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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

After Grand Theft Auto III was a hit, a follow-up was obivously planned. Originally starting out as a mission pack to the game, it was decided to make standalone entry known as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Though development was built directly off the former, the team were riled up into a one-year deadline due to the decision involving the former plan. Especially when it was decided to make a standalone entry halfway through development, where lots and lots of things were changed during development.

Fortunately it was a smash hit, further leading Grand Theft Auto into popularity.

Developmental Timeline#

2001

  • circa. Mid-late September - Development of Grand Theft Auto III concludes, where the team got a six week break.
  • Oct. 23-26 - Development of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City begins some time after the release of Grand Theft Auto III. The Windows port of the latter begins development at the same time.

2002

  • circa. Mar/Apr/May - The decision to make Grand Theft Auto: Vice City into a standalone game is decided.
  • May 21 - Grand Theft Auto III was released for Windows, thus development was completely shifted towards Vice City.
  • May 22-24 - Grand Theft Auto Vice City was unveiled at E3 2002.
  • Oct. 29 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for the PlayStation 2 in North America.
  • Nov. 8 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for the PlayStation 2 in Europe and Australia.

2003

  • May 13-16 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for Windows.
  • Nov. 4 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for the Xbox in North America.

2004

  • Jan. 9 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released for the Xbox in Europe.
  • May 20-21 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released in Japan for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and on Windows.

Development Timeline (video footage)#

Watch on YouTube

Various early video footage from first wireframe leaks until release is available as a bundled development timeline video.

Early Development (2001-2002)#

After development of Grand Theft Auto III concluded around mid-to-late September (after the 9/11 attacks, which led to said game getting last-minute changes after the event), Rockstar North employees were given a six week break lasting all the way to the game's release in mid-October 2001. The timeframe allowed the discs to be burned and distributed.

When it came to the break's end, the team at the newly-rebranded Rockstar North studio (formerly known as DMA Design) were split into two different groups; the programmers worked on the Windows port of Grand Theft Auto III, while the artists and the level designers worked on the next Grand Theft Auto entry.

Mission Pack Phase#

The project initially started development as a mission pack to Grand Theft Auto III, thus they were only given a one year deadline.1

Expansion disks for the PlayStation 2 weren't thought out much in general back then. They'd either release it as a disc, where the player must've owned Grand Theft Auto III, or one sold at a much lower price without the requirement. The first option had an advantage where it would've bypassed Sony's "per-game fee".2

Very little is known for the Grand Theft Auto III mission pack in terms of content and story, except in the plan that there would be no changes to the map.3. This suggests it would be set in Liberty City.

Change of Direction#

Some time ("maybe 6 months or so", according to Obbe Vernej) into the project's development, it was decided for the next Grand Theft Auto title to be a standalone game thanks to the success of Grand Theft Auto III. They wanted a setting that had similarities and differences to New York, with the similarity having that "dark edge underneath". A London setting and "a few other places" were suggested as settings.

But what stood out the most was a Miami-based locale.

At that point of development, a 1980s prequel in a Miami-esque setting was suggested by Rockstar New York and Sam Houser's interest towards the 1980s TV show Miami Vice, with the latter justifying it as a common setting being used in classic TV shows and movies.4

The developmental team were given an all-expenses paid research trip to Miami, staying at a hotel Miami Beach to take photos, where some would end up as textures in the final game.

https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/07/inside-vice-city?page=2 https://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-vice-city-interaction-qanda/1100-2895857/

The map of Vice City was completely built from scratch.5

Early Story Draft#

To do:
concept art.

In one of the early story drafts, the protagonist was originally an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a drug crime syndicate in Vice City.

They would receive missions from the FBI and that crime gang, balancing their life between the two. At some point into the draft, the daughter of a mob boss would accidentally be killed by the protagonist and would have to face the consequences of doing so.6

2002#

To do:
E3 2002.

Spring#

Later Development#

After development of the Windows port of Grand Theft Auto III concluded before release in mid-May, the programmers in that team assisted with code changes for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Removed Songs#

It is alleged the European edition of the "Flash FM Soundtrack CD" contains the following songs, which do not actually appear in the game:

  • Glenn Frey - "Smuggler's Blues" (1984)
  • Toto - "Hold the Line" (1978)
  • Boys Don't Cry - "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" (1985)

The October 2002 issue of PSM2 mentioned removed songs:

  • Hall & Oates - "Do It for Love" (2002)

Issue #161 of Electronic Gaming Monthly claimed that a song by Crowded House was due to appear on the station, but did not name the song(s).

Changed Songs#

  • "More Than This" by Roxy Music was originally intended for the theme song or mostly likely merely a placeholder before it was changed to Lex Horton's Vice City.

Flash FM#

  • Aneka – "Japanese Boy" (1981)

Wave 103#

  • The Buggles – "Video Killed the Radio Star" (1979)

Resources#

References#

  1. https://x.com/ObbeVermeij/status/1871989718105063665↩︎
  2. https://x.com/ObbeVermeij/status/1872072459135951094↩︎
  3. https://x.com/ObbeVermeij/status/1745638247248663002↩︎
  4. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/exploring-grand-theft-auto-vice-citys-lasting-impact-on-gamer-culture-with-rockstars-leslie-benzies/↩︎
  5. https://x.com/ObbeVermeij/status/1809946627026591951↩︎
  6. https://gtaforums.com/topic/762783-rockstar-games-and-grand-theft-auto-exhibit/↩︎