Grand Theft Auto 3 Dev Reveals Origin of Iconic Feature

Summary

• The iconic cinematic camera angle in Grand Theft Auto 3 unexpectedly originated from the developer's attempt to alleviate the boredom of train rides within the game.
• Former Rockstar Games developer, Obbe Vermeij, shared the behind-the-scenes story of this now-signature feature's development.
• Initially conceived for trains, the camera angle's surprising entertainment value led to its adoption for car driving, becoming a staple of the Grand Theft Auto series.

A former Rockstar Games developer has revealed the surprising origin of the iconic cinematic camera angle in Grand Theft Auto 3. This feature, now a hallmark of the series, began as a solution to the "boring" experience of train travel in the game. Grand Theft Auto 3, a pivotal entry marking the series' transition to 3D, underwent significant improvements, and this camera angle was one of them.

Obbe Vermeij, a veteran Rockstar developer who contributed to Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto 4, has been sharing behind-the-scenes insights on his blog and Twitter. His latest revelation details the genesis of the cinematic camera.

GTA 3 Dev Reveals the Unexpected Birth of the Cinematic Camera Angle

Vermeij explained that the initial train rides in Grand Theft Auto 3 felt monotonous. While he considered allowing players to skip the journey, technical limitations (streaming issues) prevented this. Instead, he implemented a camera that dynamically shifted between viewpoints along the train tracks, enhancing the otherwise dull experience. A colleague's suggestion to apply a similar approach to car driving led to the feature's adoption, much to the team's surprise, as they found it "surprisingly entertaining."

This cinematic camera angle remained unchanged in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, often lauded as one of the best games in the series, before undergoing revisions by another developer for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. A fan even recreated the original train journey without the cinematic camera, highlighting its impact. Vermeij confirmed the original train camera would have been similar to a car's, positioned above and slightly behind the carriage.

Vermeij recently corroborated details from a significant Grand Theft Auto leak from December. This leak revealed early plans for an online mode for Grand Theft Auto 3, including character creation and online missions. Vermeij confirmed his involvement in creating a basic deathmatch mode, but noted its abandonment due to requiring substantial further development.