Rockstar North logo
Rockstar North (formerly DMA Design) is a developer of computer and video games, formerly based in Dundee, Scotland, and now located in the Leith area of Edinburgh. It is the developer of Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and now Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas three of the best-selling games of this console generation; in its earlier guise as DMA, it was responsible for originating the monumentally successful Lemmings franchise.
History
From DMA to Rockstar North
Whereas GTA2 had been an incremental improvement on the original, keeping the top-down 2D perspective and adding a few new features (namely a somewhat complicated system of forging alliances and rivalries with numerous competing gangs), In 2001, DMA was working on Grand Theft Auto III, bringing the series into full 3D. It became the PlayStation 2's biggest system seller in both the U.S. and Europe; Sony, realising what a good thing they had, paid Rockstar to keep it a PS2 exclusive, while Rockstar bought DMA outright, renaming the company "Rockstar North" in early 2002. That same year saw the release of a PC version of GTA3, as well as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PS2, which retained the engine and core gameplay of GTA3 while adding a number of refinements (plus a roster of top Hollywood voice talent). In 2003, the company released a PC port of Vice City, as well as a two-pack of both GTA3 and Vice City for Microsoft's Xbox console (ported by Rockstar Vienna).
Manhunt, was released for the PS2 in 2003. The game is a violent stealth adventure in which a apparently executed death-row inmate finds himself the star of a Running Man-esque game show, fleeing expert killers in a struggle for survival. Rockstar North released Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for the PS2 in October 26, 2004, and is currently working on an as-yet-untitled GTA sequel for "next-generation" consoles (most likely the PlayStation 3). A Grand Theft Auto title for the PlayStation Portable has been confirmed, to be developed by Rockstar Leeds, under Rockstar North's supervision.
Timeline (After namechange to Rockstar North)
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
- Manhunt (2003)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
External links
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