Tracking Down the GTA III Beta; Part 2

Since my last post on this subject, there have been a few updates to report. Firstly, the Rockstar E3 Press Kit I bought from Ebay arrived and it's a nice thing to own. It obviously contains no demo, only screenshots, some videos, a trailer and a press release statement. However, it came with a name (probably the press officer at the time); Jeff Castaneda. I managed to contact Jeff and ask him about the demo that was playable at E3. Nice guy, however he couldn't really help me and instead, directed me to Rockstar support.

The trail went dead for a while, when I was contacted by a user on YouTube; with some snippets of information about a German journalist that had owned the demo, and sold it on Ebay. I am currently investigating this lead, though I have no idea how far I'll get with it. It would be great to talk to a previous owner though, as that would be a big step forward in tracking down the disc.

More to come soon!

The Development of Grand Theft Auto III

Look at this picture; do you recognise it at all? Well if you don’t, it’s a school bus in Grand Theft Auto III. It’s not a mod either; it’s one of many things that was either cut or changed during the development. You can still see school buses near 8-Ball’s bomb shop in Portland, though they’re not driveable; they don’t even have any wheels! Speaking of 8-Ball, he was originally white rather than black, and was named Mullin. Last year, Rockstar did an online Q and A with fans about GTA III; where beta features such as these were explained. I’m going to do my best to detail what is now known about the early stages of GTA III’s development, and what is still a mystery.

At any point during the development of GTA III, did Claude ever speak?

Many people have seen this trailer where Claude appears to say; “Get out of the car!”

Here is Rockstar’s explanation:

“This is fake. This is an old bit of gameplay footage, for sure, but we think the voices were added at a later date by someone online as at no point did we plan for Claude to have a voice or even design how a speaking protagonist would be implemented until Vice City.”

Seems probable, right? Well I can shed at least a little bit more light than Rockstar can on this matter. I recently bought the press disc that was given out by Rockstar to the press at E3 in 2001. The trailer in question features on this disc, with voices and all. So it seems as if this trailer is not a fake after all, though I would assume that the voices and sound effects within the trailer were added by a Rockstar employee; and therefore a talking Claude would have never been implemented in the game. It is possible that the trailer in its finished state wasn’t seen by the powers that be at Rockstar; and so could have been added by a single designer gone haywire. This one remains a bit of a mystery.

Darkel

Darkel was a character that was cut during the development of GTA III. He was to be a revolutionary street urchin who would have given out rampage-like missions. However Rockstar decided to go back to the traditional rampage style missions and Darkel’s part in the game was cut. The only mission of his that is known to still exist in the game is ‘I scream, you scream’, which was given out to Claude by El Burro. Here are Rockstar’s comments on the matter:

“Darkel was just a crazy bum who gave you some crazy missions. They were removed a few months before the game was done and long before 9/11 because they just weren’t as good as the rest of the game, and tonally they were a little odd. He started with 5 missions and they were slowly all cut. When only one or 2 were left, they were all removed as the character just didn’t work alongside the other characters. None of these missions involved blowing up buses of school children although that is a funny rumour!”

Another rumour is that Darkel gave out a mission where the player had to fly a plane into the Love Media Building. Rockstar have never commented on this, however they have revealed that the Dodo was never meant to be flown; meaning that this mission is probably just a rumour.

“Because we were making a driving and shooting game - even that, as a combination of core gameplay elements, was very, very radical at the time. The Dodo was never meant to be flown very much at all, and it certainly wasn’t grounded as a result of 9/11 – it was just a fun thing that people then went crazy with when they figured out various bugs that let them fly it!”

There were other cut characters too: Curtly, Butler (presumed to have been Salvatore’s butler) and Novy. Tom Novy’s song ‘Back to the Streets’ was used in a trailer and it is rumoured that it was to feature on Head Radio. Both Novy and his song were cut for unknown reasons; however the textures for him and Butler remain in the game. Other characters simply changed names before the final release of the game. Salvatore Leone’s name was originally Frankie Sorvino; therefore making Joey’s surname Sorvino too.

Other Stuff

A lot of the other stuff that was changed between the first look at GTA III and the final release was mostly cosmetic. A beta map design shows that Francis International Airport was located in Staunton Island, before it was moved to Shoreside Vale. Shoreside Vale looked slightly larger than it ended up being, having more roads near where the airport would eventually be placed.

 The graphics were a lot more ‘cartoonish’ in the earliest stages of GTA III’s development, and Portland went through a few design tweaks. The police station and hospital were changed and there was originally no subway. The Police cars were originally blue rather than black, which is potentially one of the few changes Rockstar made in light of 9/11.

“(GTA III after 9/11 was) about 1% different. We removed only one mission that referenced terrorists and changed a few other cosmetic details – car details, a couple of ped comments, lines of radio dialogue etc – the game came out a very short time later. The biggest change was the US packaging which remixed the previous packaging into what became our signature style – because the previous packaging [which was released as the cover of the game in Europe] was, we felt, too raw after 9/11. All of the more extreme rumours are amusing but impossible to have been achieved in such a short period of time.”

So that’s about it. There’s just one thing left to cover really.

How is the cannelloni at Marco’s Bistro?

“Horrible! Stale as hell.”

Soul Calibur V / Chronicles of the Sword

The year was 1999. My parents had bought me a Sony Playstation the previous Christmas and Tekken 3, amongst other games; had come with it. I loved Tekken 3, and I’m still addicted to the series today; eagerly awaiting the impending release of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. But during the first year that I owned my Playstation, I was oblivious to all the other titles that Namco had released.

Then one day, my friend brought round a game for me to play: Soul Blade. This game was the first in another series of fighting games that Namco had produced, alongside Tekken. We inserted the game into the console, and started to play. I mentioned that I’m still a fan of the Tekken series today, well I’m still a fan of the Soul series too, and it’s all thanks to the impression that Soul Blade made on me.

So recently, I purchased Soulcalibur V and dived straight in to the new mode of gameplay; Story Mode. It doesn’t sound like a new mode at all, but the difference is that you’re forced to take control of a new character called Patroklos, and guide him through a series of battles divided into twenty episodes.

Unfortunately for me, Patroklos wields a sword and shield; similar to the characters Sophitia and Cassandra. Now I know that this type of move set will suit some people, but it’s just not for me. Besides, if the game designers are going to force you to play as just one character through this story mode; then they should give you the option of selecting a move set. At the very least, the player should be able to earn different weapons and move sets as they progress through the story.

Now, what makes this mode even less appealing is that instead of cut scenes, you’re forced to watch still images in sepia tone. There are a few cut scenes, but they’re few and far between. The lack of effort that was put into the main innovative feature of the game is quite astounding. The innovation of a new mode has been a staple since the very first game in the series. Many fans of the series loved the Edge Master Mode of Soul Blade (named Weapon Master Mode in Soulcalibur II); but the mode I always enjoyed best was Chronicles of the Sword from Soulcalibur III.

Not only did Soulcalibur III introduce the option to create a character, but Chronicles of the Sword actually gave your created characters a purpose in the game. Your character would begin as a rookie cadet for the Grandall Empire and work up to commander of the Arthias rebels through 20 Chronicles. This mode still offered players the chance to fight 1 on 1, but also brought in an element of turn based strategy. Unfortunately, this mode was plagued by a glitch that reportedly wiped the save game from your memory card; though I never experienced this myself.

But in any case, such a mode of gameplay was never included in a Soul game again, and neither was the popular Weapon Master Mode. Soul Calibur IV offered the Tower of Lost Souls mode, but what it boiled down to is just a survival mode with a fancy title.

There are some good elements in Soulcalibur V; the controls are as good as ever and so is the music. But they are both a continuation of what was already good about the series, and where this game falls down is just a lack of innovation this time around. I’ll always hold out for another game like Soulcalibur III, which felt innovative and fresh. The soundtrack and controls were as good then as they are today; but it came with the exciting additions of Chronicles of the Sword and Create a Soul modes. It seems as if my search for a worthy successor to Soulcalibur III will go forever on, just as Siegfried is forced to endure the never-ending quest; to rid the world of the cursed blade, Soul Edge.

Games Wish List

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd post a small list of video games that I'm currently interested in buying. Some of them are quite rare, so I'm having trouble finding them. So on the off chance that anyone wants to sell a copy, get in touch! :)

Gran Turismo Test Drive Disc (Single version or Pule Pule / Pure Pure version)
Gran Turismo 2 Test Drive Disc
Gran Turismo 4 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Press Kit
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Press Kit
Grand Theft Auto III E3 2001 Demo

I'll be adding more to the list whenever I come across something that I'd like to own. I'd probably also be interested in any items that are in any way similar to those that I have posted above.

Send me a message on YouTube (MattJ155) , or email me at mattj_155@hotmail.co.uk

~Matt.

Tracking down the GTA III beta

Most people would consider Nintendo World Championships (Gold) as the holy grail of gaming. For good reason too, as it is probably the most expensive piece of gaming memorabilia out there; often selling for over £20,000 in those rare instances where it comes on the market. The only item that springs to mind which could fetch more, is if any of the Atari Swordquest treasures ever appeared for sale.

Just like Indiana Jones' father in The Last Crusade, who devoted his life to the search for the holy grail. Well, that's like me with the Grand Theft Auto III Beta. Well, in reality; I've only being looking around for a couple of months now! But still, I'm here to note down those small pieces of information which I've gotten so far.

For people that don't know; Rockstar never released an early beta for public viewing. There are very early screenshots, where the graphics were more cartoonish, there were school buses populating the road; along with many more things that would go on to be changed in the final release. The first trailers and video clips came along after the game had been worked on a little more. Then finally, a demo of the game was playable at E3 in 2001. However, this wasn't a case like Gran Turismo 2000; which was given out at the Playstation Festival 2000 in limited quantities. The beta GTA III was never given out, not even to the press.

In fact, Grand Theft Auto III had a fairly dismal time at E3 2001; as people were more impressed with the look of State of Emergency. Hard to believe that this GTA III is the same game that still generates a big amount of interest today; leading Rockstar to release a 10th Anniversary edition of the game last year. After E3 2001, Rockstar decided to pursue different routes to showcasing their impending releases; never bringing a playable demo to E3 or any other convention again. This is still the case today, as Rockstar decided not to showcase GTA V at E3 this year, much to many fans' surprise.

I briefly spoke to Jeff Gerstmann, former editorial director of GameSpot; who played this GTA III demo at E3 in 2001. Here are his thoughts at the time:

http://uk.gamespot.com/grand-theft-auto-iii/previews/e3-2001-hands-on-grand-theft-auto-3-2762402/

When I asked him for any other information regarding the beta demo at the time, he said:

"People played it at E3, it was never sent out to the media, as far as I know."


Unfortunately, no one really knows what happened to it after the convention. Many fans believe that any beta material is still in the hands of Rockstar. But it's important to note that most beta screenshots and video clips come from a work in progress; a code that's constantly being worked on. To my knowledge, the only instance where a beta version of the game was put onto a disc was for E3 in 2001.


Anyway, my search goes on... Though it should be noted that I have recently purchased a rare Rockstar press kit from E3 in 2001. It's not the demo itself, but it will contain information and possibly some screenshots and video clips from the game as a work in progress.


More to come soon hopefully!

Has Fergie lost his eye for a signing?

Eric Cantona; one of the first names on fans' lips if asked to name a Manchester United legend. The flamboyant Frenchman scored 80 goals in 5 years for the Red Devils, was listed in the 100 League Legends List, and in 2002 he was inducted into the the English Football Hall of Fame. A tremendous talent, signed for just £1.2 million in 1992, by Alex Ferguson.

Other great deals by Fergie include, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (£1.5 million), Roy Keane (£3.75 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£12.25 million). Just three names that are synonymous with Manchester United, and have gone on to fully justify and exceed their transfer fees. But this got me thinking; has Fergie still got the same eye for a player, in the transfer market today? Roy Keane's transfer from Nottingham Forest was then a British record fee, so it's obvious these days; that you can expect to pay a little bit more than that.

So why have Chelsea reportedly agreed an £8 million fee for Inter Milan and Brazil's Maicon? As a United fan, I think the position we need to strengthen most is the defensive / holding midfielder role. But Rafael is also less than competent at right-back, and Smalling or Jones could only fill in there, as they are both centre-backs primarily. It seems absurd to me, that Fergie hasn't even contemplated a move for Maicon since he's available on the cheap, or another right-back that would serve us for a handful of seasons.

Also, Ronaldinho became a free agent this summer; leaving Flamengo after a row over unpaid wages. I would have loved to see us snap up the Brazilian legend on a free transfer; but again no contact was established and Ronaldinho went on to sign for Atletico Mineiro just a few days later. Yes he's not as good as he once was, but let's not forget; Fergie snapped up Laurent Blanc on a free transfer in 2001. The commanding centre back did a decent job for us, despite his age of 35.

Over the last few years, despite good pieces of business for the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo; Fergie has bought a number of flops. Eric Djemba-Djemba anyone? Brought in by Sir Alex to replace Roy Keane, however he ended up applying his trade in Qatar by the age of 27. Others include Liam Miller, and the more recent flops of Mame Biram Diouf and Bébé. The latter costing a ridiculous £7.4 million.

However there is some good news, as Sir Alex has bought well in Shinji Kagawa. As one of my favourite players, he possesses good passing and dribbling abilities, and has an eye for goal. Our second new arrival is Crewe's youngster Nick Powell. Firstly, I'm pleased to see us beat Arsenal to the signing of a young, potential star; but I'm also pleased to see us buy British talent. I wish that a lot of the big teams would scower the lower leagues more, rather than buy from abroad; but United aren't too bad at that in general. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to name another two bought Englishmen.

But it remains to be seen if Fergie can counjure some more off-guard, inspirational signings. Will he uncover the next Nemanja Vidic? (a £7 million bargain) or perhaps the next Roy Keane? In any case, our midfield is dire need of a holding midfielder; as our search for the next Roy continues since 2005. It also remains to be seen if we can keep up with moneybags Manchester City and Chelsea. Chelsea already opening their cheque book to sign Marko Marin and Eden Hazard this summer.

So, what's wrong with England?

After crashing out of yet another tournament on the back of a poor performance, my first emotion wasn't anger; nor disappointment. It just left me feeling optimistic that things can change in the future. So, what should be done?

Looking at the match at a whole, we were thoroughly outclassed by a side that previously looked some way off the best two teams in the competition; Germany and Spain. I still believe that either Germany or Spain will win the tournament, but the gap in quality between England and Italy tonight was tremendous.

Let's go back to the start of the tournament to when the England squad was first announced. Roy Hodgson picked the squad which most people expected him to pick. I was disappointed to see that he didn't make any bold decisions in terms of selection. Stuart Downing's inclusion and Micah Richard's exclusion were of particular interest. Taking into account the lack of expectation surrounding England's chances in this competition, it would have been good to see some wild card players being picked. Perhaps Swansea's Scott Sinclair rather than Stuart Downing; or Norwich City's Grant Holt. Plus many felt that Micah Richards should have been picked rather than the eventual deputy right-back Martin Kelly. Though it has to be said that Glen Johnson played well all tournament.


Nevertheless, the real problems the England squad has is our footballing style; and our dwindling national pool. Spain and Barcelona have proven that the future of football lies in intricate short passing; much like Ajax's total football that dominated the early 1970s. Perhaps tiki taka is too extreme, but Italy played a short passing game tonight; and when they did attempt a long pass, it often came from the assured foot of Andrea Pirlo. There's a patience that comes with a short passing game, that's also imperative to success.

As expected, England regressed back to our tired, old, impatient, long-ball style. Andy Carroll did a good job of taking the ball down, but however once at his feet; he couldn't find a pass for love nor money. Our forwards also seemed nervous on the ball, particularly Ashley Young. The Italian players were perfectly happy to pass backwards if there was nothing on ahead; but the England players played a Milan Baros 'head down and run' style. This often lead to us getting crowded out and inevitably losing the ball. If we're to have any success in the future, we have to ditch these archaic tactics; and get our youngsters learning the more modern, short 1-2 passing style.


Lastly, the amount of imported foreign talent in English football has had an effect on the amount of quality game time that our English (and British) players receive. Martin Kelly played a reported 12 games all season, yet was included in the squad as the third best English right-back; (after Glen Johnson and Micah Richards.) If the national squad is going to have any success in the future, then it will rely on bigger clubs developing youth talent at the club, and buying from the lower leagues in English football more often.


After all, let's take a quick look at how many current Barcelona players came through their youth team: Puyol, Pique, Valdes, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Thiago, Fabregas, etc.


Here's to the future of the England national team!