Confusion on case variation on early GTA games

[Anywhere USA]

Hello. I'm seeking to purchase PC copies of the early GTA games (1, London, 2, and 3), and I want consistency between all my copies.

 

Something I've noticed is the significant variance in cases, both type and shape. Some of them seem to come in jewel cases, some in big cardboard boxes with a jewel case inside, some in big cardboard boxes with little paper slips, and some in DVD style plastic cases. What's the deal with this? Is there a definitive list of all the variations?

[Anywhere USA]

Just to be clear, my goal is to get them all in seperate cases, no box sets or anything, all of them NTSC, and all in the same style of case.

[Anywhere USA]

GTA 2 i seem to have found consistency on, still struggling with the first two 

[jm-9]

Original US big box GTA 1 and London are very rare and expensive. I've only seen big box US London for sale online once. The jewel cases from the big boxes are much easier to find, but they usually don't come with the maps. I don't know if they're all consistent either. The first US release of GTA 1 was published by ASC Games.

 

If you're interested in the big box releases, my advice is to buy European copies. They are completely uniform and much more commonly found. It is worth getting the US GTA 2 big box release though, as it has much bigger maps.

Edited January 19 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

7 minutes ago, jm-9 said:

Original US big box GTA 1 and London are very rare and expensive. I've only seen big box US London for sale online once. The jewel cases from the big boxes are much easier to find, but they usually don't come with the maps. I don't know if they're all consistent either. The first US release of GTA 1 was published by ASC Games.

 

If you're interested in the big box releases, my advice is to buy European copies. They are completely uniform and much more commonly found. It is worth getting the US GTA 2 big box release though, as it has much bigger maps.

I was hoping to get American copies of all three, all in the same sized cases(presumably jewel cases) regular edition with the normal cover art. That not possible?

[Anywhere USA]

1 hour ago, jm-9 said:

Original US big box GTA 1 and London are very rare and expensive. I've only seen big box US London for sale online once. The jewel cases from the big boxes are much easier to find, but they usually don't come with the maps. I don't know if they're all consistent either. The first US release of GTA 1 was published by ASC Games.

 

If you're interested in the big box releases, my advice is to buy European copies. They are completely uniform and much more commonly found. It is worth getting the US GTA 2 big box release though, as it has much bigger maps.

Ah. The one with the weird cover. I see. I suppose all the versions with the proper cover are either directors cuts or re-releases from years later in a collection?

 

I also noticed the only NA London I could find had a different cover with one of the characters on the front. So the only real options are either getting that London and that GTA 1, or the European set. I like consistency.

 

Hmm, one last question. Was the London 1961 download region free? Or was it specific to one.

Edited January 19 by Anywhere USA

[jm-9]

4 hours ago, Anywhere USA said:

Ah. The one with the weird cover. I see. I suppose all the versions with the proper cover are either directors cuts or re-releases from years later in a collection?

 

I also noticed the only NA London I could find had a different cover with one of the characters on the front. So the only real options are either getting that London and that GTA 1, or the European set. I like consistency.

 

Hmm, one last question. Was the London 1961 download region free? Or was it specific to one.

Yeah, the NA London with the extra character is from the original big box release. London 1961 is indeed region-free, however, it is not compatible with the version of GTA: London 1969 included in GTA: The Classics Collection. The original London 1969 is also only compatible with the original GTA 1, not the Rockstar Classics free download, the Steam version (both of which are no longer available) or the Classics Collection version.

 

American jewel cases are possible, but still harder to find. The ASC Games GTA 1 and the London with Rodney Morash (that's his name) on it are easier to spot. The jewel case from US big box GTA 2, as far as I am aware, has no cover, but there may be other releases that do (or I may simply have been unlucky and only seen ones with the cover lost). I'd recommend the European set for consistency. This is my collection, for example. I wanted it to be as consistent as possible.

 

https://imgur.com/Kn5SYmv

Edited January 19 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

1 hour ago, jm-9 said:

Yeah, the NA London with the extra character is from the original big box release. London 1961 is indeed region-free, however, it is not compatible with the version of GTA: London 1969 included in GTA: The Classics Collection. The original London 1969 is also only compatible with the original GTA 1, not the Rockstar Classics free download, the Steam version (both of which are no longer available) or the Classics Collection version.

 

American jewel cases are possible, but still harder to find. The ASC Games GTA 1 and the London with Rodney Morash (that's his name) on it are easier to spot. The jewel case from US big box GTA 2, as far as I am aware, has no cover, but there may be other releases that do (or I may simply have been unlucky and only seen ones with the cover lost). I'd recommend the European set for consistency. This is my collection, for example. I wanted it to be as consistent as possible.

 

https://imgur.com/Kn5SYmv

Does look nice, but I don't care for big boxes. I just want all 3 in jewel cases with the same region.

 

So am I correct in understanding a full American original release set would look like this? https://imgur.com/a/tNbhOWR AND would be fully compatible with the 1961 patch? I have an old computer, that is no concern.

 

What would the European Equivalent look like?

[jm-9]

14 minutes ago, Anywhere USA said:

Does look nice, but I don't care for big boxes. I just want all 3 in jewel cases with the same region.

 

So am I correct in understanding a full American original release set would look like this? https://imgur.com/a/tNbhOWR AND would be fully compatible with the 1961 patch? I have an old computer, that is no concern.

 

What would the European Equivalent look like?

Hmm, that's not showing for me. I'd like to see it though. If you're not interested in big boxes then that's different!

 

As far as jewel cases go, GTA 1, the European one looks like this:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/255327776598?hash=item3b72b8af56:g:7LYAAOSwmcBh3t50

 

The US one looks like this:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/373769000249?hash=item57065e5539:g:kKwAAOSwKDZhd5oU

 

You've seen the US London 1969 jewel case, the EU one is the same except Rodney isn't on the front.

 

EU GTA 2 jewel case looks like this (see the last image):

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/304307142309?hash=item46da1e7ea5:g:KKMAAOSwR7Bh4XAq

 

US one has the cover missing and shiny writing on the disc. However, a later GTA 2 US release looks like this, which is more standard:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/323850249283?hash=item4b66faa443:g:EHgAAOSwT6ld-UCd

Edited January 19 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

1 minute ago, jm-9 said:

Hmm, that's not showing for me. I'd like to see it though. If you're not interested in big boxes then that's different!

 

As far as jewel cases go, GTA 1, the European one looks like this:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/255327776598?hash=item3b72b8af56:g:7LYAAOSwmcBh3t50

 

The US one looks like this:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/373769000249?hash=item57065e5539:g:kKwAAOSwKDZhd5oU

 

You've seen the US London 1969 jewel case, the EU one is the same except Rodney isn't on the front.

 

EU GTA 2 jewel case looks like this (see the last image):

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/304307142309?hash=item46da1e7ea5:g:KKMAAOSwR7Bh4XAq

 

US one has the cover missing and shiny writing on the disc. However, a later GTA 2 US release looks like this, which is more standard:

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/323850249283?hash=item4b66faa443:g:EHgAAOSwT6ld-UCd

I've had trouble getting Imgur to work as of late. Let me try again. https://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo/full?photo_id=504481680045

 

Oh, one other thing. I've heard conflicting reports, can you or can you not retry missions in GTA 1 and London?

[jm-9]

56 minutes ago, Anywhere USA said:

I've had trouble getting Imgur to work as of late. Let me try again. https://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo/full?photo_id=504481680045

 

Oh, one other thing. I've heard conflicting reports, can you or can you not retry missions in GTA 1 and London?

That doesn't work either unfortunately, just takes me to the main site.

 

In regard to GTA 1 and London, the way it works is that there are six levels, two per city. Your goal is to earn enough money to beat the levels, and the main way to do this is to beat missions. You can't retry missions without restarting the level. However, in many missions you can have a second chance to beat them if you die or get busted with a get out of jail free card. You can drive back to the site of the action and pick up where you left off, which is pretty cool. Above all else you do not want to get busted. Doing so cuts your mission multiplier in half. The mission multiplier is a number that every amount of money you earn is multiplied by. It increases by one every time you beat a mission. You can find a few increases hidden around the city too. If you have a get out of jail free card, you lose the card without any other consequences (other than failing some missions).

 

If you actually want to play through the games, you need paper maps. Ideally I'd recommend the ones from the big boxes, but I understand cost is a factor in those, so make sure to print out high-resolution scans of them. There is no in-game map, not even a radar. Also, items don't respawn (except some pistol pickups) and there's no Ammunation. GTA 1 is very exploration-heavy. Make sure to mark out where weapons and items are.

 

Also, almost every function key does something:

 

F1-F4: Send messages in multiplayer (only works properly in DOS versions)

F5: Change radio station

F6: Pause/unpause game, check status

F7: Repeat last pager message

F8: Turn on/off frame limiter

F9: Show current area

F10: Repeat last message (at the bottom of the screen)

F11: Change resolution and colour depth (I recommend 800x600x32)

 

I used F7, F9 and F10 all the time when I beat GTA 1 and both Londons in 2020. Overall I'd strongly recommend them, aside from most of London 1961's missions (it only has seven). The time limits are way too tight on those.

[Anywhere USA]

18 hours ago, jm-9 said:

That doesn't work either unfortunately, just takes me to the main site.

 

In regard to GTA 1 and London, the way it works is that there are six levels, two per city. Your goal is to earn enough money to beat the levels, and the main way to do this is to beat missions. You can't retry missions without restarting the level. However, in many missions you can have a second chance to beat them if you die or get busted with a get out of jail free card. You can drive back to the site of the action and pick up where you left off, which is pretty cool. Above all else you do not want to get busted. Doing so cuts your mission multiplier in half. The mission multiplier is a number that every amount of money you earn is multiplied by. It increases by one every time you beat a mission. You can find a few increases hidden around the city too. If you have a get out of jail free card, you lose the card without any other consequences (other than failing some missions).

 

If you actually want to play through the games, you need paper maps. Ideally I'd recommend the ones from the big boxes, but I understand cost is a factor in those, so make sure to print out high-resolution scans of them. There is no in-game map, not even a radar. Also, items don't respawn (except some pistol pickups) and there's no Ammunation. GTA 1 is very exploration-heavy. Make sure to mark out where weapons and items are.

 

Also, almost every function key does something:

 

F1-F4: Send messages in multiplayer (only works properly in DOS versions)

F5: Change radio station

F6: Pause/unpause game, check status

F7: Repeat last pager message

F8: Turn on/off frame limiter

F9: Show current area

F10: Repeat last message (at the bottom of the screen)

F11: Change resolution and colour depth (I recommend 800x600x32)

 

I used F7, F9 and F10 all the time when I beat GTA 1 and both Londons in 2020. Overall I'd strongly recommend them, aside from most of London 1961's missions (it only has seven). The time limits are way too tight on those.

https://serving.photos.photobox.com/5952093311d9cdc63072901b8cf02896e5869281d6bd0dbc85367aae1af92992e1f4fd3f.jpg

[jm-9]

1 hour ago, Anywhere USA said:

https://serving.photos.photobox.com/5952093311d9cdc63072901b8cf02896e5869281d6bd0dbc85367aae1af92992e1f4fd3f.jpg

Oh yeah, now I see. Yes, GTA 1 and London are from the original big box releases. GTA 2 is from a later release, but is more consistent because, unlike the original release, the jewel case has a cover. London 1961 will work with that version of London 1969, you just need to have both GTA 1 and London 1969 installed and the London 1969 CD inserted when you start it.

Edited January 20 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

22 hours ago, jm-9 said:

Oh yeah, now I see. Yes, GTA 1 and London are from the original big box releases. GTA 2 is from a later release, but is more consistent because, unlike the original release, the jewel case has a cover. London 1961 will work with that version of London 1969, you just need to have both GTA 1 and London 1969 installed and the London 1969 CD inserted when you start it.

London and GTA 1 should arrive in Early February. I look forward to playing them.

 

I’ve 100%ed every other game thus far. What would doing that entail here? Is it viable?

Edited January 21 by Anywhere USA

[jm-9]

8 hours ago, Anywhere USA said:

London and GTA 1 should arrive in Early February. I look forward to playing them.

 

I’ve 100%ed every other game thus far. What would doing that entail here? Is it viable?

If it was the PC or Dreamcast version of GTA 2 you got 100% in, that's particularly impressive. Some of the kill frenzies, which were made easier for the PS1 version, are borderline impossible.

Anyway, the GTA 1 stats screen (which you see when you end a game) has two statistics of note - missions passed and secrets found. Secrets are kill frenzies, and are found by breaking certain crates and entering certain vehicles. They are based purely on points, so if you know where they are it's easy to beat them once your mission multiplier is high enough. So it's best to leave those until last.

 

To get 100% in GTA 1 and London expansions, you will need to:

• pass every mission without saving in between missions, except when you finish a level (there are six levels - two per city)
• beat every kill frenzy
• do this with a limited supply of weapons, items and armour

You die in one hit without armour. Armour gives you an extra three hits. Police can bust you on foot with one hit of their baton. Police bribes are limited like other items, but Pay n' Sprays can be used as many times as you want.

 

I didn't come across them (with one exception), but I have heard of a tiny few missions crashing the game, This may not be the case in all versions (DOS/Windows). The disc comes with both the DOS and Windows versions, and both are installed to the hard drive.

 

In the case of London 1961, make sure to play the Windows version. Both DOS versions hang after one particular mission is complete, so you can only 100% that game in the Windows version.

 

So if you don't want to download a map with all the items in them, in order to 100% them you will need to explore a lot, to find items and all the secrets. Stats, which can be accessed by pressing F6 in-game and also appear when you end a game, tells you how many missions and secrets on the map, and how many you have completed. Also, a few missions on some maps are secret - you have to find the phone that gives you the mission yourself.

 

Remember that you don't fail every mission by dying, so if it doesn't say Mission Failed, the mission is still ongoing and you have another chance to beat it. You get nothing extra for finishing a level with more lives left.

 

Overall though, these games are really fun, and I'd definitely recommend them.

Edited January 22 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

37 minutes ago, jm-9 said:

If it was the PC or Dreamcast version of GTA 2 you got 100% in, that's particularly impressive. Some of the kill frenzies, which were made easier for the PS1 version, are borderline impossible.

Anyway, the GTA 1 stats screen (which you see when you end a game) has two statistics of note - missions passed and secrets found. Secrets are kill frenzies, and are found by breaking certain crates and entering certain vehicles. They are based purely on points, so if you know where they are it's easy to beat them once your mission multiplier is high enough. So it's best to leave those until last.

 

To get 100% in GTA 1 and London expansions, you will need to:

• pass every mission without saving in between missions, except when you finish a level (there are six levels - two per city)
• beat every kill frenzy
• do this with a limited supply of weapons, items and armour

You die in one hit without armour. Armour gives you an extra three hits. Police can bust you on foot with one hit of their baton. Police bribes are limited like other items, but Pay n' Sprays can be used as many times as you want.

 

I didn't come across them (with one exception), but I have heard of a tiny few missions crashing the game, This may not be the case in all versions (DOS/Windows). The disc comes with both the DOS and Windows versions, and both are installed to the hard drive.

 

In the case of London 1961, make sure to play the Windows version. Both DOS versions hang after one particular mission is complete, so you can only 100% that game in the Windows version.

 

So if you don't want to download a map with all the items in them, in order to 100% them you will need to explore a lot, to find items and all the secrets. Stats, which can be accessed by pressing F6 in-game and also appear when you end a game, tells you how many missions and secrets on the map, and how many you have completed. Also, a few missions on some maps are secret - you have to find the phone that gives you the mission yourself.

 

Remember that you don't fail every mission by dying, so if it doesn't say Mission Failed, the mission is still ongoing and you have another chance to beat it. You get nothing extra for finishing a level with more lives left.

 

Overall though, these games are really fun, and I'd definitely recommend them.

Oh no, I haven’t 100% 2. That one just arrives later.

 

The disc versions are the Windows versions, yes?

[jm-9]

The disc version contains both the Windows and DOS versions. When you install the games, both the Windows and DOS versions are installed. There are three DOS versions installed:

 

• GTA8 - runs in 320x200 with 8-bit colour. Has its own graphics set. Runs in software, meaning that it doesn't use the hardware acceleration of a graphics card.
• GTA24 - runs up to 800x600 with 32-bit colour. Runs in software.
• GTAFX - Runs up to 800x600 with 16-bit colour. Hardware-accelerated but requires an old Voodoo 1 or Voodoo 2 graphics card. Applies a smoothing filter to the graphics.

The DOS versions have their own setup program in the gtados folder called k.exe. Here you setup language, network, controller and sound. Audio runs from the CD.

 

Then there's the Windows version. It runs like modern games, hardware-accelerated in DirectDraw. It uses standard Windows sound settings. It supports up to 800x600 with 32-bit colour. Its settings program handles controls and language.

 

So you don't have to worry about the DOS versions. They just come with it. The Windows version and the DOS version are in separate folders in C:\GTA (or wherever you install it), so you can just run the Windows settings program before you play it for the first time, and then just start the Windows version every time from then on.

 

Just so you know, in case you're used to modern PC games running at 60fps+, GTA 1 and the London expansions are capped at 24fps with the frame limiter on.

 

You said you have an old PC. Out of interest, what operating system does it run?

[Anywhere USA]

6 hours ago, jm-9 said:

The disc version contains both the Windows and DOS versions. When you install the games, both the Windows and DOS versions are installed. There are three DOS versions installed:

 

• GTA8 - runs in 320x200 with 8-bit colour. Has its own graphics set. Runs in software, meaning that it doesn't use the hardware acceleration of a graphics card.
• GTA24 - runs up to 800x600 with 32-bit colour. Runs in software.
• GTAFX - Runs up to 800x600 with 16-bit colour. Hardware-accelerated but requires an old Voodoo 1 or Voodoo 2 graphics card. Applies a smoothing filter to the graphics.

The DOS versions have their own setup program in the gtados folder called k.exe. Here you setup language, network, controller and sound. Audio runs from the CD.

 

Then there's the Windows version. It runs like modern games, hardware-accelerated in DirectDraw. It uses standard Windows sound settings. It supports up to 800x600 with 32-bit colour. Its settings program handles controls and language.

 

So you don't have to worry about the DOS versions. They just come with it. The Windows version and the DOS version are in separate folders in C:\GTA (or wherever you install it), so you can just run the Windows settings program before you play it for the first time, and then just start the Windows version every time from then on.

 

Just so you know, in case you're used to modern PC games running at 60fps+, GTA 1 and the London expansions are capped at 24fps with the frame limiter on.

 

You said you have an old PC. Out of interest, what operating system does it run?

XP 32bit

[jm-9]

6 hours ago, Anywhere USA said:

XP 32bit

Okay, that's great, that'll have no problem playing the Windows versions.

[Anywhere USA]

3 minutes ago, jm-9 said:

Okay, that's great, that'll have no problem playing the Windows versions.

Well, the copy of GTA 1 has shipped, I’ll start it when it arrives 

[Anywhere USA]

On 1/22/2022 at 5:10 PM, jm-9 said:

Okay, that's great, that'll have no problem playing the Windows versions.

I installed the game, it looks all pixelated, worse then the version off the fake Rockstar Games site.

 

Did I install it wrong or is that just how it looks on disc? I really really hope it’s not the latter

Edited February 2 by Anywhere USA

[jm-9]

31 minutes ago, Anywhere USA said:

I installed the game, it looks all pixelated, worse then the version off the fake Rockstar Games site.

 

Did I install it wrong or is that just how it looks on disc? I really really hope it’s not the latter

Press F11 and switch to 800x600x32. It's probably currently at 320x240 or 320x200, both of which are really low resolutions.

Edited February 3 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

3 minutes ago, jm-9 said:

Press F11 and switch to 800x600x32.

Thanks! Man, you know more about GTA 1 then Google does. You a genius my man!

 

Not strictly GTA related, but I’ve noticed that sometimes things on the corner of the screen(usually the top right, but sometimes the bottom left) are ever so slightly cut off(the top half of the number lives in GTA 1, the right half of the red X on browser), any way to fix that? It’s not a problem, just curious since you seem to know computers 

[Anywhere USA]

5 hours ago, jm-9 said:

Press F11 and switch to 800x600x32. It's probably currently at 320x240 or 320x200, both of which are really low resolutions.

Had a bit of trouble trying to play London, got CD errors with either disc in

[jm-9]

4 hours ago, Anywhere USA said:

Had a bit of trouble trying to play London, got CD errors with either disc in

Strange. Just to clarify, both GTA 1 and London 1969 are installed in the same directory (default is C:\GTA)? Also, London is not the GTA Classics Collection version? If it is there will be a black label at the top of the front of the CD case saying it. Finally, if you have two disc drives, is London 1969 in the primary disc drive (lower drive letter in My Computer)?

 

If both of these are correct, then that is very strange. With GTA 1 and GTA London installed and GTA: London 1969 in the disc drive, both London games should work no problem.

 

Maybe you could send on a picture of the disc you're using.

 

Regarding the screen, it depends on what you're using. If it's a CRT monitor it's an easy fix, if it's a HDTV it may have a native mode (they're generally slightly zoomed in). If it's a flatscreen PC monitor then that's unusual. You could try lowering the resolution or looking at the controls at the front.

 

What type of monitor are you using?

Edited February 3 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

6 hours ago, jm-9 said:

Strange. Just to clarify, both GTA 1 and London 1969 are installed in the same directory (default is C:\GTA)? Also, London is not the GTA Classics Collection version? If it is there will be a black label at the top of the front of the CD case saying it. Finally, if you have two disc drives, is London 1969 in the primary disc drive (lower drive letter in My Computer)?

 

If both of these are correct, then that is very strange. With GTA 1 and GTA London installed and GTA: London 1969 in the disc drive, both London games should work no problem.

 

Maybe you could send on a picture of the disc you're using.

 

Regarding the screen, it depends on what you're using. If it's a CRT monitor it's an easy fix, if it's a HDTV it may have a native mode (they're generally slightly zoomed in). If it's a flatscreen PC monitor then that's unusual. You could try lowering the resolution or looking at the controls at the front.

 

What type of monitor are you using?

Oh, I only had one disc in at a time, maybe that was my problem. I'll try both discs, one in each drive, when I get back.

 

Uh, I'll get you a picture when I can

[jm-9]

9 minutes ago, Anywhere USA said:

Oh, I only had one disc in at a time, maybe that was my problem. I'll try both discs, one in each drive, when I get back.

 

Uh, I'll get you a picture when I can

No, you only need one disc. You need both games installed, and GTA London in your primary disc drive. You don't need to have GTA 1 inserted.

[Anywhere USA]

2 hours ago, jm-9 said:

No, you only need one disc. You need both games installed, and GTA London in your primary disc drive. You don't need to have GTA 1 inserted.

It's the same version of London from the prior picture

[jm-9]

2 hours ago, Anywhere USA said:

It's the same version of London from the prior picture

Then that should definitely work. And you're saying you installed it to the same folder as GTA 1, have the CD in the primary drive (with the lowest drive letter) and it still can't detect the CD when you start London 1969? I have never heard of this happening before.

Edited February 3 by jm-9

[Anywhere USA]

2 hours ago, jm-9 said:

Then that should definitely work. And you're saying you installed it to the same folder as GTA 1, have the CD in the primary drive (with the lowest drive letter) and it still can't detect the CD when you start London 1969? I have never heard of this happening before.

There’s no music or audio when it starts and it boots in Network Only mode