Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar North developer, recently shared details about how trash and debris worked in Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City, and why this feature was missing in San Andreas but present in Manhunt. His insights reveal interesting aspects of the development process and design choices behind these games.
In Grand Theft Auto 3, released in 2001, the game’s environment featured dynamic trash and debris that moved around the streets, adding a layer of realism and vibrancy to the city. This system was carried over to Vice City in 2002, with a unique touch: flyers replaced some trash textures after a specific mission, enriching the game’s interactive experience.
However, when Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas launched in 2004, the moving trash was noticeably absent. According to Vermeij, this change was due to disagreements among the development team. Some members were not in favor of the clutter, leading to its removal from the game.
Interestingly, the trash feature made a return in Manhunt, a game released in 2003. Vermeij explained that this was because some developers who had worked on GTA 3 helped with the final stages of Manhunt’s development and reintroduced the litter code from GTA 3.
Vermeij’s explanation sheds light on the various factors influencing game design and development. In addition to the trash feature, he has also discussed other intriguing elements from the PS2-era GTA games, such as the changing size of the moon and the inclusion of suicide NPCs in San Andreas, revealing the depth of detail in these games.
