We’re not far off having our eyeballs exposed to the firstofficialGTA 6trailer. Until then, let’s talk about the classic games in Rockstar’s iconic series. Hey, did you know there was a point whenVice City(easily the best entry – I will fight you all) nearly wasn’t its own game?
According to ablog postfrom Obbe Vermeij – former technical director at Rockstar Games – the follow-up toGrand Theft Auto 3was just going to be a mission pack. Vermeij said the team had the idea to have a game set in the 80s in Miami. But it wasn’t untilGTA 3became as successful as it did that a decision was made to turnVice Cityinto a standalone entry.
The original project was already six months into development, but artists and level designers were “able to get straight onto” the next in-line for theGTAfranchise. Despite it being built off the third game’s engine, Vermeij remembersVCbeing “more stressful” thanGrand Theft Auto 3.
But wait…there’s more
In an earlierblog, we learn that the studio was keen to try something non-GTA. Inspired by the undead, Rockstar wanted to run with the idea of creating a zombie game that would have been built off theVice Citycode.
Vermeij describes the elusive project called “Z” (pronounced either “Zed” or “Zee”) thus:
The game was to take place on a windswept foggy Scottish island. The player would be under constant attack from zombies. The player would need to use vehicles to get around but vehicles would need fuel. Acquiring the fuel would be a big part of the game.
Sadly,Zwas abandoned a month into development as it was “depressing,” and the team got to work onSan Andreas. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.
