What GTA 3's Chaotic Development Means for GTA 6
This retrospective highlights how even legendary games can struggle until the final stretch, and raises questions about whether GTA 6's massive scale will lead to similar last-minute miracles or longe…
This retrospective highlights how even legendary games can struggle until the final stretch, and raises questions about whether GTA 6's massive scale will lead to similar last-minute miracles or longe…
Key points - Obbe Vermeij says GTA 3 was in a sorry state for most of development, with frequent crashes and terrible frame rate. - The game only came together in the last six months, hitting 30 fps in the final months. - GTA 3 was built from scratch with only two people from GTA 2, and no code or art was reused. - The opening plot involving Catalina was added well into development. - GTA 3 had a disappointing E3 2001 showing, but sales never tapered off after launch.
Timeline - 1998: Space Station Silicon Valley finished; no new project lined up at DMA Design. - 2000: GTA 2.5 (set in Miami) cancelled; Dundee office closed; GTA 3 officially greenlit. - May 2001: GTA 3 has a disappointing showing at E3. - Last six months of development: Game finally comes together; frame rate hits 30 fps.
FAQ
Q: Why was GTA 3 in such a bad state during development? A: According to Obbe Vermeij, it crashed frequently, had a terrible frame rate, and the map was full of holes until the last six months.
Q: How does GTA 3's development compare to GTA 6? A: GTA 3 was made by a small team with little wastage, while GTA 6 has thousands of devs and stalled due to conflicting creative visions.
Q: Did the GTA 3 team experience crunch? A: Vermeij says although everyone worked hard, most people left around 9 or 10 PM even during crunch, and he doesn't remember crazy hours.
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