Summary
- The iconic cinematic camera angle in Grand Theft Auto 3 originated from a "boring" train ride.
- Obbe Vermeij, an ex-Rockstar Games developer, has revealed the development process behind the feature.
- The developer created the camera angle for train rides, but went on to implement it for cars after fellow Rockstar devs found it "surprisingly entertaining."
An ex-Rockstar Games developer has shed light on the origins of the iconic cinematic camera angle in Grand Theft Auto 3, attributing it to a "boring" train ride. This feature has since become a staple in every Grand Theft Auto title. Grand Theft Auto 3 marked a pivotal moment for the series, transitioning from a top-down perspective to 3D graphics and introducing numerous groundbreaking enhancements.
Obbe Vermeij, who worked on several of Rockstar's iconic titles including Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, San Andreas, and Grand Theft Auto 4, has been sharing fascinating insights on his personal blog and Twitter since 2023. From explaining why Claude is a silent protagonist in GTA 3 to unveiling the creation of the cinematic camera angle, Vermeij's posts have captivated fans.
GTA 3 Dev Reveals How Iconic Cinematic Train Camera Angle Came to Fruition
In a recent Twitter post, Vermeij disclosed that he initially found the train ride in Grand Theft Auto 3 to be monotonous. He considered allowing players to skip to the next station, but this was impractical due to potential streaming issues. Instead, Vermeij opted to make the camera switch between various viewpoints along the train track to enhance the journey's appeal. Upon a colleague's suggestion to apply a similar effect to cars, the iconic cinematic camera angle was born, much to the delight and entertainment of the Rockstar team.
Vermeij noted that the cinematic camera angle was left unchanged in Grand Theft Auto Vice City, a game often hailed as one of the best in the series. However, it was later revamped by another Rockstar employee for Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. A fan even went to the effort of removing the cinematic camera angle from Grand Theft Auto 3 to demonstrate how the train journey would have appeared without Vermeij's innovation. In response, Vermeij explained that the camera angle for the train journey would have resembled that of driving a car, positioned above and slightly behind the carriage.
Recently, Vermeij also confirmed details from a significant Grand Theft Auto leak that surfaced in December. The leak disclosed that Rockstar Games had once planned an online mode for Grand Theft Auto 3, featuring character creation, online missions, progression, and more. Vermeij admitted to creating a basic implementation of a deathmatch mode for the game, where players could earn points by eliminating each other. Unfortunately, the online mode was ultimately scrapped as it required extensive further development.
