Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Developers
	Rockstar North
macOS (OS X)	TransGaming Inc.
Publishers
	Rockstar Games
Japan	Capcom
Engines
	RenderWare
Release dates
Windows	May 1, 2003
macOS (OS X)	November 12, 2010

Warnings

The macOS (OS X) release of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.

RenderWare games may not work on Windows 11 24H2 or later without using a DirectSound wrapper (see the engine page for details).

Key points

There are many issues and it's very likely to encounter at least one. SilentPatch fixes many of these issues.

A 1.0 exe is required for mods such as SkyGFX.

Ability to import your music for your own custom radio station.

Exceeding 30 FPS introduces gameplay and physics issues.

General information

Official game site

GTAForums - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Discussion

Grand Theft Wiki

GTA Network - A huge network of fansites all dedicated to the Grand Theft Auto series

GTA Garage Mod Database

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		SecuROM 4 DRM disc check. Polish versions sold in Classics collection from Cenega require Internet activation, but have no DRM.
Amazon.com
Green Man Gaming
Humble Store
Mac App Store
Steam		Steam version needs to be downgraded in order to be seriously modded.

Version differences

Some radio songs have been removed for new Steam buyers; Steam version purchases made before December 2012 still include these songs.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.1 is the latest patch available.

Most digital distribution versions already include this patch.

ASI loader

Use Ultimate ASI Loader
Place dinput8.dll into <path-to-game> Rename the file to d3d8.dll Create a new folder named scripts. ASI mods will be placed in here Notes Required for many script-based mods and fixes.

SilentPatch

Fixes numerous bugs and oversights introduced in the PC version.

Download SilentPatch and DDraw Component
Place the data folder to <path-to-game> Place SilentPatchVC.asi into <path-to-game>\scripts\ Place ddraw.dll into <path-to-game> Notes ASI loader required only for SilentPatchVC

Skip intro videos

Rename/delete movies folder
Go to <path-to-game> Delete or rename the movies folder Notes Left-click anywhere after launching to open the game window

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\GTA Vice City User Files\gta_vc.set
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12110/pfx/

Configuration file is encrypted

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Documents\GTA Vice City User Files\GTAVCsf*.b
macOS (OS X)	~/Library/Application Support/Grand Theft Auto Vice City/p_drive/Documents/GTA Vice City User Files/
Steam Play (Linux)	<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/12110/pfx/

Steam edition uses an altered saves format than the retail one. They can be converted though

If using Windows 98 / Windows ME compatibility mode save files are stored in %PUBLIC%\Documents\GTA Vice City User Files\

Save files are NOT cross-compatible between Windows and OS X

Portable GTA
Rename the file extension to portablegta.asi Place the file into <path-to-game>\scripts\ Run the game, exit, then delete the contents inside <path-to-game>\userfiles\ Extract everything from GTA Vice City User Files to the userfiles folder Notes Moves the user files to the installation folder ASI loader required Mod also works with GTA 3 and GTA San Andreas

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
OneDrive		Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers.
Steam Cloud

Video settings

In-game video settings.

Widescreen resolution

In-game wide screen option allows to retain proper aspect ratio, though only for 16:9 resolutions. Otherwise picture is stretched.

Yet not only wide screen option cuts part of the image (Vert-), it does also misalign aiming.

Use ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix
Download GTAVC.WidescreenFix.zip Place the scripts folder to <path-to-game> Notes Multi-monitor users also need to use SilentPatch Field of view can be controlled inside GTAVC.WidescreenFix.ini MSAA can be enabled for non-Steam versions. See Anti-aliasing (AA). ASI loader required

Windowed

Use ThirteenAG's Windowed Mode
Place III.VC.SA.WindowedMode.asi and (optionally) III.VC.SA.CoordsManager.exe into <path-to-game>\scripts\ Shortcuts Alt+↵ Enter toggles Fullscreen/Windowed modes Ctrl+↵ Enter toggles Border/Borderless modes ⇧ Shift+↵ Enter toggles Coords Manager menu Notes ASI loader required

Borderless Windowed Mode
Create a new text file named wndmode.ini Place the file into <path-to-game> Run the game Notes ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix required

Anti-aliasing (AA)

Use ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix
Open GTAVC.WidescreenFix.ini, located inside <path-to-game>\scripts Adjust ForceMultisamplingLevel to the AA level of your choice

Input settings

In-game key map settings.

In-game mouse settings.

GInput

Adds full XInput controller support

Restores haptic feedback from console versions

Choice between Xbox and DualShock button prompts

Download GInput
Place GInputVC.asi and GInputVC.ini into <path-to-game>\scripts\ Place the models folder into <path-to-game> Notes ASI loader required

Y-axis sensitivity modifier

Independently adjust Y-axis speed[citation needed]
Download the y-axis mouse sensitivity fix. Extract the contents of archive to a continent location. Open vcsens.txt and follow the provided instructions. Notes This mod has not been updated in over 7 years and it's not compatible with Steam release

Audio settings

In-game audio settings.

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Brazilian Portuguese				Fan translation, download.
Simplified Chinese				Fan translation, The Project itself and download and GitHub.
Czech				Fan translation, download.
French
German
Italian
Polish				Official translation, download.
Russian				Retail only. Patch for digital release here. Unofficial audio translation is avaliable.
Slovak				Fan translation, download.
Spanish
Ukrainian				Two different fan localizations, #1 and #2.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Native	Notes
LAN play		Use Vice City Multiplayer.
Online play		Use Vice City Multiplayer.

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated		Use Vice City Multiplayer.
Self-hosting		Use Vice City Multiplayer.
Direct IP

VR support

3D modes	State	GG3D	Notes
iZ3D

Issues fixed

Timing-related issues

An unlocked or incorrect frame rate cap can result in timing issues.

Related issues:

• Broken cutscenes (when a cut scene starts, the game seems frozen)

• It is noticeable upon starting a new game, when a black screen appears with the writing "Marco's Bistro, Liberty City, 1986".

• Random crash when changing resolution
• Cars that reverse extremely slowly and/or stop quickly after releasing the accelerator
• Inhuman difficulties while performing boat missions (such as "Stunt Boat Challenge")

• Boats that accelerate and move slower than they should be (like cars issue above)

• Game that runs almost comically quickly

• Pedestrians seem to be "running" and cars move on and off screen extremely fast.

• Textures & models "pop in" too slowly

• Certain models such as bridges or stairs take a few seconds to "pop in" even if the character is standing near to or next to the model.
• In the mission "The Driver", a character may fall through the a bridge.

• Vice City with almost no cars or pedestrians on the streets and seems a ghost-town.

Solution:

Turn on in-game frame limiter[citation needed]
Game is limited to 30FPS.

Game refuses to start

Fix Data Execution Prevention setting[citation needed]
Ensure Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is set to the default (Windows programs and services only)

Download fixed GTA III/GTA VC DDraw Component and put the ddraw.dll in <path-to-game>\

Cannot find 640x480 video mode error

Download fixed GTA III/GTA VC DDraw Component and put the ddraw.dll in <path-to-game>

Game cannot find enough available video memory

Download fixed GTA III/GTA VC DDraw Component and put the ddraw.dll in <path-to-game>\

Game crashes after intro movie or fails to start entirely

Nothing occurs, other than a possible quick flicker, when attempting to run the game (gta-vc.exe)

The game starts, however it crashes directly after the intro move with the error "gta-vc.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close."

Delete gta_vc.set

Game crashes after loading save

Make sure save file and game build match[citation needed]

Game crashes randomly with "Unhandled exception"

Option 1: Edit properties of gta-vc.exe[citation needed]
In the Properties of gta-vc.exe change Compatibility mode to Windows 98/Me. Set the Privilege Level to Run this program as an administrator. In the Steam command line options, add -CPUCount:1.

Option 2: Use testapp.exe as game executable[citation needed]
Go to <path-to-game>. Rename or move the original gta-vc.exe. Rename testapp.exe to gta-vc.exe. Launch the game through Steam. The client will use the new gta-vc.exe as entry point. If this does not work, maybe Rockstar's support article does.

Mouse clicks do not register

Install SilentPatch[citation needed]

Missing text in menus

Install SilentPatch[citation needed]

Camera locks after a unique jump is performed

The camera locks in slow-motion and does not release the view.

Alt-Tab Workaround
Alt + Tab out of the game. Click on Vice City on your task bar. Alt + Tab back in. Repeat steps 1-3 a couple of times if it did not work the first time

Bad lighting, reflections, shadowing

Install SilentPatch[citation needed]

Crosshair inaccuracy

Playing wide screen places the real aim slightly above and to the right of the displayed crosshairs.

Install the Widescreen resolution fix[citation needed]

Player and pedestrians dialogue is very rare compared to PS2 version

Install the Ped Speech Patch[citation needed]

Low violence gameplay with some keyboard layouts

Includes ar-EG, de-AT, en-AU, es-ES, fr-CA, qu-PE, se-FI, sr-SP, zh-HK

Install SilentPatch

The game will ask for CD if installed on A: or B: drives

Install SilentPatch[citation needed]

Alchemy doesn't restore EAX

Install Alchemy Fix[citation needed]

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	8

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Miles Sound System	6.1c

Modding

Frequently used plugins

• CLEO - Popular script extender used by lots of sophisticated mods. Version 2.0.0.0 is compatible with the Steam version
• IMG Manager V2.0 - Beta version of the most bug-free .img files manager

Featured mods

• AI Enhanced Textures for Vice City - Replaces all textures with 4x AI Enhanced versions of the originals.
• GTA Vice City - Updated SCM - Fixes/Restores/Improves mission-specific stuff.
• GTA:FPS - Play the game in first person.
• Fixed idle animations
• Map Fixes & Improvements
• Vice Cry 1.8 - Major graphics overhaul for the game.
• Spaceeinstein's All In One Mod v3.2 - Adds new features, new optional mods, fixes the gameplay and restores some beta features.
• Vice City - The Leftovers Fix - This reinstates missing or changed artifacts from the PlayStation 2 version of the game.

Total conversions

• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City - Total Conversion of GTA III to Vice City
• GTA Re: Liberty City Stories - A standalone mod that attempts to port GTA: LCS to PC (does not need Vice City to play)
• GTA: State of Liberty - Attempt to port every GTA III era game map to VC

System requirements

Windows

macOS (OS X)

Windows
	Minimum		Recommended
Operating system (OS)	2000, XP
Processor (CPU)	AMD Athlon 800 MHz AMD Duron 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium III 800 MHz Intel Celeron 1.2 GHz		AMD Athlon XP Intel Pentium 4
System memory (RAM)	128 MB		256 MB
Storage drive (HDD/SSD)	915 MB		1.55 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce 32 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0 compatible		ATI Radeon 8500 Nvidia GeForce 3 64 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0 compatible
Sound (audio device)	DirectX 9.0 compatible

macOS (OS X)
	Minimum
Operating system (OS)	10.6.8
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core 2 Duo
System memory (RAM)	1 GB
Storage drive (HDD/SSD)	1.7 GB
Video card (GPU)	ATI Radeon X1600 Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT Intel GMA X3100
Other	This game will NOT run on PowerPC (G3/G4/G5) based Mac systems (PowerMac)