UNDER THE INFLUENCE

The games that made GTA, and the games GTA made

INSPIRED BY: PAC-MAN (1980, NAMCO)

You know, Pac-Man. The mechanic of switching between hunted and hunter, and the top-down perspective, were major influences according to David Jones.

INSPIRED BY: TURBO ESPRIT (1986, MIKE RICHARDSON)

A little-known ZX Spectrum game from back in the mists of time – well, 1986 – which offered free-roaming city driving with pedestrians and traffic lights.

INSPIRED BY: CARMAGEDDON (1997, STAINLESS GAMES)

Released just months before GTA and also publicised by Max Clifford, Carmageddon sparked a debate about videogame violence that DMA was able to dine out on.

WOULD INSPIRE: THE GETAWAY (2002, TEAM SOHO)

Razzing about in a Saab through the streets of London, fleeing the police and shooting anyone in your way? Nah, can’t see a link here.

WOULD INSPIRE: SAINTS ROW (2006, VOLITION)

An almost like-for-like recreation of GTA III with the silly turned up to 11. Initially Xbox-exclusive, we’d get the, er, pleasure of playing Saints Row 2 onwards on PlayStation.

WOULD INSPIRE: ASSASSIN’S

CREED (2007, UBISOFT MONTREAL)

It might seem like we’re pushing it now, but GTA III sketched the blueprint for Ezio et al. Killing for progression in an open world, hiding from the authorities? Very GTA.