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20 years of Grand Theft Auto III - Happy birthday GTA III

AndyGanteks

By AndyGanteks
in GTA III Definitive Edition

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VeldinX

VeldinX

Posted
Posted

Happy anniversary everyone!!!  Not quite 20 years for me yet, not far off it though. I started with the Double Pack in 2003 so GTA3 was at least still my first. Happy memories. Here’s to another 20! 

  • jonhyosbourne
  • Like 1
Pavle

Pavle

Posted
Posted

the third GTA I ever played, many memories. still play it from time to time :yee:

Hazzardtohimself

Hazzardtohimself

Posted
Posted

I waited and waited for GTA3 to arrive on PC, and bought it as soon as it appeared at my local video game shop (anyone remember those?). 

 

Naturally, I get home and find that my PC was too much of a potato to actually run the game, so fast-forward a month or two before I could upgrade and start playing! (anyone remember when you could get upgrade components for PCs?) 

 

A few months further down the line when I'd explored all of LC and completed the missions, collectables etc., I began investigating the murky world of modding (anyone remember when Rockstar didn't hate it?) 

 

And that's when I stumbled across a useful website named GTAForums, where the helpful members kept me entertained and amused for two decades or so. Thank you all! 

  • Micha2500, sutalu and Ivan1997GTA
  • Like 3
sutalu

sutalu

Posted
Posted

Habby birthday GTA III and thank you Rockstar!!! :)

 

This was the beginning to me :) 

 

A friend loaned it to me, and I liked it so much that I bought one for myself :) And since then, I am faithful to the saga.

 

XKNW1Pi.jpg

  • jonhyosbourne
  • Like 1
lefantome

lefantome

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

I remember when a friend of mine told me that there was a game where you could free roam and steal cars.

My disappointment was huge when I discovered it was GTA 1 or 2 and it was not fully 3D (I was coming from Lego Island, a literal GTA preocursor that was a fully 3D open world)

 

I waited some years while enjoying some Driver but then finally GTA 3 came out.

I didn't have a PS2 so I waited for the PC version which I was finally able to get in late 2002.

 

I was mind blown, super excited to finally be able to free roam in a living city.

 

I bought Vice City on PC on day 1.

 

Then I finally got a PS2 just in time to play GTA San Andreas at launch.

 

Great times.

 

 

Edited by lefantome
  • sutalu, jonhyosbourne and Ivan1997GTA
  • Like 3
Spider-Vice

Spider-Vice

Posted
Posted

A few interviews with Rockstar North's Aaron Garbut seem to be coming out:

 

https://www.gamerbraves.com/grand-theft-auto-gta-iii-20th-anniversary-qa-with-aaron-garbut/

https://www.inverse.com/gaming/gta-3-20th-anniversary-rockstar-aaron-garbut

https://www.inputmag.com/gaming/before-grand-theft-auto-iii-open-world-games-were-a-huge-gamble

.Ryan.

.Ryan.

Posted
Posted (edited)

Happy 20th anniversary GTA III.

 

A true classic in the literal sense that not only created a launching pad for the GTA series to shoot to the stars, but carved and shaped an entire genre.

Edited by MiamiViceCity1986
  • SPMovies and jonhyosbourne
  • Like 2
Original Light

Original Light

Posted
Posted (edited)

That interview alludes to them pushing open world games even further in the future, which is the only thing that could even remotely hint at future development. Good article regardless. 

Edited by Original Light
  • jonhyosbourne and sutalu
  • Like 2
And It Came To Pass

And It Came To Pass

Posted
Posted

Happy Birthday, III!

 

It's seemingly going to be a good day, reminiscing and sharing memories of these games with each other as we always do, but this time with Rockstar themselves getting involved. Mum wouldn't let me have GTA III initially, had to play it at a friend's. Got a copy eventually, but only after I got a copy of Vice City.

 

I'm looking forwards to reading those interviews later on, and about what else they have waiting for us. Especially anticipating a definitive edition trailer, getting to see what they've been up to. Hopefully, we'll all consider it a victory lap.

 

A little something about the future wouldn't go amiss, either, come on, lads.

Grand Theft Radio

Grand Theft Radio

Posted
Posted

My first ever Grand Theft Auto game i played as a kid back in 2004. (then i got to play SA). i had fun moments with it. loved it back then and still love it today.

 

I also want to say thank you to Leslie Benzies and Dan Houser for writting and producing this iconic series for millions of people worldwide.

We miss you guys and hope you are doing well. 🎂🍻

 

neo92boi

neo92boi

Posted
Posted

Wow. It’s really been 20 years since I popped that unknown titan into my PS2. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GTA III ! And more importantly happy anniversary to Rockstar Games and Rockstar North for their beloved creation and masterpiece. None of this would be possible without that team of designers along with Sam, Dan, Leslie, James, and Paul. 
 

daniel-scholes-final-liberty-city-01.jpg


Thank You. And also shout out to GTAforums and all of its mods and admins for curating this amazing community and allowing us to share our love and joy for our beloved Grand Theft Auto series. 

  • And It Came To Pass
  • Like 1
Tacymist

Tacymist

Posted
Posted

I remember blocking traffic with a bus and then I'd steal a taki and ram the bus with it until one of them caught fire. Then I'd get out and watch the explosion and see how big a chain reaction I can get going. I would do this for hours.

 

This was my favorite GTA until SA came out. And even then, SA had a hard time taking over that #1 spot. Such a sweet game back in the day, still sweet today. 

Mr.ClaudeFan

Mr.ClaudeFan

Posted
Posted

Happy birthday GTA3! Timeless memories with the first GTA game I ever played are countless, like scouring the city for hidden packages or learning how to fly the Dodo (and failing spectacularly lol) I always make time to come back to the OG PS2 version (the best version imo) but I can't wait to return to Liberty City in the definitive edition!

RaQnaR0ck

RaQnaR0ck

Posted
Posted

I like how Claude stays a mystery after all this time, it's a nice switch from all these characters that talk your head off while Claude is just silent and does the job. The last strong and silent type of the GTA protagonists.

 

First time I played GTA 3 was at the Intertoys store. They used to showcase new games and you could play them near the window at the first floor. Now I had played Midtown Madness, Urban Chaos and Driver but still GTA 3 felt like a huge jump forward that hasn't been passed since. Even though GTA 2 came out two years before the difference was amazing. Felt like a game that was from the future.

IceDree

IceDree

Posted
Posted

Happy birthday Grand Theft Auto III!

 

 

 

Oh man!  do I start?! There's so much to talk about. GTA III not only the changed industry and turned Grand Theft Auto into a household name, it shaped parts of my life as well ... A bit melodramatic I know, but hear me out.

 

 

UZK4MAZ.png

(A bank robbery, a violent getaway & an act of great betrayal)

 

- English is not my native language & GTA III came out right when I just started learning English. Young, punk me didn't take learning English seriously untill I had an embarrassing playthrough in Tomorrow Never Dies the year before. It helped me hone my reading & listening skills. The English curriculum in my school at the time was pretty basic & GTA was just what the doctor ordered.

 

- it introduced me to Hip-Hop music, Hip-Hop wasn't exactly mainstream around here. You could walk into a music store and pick up a Jennifer Lopez CD, Backstreet Boys or whatever, but rap music? Forget about it. 20 years later, 250,000 people attended a Pitbull concert here this past Wednesday ... Times changed.

Game Radio & Flashback FM were my favorite stations back then. I would stay in the car if the I'm the King, Rising to the top (RIP Sean Price) & Push it to the limit was playing & wait until the song is over before I continue doing whatever I was doing.

 

- Of course there's the whole patience, trial and error, and persistence thing. Sometimes missions will test our patience and we have to keep at it.

 

 

uAAsJHg.png

(Liberty city is in shock today, as the police deals with the aftermath of a devastating attack on a police convoy this morning)

 

Anyway back to GTA, I remember watching the trailer on a French gaming TV show one day and getting blown away by it. I had GTA 1 & 2 at the time, so I wasn't new to the franchise, but goodness gracious!  The word "revolutionary" gets thrown a lot these days, but GTA III truly lived up to & Grand Theft Auto remains the gold standard 20 years later.

 

I didn't have internet back then, so I kept checking gaming magazines (remember those?) every month to read the latest news about GTA III.

 

I bought a PlayStation 2 & GTA III about a month after it came out, it was a Sunday afternoon & I picked it up on my way back from school, Christmas came early that year.

 

I must've bought 5 or 6 GTA III disks over the years as my PlayStation kept destroying them ... Or most likely I wore them out with my heavy usage.

 

I preferred the modern day time of GTA III over Vice City's & kept returning to it even after VC came out.

 

The intro remains my favorite GTA intro despite heavy competition from Vice City. It gives me chills every time I listen to the intro music.

 

I loved the Viper growing up & seeing it in the intro scene sent me over the moon. The Banshee, Mafia Sentinel, Cartel Cruiser and Patriot were my favorite cars in the game. Getting a Mafia Sentinel out of St. Mark & Harwood was a challenge, which made driving it even more rewarding.

 

m2Hybjc.png

(A Leone solider showing the flag across the street from Mamma's Restaurant in St Marks)

 

I loved hanging around Hepburn Heights, Belleville Park & Torrington.

 

I loved the story and finished it more than a few times, I enjoyed playing it. It never got old for me, doing the side missions was exhausting, but whatever... It was worth it.

 

HBaHOeb.png

(A young man practicing his pat swings outside the Hepburn projects)

 

I'm looking forward to playing the game again later this year.

 

Asuka Kasen was my favorite character in the game. Donald Love was a pleasure to work with, despite his eating habits shall we say. Killing Salvatore was very satisfying, unfortunately I can't say the same about Catalina

 

VFCOmz7.png

(A Pfister Comet Stinger outside a suspected Yakuza front, rumor has it belongs to notorious Liberty City Yakuza Patriarch, Asuka Kasen ... Better not scratch that ride, boys)

 

The Shotgun and the M16 were ridiculously overpowered. The risks of confronting the army on foot was extremely high, a single burst fire of an M16 was more than enough to ruin my plans.

 

I can ramble on and on about GTA III and what it meant to me, but I think I should leave it at that.

 

gk2XsEs.png

(A new face leaving Salvatore's Gentleman Club, not much known about him beyond his quick rise in the ranks of the Leone Family)

  • Halal Cyborg, Hazzardtohimself, Nassyy and 1 other
  • Like 4
Nassyy

Nassyy

Posted
Posted
46 minutes ago, IceDree said:

Happy birthday Grand Theft Auto III!

 

 

 

Oh man!  do I start?! There's so much to talk about. GTA III not only the changed industry and turned Grand Theft Auto into a household name, it shaped parts of my life as well ... A bit melodramatic I know, but hear me out.

 

 

UZK4MAZ.png

(A bank robbery, a violent getaway & an act of great betrayal)

 

- English is not my native language & GTA III came out right when I just started learning English. Young, punk me didn't take learning English seriously untill I had an embarrassing playthrough in Tomorrow Never Dies the year before. It helped me hone my reading & listening skills. The English curriculum in my school at the time was pretty basic & GTA was just what the doctor ordered.

 

- it introduced me to Hip-Hop music, Hip-Hop wasn't exactly mainstream around here. You could walk into a music store and pick up a Jennifer Lopez CD, Backstreet Boys or whatever, but rap music? Forget about it. 20 years later, 250,000 people attended a Pitbull concert here this past Wednesday ... Times changed.

Game Radio & Flashback FM were my favorite stations back then. I would stay in the car if the I'm the King, Rising to the top (RIP Sean Price) & Push it to the limit was playing & wait until the song is over before I continue doing whatever I was doing.

 

- Of course there's the whole patience, trial and error, and persistence thing. Sometimes missions will test our patience and we have to keep at it.

 

 

uAAsJHg.png

(Liberty city is in shock today, as the police deals with the aftermath of a devastating attack on a police convoy this morning)

 

Anyway back to GTA, I remember watching the trailer on a French gaming TV show one day and getting blown away by it. I had GTA 1 & 2 at the time, so I wasn't new to the franchise, but goodness gracious!  The word "revolutionary" gets thrown a lot these days, but GTA III truly lived up to & Grand Theft Auto remains the gold standard 20 years later.

 

I didn't have internet back then, so I kept checking gaming magazines (remember those?) every month to read the latest news about GTA III.

 

I bought a PlayStation 2 & GTA III about a month after it came out, it was a Sunday afternoon & I picked it up on my way back from school, Christmas came early that year.

 

I must've bought 5 or 6 GTA III disks over the years as my PlayStation kept destroying them ... Or most likely I wore them out with my heavy usage.

 

I preferred the modern day time of GTA III over Vice City's & kept returning to it even after VC came out.

 

The intro remains my favorite GTA intro despite heavy competition from Vice City. It gives me chills every time I listen to the intro music.

 

I loved the Viper growing up & seeing it in the intro scene sent me over the moon. The Banshee, Mafia Sentinel, Cartel Cruiser and Patriot were my favorite cars in the game. Getting a Mafia Sentinel out of St. Mark & Harwood was a challenge, which made driving it even more rewarding.

 

m2Hybjc.png

(A Leone solider showing the flag across the street from Mamma's Restaurant in St Marks)

 

I loved hanging around Hepburn Heights, Belleville Park & Torrington.

 

I loved the story and finished it more than a few times, I enjoyed playing it. It never got old for me, doing the side missions was exhausting, but whatever... It was worth it.

 

HBaHOeb.png

(A young man practicing his pat swings outside the Hepburn projects)

 

I'm looking forward to playing the game again later this year.

 

Asuka Kasen was my favorite character in the game. Donald Love was a pleasure to work with, despite his eating habits shall we say. Killing Salvatore was very satisfying, unfortunately I can't say the same about Catalina

 

VFCOmz7.png

(A Pfister Comet Stinger outside a suspected Yakuza front, rumor has it belongs to notorious Liberty City Yakuza Patriarch, Asuka Kasen ... Better not scratch that ride, boys)

 

The Shotgun and the M16 were ridiculously overpowered. The risks of confronting the army on foot was extremely high, a single burst fire of an M16 was more than enough to ruin my plans.

 

I can ramble on and on about GTA III and what it meant to me, but I think I should leave it at that.

 

gk2XsEs.png

(A new face leaving Salvatore's Gentleman Club, not much known about him beyond his quick rise in the ranks of the Leone Family)

You like the Dodge Viper? Is it the blue-colored one with white stripes?

Whenever someone mentions a Dodge Viper, I have that particular design in mind. Very iconic!

IceDree

IceDree

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, NasranSalleh said:

You like the Dodge Viper? Is it the blue-colored one with white stripes?

Whenever someone mentions a Dodge Viper, I have that particular design in mind. Very iconic!

Yep, that's the one.

 

Spoiler

 

dodge-viper-rt-10-1996-c1670140720190800

 

supercharged-2006-dodge-viper-gts-is-the

 

qphOkKA.jpg

 

  • MrPikmin16 and Nassyy
  • Like 2

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