Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - The Definitive Edition

Bugs

Development Leftovers#

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Look through everything.

Uncompiled Mission Scripts#

In the files for the Switch and Windows version, Gameface\Content\OriginalData\GTAVC\Scripts contains the uncompiled scripts for story missions, side missions and various other parts of the game. In most cases they also contain notes from developers, possibly from the original developers as well as Grove Street Games.

GXT Maker#

Found in Gameface/Content/OriginalData/ViceCity/TEXT is gxtmaker.exe, an application used to convert .txt files into .gxt text containers for the game. Also included is a log file which has several entries from between April 1st and May 29th, 2019.

------ Mon Apr 01 11:20:59 2019 ------

gxtmaker v3.3.1       by KRH
(c) 1996-1999 DMA Design Ltd
Converting american.txt -> american.gxt
saving file : american.gxt 
Main Size 192444  Largest Mission Size 9152

Early Mission Names#

To do: Looks like some debug related strings are in it too.

Also found in Gameface/Content/OriginalData/ViceCity/TEXT is GTAVC_AllLangs.xls, a spreadsheet containing all the in-game text in multiple languages. Of note are some of the mission names near the end of the sheet, starting at row 4919, which differ from the final names.

Unused Graphics#

Unused remade HUD elements found in Gameface/Content/ViceCity/UI/Textures.

Three unused weapon icons; M16 (San Andreas' M4), Rocket Launcher (from III) and the Tear Gas from the initial PlayStation 2 release.

An icon for VCN for the radio wheel.

Two unused radar icons for Biker and Property, respectively. Both were unused in the original game as well.

Oddities#

Classic Radar#

In the “GameUserSettings.ini” file for each of the three games, there is a setting called “ClassicRadar” which is set to false by default. This setting is not found in the game’s settings menu, and enabling it causes the radar to adopt the classic 2D perspective, rather than being constantly tilted. This option is especially useful in Vice City and San Andreas, as it fixes a bug that caused the player’s position to become misaligned when flying a helicopter or airplane.

Regional Differences#

Japanese Version Changes#

The Definitive Edition contains fewer censorships compared to its original version, but were applied in different and rather worse ways.

This page or section needs more images. There's a whole lotta words here, but not enough pictures. Please fix this.

• In the Japanese version of the original game, the opening cutscenes for “No Escape?” and "The Shootist" begin right after Ken snorts the cocaine. But in the Definitive Edition, the cutscene for "The Shootist" remains uncut.
• The opening cinematic of the mission “Martha's Mug Shot” was hastily cut in the Japanese version. The cutscene now begins when Steve is already talking to Tommy, whereas the camera angle is changed to hide Candy from the screen and the audio is now fully muted, compared to the original cutting out Candy's moans.
• In the “G-Spotlight” mission, the spotlight graphic showing breasts was replaced with simply the text of “Candy Suxxx”, which was updated in the Definitive Edition, except the font is now in Comic Sans.
• The painting of Candy Suxxx that appears in Tommy's mansion has a different texture. In the Japanese Definitive Edition it is a back shot of Candy taken directly from the Definitive Edition, while in the international versions it is the re-scaled texture of the original.
• All references to Haitian and Cubans, including dialogues were removed.

Revisional Differences#

The Definitive Edition is based on 2012 mobile port, which itself based on 2003 PC port. Shortly after release, the Windows version was made unavailable as Rockstar "remove[d] files unintentionally included" in the game. The game was eventually restored on November 14th with the uncompiled mission scripts removed from the files. Unlike digital release, physical release of Nintendo Switch version was released on 11th February 2022. Physical release of Nintendo Switch version is not based on a specific patch ; the cartridge don't contain the full game, just an launcher which indicates to download the title - 1.0.5 - (the launcher was only accessible before 25th February 2022, now the console forces the "update" - which contain the full updated game 1.0.8 - before launching the game). More polished Netflix / iOS / Android versions was released on 14th December 2023. Those fixes, plus new updates was included on 13th November 2024 in 1.112 patch for all platforms.

[11/11/2021] 1.0.0 / Patch 1.0.1 (NSW : 1.0.3)#

- Initial digital and physical release
- Based on Unreal Engine 4 (instead RenderWare) for graphics / physics rendering
- Some tools was used to convert in a readable language the old files of missions, scripts and driving caracteristics of cars
- Some assets comes from GTA V, like donuts or candy machines (which makes some inconsistencies, like the OG Loc disc, the 2012 book in Sunshine Autos or the 2000's computer in the Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory)
- AI was used to upscale and improve some old textures
- Another old or small textures was redesigned or completely replaced
- 3D models was upgraded (most faces looks wrong, but bodies are less cubics and hands got improvements)
- All trees and vegetation was replaced
- Some lights was added around all the map to compensate the lack of direct lighting
- Controls are more like GTA V (full 3D camera, selection wheels for weapons and radio stations, vehicles driving)
- Texts on the European version are based on the PS2 3.00 version (with censorship)
- Songs are based on 2012 mobile version
- Lionel Richie song from 2002 PS2 is back !
- Tear Gas weapon from 2002 PS2 is still missing
- No blood censorship for French version
- Removing part of bodies is now censored (except for the top)
- The flag on the Phil shirt is now censored
- All missions are present
- A tracking system (like a GPS) was added on the map menu
- A mission checkpoint system was added
- An audio line from Tommy in the "Job" mission is missing (before he arrive in the bank)
- The hat of a specific dancer in the Pole Position Club is now missing
- The golf balls at the entrance of the golf club are still wrong (glitch inherited from the PC version)

[11/19/2021] Patch 1.0.2 (NSW : 1.0.4)#

- Better rain effect
- The game don't crash anymore around Prawn Island
- Texture corruption behind our vehicule (after playing a while) is fixed
- Lionel Richie song is removed (again)
- View distance is improved on Nintendo Switch
- Possibility to move the camera at high speed
- Sensitive scripts and internal files are removed
- Another bugfixes

[11/30/2021] Patch 1.0.3 (NSW : 1.0.5)#

- Cinematic camera
- Incorrect spelling in some textures are fixed
- Original sounds for the main menu
- Rockstar logo on the Map was fixed
- Another bugfixes

[02/25/2022] Patch 1.0.4 (NSW : 1.0.6)#

- Framerate improvements
- Textures improvements
- Tail Lights for the cars
- Roof fixed in the Vercetti Estate
- Black band on the horizon fixed
- The sea around the bridge of Little Havana is fixed
- The face of the 3D model of Tommy is more expressive (angry)
- Exterior of Moist Palms Hotel was improved
- Another bugfixes

However, this patch add two new issues on NSW : Helicopter "fantom" texture / Incorrect background texture in selection wheels

[10/18/2022] Patch 1.04.5 (NSW : 1.0.7)#

- Unknown

[11/13/2024] Patch 1.112 (NSW : 1.0.8)#

- Classic PS2 lighting option (with original colours, fog, birds and weather effects)
- Possibility to run with certain weapons
- The wooden board around the boat is fixed
- The ground around Sunshine Autos is fixed
- Issues from NSW 1.0.6 patch was fixed (the background of the circular menu is now grey)
- Better audio synchronisation on the opening introduction (NSW)
- Possibility to pause during cutscenes
- Shadows of trees are more dynamic on day time
- The face of the 3D model of the bikini girl in Ocean Beach is now fixed (NSW)
- Physics reactions are more close to the original version, especially for lampposts
- More realistic fire effects, especially for the flamethrower
- Better internal resolution on handheld mode (NSW)
- Frequency of audio NPC reactions was corrected to match the PS2 version (bug previously inherited from the PC version)
- Garages opening / closing sounds was fixed
- The ambiant lights in Ocean View Hotel was fixed (more colors to match the PS2 version)
- Haze effect was added in the cold room of the first cutscene
- The 3D model of Lance Vance in North Point Mall was updated to match his regular model
- More neons was added outside the Malibu Club
- New splashscreen, reference to GSG was removed
- VGD (Rockstar Australia) was added in the credits
- Another bugfixes

Despite this huge patch, the DE is still "not fixed" ;

Regression : The water is less clear than the previous patch ; it helps the player to not fall down in the water, but it also hides some underwater easter eggs.

Still present problems compared to the PS2 version : Visual graphics issues, collissions issues, ugly faces of 3D models, classic colors don't match perfectly with interiors and all the weather, censorship, missing songs, absence of tear gas weapon, thunder effect (NSW).

NSW version is also missing some grass and night shadows compared to the PS5 version, and the face of Tommy is deformed in the Frankie Outfit for an unknown reason.

References#