<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2001	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
DMA	O
Design	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Rockstar	O
Games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
main	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
series	O
,	O
following	O
1999	O
's	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
fifth	O
instalment	O
overall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
within	O
the	O
fictional	O
Liberty	O
City	O
(	O
loosely	O
based	O
on	O
New	O
York	O
City	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
story	O
follows	O
Claude	B-Application
,	O
a	O
silent	O
protagonist	O
who	O
,	O
after	O
being	O
betrayed	O
and	O
left	O
for	O
dead	O
by	O
his	O
girlfriend	O
during	O
a	O
robbery	O
,	O
embarks	O
on	O
a	O
quest	O
for	O
revenge	O
that	O
leads	O
him	O
to	O
become	O
entangled	O
in	O
a	O
world	O
of	O
crime	O
,	O
drugs	O
,	O
gang	O
warfare	O
,	O
and	O
corruption	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Much	O
of	O
the	O
development	O
involved	O
transforming	O
popular	O
elements	O
from	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
series	O
into	O
a	O
fully	O
3D	O
world	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2001	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
in	O
May	O
2002	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
October	O
2003	O
for	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
,	O
with	O
particular	O
praise	O
directed	O
at	O
its	O
concept	O
and	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
became	O
the	O
best-selling	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
of	O
2001	O
,	O
and	O
sold	O
over	O
14.5million	O
copies	O
by	O
March	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Considered	O
by	O
many	O
critics	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
significant	O
titles	O
of	O
the	O
sixth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
games	I-Application
and	O
a	O
landmark	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
open	O
world	O
concept	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
often	O
listed	O
among	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
enhanced	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
mobile	B-Application
platforms	I-Application
in	O
2011	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
tenth	O
anniversary	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
further	B-Application
enhanced	I-Application
version	I-Application
for	O
the	O
twentieth	O
anniversary	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
followed	O
by	O
2002	O
's	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
Vice	I-Application
City	I-Application
,	O
while	O
two	O
prequels	B-Application
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
Advance	I-Application
and	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
City	I-Application
Stories	I-Application
,	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
2004	O
and	O
2005	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
played	O
from	O
a	O
third-person	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
lets	O
players	O
control	O
the	O
mute	O
criminal	O
Claude	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
the	O
story	O
,	O
Claude	B-Application
meets	O
various	O
new	O
characters	O
from	O
gangs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
free	O
roaming	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
,	O
players	O
may	O
engage	O
in	O
activities	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
vigilante	B-Application
minigame	O
,	O
a	O
firefighting	O
activity	O
,	O
a	O
paramedic	O
service	O
and	O
a	O
taxi	O
cab	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Completion	O
of	O
these	O
activities	O
grants	O
players	O
with	O
context-specific	O
rewards	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
completing	O
the	O
vigilante	B-Application
mission	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
bribe	O
police	O
after	O
committing	O
a	O
crime	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Small-time	O
criminal	O
Claude	B-Application
is	O
betrayed	O
and	O
shot	O
by	O
his	O
girlfriend	O
Catalina	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Cynthia	O
Farrell	O
)	O
during	O
a	O
bank	O
heist	O
outside	O
Liberty	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
is	O
arrested	O
,	O
but	O
escapes	O
during	O
his	O
transfer	O
to	O
prison	O
when	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Colombian	O
Cartel	O
ambush	O
his	O
transport	O
to	O
abduct	O
another	O
prisoner	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
his	O
escape	O
,	O
Claude	B-Application
befriends	O
explosives	O
expert	O
and	O
fellow	O
convict	O
8-Ball	O
(	O
Guru	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
shelters	O
Claude	B-Application
and	O
introduces	O
him	O
to	O
the	O
Leone	O
Mafia	B-Application
family	O
for	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
assists	O
the	O
Mafia	B-Application
with	O
various	O
operations	O
,	O
including	O
winning	O
a	O
gang	O
war	O
against	O
a	O
local	O
group	O
of	O
Triads	O
,	O
earning	O
him	O
the	O
respect	O
of	O
Don	O
Salvatore	O
Leone	O
(	O
Frank	O
Vincent	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
learning	O
that	O
the	O
Cartel	O
are	O
creating	O
and	O
selling	O
a	O
new	O
street	O
drug	O
called	O
SPANK	O
to	O
fund	O
their	O
expansion	O
into	O
Liberty	O
City	O
,	O
Salvatore	O
orders	O
Claude	B-Application
to	O
destroy	O
their	O
floating	O
drug	O
lab	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
accomplishes	O
this	O
with	O
8-Ball	O
'	O
s	O
help	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Salvatore	O
later	O
instructs	O
Claude	B-Application
to	O
deal	O
with	O
a	O
minor	O
problem	O
,	O
but	O
his	O
trophy	O
wife	O
Maria	O
(	O
Debi	O
Mazar	O
)	O
,	O
who	O
took	O
a	O
liking	O
to	O
Claude	B-Application
,	O
reveals	O
it	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
set-up	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maria	O
claims	O
that	O
she	O
lied	O
to	O
Salvatore	O
about	O
having	O
an	O
affair	O
with	O
Claude	B-Application
to	O
make	O
him	O
jealous	O
,	O
and	O
now	O
Salvatore	O
wants	O
to	O
murder	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
escapes	O
to	O
Staunton	O
Island	O
with	O
Maria	O
and	O
her	O
friend	O
Asuka	O
Kasen	O
(	O
Lianna	O
Pai	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
assassinating	O
Salvatore	O
to	O
cut	O
ties	O
with	O
the	O
Mafia	B-Application
,	O
Claude	B-Application
begins	O
working	O
for	O
the	O
Yakuza	B-Application
,	O
led	O
by	O
Asuka	O
and	O
her	O
brother	O
Kenji	O
(	O
Les	O
J.N.	O
</s>
<s>
Donald	O
hires	O
Claude	B-Application
to	O
assassinate	O
Kenji	O
under	O
the	O
guise	O
of	O
a	O
Cartel	O
attack	O
to	O
start	O
a	O
gang	O
war	O
that	O
will	O
allow	O
Donald	O
to	O
obtain	O
construction	O
sites	O
for	O
his	O
businesses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
job	O
's	O
success	O
,	O
Claude	B-Application
carries	O
out	O
another	O
task	O
for	O
Donald	O
that	O
leads	O
him	O
to	O
encounter	O
Catalina	O
,	O
now	O
the	O
leader	O
of	O
the	O
Cartel	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
construction	O
site	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Yakuza	B-Application
capture	O
the	O
wounded	O
Miguel	O
and	O
torture	O
him	O
for	O
information	O
on	O
Cartel	O
operations	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
,	O
allowing	O
Claude	B-Application
to	O
strike	O
against	O
them	O
and	O
hinder	O
the	O
Cartel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
meets	O
with	O
her	O
to	O
pay	O
the	O
ransom	O
,	O
but	O
Catalina	O
deceives	O
him	O
again	O
and	O
traps	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Claude	B-Application
escapes	O
,	O
rescues	O
Maria	O
,	O
and	O
destroys	O
the	O
helicopter	O
Catalina	O
attempts	O
to	O
flee	O
in	O
,	O
killing	O
her	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Claude	B-Application
and	O
Maria	O
leave	O
the	O
scene	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
begins	O
to	O
complain	O
about	O
the	O
kidnapping	O
,	O
but	O
is	O
silenced	O
by	O
a	O
gunshot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
core	O
development	O
team	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	O
consisted	O
of	O
about	O
23	O
people	O
at	O
DMA	O
Design	O
in	O
Edinburgh	O
,	O
who	O
worked	O
closely	O
with	O
publisher	O
Rockstar	O
Games	O
in	O
New	O
York	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
prototype	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
created	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
around	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
development	O
on	O
the	O
previous	O
game	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
1999	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
led	O
to	O
it	O
being	O
greenlit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Producer	O
Leslie	O
Benzies	O
described	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
crime	O
simulation	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rockstar	O
originally	O
offered	O
it	O
to	O
Microsoft	O
Game	O
Studios	O
as	O
an	O
Xbox	B-Device
exclusive	O
,	O
but	O
Microsoft	O
declined	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
adult	O
nature	O
and	O
its	O
poorly-performing	O
predecessors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
on	O
23October	O
2001	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
porting	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
Windows	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
delayed	O
it	O
from	O
the	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
release	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
ensure	O
quality	O
,	O
citing	O
issues	O
with	O
the	O
simultaneous	O
platform	O
release	O
of	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
using	O
Criterion	O
Games	O
 '	O
RenderWare	O
game	O
engine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Executive	O
producer	O
Sam	O
Houser	O
had	O
always	O
wanted	O
the	O
series	O
to	O
move	O
to	O
3D	O
;	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
2	O
had	O
performed	O
some	O
similar	O
tests	O
,	O
and	O
DMA	O
Design	O
had	O
experimented	O
with	O
3D	O
worlds	O
with	O
games	O
like	O
Body	B-Application
Harvest	I-Application
and	O
Space	B-Application
Station	I-Application
Silicon	I-Application
Valley	I-Application
(	O
both	O
1998	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
,	O
the	O
team	O
felt	O
that	O
a	O
large	O
3D	O
world	O
was	O
possible	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Art	O
director	O
Aaron	O
Garbut	O
felt	O
that	O
other	O
video	O
games	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
"	O
were	O
a	O
thing	O
you	O
played	O
"	O
,	O
wanting	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	O
to	O
be	O
"	O
a	O
place	O
you	O
lived	O
in	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
designing	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
expanded	O
upon	O
concepts	O
introduced	O
in	O
the	O
previous	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
games	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Benzies	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
intention	O
was	O
to	O
recreate	O
the	O
"	O
freedom	O
and	O
diversity	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
a	O
"	O
living	O
,	O
breathing	O
3D	O
world	O
"	O
,	O
using	O
the	O
power	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
to	O
do	O
so	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
console	O
's	O
ability	O
to	O
use	O
DVDs	O
,	O
an	O
improvement	O
over	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
limit	O
to	O
CDs	B-Device
,	O
allowed	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
store	O
more	O
data	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
animations	O
,	O
music	O
and	O
environments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
this	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
found	O
it	O
difficult	O
to	O
fit	O
the	O
game	O
into	O
the	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
's	O
32	O
megabytes	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
scale	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
basic	O
technical	O
elements	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
began	O
to	O
work	O
together	O
in	O
mid-2000	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
carjacking	O
mechanic	O
prototype	O
and	O
stable	O
streaming	B-Architecture
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Streaming	B-Architecture
was	O
initially	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
reserved	O
for	O
music	O
and	O
map	O
geometry	O
,	O
but	O
other	O
elements	O
were	O
eventually	O
included	O
when	O
it	O
became	O
apparent	O
to	O
the	O
team	O
as	O
more	O
data	O
was	O
entered	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
they	O
redesigned	O
Liberty	O
City	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
previously	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
(	O
1997	O
)	O
,	O
basing	O
it	O
loosely	O
on	O
New	O
York	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Houser	O
described	O
Liberty	O
City	O
as	O
a	O
"	O
hybrid	O
of	O
a	O
generic	O
American	O
city	O
"	O
,	O
including	O
Chicago	O
,	O
Pittsburgh	O
,	O
Detroit	B-Application
,	O
New	O
York	O
,	O
and	O
Philadelphia	O
;	O
he	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
parallel	O
realism	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
allowed	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
make	O
more	O
social	O
commentary	O
than	O
previously	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
cited	O
the	O
influence	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
,	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
and	O
the	O
1990	O
film	O
Goodfellas	O
,	O
describing	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	O
as	O
"	O
a	O
cross	O
between	O
a	O
gangster	O
movie	O
and	O
an	O
RPG	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dan	O
Houser	O
and	O
co-writer	O
James	O
Worrall	O
drew	O
influence	O
from	O
mob	O
films	O
and	O
the	O
mafiosi	O
featured	O
in	O
films	O
by	O
Martin	O
Scorsese	O
;	O
the	O
team	O
also	O
"	O
paid	O
a	O
lot	O
of	O
attention	O
"	O
to	O
shows	O
like	O
Miami	B-Application
Vice	I-Application
and	O
The	O
Sopranos	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Many	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
characters	O
were	O
animated	O
using	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
,	O
filmed	O
at	O
a	O
rented	O
studio	O
at	O
the	O
Brooklyn	O
Navy	O
Yard	O
,	O
though	O
this	O
was	O
limited	O
by	O
technical	O
constraints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
character	O
movement	O
was	O
also	O
treated	O
as	O
being	O
cinematic	O
,	O
though	O
limited	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
heavily	O
inhibited	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
voice	O
acting	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
wanted	O
"	O
natural	O
,	O
subtle	O
performances	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
proved	O
difficult	O
as	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
actors	O
"	O
had	O
in	O
their	O
head	O
the	O
idea	O
that	O
because	O
video	O
games	O
are	O
animated	O
,	O
their	O
performances	O
needed	O
to	O
be	O
animated	O
"	O
,	O
explained	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
director	O
Navid	O
Khonsari	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
playable	O
protagonist	O
is	O
unnamed	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
name	O
is	O
not	O
officially	O
revealed	O
as	O
Claude	B-Application
until	O
his	O
appearance	O
in	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
San	I-Application
Andreas	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
"	O
any	O
one	O
single	O
inspiration	O
"	O
for	O
Claude	B-Application
;	O
they	O
liked	O
the	O
idea	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
strong	O
,	O
silent	O
killer	O
,	O
who	O
would	O
be	O
juxtaposed	O
with	O
all	O
of	O
these	O
neurotic	O
and	O
verbose	O
mobsters	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
features	O
about	O
three	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
hours	O
of	O
in-game	O
radio	O
material	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
IIIs	I-Application
initial	O
release	O
,	O
several	O
modifications	O
were	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
to	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
tied	O
with	O
Tony	B-Application
Hawk	I-Application
's	I-Application
Pro	I-Application
Skater	I-Application
3	I-Application
as	O
the	O
highest-rated	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
game	O
on	O
the	O
site	O
and	O
tied	O
with	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
others	O
as	O
the	O
sixth-highest-rated	O
game	O
overall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tom	O
Bramwell	O
of	O
Eurogamer	O
called	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
"	O
a	O
luscious	O
,	O
sprawling	O
epic	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Official	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Magazine	O
named	O
it	O
"	O
the	O
most	O
innovative	O
,	O
outlandish	O
,	O
brilliant	O
video	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpots	O
Jeff	O
Gerstmann	O
described	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
"	O
an	O
incredible	O
experience	O
that	O
should	O
n't	O
be	O
missed	O
by	O
anyone	O
"	O
;	O
IGNs	O
Doug	O
Perry	O
named	O
it	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
titles	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
,	O
or	O
on	O
any	O
system	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpys	O
Andrei	O
Alupului	O
found	O
the	O
graphics	O
"	O
really	O
rather	O
impressive	O
"	O
,	O
describing	O
the	O
car	O
models	O
as	O
"	O
greatly	O
improved	O
"	O
over	O
those	O
in	O
Midnight	B-Device
Club	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eurogamers	O
Bramwell	O
considered	O
the	O
graphics	O
"	O
generally	O
pleasant	O
to	O
look	O
at	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
considered	O
it	O
inferior	O
to	O
games	O
like	O
Gran	B-Application
Turismo	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
Ico	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
in	O
May	O
2002	O
,	O
it	O
received	O
similar	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpots	O
Wolpaw	O
praised	O
the	O
port	O
's	O
reworked	O
textures	O
but	O
criticised	O
the	O
frequent	O
popup	B-General_Concept
and	O
the	O
advanced	O
system	O
requirements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpys	O
Sal	O
Accardo	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
port	O
"	O
looks	O
much	O
sharper	O
"	O
than	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
version	O
,	O
though	O
noted	O
some	O
"	O
choppy	O
"	O
animations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Extended	O
Plays	O
Bub	O
mentioned	O
that	O
the	O
advanced	O
settings	O
resulted	O
in	O
slowdown	O
and	O
crashes	B-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
to	O
mobile	B-Application
devices	I-Application
in	O
December	O
2011	O
,	O
it	O
received	O
generally	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mark	O
Walton	O
of	O
GameSpot	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
runs	O
well	O
on	O
high-end	O
devices	O
like	O
the	O
Motorola	B-Application
Xoom	I-Application
and	O
Samsung	B-Application
Galaxy	I-Application
S	I-Application
II	I-Application
,	O
but	O
noticed	O
significant	O
frame	O
rate	O
and	O
texture	O
issues	O
on	O
the	O
Xperia	B-Application
Play	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pocket	O
Gamers	O
Mark	O
Brown	O
identified	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
short	O
draw	B-General_Concept
distance	I-General_Concept
leading	O
to	O
sudden	O
popup	B-General_Concept
,	O
although	O
still	O
found	O
that	O
the	O
models	O
and	O
textures	O
"	O
have	O
been	O
given	O
a	O
tune-up	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
port	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
the	O
highest-selling	O
game	O
of	O
2001	O
,	O
selling	O
over	O
two	O
million	O
units	O
by	O
February	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
second-best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
2002	O
,	O
only	O
behind	O
its	O
sequel	O
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
Vice	I-Application
City	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Take-Two	O
stock	O
significantly	O
increased	O
following	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
included	O
in	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
Greatest	B-Device
Hits	I-Device
selection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Japan	O
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
sold	O
about	O
120,000	O
copies	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
,	O
and	O
roughly	O
300,000	O
by	O
December	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
received	O
multiple	O
nominations	O
and	O
awards	O
from	O
gaming	O
publications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
named	O
the	O
Best	O
PlayStation2	B-Device
Game	O
by	O
Game	O
Revolution	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
GameSpy	O
,	O
and	O
IGN	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Prior	O
to	O
and	O
since	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
generated	O
several	O
controversies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
notoriety	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
resulted	O
in	O
American	O
retailer	O
Wal-Mart	O
'	O
s	O
decision	O
to	O
check	O
the	O
identification	O
of	O
purchasers	O
who	O
appeared	O
to	O
be	O
under	O
the	O
age	O
of	O
17	O
when	O
purchasing	O
mature	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
initially	O
released	O
in	O
Australia	O
with	O
an	O
MA15+	O
classification	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
statements	O
to	O
investigators	O
,	O
the	O
perpetrators	O
claimed	O
their	O
actions	O
were	O
inspired	O
by	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
has	O
been	O
frequently	O
included	O
among	O
the	O
greatest	O
video	O
games	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
GamePro	O
called	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
the	O
most	O
important	O
video	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
explaining	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
game	O
's	O
open-ended	O
gameplay	O
elements	O
have	O
revolutionized	O
the	O
way	O
all	O
video	O
games	O
are	O
made	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
Game	O
Informer	O
wrote	O
that	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
"	O
changed	O
the	O
gaming	O
landscape	O
forever	O
with	O
its	O
immersive	O
open	O
world	O
sandbox	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
2016	O
,	O
GamesRadar+	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
"	O
most	O
important	O
game	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2016	O
,	O
The	O
Strong	O
National	O
Museum	O
of	O
Play	O
inducted	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
to	O
its	O
World	O
Video	O
Game	O
Hall	O
of	O
Fame	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
is	O
considered	O
to	O
have	O
a	O
leading	O
role	O
in	O
the	O
popularisation	O
of	O
sandbox	O
games	O
,	O
inspiring	O
those	O
such	O
as	O
Crackdown	B-Application
,	O
Mafia	B-Application
,	O
Saints	B-Application
Row	I-Application
,	O
True	B-Application
Crime	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Watch	B-Application
Dogs	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
term	O
"	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
clone	O
"	O
is	O
frequently	O
used	O
to	O
describe	O
subsequent	O
video	O
games	O
released	O
with	O
similar	O
open-ended	O
gameplay	O
as	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
previous	O
video	O
games	O
used	O
open	O
world	O
design	O
,	O
including	O
earlier	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
took	O
this	O
gameplay	O
foundation	O
and	O
expanded	O
it	O
into	O
a	O
3D	O
world	O
,	O
offering	O
an	O
unprecedented	O
variety	O
of	O
minigames	O
and	O
side-missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
its	O
greater	O
success	O
over	O
its	O
predecessors	O
,	O
it	O
is	O
credited	O
with	O
popularising	O
the	O
open-world	O
genre	O
;	O
Dan	O
Houser	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
made	O
it	O
"	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
vibrant	O
genres	O
today	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
Garbut	O
felt	O
that	O
it	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
complexities	O
of	O
Rockstar	O
's	O
future	O
open	O
world	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
later	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
titles	O
and	O
Red	B-Application
Dead	I-Application
Redemption	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
2018	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGNs	O
Jack	O
Harwood	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
talk	O
radio	O
station	O
inspired	O
similar	O
inclusions	O
in	O
other	O
open	O
world	O
games	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Mafia	B-Application
III	I-Application
(	O
2016	O
)	O
and	O
Watch	B-Application
Dogs	I-Application
:	I-Application
Legion	I-Application
(	O
2020	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hal	O
Halpin	O
,	O
president	O
of	O
the	O
Entertainment	O
Consumers	O
Association	O
,	O
described	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
as	O
the	O
"	O
lightning	O
rod	O
for	O
the	O
violence-in-games	O
debate	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vice	B-Application
City	I-Application
and	O
San	O
Andreas	O
are	O
set	O
in	O
their	O
titular	O
locations	O
in	O
1986	O
and	O
1992	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
Advance	I-Application
(	O
2004	O
)	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
Liberty	O
City	O
roughly	O
a	O
year	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
Liberty	I-Application
City	I-Application
Stories	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
takes	O
place	O
three	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
in	O
the	O
same	O
rendition	O
of	O
Liberty	O
City	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
completely	O
redesigned	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
city	O
was	O
later	O
used	O
in	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
IV	I-Application
(	O
2008	O
)	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Lost	I-Application
and	I-Application
Damned	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Ballad	I-Application
of	I-Application
Gay	I-Application
Tony	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
Chinatown	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
(	O
2009	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
21	O
May	O
2002	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
supporting	O
higher	O
screen	O
resolutions	O
and	O
draw	B-General_Concept
distance	I-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
featuring	O
more	O
detailed	O
textures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
GameCube	B-Application
release	O
was	O
planned	O
,	O
but	O
later	O
cancelled	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2003	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
,	O
with	O
its	O
successor	O
,	O
Vice	B-Application
City	I-Application
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	O
Double	O
Pack	O
compilation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Xbox	B-Device
port	O
features	O
custom	O
soundtrack	O
support	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
improved	O
audio	O
,	O
polygon	B-General_Concept
models	O
,	O
and	O
reflections	O
over	O
the	O
previous	O
ports	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Double	O
Pack	O
was	O
later	O
bundled	O
with	O
San	O
Andreas	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Trilogy	I-Application
,	O
released	O
in	O
October	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Trilogy	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
for	O
OS	B-Operating_System
X	I-Operating_System
on	O
12	O
November	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
15	O
December	O
2011	O
,	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
tenth	O
anniversary	O
,	O
War	O
Drum	O
Studios	O
ported	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
iOS	B-Application
and	O
Android	B-Application
;	O
this	O
port	O
is	O
almost	O
identical	O
to	O
the	O
Windows	O
version	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
enhanced	O
models	O
and	O
textures	O
and	O
touchscreen	O
controls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
port	O
was	O
also	O
released	O
on	O
Fire	B-Application
OS	I-Application
on	O
15	O
May	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
version	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
25	O
September	O
2012	O
via	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	B-Device
PlayStation	I-Device
2	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
as	O
a	O
PS2	B-Device
Classics	I-Device
title	O
,	O
on	O
5	O
December	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
modding	O
community	O
under	O
the	O
name	O
RAGE	O
Classic	O
Team	O
ported	O
the	O
map	O
over	O
to	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
IV	I-Application
,	O
named	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
:	O
RAGE	O
Classic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
enhanced	O
version	O
of	O
The	O
Trilogy	O
subtitled	O
The	B-Application
Definitive	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
,	O
including	O
Grand	B-Application
Theft	I-Application
Auto	I-Application
III	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
,	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
on	O
11	O
November	O
2021	O
,	O
to	O
celebrate	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
twentieth	O
anniversary	O
;	O
versions	O
for	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
devices	O
are	O
also	O
in	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Existing	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
removed	O
from	O
digital	O
retailers	O
in	O
preparation	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Definitive	I-Application
Edition	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
core	O
team	O
of	O
six	O
fans	O
reverse-engineered	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
released	O
it	O
as	O
an	O
executable	B-Application
in	O
April	O
2020	O
,	O
having	O
worked	O
on	O
it	O
since	O
2016	O
;	O
titled	O
re3	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
allows	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
unofficially	O
ported	O
to	O
platforms	O
such	O
as	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
.	O
Take-Two	O
issued	O
a	O
DMCA	O
takedown	O
for	O
the	O
project	O
in	O
February	O
2021	O
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
restored	O
in	O
June	O
after	O
the	O
team	O
filed	O
a	O
counter-notice	O
.	O
</s>
