Celebrating its tenth anniversary, Grand Theft Auto III is now available on iOS for $4.99. The game that popularized the sandbox craze is regarded as a classic these days, and while later GTA games would replace the silent Claude with increasingly complete protagonists, let's face it, we all love Claude.
More than a straight port, GTA III for iOS has updated graphics, with better looking characters and vehicles as well as a coat of HD paint.
It's amazing to think that a game once considered a huge, ambitious project is now available to download onto a mobile phone as if it's no big deal. It's a shame so many "hardcore" gamers are against iOS, because things like this are breathtaking when you step back and think about it.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:20 AM on 12.15.2011 | 
So, since I can't download this, I will continue bitching until Rockstar finally caves and releases a Grand Theft Auto HD Collection on the PS3 and 360. I know that collection would sell upwards of 2 million. It's like Rockstar's property is sitting on an oil field and they don't release they can make money by *selling* it.
but i cant see this being fun to play with a touch screen.
Of course, if this was Vice City, I'd be downloading it right now, regardless of the price.
I like iOS games when they're built for iOS, GTAIII is not that game. Even if it can run it, its not going to be as playable as a console or even the PSP versions.
^^ Actual conversation I had with my mates as we took turns playing GTA2.
Oh how far our favourite entertainmnet media has come.
-> just checked Android market in the UK and nothing yet. #sadpanda
While I appreciate the cause, I think people are jumping the gun by claiming iOS is a legit platform.
"Once only available in stupid, fairly clunky, damage-prone cartridges"
Oh how little you know. The only type of "damage" these things do, would be if you use it as a weapon.
[url]https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rockstar.gta3&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLnJvY2tzdGFyLmd0YTMiXQ[/url]
Fuck Yes!
However, Venture Towns which is Kairosoft's (the guys who made Game Dev Story) latest game is also out today and is excellent. Sonic CD is also out, which I bought and instantly regretted. Damn touch screen joypad.
Got it anyway. Can't turn down classic GTA for the £3 or whatever they wanted for it.
Looking forward to checking out just how bad the controls are, and also to finally rooting my phone and connecting a PS3 controller - not for GTA - for Onlive.... Wonder if it'll work with GTA though??
Still GTA has a lot of casual appeal so it seems to be a good business choice at least.
Take a long look at yourself before calling others out won't ya Mr. 'Simon Says' Sterling?
The controls are tolerable for anyone who wants to play this game.
I want GTA!
I would just think a 10th anniversary edition on console would be a no brainer.
I don't know why these haven't received XBLA and PSN releases yet, though. I have the physical copies, but it might be nice to have them on the hard drive too.
I also hate the idea of having everything tied to just one battery, so playing a game causes me to run out of a charge for my phone/email/etc.
It's obvious... touch screen controls suck.
I had an Ipod touch and while I had all the top games, it really sucked using the touch screen controls.
I'm also not so keen on the idea of complete touch controlling. So many people claim that its a nightmare for most games that the idea turns me off to it. Like, take this game for example. How does driving around feel? I remember one of the hardest things about this game were some of the timed driving missions towards the end of the game, if the controls for driving aren't good then people won't be finishing the game -and thats kind of a waste, no matter how great the rest of the game turns out to be or how cheap they sell it for.
Add the same train of thought to any number of things about a game like that from killing people to making sure your even walking in the right direction and controls end up making up -at least- 90% of peoples issues with the game. So that's kind of the biggest reason I haven't jumped to doing some iOS gaming.. well other then money being the real biggest issue.
Still,$5 is a steal for this game.
A game with now broken controls, a smaller screen, ect?
Please, the game on this platform is garbage
Everyone who doesn't: what a stupid idea the controls are terrible!
Give it a rest.
Everyone who owns it: controls are surprisingly decent!
Everyone who doesn't: what a stupid idea the controls are terrible!
FALSE
The controls of all ios games are garbage
Yes it is available on the Android Market, but Mr.Destructoids cubic head is stuck so deep in Apples iOS-arse, that it couldnt find it.
I'm really interested in what "hardcore gamers" will think about the godawfull controls...