Grand Theft Auto is invariably one of the most popular franchises in the video game industry. The title that's often credited with getting the ball rolling on that road to success is Grand Theft Auto III. Released in 2001, GTA III was met with mountains of praise (and controversy) from both fans and critics alike. It's without a doubt one of the most important video games in history.
Some fans, however, may not realize how much of GTA III actually changed throughout its development. In some instances, the game that is so universally beloved looked quite different than what was depicted in the final product. These are some of the more interesting stories of what transpired during the making of GTA III. Check out Part I and Part II of these Q&A interviews with the Rockstar developers to learn even more about the game's development.
8 Claude Was Never Supposed To Speak
Having a silent protagonist in a video game is a fairly gutsy move to pull off in 2021. But in 2001, the decision to implement such a feature was relatively easy, at least according to Rockstar. Getting characters to talk while using motion-captured cutscenes on such a large scale was a daunting process twenty years ago.
So, in part to save themselves some extra trouble, the developers decided early on to keep Claude silent. Despite the lingering bits of misinformation on the Internet, Claude was never considered for a speaking role. In fact, the developers didn't entertain any thoughts of a talking protagonist until the development of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was underway.
7 The Game Originally Had A Cartoony Look
Experiencing Grand Theft Auto III in 2001 was a bit mind-blowing due to how realistic the graphics seemed at the time. Grand Theft Auto had never received the 3D treatment until this title. The atmosphere is well served by the game's inherent grittiness. It's also why so many people found the game so controversial. It all seemed too real.
However, the decision to implement a realistic approach wasn't always the case. In the early days of the game's development, Rockstar initially favored a more cartoon-like aesthetic. Characters were animated more childishly and the color palette was ridiculously vibrant for a serious gangster epic. Needless to say, the developers eventually dropped the idea.
6 9/11 Led To Some Minor Cuts
This is yet another topic that often received some conflicting coverage. For years, many gamers subscribed to the idea that the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 led to significant alterations to GTA III's gameplay. The game was officially released one month later in October.
Rockstar maintains that these rumors were vastly overblown. They purport that no major changes to the game took place as a result of 9/11. Only small cosmetic details were altered, such as pedestrian dialogue, the color of the police cars, and lines of radio dialogue referencing terrorism.
5 Darkel Was Always Going To Be Cut
Gamers love to reference Darkel when discussing GTA III's cut content. Darkel was originally conceived as a crazy homeless man who was supposed to give Claude a series of wacky side missions. He was cut from the final product, leading to speculation that it was a result of 9/11. Rumors popped up claiming that one mission supposedly tasked Claude with blowing up a school bus full of children.
Again, Rockstar set the record straight. Darkel was actually cut long before the 9/11 attacks because the missions didn't fit tonally with the rest of the game. They also claim that the mission involving blowing up school buses never existed and that it was simply just a wild Internet rumor.
4 Multiplayer Was Considered, But Scrapped
Long before Grand Theft Auto Online hit the big times, the third entry was actually considered for a multiplayer component. On the PC version, buried within the myriad game files, exists references to a multiplayer capability that was never included in the final product.
The developers at Rockstar did toy with the idea of incorporating multiplayer into GTA III. However, they scrapped the idea, thinking it was more prudent to focus on the development of GTA: Vice City instead. What could have been? Right?
3 Flying Planes Was Never A Priority
Many fans of GTA III most likely remember the Dodo plane. It was a plane that was unable to sustain flight since that mechanic was never fully implemented in the game. Rumors and speculation once again ran rampant trying to explain why flyable planes weren't implemented.
The truth is that planes were never given a high priority during GTA III's development. The main focus, understandably, was placed on cars and driving. Making those aspects of gameplay work correctly was troublesome enough without adding a whole new component to the mix.
2 Claude's Appearance Changed Many Times
Video game characters often go through various iterations in terms of their appearance. Obviously, Claude is no exception, having experienced many design changes as the game was being developed. The final version depicts a rather emotionless young man wearing a black leather jacket and green cargo pants.
Like the game world itself, the developers subjected Claude to various experiments. His physical attributes, like his height, weight, and face went through multiple renditions before the final pieces were all put together. The same is also true for his clothing.
1 Creative Sound Effects Were Added
A game is nothing without sound. GTA III has its fair share of memorable sound effects. In fact, it's no stretch to assume that many diehard fans of the series probably remember some of the sounds and pedestrian dialogue from this twenty-year-old game.
One of the more noticeable sound effects is the squishing noise that can be heard whenever someone is run over by a car. According to the developers, this noise was made by smashing together pieces of fruit and raw chicken, with some digital sound mixing thrown in for good measure.