court october ideas concepts purported psychological effects perpetrators protected amendment free speech clause lawyer representing victims denied claims attempted lawsuit state court consideration tennessee consumer protection act legacy frequently included greatest video games time gamepro called important video game time explaining game open ended gameplay elements way video games similarly ign ranked game influential games gamespot listed greatest games time game informer wrote changed gaming landscape forever open world gamesradar named important game decade november time named greatest video games time considered leading role games inspiring true crime saints row present crackdown term grand theft auto clone frequently describe subsequent video games released similar open ended gameplay previous video games open world design including earlier games took gameplay foundation expanded world offering unprecedented variety missions greater success game predecessors credited open world genre felt game vibrant genres today game led trend mature video games felt allowed developers create violent shooters president described lightning rod violence games debate metro wrote new wave games violence gang culture electronic gaming monthly felt game allowed medium handle mature subject matter manner previously perceived noted improvement video game classification result game controversy following game success developed titles series vice city set titular locations respectively set roughly year events takes place years events rendition completely redesigned version city later grand theft auto lost damned ballad wars ports remakes released microsoft windows supporting higher screen resolutions draw distance featuring detailed textures game planned release nintendo gamecube xbox later cancelled release xbox december bundled sequel vice city compilation titled double pack xbox port features custom soundtrack support improved audio models reflections previous ports double pack later bundled compilation titled trilogy released october trilogy released november game tenth anniversary december ported ios android devices port identical windows version game addition enhanced textures models controls playstation version released september original playstation version game released playstation december
Grand Theft Auto III