How chaotic gang of British 'geeks' launched one of most lucrative gaming franchises of all time
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I found this mini-article interesting. It talks about the development of GTA from its early days in Scotland, in the UK.
Many people probably assume that GTA is an American game series, and sure it is ultimately owned by American companies (Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive).
But GTA was originally made in Scotland, and Rockstar North, which I think is still the lead development studio for GTA, is still based in Scotland.
GTA must be one of Scotland's most important exports of modern times. The website of Rockstar North clearly shows their Scottish heritage with a Scottish flag on the left-hand side:
Colin Anderson, the audio manager and co-composer for Grand Theft Auto II at DMA Design, recently paid tribute to the game, calling it the 'unsung hero' of the franchise. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Anderson highlighted how GTA 2 was pivotal in shaping the series' future by focusing on experim...
Colin Anderson, the audio manager and co-composer for Grand Theft Auto II at DMA Design, recently paid tribute to the game, calling it the “unsung hero” of the franchise. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, many see GTA 2 as a misstep, but Anderson believes that it was pivotal in shaping Grand Theft Auto’s future.
GTA 2 introduced several innovative features such as the gang reputation system and fictionalized radio commercials. It also moved the setting to “Anywhere USA,” a retrofuturistic metropolis inspired by films and comics like Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled. These elements made it one of the more experimental entries in the series.
Anderson highlighted that GTA 2 was key for experimentation over perfection, making it a critical step in the franchise’s evolution. The game moved away from simple point-and-click mechanics and towards creating a meaningful immersive world.