Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
GTA 5
Grand Theft Auto All GTA 5 cheat codes and phone numbers for PS5, PS4, Xbox, and PC
The new GamesRadar+ logo on a dark background adorned with crosses in orange and grey
Games The next generation of GamesRadar+ is here
GTA 6
Action Games GTA 6: Everything we know so far
GTA 6 reveal trailer screenshot showing a young blonde woman standing near a sunny rooftop pool, wearing a white and gold bikini
FPS Games GTA 6 devs "must be quaking" over so much hype, Hell Let Loose lead says: "Is there too much that people are expecting?"
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Some of GTA 6's big ideas are likely hiding in GTA 5, ex-Rockstar dev predicts – and you can look at GTA 4 to see why
The protagonist of GTA 4 holding his hand out in front of a Diner
Grand Theft Auto All GTA 4 cheats for weapons, cars, and more
GTA San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto GTA San Andreas cheats for unlimited money, health, armor, weapons, and more
GTA 5 money cheats - get free money
Grand Theft Auto GTA 5 money cheats and how to get more cash in V and GTA Online
Hand placing custom face plate on Steam Machine mini PC.
Games From GTA 6 to the rise of AI, here are the biggest trends to watch out for at GDC 2026
GTA 5 new
Action Games 25 Best Rockstar Games of all time, ranked
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto GTA Vice City cheats for health, armor, weapons, and much more
Tony Hawk on the cover of the GBA edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Sports Games $1 million in debt, devs on handheld Tony Hawk's Pro Skater saved the company by pitching an impossible port
GTA 3
Grand Theft Auto GTA 3 cheats for unlimited money, weapons, armor, and much more
Three playable characters stand in a triangle wearing suits and holding guns in GTA 5
Grand Theft Auto Team behind GTA 5 multiplayer mod that rivalled Rockstar-owned FiveM says Take-Two is shutting the project down
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto As everyone continues to fear $80 GTA 6, Take-Two CEO wants to "deliver way more value than what we charge"
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Grand Theft Auto

Rockstar reveals very cool GTA III secrets and HOLY CRAP LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING!!!

News
By Matt Cundy published 6 January 2012

Behind-the-scenes info on post 9/11 changes, the Dodo, early cover concepts and one very large GTA IV script

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Now that the game is enjoying its official 10-Year Anniversary and has recently been mobilised for mobile devices, Rockstar has been revealing some very cool behind-the-scenes secrets about Grand Theft Auto III over on its site.

It clears up - amongst other things - how much content was removed/changed following 9/11 (hardly any, around 1%), why the Dodo is really hard to fly (because Rockstar was focused on making a driving and shooting game) and why the Shoreside Vale tunnel was always closed (it was only there to give the impression that the world continued beyond the game's borders). There are also some early concepts for the GTA III logo and box cover art, as well as an idea for 'Wanted' style GTA III posters that's an uncanny precursor to GTA IV's own mug-shot poster campaign.

Above: Some GTA III stuff that you've never seen until now (unless you work at Rockstar)

You may like
  • GTA 4 Former Rockstar technical director " didn’t like GTA 4 that much" at launch because "we had to sacrifice so much"
  • The protagonist of GTA 4 holding his hand out in front of a Diner GTA 4 was apparently "so ahead of its time" that its own tech lead didn't know helicopters could do this
  • GTA 5 new 25 Best Rockstar Games of all time, ranked

But by far the most mind-blowing revelation is the side-by-side GTA III and GTA IV script comparison. Just look at it:

Above: One is much bigger than the other

We've double-checked with Rockstar and there is no Photoshop magic at work here. This is genuinely what the two sets of scripts look like. Yes. Indeed. Holy crap. Irrefutable evidence, if any were actually needed, that games have got a lot more full of words and talking bits over the last decade.

There's loads more GTA III stuff to discover that you were previously unaware of and will undoubtedly be amazed by at Rockstar's site.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Android iPad iPhone PC Gaming PlayStation Xbox Platforms Mobile Gaming
PRODUCTS
Grand Theft Auto 3 Grand Theft Auto IV
Matt Cundy
Matt Cundy
Social Links Navigation
I don't have the energy to really hate anything properly. Most things I think are OK or inoffensively average. I do love quite a lot of stuff as well, though.
Read more
GTA 4
Former Rockstar technical director " didn’t like GTA 4 that much" at launch because "we had to sacrifice so much"
 
 
The protagonist of GTA 4 holding his hand out in front of a Diner
GTA 4 was apparently "so ahead of its time" that its own tech lead didn't know helicopters could do this
 
 
GTA 5 new
25 Best Rockstar Games of all time, ranked
 
 
GTA 6
Some of GTA 6's big ideas are likely hiding in GTA 5, ex-Rockstar dev predicts – and you can look at GTA 4 to see why
 
 
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2's enigmatic spider web puzzle is the first thing that's gotten me genuinely excited for GTA 6
 
 
GTA 6
Ex-Rockstar lead says all GTA competitors have "given up," but there's still "an opportunity" to challenge Rockstar
 
 
Latest in Grand Theft Auto
GTA 6
Some of GTA 6's big ideas are likely hiding in GTA 5, ex-Rockstar dev predicts – and you can look at GTA 4 to see why
 
 
GTA 6 Lucia
GTA 6's fall clash with Marvel's Wolverine is no worry for Logan's actor who'll "play so much" that "it'll be troubling"
 
 
The protagonist of GTA 4 holding his hand out in front of a Diner
GTA 4 was apparently "so ahead of its time" that its own tech lead didn't know helicopters could do this
 
 
GTA 6
A free copy of GTA 6 could be yours, Norwegian retailer says, all you have to do is have a baby on release day
 
 
Three playable characters stand in a triangle wearing suits and holding guns in GTA 5
Team behind GTA 5 multiplayer mod that rivalled Rockstar-owned FiveM says Take-Two is shutting the project down
 
 
GTA 6
Google's Project Genie is "not even in the same ballpark" as a real game engine according to Take-Two
 
 
Latest in News
Steam logo from Valve
Valve says "more games are finding success" on Steam than ever, and nearly 6,000 made over $100,000 last year
 
 
Robert rides the elevator to work in Dispatch with his dog Beef, looking out of place surrounded by superheroes
Dispatch leads faced down publishers telling them single-player narrative games were "niche, or worse, dead"
 
 
Wonderer heads to the Spire in a screenshot from Slay the Spire 2's animated reveal trailer
Xbox lead thinks "we have been in a golden age for indies" since 2008, and it's "a fantastic time to be a developer" if you ignore all the smoke
 
 
Xbox - Future Owns
Xbox teases "some iconic games from the past" to be re-released in 2026 from its "game preservation team"
 
 
The cowboy cat from the desert in Mewgenics
Steam expert advises devs stick to the "Little League" section with friendslop before attempting anything like Mewgenics
 
 
Donkey Kong Bananza screenshot of Donkey Kong punching through the landscape with pieces of banana flying through the air
With Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo learned "it is more fun to destroy that which is beautiful"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Steam logo from Valve
    1
    Valve says "more games are finding success" on Steam than ever, and nearly 6,000 made over $100,000 last year
  2. 2
    Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man director explains how the Netflix movie differs from the show:
  3. 3
    Dispatch leads faced down publishers telling them single-player narrative games were "niche, or worse, dead"
  4. 4
    Xbox lead thinks "we have been in a golden age for indies" since 2008, and it's "a fantastic time to be a developer" if you ignore all the smoke
  5. 5
    The Future Games Show returns this week - here's how to watch

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...