The Chain Game Lounge

[The Chain Game]

The Chain Game Lounge
The Chain Game is a community based relay game for the Grand Theft Auto series. Players work together in each round to achieve an end goal, each taking turns to contribute progress along the way.

We currently run games for four Grand Theft Auto titles and welcome both new and returning players to join in:
  Grand Theft Auto III Active Now: Round 151 Index
  Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Index

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Active Now: Round 177 Lounge
Hall Of Fame
Grand Theft Auto IV Index
We have also been featured in the following articles which you can read to learn more about our community:

GamesRadar - Meet the GTA 3 players who've spent a decade playing pass-the-pad to 100% the game
GTANet - GTAForums Spotlight: The Chain Game

The Chain Game Lounge is where the latest news and updates are posted by the staff, and we welcome you to use it if you want to ask a question or chat with fellow players.

We also invite you to follow us on the following social media platforms:

   
   

Want to get in touch with our team directly? Send us a message and we'll be sure to get back to you as soon as possible!

[The Chain Game]

Frequently Asked Questions

General
What platform do I require to participate in Chain Game Rounds?
All regular rounds of the Chain Game across all Grand Theft Auto titles are currently for players on PC. In the case of Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas, we currently only run rounds for the classic edition of the game which is available from Rockstar Launcher and was previously available through Steam and on physical media.

We may occasionally run rounds for other platforms and versions of the games. You can check the first line of the opening posts in a round topic to see which version of the game that round is being played on.

Do I need to play regularly?
No. We welcome anyone who is interested in taking a turn to do so without feeling the need to participate regularly.

I've noticed some players streaming their turns. Is this required?
No. Some players decide to stream a live broadcast of their turns so that other players can watch and participate in the live chat, but this is not a requirement of participating in the Chain Game. However, you are welcome to stream your turns if you wish, and we encourage you to post a link to your broadcast in your turn post if you do.

What do I do if GTAForums is unavailable when I have completed my turn?
If GTAForums is unavailable when you have completed your turn, you should check the forum regularly to monitor when it returns online and then post your save file at the earliest opportunity. We will allow a reasonable amount of time after the forum returns online for a save file to be posted, even if this is over the time limit for your turn, but this does not mean you are allowed to play for more than the time limit. If we feel it is necessary, we will check any save files in these instances to determine the exact playtime and may invalidate turns that exceeded the time limit.

If you have completed a turn but feel you will not be available once GTAForums returns online, you should contact the staff team through our Discord Server, Steam Group, Twitter Page or by sending us an email.

Note that for prolonged planned maintenance such as a forum upgrade, we will endeavour to suspend any active rounds to prevent a situation where a turn is active at the time of maintenance.

Where can I keep up to date with the latest rounds?
There is a list of currently active rounds in the first post of the Chain Game Lounge and in the pinned message of the #news channel on our Discord Server. We post updates when a new round is launched on the Discord Server, Steam Group and Twitter Page.

What are Starter Save Rounds?
One type of round that we occasionally run are "Starter Save Rounds" where instead of completing the game to 100%, the goal is instead to complete all available side missions at the very beginning of the game. These rounds have slightly different restrictions on what content can be completed in a turn and will often have a shorter time limit, but you can join in the same way you would a regular round.

What are "Generated Vehicle" or "Generated Package" Rounds?
We occasionally run special rounds that feature modified starter saves where content from the regular game has been altered in some way, usually moved to a new location, and is then included in a minigame where players can discover the changes made in exchange for cookies and a place on a leaderboard. The modified content in these rounds are noted as being "generated" and the topic title will clearly note if the round features such content. You should read the opening posts of any such round to learn more about the specific changes made to that save file and possible hints.

Where can I learn more about Chain Game Events?
We occasionally run special community events including those that carry into the rounds themselves, such as team based challenges, and those that take place outside of rounds, such as multiplayer sessions. You can keep up to date with any new events by checking the Chain Game Lounge and Discord Server.

GTA Vice City Chain Game
Why can't I load the latest save file?
There are slight differences present between the Retail (DVD) and Digital (Rockstar Launcher and Steam) classic PC versions of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City that make save files incompatible between the two versions by default. If you try to load a save file from a version different to the one that you own, you will experience either a game crash or the game starting from the beginning.

If the save file was uploaded on GTASnP.com, you can check which version of the game it was created on by checking the "Release Version" in the information listed at the top of the page. There is a simple conversion tool available from this same page that you can use in order to load the save file and participate in the game. Simply scroll down to the "Modifications" drop down and change the "Release Version" to the option for your game version before clicking on the desired save slot to download. Once you have completed your turn, there is no need to convert the save file back to the version it was before the turn was taken.

Tip: If you always use the same game version, you can configure GTASnP.com Preferences to always download save files for your version of the game. This will automatically select the modification option for changing release version on the save file page, meaning you can just click download without having to remember to change the version prior to downloading each time.

Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game
Why can't I load the latest save file?
Depending on which version of Grand Theft Auto IV or Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City you are running, you may experience difficulty trying to load save files due to Games For Windows Live (GFWL) restrictions and save file formatting differences. You can check the version number for your game by right clicking on the executable file GTAIV.exe or EFLC.exe and viewing the "Properties". See below for instructions on additional actions you need to take in order to participate in the Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game.

Versions 1.0.8.0 (IV) / 1.1.3.0 (EFLC) and Older:
You will need to install XLiveLess before participating. This is a modification that disables GFWL and will allow you to load save files your account did not create, but note that while active in your directory, you will not be able to access any GFWL functions including multiplayer.

You will also need to check that the save file you are trying to download from the last player is compatible with your version. If the save file was uploaded on GTASnP.com, you can check which version of the game it was created on by checking the "Release Version" in the information listed at the top of the page. There is a simple downgrade tool available from this same page that you can use in order to load the save file and participate in the game. Simply scroll down to the "Modifications" drop down and change the "Downgrade" selection to the option for your game version before clicking on the desired save slot to download. Once you have completed your turn, there is no need to convert the save file back to the version it was before the turn was taken.

Version 1.2.0.32:
You will need to check that the save file you are trying to download from the last player is compatible with your version. If the save file was uploaded on GTASnP.com, you can check which version of the game it was created on by checking the "Release Version" in the information listed at the top of the page. If the version is either "1.0.8.0 IV / 1.1.3.0 EFLC and older" or "1.2.0.32", you do not need to take any further action.

If the version is "1.2.0.43 and newer", you will need to first convert the save file before downloading. There is a simple downgrade tool available from this same page that you can use in order to load the save file and participate in the game. Simply scroll down to the "Modifications" drop down and change the "Downgrade" selection to the option for your game version before clicking on the desired save slot to download. Once you have completed your turn, there is no need to convert the save file back to the version it was before the turn was taken.

Version 1.2.0.43 and Newer:
There are no additional actions required for this version of the game, you should be able to download and play any save file posted in the round.

What are “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” Rounds?
In addition to our adventures following the story of Niko Bellic, we also run rounds where we play through the DLC episodes “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony”, completing them to 100%. You can join in with these rounds in the same way you would a regular round if you have access to the episodes.

[Rikka]

21 hours ago, The Chain Game said:

We may occasionally run rounds for other platforms and versions of the games.

Liberty City Stories? *wink wink*

[GTAKid667]

3 hours ago, Miles Edgeworth said:

Liberty City Stories?

Maybe

 

I definitely think it'd be fun to play some Liberty City Stories together as a team at some point, love that game. I also wish it had a proper release on PC...

[ArmanCan]

Are you going to pin both lounge and actual rounds? 

[GTAKid667]

42 minutes ago, ArmanCan said:

Are you going to pin both lounge and actual rounds? 

The decision on whether a topic gets pinned is ultimately the decision of the GTAForums staff team and not down to the individual creator. However, we have never had the GTA III, Vice City and IV Chain Game topics pinned outside of special occasions and I wouldn't expect that to change.

 

The Lounge will move between forums as the active rounds change though. It's currently in the Classic VC forum with a redirect link in the GTA IV forum as those are the rounds that are currently running. There are also multiple links to the Lounge in all round topics and across our social pages and groups that will ensure it is always easy to find

[cuban gang member]

the invite link is expired for me

am i banned from from the server?

[GTAKid667]

2 minutes ago, cuban gang member said:

the invite link is expired for me

I assume you are trying to join our Discord Server. Which invite link are you using?

 

The one in the first post of the Lounge works fine for me:

[cuban gang member]

5 minutes ago, GTAKid667 said:

I assume you are trying to join our Discord Server. Which invite link are you using?

 

The one in the first post of the Lounge works fine for me:

https://discord.gg/bnbVYCnDq7/

this one

I was in the server about three weeks ago but now I'm not a membe in that server anymore

[GTAKid667]

Remove the / at the end of the URL and it should work.

 

I've noticed that the link you posted is from the FAQ above so I've edited the post to remove the / that was present there which should mean there are no further issues with that link. Alternatively, there is a link to the server much higher up in the very first post by clicking on the Discord Logo

 

43 minutes ago, cuban gang member said:

I was in the server about three weeks ago but now I'm not a membe in that server anymore

I've checked the logs. When you join the Discord Server you are placed in a welcome channel and presented with a clear message of instructions detailing how you can be approved. At the end it states that if you fail to reply within 48 hours you will be kicked, but are welcome to rejoin at any time.

 

You did not respond and so were kicked after that period of time passed. You should be able to rejoin using any of the invite links. If removing the / of the URL you posted above doesn't work, try the links in the current round topics and feel free to send me a message if you're still having trouble and I can try sending you a new one

Edited January 12, 2022 by GTAKid667

[Sorviknight]

 

@ArmanCan This is not a valid turn. You can't complete both Test Track and Trial By Dirt on the same turn. I'm gonna have to revert progress to the last savefile once I get to my computer, but I would strongly advise you to take some time to read the rules properly, as this isn't the first time you ignored a basic rule this round

[DEALUX]

GTA 3 Definitive Chain Game when? I think it's technically possible but not supported by GTASnp.

[GTAKid667]

4 hours ago, DEALUX said:

GTA 3 Definitive Chain Game when? I think it's technically possible but not supported by GTASnp.

There are no current plans but as always we are willing to consider it if the interest is there. GTASnP.com has added support and statistics for Definitive Edition saves so we would be able to use the service in the same way we do for the current Chain Games.

[DEALUX]

7 minutes ago, GTAKid667 said:

There are no current plans but as always we are willing to consider it if the interest is there. GTASnP.com has added support and statistics for Definitive Edition saves so we would be able to use the service in the same way we do for the current Chain Games.

Uploading the saves directly does not seem to work currently (something to do with checksums). Even though I heavily criticized the DE trilogy initially I think I prefer it over the PC original (though the latter with mods can be better in most ways, but obviously not compatible with everyone else's stock version) but I'm not sure most people here would like to play that version instead of the original.

Edited March 10, 2022 by DEALUX

[Samutz]

2 hours ago, DEALUX said:

Uploading the saves directly does not seem to work currently (something to do with checksums).

This is the first I've heard of this. So I let my copy of III DE update and checked. It seems the last update made a small change to the save files. I updated the site to accept them.

[DEALUX]

3 hours ago, Samutz said:

This is the first I've heard of this. So I let my copy of III DE update and checked. It seems the last update made a small change to the save files. I updated the site to accept them.

I imagine they made some changes to the script as well (some of the patch notes seem to hint at that) which would have made the old saves incompatible.

 

Edit: I tried to upload my 100% DE save file and it still gave me the "unrecognized version" error.

Edited March 10, 2022 by DEALUX

[Samutz]

21 hours ago, DEALUX said:

I imagine they made some changes to the script as well (some of the patch notes seem to hint at that) which would have made the old saves incompatible.

 

Edit: I tried to upload my 100% DE save file and it still gave me the "unrecognized version" error.

The game loaded my old saves just fine. I don't think they'd push an update that makes old saves incompatible. People in the middle of a playthrough would have to start over if that happened.

 

Upload your save somewhere else so I can look at it. I might just need to adjust the size requirements on the site. Although 100% saves tend to be smaller and I don't currently have a minimum size requirement set for III DE saves.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Samutz

[DEALUX]

19 hours ago, Samutz said:

The game loaded my old saves just fine. I don't think they'd push an update that makes old saves incompatible. People in the middle of a playthrough would have to start over if that happened.

 

Upload your save somewhere else so I can look at it. I might just need to adjust the size requirements on the site. Although 100% saves tend to be smaller and I don't currently have a minimum size requirement set for III DE saves.

No, I'm saying if they made script changes that would necessitate that the old saves be modified automatically to fix compatibility issues.

 

Not sure which slot is the manual save, but I uploaded both save files: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LxpVeJSCNn7qugU5MT0UX41Grjzqmido?usp=sharing

[Samutz]

Thanks. I found the issue and it's fixed now.

[Nico]

Which is the policy around usage of mods? I finished 100% of Vice City recently and started modding the game afterwards. I'm using mods that try to improve the appearance of the game and fix bugs and glitches, but without breaking the spirit of the original too much. I'm not sure if this could cause an incompatibility between my saves and those used in the Chain Game. Could I upload my 100% save and see if it works for people with a fully vanilla game?

[Rikka]

Besides the ones that are in the allowed mods list (GInput, SilentPatch, Widescreen Fix) it's quite safe to do everything that doesn't affect the save game. In terms of fixing bugs and glitches, you should be fine. In terms of appearance, be careful about any scripts that improve visuals as at least one of them is banned in SA Chain Game, I would also not replace vehicle models, because you can park them in a garage == save them. You can list the mods you use to determine if you have anything bad.

[GTAKid667]

Just to add further clarification to the above, this is the current stance on the use of mods as outlined in the opening posts of all current rounds:

Quote

Use of Modifications: We strongly recommend that you use an unmodified installation of the game when participating, but you may use any modifications that do not change game content or affect the save file, such as GInput, SilentPatch and Widescreen Fix.

If you aren't sure whether a modification you want to use changes game content or affects the save file, do not assume and instead ask us first.

 

Over the years we have become more lenient on this issue, but the fact remains that a lot of mods you wouldn't expect alter the save file and create issues for other players. This leads to the loss of progress as we have to revert the round, made worse if we don't spot any issues immediately, and that can hamper the enjoyment of everyone participating.

 

One of the biggest culprets of causing issues are limit adjusters often found in graphical mods such as 2DFX referenced above. These we will not allow. I think the suggestion above to avoid mods that replace models is also fair. I would also add that any alteration to script files such as main.scm are not allowed and would likely prevent you from being able to load the latest save yourself.

 

As suggested above, you are welcome to list the mods you wish to use and we can provide guidance on whether they may affect the save, but I'd strongly recommend creating a separate directory with limited mods for Chain Game use. Not only will it avoid situations that will make the round less enjoyable for all, but it's not really viable for the staff to check individual player's directories as it takes already limited free time away from being able to focus on the game itself.

[GTAKid667]

Chain Game Announcement!

This post will mark the first announcement in our new Chain Game Lounge and while you may have noticed a few changes to the game in recent months, rest assured that the classic orange text will remain for these periodic updates!

I hope everyone is well. We've had a great start to the year in the Chain Game with rounds launched for all games and consistently good activity across the rounds we've completed so far. One of the highlights for me personally these past few months has been the return of several players in the community who haven't taken a turn in a while, with other past players expressing their interest in joining us in the near future too. I hope that all players who have participated recently have been enjoying taking turns as much as I have and stick around for more fun throughout the year.

Starter Save Rounds
The next round of the Grand Theft Auto III Chain Game will be a Starter Save Round. It occurred to me recently that we have not launched this type of round since May 2020 and with a range of new and returning players joining us since then, I felt that it would be appropriate to provide a reminder of the differences in rules for this type of round to avoid confusion once launched:

• No Story Missions: Starter Save Rounds are where we complete all available side missions at the very beginning of the game using a save file where "Give Me Liberty" has not yet been completed. During these rounds, we do not complete any story missions and no player should attempt or complete a mission during their turns.
  • Bridge Mission Marker: Be aware that there is a large invisible mission marker located both on and underneath Callahan Bridge at the location shown in this image, which will also be present in the opening posts. You should avoid travelling on foot in this area of the map as you may accidentally walk into the marker and trigger "Give Me Liberty" which is not allowed to be attempted in any turn during the round.
• Turn Time Limit: You only have two hours to complete turns in Starter Save Rounds.
• Side Mission Rules: You are only allowed to complete one Off Road Challenge or TOYZ Mission in Starter Save Rounds.

Turn Notes
There have been increasing issues with the quality of turn notes across all games recently.

I'd like to remind all players that during rounds we have three lists in the opening posts that require regular updating, and following the completion of rounds we document data from turns for use in statistics and our trivia collection. Everyone who updates a list or documents this data, including the staff team, are volunteers who are doing this in their own free time. Failing to note information correctly in turn posts creates additional work for us which takes time away from us being able to work on other aspects of the game including many future plans we wish to focus on.

As a reminder for all players, please ensure that you include the following in your turn notes:

• Mission and Activity Names: You must note the name of any mission and side activity that you have completed.
  • English Language: These names must be noted in English, even if you are playing the game in a different language.
• Save File URL: You must provide a valid URL to where the next player can download your save file.
• Completion Percentage: You must note the current completion percentage.
• Scores/Times: You must note any score or time that is presented in a mission or side activity. This includes noting whether an activity completed with friends in Grand Theft Auto IV was won or lost, and the scores of both participants in Bowling.
• Choices Made: You must note any choice you have made in a mission in Grand Theft Auto IV where an option has been presented.
• Special Vehicles: You should note when you have collected a special vehicle from a mission or side activity where you are aware that the vehicle has special properties, and note the garage you have stored the vehicle in. You should also note if you have removed a special vehicle from a garage, or have transferred one to a different garage.

The Chain Game Accounts
In addition to the launch of the new Chain Game Lounge, we have recently been making several changes to the game including our operations behind the scenes in our continued commitment to build the best game experience and community for us all.

One of the changes you may have noticed in recent months is that the Lounge, Rounds, Discord Updates and Steam Updates are now all being posted by a central "The Chain Game" account. While this is a change primarily intended to benefit the way we operate the game, this also provides a benefit for members of the community on GTAForums who wish to keep up to date with the latest round launches.

You can browse our GTAForums Profile to see a list of all rounds launched from January 2020 onwards for the Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and IV Chain Games, view a list of all active rounds on the "About Me" page, and follow the account using the "Follow Member" button to receive a notification whenever we launch a new round. You can also send us a message if you would prefer to contact the team that way.

Twitter Updates
Our Twitter Page has seen a major increase in activity over the past year with more than 75 new followers and regular interaction from both members of our community and also members of the wider Rockstar Games community.

In addition to announcing the launch of new rounds, we post trivia each week from across all games which includes records achieved in missions and side activities. From April 2022, we have now moved the time that our weekly trivia tweets publish to Wednesdays at 15:00 UTC.

If you're on Twitter and haven't already, consider giving us a follow so you can keep up to date with the latest.

Updating the Player List
If you’d like to support the Chain Game, we’re currently looking for people to help us update the Player List during rounds.

We’re always incredibly appreciative of anyone who chooses to spend their time helping us with lists, and know that it greatly helps us out with running the game, allowing us to spend our time working on future plans and other aspects of the Chain Game.

Please send us a message if you’re interested, and note that you do not have to currently be a member of the Chain Game community to help.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank Bunneyko and Stahli for the incredible job that they have done in updating lists for us in recent rounds. It has made a huge difference having their help.

Closing Words
As always, I would like to thank all members of the community for your continued dedication and support. We are very fortunate to have such an incredible community of people which the Chain Game would be nothing without. We're currently working hard behind the scenes on many exciting plans which I hope to discuss throughout the year, and hope to see you all continue to join us for the fun.

GTAKid667, Chain Game Chief

[Stahli]

@Sorviknight and @Bunneyko I noticed that in GTA IV you always use the closest the vehicle camera. I do not think it's bad and it does not bother me. I just want to know if it's just a personal preference or if there is a small advantage that I have not yet discovered? I first suspected that the mouse path is shorter when you turn the camera, but that's apparently not it.

[Sorviknight]

Just preference, I've always played with that camera angle

[GTAKid667]

Chain Game Announcement!

I hope everyone is well. We're fast approaching the halfway mark of 2022 and have continued to have good levels of activity across all rounds in recent months. Thank you all for your continued dedication and support, it's always great to see members of the community joining in with the fun, and I hope you'll stick around for many of the exciting rounds we'll be launching later in the year.

Temporary Chief Arrangements
I am going to be away between 18th June and 3rd July, marking the first time in almost 8 years that I have taken a dedicated break from working on the Chain Game.

While I don't intend to be completely unreachable during this time, it will provide a nice opportunity for me to step back from the increasing regular responsibilities of managing the community, which in the past 8 years has expanded from managing the Grand Theft Auto III Chain Game to managing 3 Chain Games, a Discord Server with over 50 members, a Twitter Page with weekly posts, and working on a range of exciting plans for the future.

In my absence, Parik and Sorviknight will act as Temporary Chiefs and manage the community together. I am confident that they will do a great job and continue to ensure that everything continues to run smoothly.

During this time, if you encounter any issues or have a query, you should either post in the Chain Game Lounge, post in the Discord Server tagging the "Chain Game Staff" role, or message either of the Temporary Chiefs. Please note that our email address and the message inboxes of the Chain Game GTAForums account and Twitter page will not be monitored until I return.

Closing Words
If you're looking to participate in the latest rounds, we're currently running rounds for Grand Theft Auto III (Round 131), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Round 157), and Grand Theft Auto IV (Round 9). We will also be launching Round 66 of the GTA Vice City Chain Game this weekend, and I would like to thank Stahli and Bunneyko in advance for their support with the Player List and Special Vehicle List for this round. It will be a major help to the Temporary Chiefs.

GTAKid667, Chain Game Chief

 

[GTAKid667]

Hi All,

 

I have returned from my break! It's great to see continued good activity across all rounds and a range of players participating.

 

Thanks again to @Parik and @Sorviknight for managing the Chain Game in my absence these past few weeks. They have done a great job as I expected they would, and it has been nice knowing that the game has been in safe hands and that I haven't had to worry about any issues while away

[GTAKid667]

Chain Game Announcement!

I hope everyone is well. It has been an exciting few months for the Chain Game with further updates to the opening posts, a special round to mark 20 years since the release of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and starting today, two new adventures to experience in Liberty City.

Checklist Updates - Hidden Packages, Unique Stunt Jumps, and Robberies
In August, we expanded the checklist of all games to include more detailed information on Hidden Packages/Flying Rats, Unique Stunt Jumps, and Robberies. In addition to displaying the total amount completed and which players contributed, the objectives have now been split into individual sections which display a breakdown of the progress made on each island.

This update allows players to easily determine where the remaining collectibles, jumps, and robberies are on the map, helping to better plan turns in advance. It is also useful for the staff when documenting statistics after the completion of a round, allowing us to create records based on content completed on a specific island. We hope you will agree that this is a positive update for the opening posts and find it useful when participating in future rounds.

I collected feedback on this idea in November 2019 and heard back from 18 people who all expressed that they were in favour of this update, each providing a range of useful advice and suggestions that have been taken on board. I’d like to thank all 18 people for their feedback – Arsen Vitiuk, Beato_dim, Bunneyko, Chyea, crashoverride93, cryptorelic, DEALUX, kr4yon, Mulyadi, Mr.ClaudeFan, MrMateczko, Parik, Prayag 97, Samwell, Sidaredd, Sorviknight, Th3MaN1, and thehambone.

20 Years of Vice City
In October, we celebrated 20 years since the release of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with a special round created in collaboration with MrMateczko, TubewayArmy, Rikka, and Bunneyko.

We each contributed to the save file by placing a total of 20 additional vehicles across the city. These vehicles were then included in the traditional minigame “Vehicle Hunt” where their locations were kept classified, providing players the opportunity to search for them during their turns, being awarded with cookies for each successful find.

A total of 10 players have participated in the round so far, with 7 players finding vehicles, and 30 cookies being awarded in total:
 

Cookies!
GTAKid667: 9
Bunneyko: 6
Rikka: 6
thehambone: 4
cryptorelic: 3
HectorOConner: 1
TubewayArmy: 1

It has been great to see a range of players participate in the round, including several who have not participated in a while. It’s always nice to see the community come together for special rounds like this one, generating excitement both in the rounds and across our social platforms, and enticing new and existing players to join in for the occasion.

It was important to us when planning this special round that we recognised the invaluable contributions made to the GTA Vice City Chain Game by long-term members of the community throughout the past 7 years since the game launched in 2015.

Former Deputy Chiefs MrMateczko and TubewayArmy were part of the creation process of the GTA Vice City Chain Game and served as the staff team alongside myself in the earlier years of the game. They helped to decide the rules, assisted with the creation of the opening posts, and produced starter saves that were used across multiple rounds.

Rikka was the first non-staff player of the GTA Vice City Chain Game. He has taken a total of 243 turns, provides high quality feedback and suggestions, and has helped with projects behind the scenes.

Bunneyko has been a player since Round 25 in January 2018. She has taken a total of 516 turns, provides high quality feedback and suggestions, and has regularly updated both the player list and special vehicle list in recent years.

We wanted them all to have a part in this special round, and I'm really glad that they all accepted our offer. The game and community wouldn't be the same without them, and I want to thank them all for their continued dedication and support.

I’d also like to thank everyone who has participated throughout the round, and who has shown their support. I hope you’ve all enjoyed participating and commemorating 20 years of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Episodes From Liberty City
We’re excited to announce that we are expanding the Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game to include rounds for the DLC episodes “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony”.

Set in Liberty City during the same time period as the base game, the episodes provide two new adventures across the city - one as the Vice President of a motorcycle club, and the other working closely with the owner of two popular nightclubs. The episodes are both action-packed, add new content and features to the game, and their stories feature crossovers with each other and with Niko Bellic’s story.

These rounds will run as an extension to the Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game in the same way that we run Starter Save Rounds. They will share the same player list, statistics collection, and Chain Game Index, with the opening posts also retaining the same layout and font. These rounds will be a permanent addition to the Chain Game going forward.

We’ve decided to keep the rules for both episodes simple and based on those used in regular rounds for the convenience of all players. The full list of rules can be found in the opening posts, with a summary of the main rules found below:

The Lost and Damned

• The turn time limit is 3 hours
• You may complete up to 1 story mission
  • “Coming Down” and “Collector’s Item” are exceptions as they are phone activated missions
• You may complete up to 1 random encounter
• You may complete as many other side activities as you wish

The Ballad of Gay Tony

• The turn time limit is 3 hours
• You may complete up to 1 story mission
  • “Blog This…” is an exception as it is a first part mission
  • “…Blog This” is an exception as it is a phone activated mission
• You may complete up to 1 random encounter
• You may complete as many other side activities as you wish

As always, we welcome anyone to participate, but note that you will need to install XLiveLess to load the save file if using Version 1.1.3.0 or earlier, and may need to downgrade the save file on GTASnP.com if using Version 1.2.0.32.

I’d like to thank Sorviknight for his invaluable contributions, feedback, and support throughout the year in the creation of these rounds. He created the starter saves, 100% checklists, special vehicle lists, and was a major support in deciding the rules for both episodes.

I’d also like to thank Parik and thehambone for their contributions, feedback, and support. They helped in deciding the rules for both episodes, assisted with the creation of the new articles of The Liberty Tree, and have provided support with various other tasks throughout the year.

Round 1 for The Lost and Damned is now available to play. We hope to see you join us for what I am certain will be a fun addition to the Chain Game.

Closing Words
It has been a busy few months for the Chain Game and it has been great to see so many members of the community active in the rounds. I hope you have all enjoyed participating.

Looking ahead, we’re continuing to work on several exciting projects behind the scenes and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you all in the coming months. It continues to be a pleasure working to create the best game and community for us all.

As always, we would love to hear if you have any feedback or suggestions for the Chain Game that you feel would benefit the community. You are always welcome to contact the team here in the lounge, through one of our social platforms, or by messaging us directly.

Thank you all for your continued support.

GTAKid667, Chain Game Chief

 

[GTAKid667]

Chain Game Announcement!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone is well and has been able to make the most of the last few weeks of 2022. As we look ahead to 2023, I would like to wish you all the best and hope that this year will bring you many positive memories.

It’s looking to be an exciting year for the Chain Game, and one with many anniversaries to celebrate. This week alone marks 1 year since the launch of the Chain Game Lounge, 3 years since Parik, Sorviknight, and thehambone joined the Chain Game Staff, and 10 years since I joined the Chain Game.

Congratulations to the team on their anniversary. In the last few years we’ve introduced new types of rounds, launched more expansive special rounds, and have continued to launch over 20 rounds per year across 4 different Grand Theft Auto titles. It takes a lot of work to keep the community running and I certainly couldn’t do without the help and support of the team.

As for me, joining the Chain Game continues to be one of the best decisions that I have ever made. It has introduced me to many incredible people, has given me the opportunity to regularly play some of my favourite games, and has allowed me to further my knowledge of these games from both a strategic and technical point of view. I’m glad to still be a part of the community, and to be a part of the decision making for the development of the community moving forwards.

2022 - A Great Year
It was a great year for the Chain Game in 2022.

We launched a total of 20 rounds throughout the year. 8 for Grand Theft Auto III, 7 for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, 3 for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and 2 for Grand Theft Auto IV. It was a particularly exciting year for the Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game as we launched the first round for the DLC episode “The Lost and Damned” which remains available to play.

34 players joined in with the fun throughout the year, taking a combined total of 1145 valid turns across all games. In addition to the continued commitment of our regular players, we welcomed several new players, and saw the return of players who had not participated for a while.

It was a fun year. Thank you all for continuing to be a part of the community, and I hope to see you all join us again this year.

Contribution Spotlight: thehambone
As we reflect on a great year for the community, I would also like to take a moment to highlight the contributions of a couple of people who have made major contributions to the community over the years.

thehambone joined the community in February 2014.

He has regularly taken turns across all games, contributed high-quality feedback and ideas, and continues to work on the game behind the scenes in his role as Assistant Chief which he took on in January 2020.

thehambone has contributed so much to the community in the last 9 years that it would be impossible to list all of his contributions, but one area I would like to highlight is his contributions to special rounds.

His extensive research and knowledge of the save file format of Grand Theft Auto III has allowed us to create more expansive and exciting rounds. With his assistance, Round 100 of the Grand Theft Auto III Chain Game introduced multiple platform save files, allowing players to enjoy the features of the round on a range of consoles and mobile devices in addition to on PC.

More recently, thehambone has developed a tool that merges the parked vehicle spawns of multiple save files together, allowing multiple contributors to produce Generated Vehicle Rounds together with no single person knowing the location of all hidden vehicles in the save file. We have so far used this tool in Rounds 50 and 68 of the GTA Vice City Chain Game, and Round 125 of the Grand Theft Auto III Chain Game.

In recognition of thehambone’s continued efforts to the community, he has been awarded with a well-deserved GTAForums contribution award:
 

Contribution Spotlight: Sorviknight
Sorviknight joined the community in June 2018.

In addition to regularly taking turns across all games and contributing high-quality feedback and ideas, he has updated the Player List, 100% Checklist, and Special Vehicles List on multiple occasions and always does so with a high degree of accuracy.

Since joining the Chain Game Staff as Assistant Chief in January 2020, he has maintained the smooth running of rounds, reverting progress on occasions where necessary, and in 2022 ran the game for a few weeks with Parik as Temporary Chief in which he did an excellent job.

Sorviknight also contributed extensively to the “Episodes from Liberty City” expansion to the Grand Theft Auto IV Chain Game that launched in 2022. His contributions included the creation of the Starter Saves, 100% Checklists, Special Vehicle Lists, and helping to decide the rules for both types of rounds.

In recognition of Sorviknight’s continued efforts to the community, he has also been awarded with a well-deserved GTAForums contribution award:
 

Closing Words
Congratulations to thehambone and Sorviknight on the recognition of their efforts to the community.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Assistant Chief Parik for his continued contributions, and also thank everyone that helped with updating lists throughout 2022. It’s very much appreciated, and we wouldn’t be able to keep the game running smoothly without your help.

Today we launched the first round of 2023, Round 69 of the GTA Vice City Chain Game, and it would be great to see you all join us for another fun adventure.

Thank you all for your continued support.

GTAKid667, Chain Game Chief

[GTAKid667]

3 hours ago, Bunneyko said:

"The final jump from the G-spotlight offices is optional for Starter Save Rounds." Interesting, but I still don't know how to do the other two  I know the way from that video only, but it's annoying

Yes, that's the way I do it. It's not too bad once you've done it a few times (although I have turn streams that would suggest otherwise ) as you learn the best way to approach the hill so that the bike is launched in the direction of the hospital. What can be annoying though is that the bike takes damage with each jump so by the time you get to the final jump it can be on fire as in the video you've linked.

 

2 hours ago, Stahli said:

The G-Spotlight Stunt I never tried. I heard you can do it with a Glitch and the Taxi Jump. Haven't seen a video of it either.

A few years ago during a previous Starter Save Round we spent a lot of time discussing this and trying to make the jump Here's a video of how it's done:

 

 

Despite numerous attempts by several of us, no one managed to do it that round - it's very difficult to do successfully. I spent a lot of hours trying and you can get an idea of how it went by skipping through this turn stream. I found this screenshot on Discord which is probably one of the closer attempts I had. There were a few closer ones, but I'd have to look through my streams to find them:

Spoiler

 

I'm determined to do it one day! That's why we consider it optional in these rounds though - for a long time we didn't even know it could be done, but even though we've since learned it's possible, it wouldn't make sense to make it a requirement of the round or else we'd never get it finished