Exclusive: GTA 3 Dev on the Genesis of a Legendary Feature

Grand Theft Auto 3's Cinematic Camera Angle: A Train Ride's Unexpected Legacy

The iconic cinematic camera angle, a staple of the Grand Theft Auto series since its introduction in Grand Theft Auto 3, had an unlikely origin: a "boring" train ride. Former Rockstar Games developer Obbe Vermeij recently shared the story behind this now-essential feature.

Vermeij, a veteran who contributed to GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA 4, has been sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes on his blog and Twitter. His latest revelation details the genesis of the cinematic camera.

Initially, Vermeij found the train rides in GTA 3 monotonous. He considered allowing players to skip them, but this proved technically impossible due to potential "streaming issues." His solution? He implemented a camera that dynamically shifted between viewpoints along the train tracks, enhancing the otherwise dull journey. A colleague's suggestion to apply a similar effect to car driving led to the birth of the cinematic camera angle, a feature the team found "surprisingly entertaining."

This innovative camera angle remained largely unchanged in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. However, it underwent revisions in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas by another Rockstar developer. A fan even demonstrated what GTA 3's train rides would have looked like without the cinematic camera, prompting Vermeij to clarify that the original, un-enhanced view would have been a simple overhead perspective, similar to driving a car from a slightly elevated, rearward angle.

Vermeij's recent contributions also include verifying details from a significant Grand Theft Auto leak last December. This leak revealed early plans for an online mode in GTA 3, including character creation and online missions. Vermeij confirmed his involvement in creating a rudimentary deathmatch prototype, but the project was ultimately scrapped due to its unfinished state. The online mode, he explained, "needed a lot more work."