This page is for the original 2002 PC release. For the remaster, see Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition.
Grand Theft Auto III
 |
|
Rockstar North |
| macOS (OS X) |
TransGaming Inc. |
|
Rockstar Games |
| Japan |
Capcom |
| Russia |
Buka Entertainment |
|
RenderWare |
| Windows |
May 20, 2002 |
| macOS (OS X) (Cider) |
November 12, 2010 |
| Metacritic |
93 |
| Monetization |
One-time game purchase |
| Modes |
Singleplayer |
| Pacing |
Real-time |
| Perspectives |
Third-person |
| Controls |
Direct control |
| Genres |
Action, Open world, Shooter, TPS |
| Vehicles |
Automobile, Bus, Flight, Naval/watercraft, Street racing, Tank, Train, Transport, Truck |
| Art styles |
Realistic |
| Themes |
Contemporary, North America |
| Series |
Grand Theft Auto |
|
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version 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.
Key points
- Features the ability to import music for a custom radio station.
General information
- Official manual
- Steam Community Discussions
- GTAForums - Grand Theft Auto III Discussion.
- GTA Network - A huge network of fansites all dedicated to the Grand Theft Auto series
Availability
- If the Steam version is detected, the Rockstar launcher can launch the game through Steam instead.[4]
- Given for free to anyone who purchases The Definitive Edition on the Rockstar Store before June 30, 2022.
Essential improvements
Patches
Patch 1.1 fixes several bugs and removes SafeDisc DRM. Most digital distribution versions already include this patch.
- Many fixes of this patch have been included in SilentPatch, and the v1.1 executable can cause incompatibility with other fixes and mods so the v1.0 executable is recommended.
Skip intro videos
- Although this mod was made for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it works on Grand Theft Auto III as well.
|
Installing No Intro mod[5]
|
- Download the mod here.
- Extract the
movie folder from the archive, then copy this folder to <path-to-game>, replacing the video files. For the German version, create a duplicate of GTAtitles.mpg within the mod's folder and rename the duplicate as GTAtitlesGER.mpg.
- Now launch the game. The blank videos should skip the intro and launch straight into the game.
|
SilentPatch
- Fixes numerous bugs and oversights introduced in the PC version, and restores content removed from the French and German versions (e.g. blood, cutting off limbs, obtaining money from corpses, Rampage missions[6]).
- Copying the
AUDIO folder from the "PLAY" disc into <path-to-game> allows the game to be playable without the CD when using SilentPatch.
|
Installing SilentPatch[5]
|
- Download the
SilentPatchIII.zip and SilentPatchDDraw.zip files here.
- Extract the contents of
SilentPatchIII.zip archive, then copy the models folder and SilentPatchIII.asi into <path-to-game>, overwriting any files in the process.
- Extract the contents of
SilentPatchDDraw.zip archive, then copy ddraw.dll into <path-to-game>.
|
ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix
- A v1.0 executable is recommended.
- For multi-monitor support, SilentPatch is required.[7]
- Fixes issues such as broken in-game widescreen presentation and HUD/subtitle scaling in higher resolutions.
- Adds MSAA support for the non-Steam version. Also works as an ASI loader and a D3D8to9 wrapper.
|
Installing ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix[5]
|
- Download ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix here.
- Extract the
GTA3.WidescreenFix folder from the zip archive, then copy the d3d8.dll file and scripts folder into <path-to-game>.
- (Optional) Download the Widescreen Frontend from the drop down menu where you downloaded ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix above, then extract the contents of the zip archive and copy them into
<path-to-game>, overwriting any files in the process.
Notes
- The default settings alter the original game's UI and appearance (the vehicle light fix isn't actually a fix as all versions have large light coronas). For a vanilla look, set the values of the following settings in
GTA3.WidescreenFix.ini:
- Vanilla Widescreen Fix settings (ver.05-16-2020)
; The settings below are used to scale parts of the game UI differently.
; If set to "0.0", original values will be used.
HudWidthScale = 0.0 ; Original value is 1.0.
HudHeightScale = 0.0 ; Original value is 1.0714285.
RadarWidthScale = 0.0 ; Original value is 1.0.
SubtitlesScale = 0.0 ; Original value is 1.0.
; Fixes vehicle lights coronas size. (0|1).
SmallerVehicleCorona = 0
; Remove vehicle light square. (0|1).
NoLightSquare = 1
; Makes radar size the same as in GTA IV (0|1).
IVRadarScaling = 0
; Replaces text shadow with outline (0|1|2).
ReplaceTextShadowWithOutline = 0
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- Configuration file is encrypted.
Save game data location
Portable GTA
- Requires a v1.0 executable and an ASI loader (included in ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix).
- Also works with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and San Andreas.
- Moves the user files folder to
<path-to-game>, allowing a downgraded game to be fully portable.
|
Using Portable GTA[8]
|
- Download the mod here, then rename the file extension from
portablegta.dll to portablegta.asi.
- Place the
portablegta.asi file into <path-to-game>\scripts.
- Run the game, exit to desktop, and then delete the contents inside
<path-to-game>\userfiles.
- Copy everything from
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\GTA3 User Files into <path-to-game>\userfiles folder.
|
| System |
Native |
Notes |
| OneDrive |
|
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
| Steam Cloud |
|
|
Video
- Only 16:9 aspect-ratio is supported as other resolutions are stretched, however, the in-game Widescreen setting causes issues such as stretched HUD, cuts off parts of the image (Vert-), and misaligned mouse aiming. Use ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix for proper widescreen support.
Input
- The game has two control styles: Standard accommodates keyboard and mouse controls, while Classic is based on the console versions.
In-game key map settings.
GInput
- Adds full XInput and DualShock 3 controller support with relevant controller prompts.
- Supports pressure sensitive buttons and SIXAXIS accelerometers.
- Restores haptic feedback from console versions.
- Five controller presets, based on console versions and Grand Theft Auto IV.
|
Installing GInput
|
- Works with DsHidMini driver, but requires drop DsHIdMini's xinput1_3.dll into the game directory.[14]
- Download GInputIII here.
- Extract the contents of
GInputIII_*.zip, and copy the models folder, GInputIII.asi, and GInputIII.ini files into <path-to-game>.
- Open
GInputIII.ini with a text editor and configure your desired settings.
|
|
Controller presets
|
- Edit the
ControlSet=* in section [Pad1] in GInputIII.ini.
Numbers of control presets edited:
- 1 - Classic preset
- 2 - Classic 2 preset
- 3 - Classic 3 preset
- 4 - Analog style preset
- 5 - GTA IV styled preset
|
Audio
|
EAX / DirectSound wrapper fix
|
|
Copy the Mss32.dll from the v1.0 archive to the installation folder. This is from the GTA Garage website where author Verokster created a working Mss32.dll that looks for dsound.dll in the game root first, letting you use wrappers like Creative ALchemy or DSOAL for restored EAX functionality.
|
Localizations
Network
- Dedicated multiplayer maps can be restored with a mod
Multiplayer types
Connection types
Multiplayer mods
- Downgrading your game to 1.0 version is required to run these mods
|
GTA Connected
|
- It supports JavaScript, Squirrel and Lua as scripting languages
- It supports P2P as sync method
- Windows XP/Wine support
|
|
Liberty Unleashed
|
- It has been abandoned from developers.
- No updates since 2016-06-14.
|
VR support
| 3D modes |
State |
GG3D |
Notes |
| iZ3D |
| |
|
| vorpX |
| G3D
User created game profile, requires D3D8to9, read more in the vorpx forum profile introduction. |
Issues fixed
Timing-related issues
- An unlocked or incorrect frame rate cap can result in timing issues.
Related issues
- The menu text selections are invisible exceeding 2000 FPS (fixed with SilentPatch).
- It crashes the game randomly too when loading a save game.
- Some weapons fire faster; M16 with manual aiming transforms into a machine gun, firing all the bullets in less than a second.
- Some audio cuts off sooner. The more frames per second, the sooner it cuts. Capping the game to 50 FPS using Framerate Vigilante seems to allow the highest frame rate without this issue. [19]
- The firetruck can't shoot water, the effects are broken, thus rendering firefighter side mission impassable.
- When walking down the stairs or downhill player sometimes gets flung and loses health extremely.
- Moving the camera with Mouse could become impossible on foot.
- Vehicles traction and friction are non-existent.
- Vehicles lose momentum much faster, as soon as player let go of the throttle key.
- Some cars are not able to reverse.
- After dying the game is likely to freeze on a white screen.
- Turning sirens on or off is much harder due to shortened timing of pressing the assigned key to do so. Depends on the FPS.
- Flamethrower's fire particle effects are broken.
- Pager messages go faster.
- Replays go faster.
- Making stunt jumps breaks the game after completing one, the camera is not going back to normal, the in-game clock also freezes in slow motion.
- Pushing cars on foot becomes very easy.
- Sometimes vehicles can stand in down-place, freezing and becoming stuck.
Solution
|
Turn on in-game frame limiter[citation needed]
|
- No timing-related bugs.
- Game is capped to 30FPS.
|
|
Use Framerate Vigilante[20][21]
|
- Contains fixes for many framerate related issues.
- By limiting the game to 60 FPS and using Framerate Vigilante, it's possible to achieve good, playable gameplay.
|
Missing or broken features and bugs
- The PC version is known for missing some features or having some broken ones from the console versions, especially the Playstation 2 version.
Relevant issues
- Bad lighting, reflections, shadow mapping
- Purple Nines gang has vanished
Mouse sensitivity resets after restart
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[24]
The game asking for the CD, even when all files are copied from the disc or was installed via Steam
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).
|
"Cannot find 640x480 video mode" error
|
Use the following compatibility fixes[30]
|
- Right-click
gta3.exe and select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab and set the following:
- Set Compatibility mode to
Windows XP (Service Pack 2)
- Check the setting for
Run in 640x480 resolution
- Click
Apply to apply these settings and attempt to run the game, then change resolution settings as desired.
|
"Game requires at least 12MB of available video memory" error
Vehicles are missing colors
Misaligned mouse aiming
- Using the in-game widescreen setting causes the player's actual aiming sight to be slightly above and to the right of the displayed crosshairs.
Game uses incorrect refresh rate
- The game may default to the lowest supported refresh rate of the monitor.
Other information
API
| Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
| Windows |
|
|
|
| macOS (OS X) | |
|
This 32-bit-only macOS game does not work on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. |
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
| Audio |
Miles Sound System |
6.1c |
Modifications
Downgrading (Rockstar Games Launcher)
- Downgrading the Rockstar Games Launcher version will improve compatibility with other mods that rely on a v1.0 executable.
|
How to use III RGSC Downgrader[2]
|
- Download the III RGSC Downgrader.
- Extract the contents of
IIIdowngrader.rar to <path-to-game>.
- Run
install.bat to start the downgrading process. The tool will automatically close its command prompt window and remove patch files afterward.
- Launch the game from the newly created
gta3.exe v1.0 executable. It is advised to not use the original executable leftover after downgrading the game as the Rockstar Games Launcher has problems with the modified files and can undo file changes from the downgrader.
|
Featured plugins
- CLEO - Popular script extender used by lots of sophisticated mods.
- Mod Loader - Allows the use of mods without replacing core files from the installation folder. Some script-based files may not work if loaded via Mod Loader.
- VBDec - A plugin that, when used in conjunction with Audio Samples, allows for native playback of the original uncompressed .VB audio files from the PlayStation 2 version onto the PC version. The.VB files extracted from the PlayStation 2 version can be found along with Liberty City: The Leftovers Fix.
Featured mods
- Liberty City: The Leftovers Fix - Restores elements from the original PlayStation 2 version such as the 'Under Surveillance' dialogue and missing song from the Double Clef FM radio station.
- ParticleEX - Fixes and tweaks particle effects with the ability to use effects from the PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox versions while retaining their original appearance. Requires an ASI loader.
- Mouse Wheel Radio Changer - Adds previous radio station action to mouse wheel.
- Improved Weapon Purchase - Adds the ability to buy weapons from walls like in Vice City
- Classic Axis: Visual Camera Improvements - Allows camera to be moved around the character or vehicle while "on foot" and "in a vehicle", crouch and aim with weapons like in future GTA titles.
- SA & LCS Vehicle Camera Port - Adds the ability to move camera while on a vehicle like in modern GTA titles.
- Skin and Bones - Adds bone system like in Vice City.
- Breakable Windshields - Adds the ability to break windshields like in future GTA titles.
- Burstable Tyres - Adds the ability to shoot car tires like in future GTA titles.
- GPS Line - Adds GPS that shows a route line to the destination while driving a car.
- Menu Map - Adds an actual "Map" in the menu.
- Bail Out - Adds the ability to bail out of the car.
- Sharptrails - Removes the blurry "Trails" effect while keeping the original lighting and colors.
SkyGfx
- Requires a D3D8to9 wrapper (included in ThirteenAG's Widescreen Fix) and currently only works with a v1.0 executable.
- Features the ability to restore the visual aesthetics of the RenderWare engine from the console or mobile versions.
- May decrease performance on older and weaker systems.
Total conversions
- GTA III Dark Edition - A total conversion featuring a darker atmosphere to match the tone of the game's setting. No longer in development.[35]
- PS2 Feels III Edition - An off-shoot of Liberty City: The Leftovers Fix which ports many assets and features from the PlayStation 2 version to the PC version. Requires Mod Loader.
- Xbox Version HD - Ports many of the high-quality Xbox assets and effects to the PC version with remastered high-definition textures. Many pre-included mods are outdated and the total conversion has some undressed errors, however an unofficial off-shoot, Xbox Conversion: The Unofficial Revision, attempts to address some of the leftover issues of Rim's original mod, restructures it similarly to PS2 Feels III Edition to minimize replacing core installation files. This off-shoot is available in HD and Lite versions which are based on the current HD version of Rim's mod and a lower-end alternative based on the converted Xbox assets by TheHero which the former was derived from.
- Grand Theft Auto 3D - A total conversion project that aims to recreate the brighter, cartoony look and feel of the game's alpha and beta stages contrast to the darker and realistic tone from the final version by using a collection of hand-made assets, in-game leftovers, and HD sources. Currently under development with only free-forming gameplay of Portland being accessible. This is not meant for vanilla Grand Theft Auto III gameplay.
- GTA IV: Renderware Edition - A total conversion project that aims to recreate Grand Theft Auto IV into Grand Theft Auto III's engine. Currently under development.
- GTA Forelli Redemption - A total conversion project featuring even new side missions, ambulance mission has been tweaked. The events are taking place in parallel with events of the original GTA 3 story. Giovanni Forelli, 26 years old man, is a son of Sonny Forelli, also a nephew of current Forelli boss Giorgio, which was lucky enough to survive during the destruction of Little Italy. Forelli Family is weak these days, though it still manages to stay in the game. However, a short chain of events gives Forelli a chance to restore their power.
Modding tools
System requirements
| Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
| Operating system (OS) |
95, 98, ME, 2000 |
XP |
| Processor (CPU) |
AMD Athlon 500 MHz
Intel Pentium III 450 MHz |
AMD Athlon 1024 MHz
Intel Pentium III 1000 MHz
700 MHz (Steam) |
| System memory (RAM) |
96 MB |
256 MB
128 MB (Steam) |
| Hard disk drive (HDD) |
700 MB
500 MB (Steam) | |
| Video card (GPU) |
Direct3D compatible
16 MB of VRAM
DirectX 8.1 compatible
| 64 MB
32 MB (Steam) of VRAM |
| Sound (audio device) |
DirectX compatible | |
| macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
| Operating system (OS) |
10.6.8 |
| Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core 2 Duo |
| System memory (RAM) |
1 GB |
| Hard disk drive (HDD) |
1.5 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) |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/12100/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (12100) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.
References
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2021-10-23
- Confirmed SafeDisc DRM is also in the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy release of Grand Theft Auto III from my own personal copy of this collection. Using Patch v1.1 removed SafeDisc but the game would prompt "Insert Disc 2" to play after the fact. Tested on Windows 10 64-bit.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2020-12-14
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto™ III - Games For Windows - last accessed on 2022-09-06
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-09-18
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Verified by User:AmethystViper on May 21, 2018
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto 3 - last accessed on 11 June 2022
- ↑ SilentPatch - Page 101 - GTAForums - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on March 31, 2019
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-06-09
- Enabling anisotropic filtering x16 for the game via Nvidia Control Panel/Profile Inspector (after installing Widescreen Fix) boosted the overall clarity of the game's textures.
- ↑ (GTA-NFS-MP-OTHER) Widescreen Fixes Pack, Page 51, Scripts & Plugins - GTAForums - last accessed on 2019-06-09
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2018-05-21
- This fix along with Widescreen Fix allowed the game to be played in windowed/borderless fullscreen mode via this .ini file.
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-06-09
- Using DS4Windows together with GInput allowed for DualShock 4 support by tricking the game into thinking it's reading inputs from an XInput controller.
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on June 6, 2018
- ↑ Was somebody able to make DS3-mode in GInput work via DSHIDMini yet?
- ↑ PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ GTA3 Sound Quality - Ubisoft Forums - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ Listening In On Liberty City - Soundblaster.com (retrieved) - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ EAX Advanced HD And 6.1 Sound In Games - Tom's Hardware
- ↑ https://old.reddit.com/r/GTA3/comments/10e0swe/gta_3_at_60fps/
- ↑ GitHub - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ gtaforums.com - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-06-10
- Used Widescreen Fix's and crosire's D3D8to9 converter and the menu text worked as intented.
- ↑ SilentPatch - Page 141 - GTAForums - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ SilentPatch - Page 167 - GTAForums - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ SilentPatch - Page 148 - GTAForums - last accessed on August 15, 2018
- ↑ pc drm - How to fix "please insert disk into the drive" error with the Steam version of GTA 3? - Arqade - last accessed on August 15, 2018
- ↑ Insert Disk 2 - Help & Support - GTAForums - last accessed on August 15, 2018
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on August 15, 2015
- Used CLEO on a clean install of the retail release with the v1.1 patch applied without any other mods and CD check was bypassed
- ↑ Can't find 640x480 video mode FIX :: Steam Community Discussions - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ How to fix 'Will not open' or 'Cannot find 640x480 video mode' in GTA III - YouTube - last accessed on 2019-06-09
- ↑ Grand Theft Auto III requires at least 12MB of available video memory - Help please?! :: Steam Community Discussions - last accessed on 17 May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-06-10
- This not only fixes the cars missing colors on the Steam version, it also fixes some cars missing colors during the opening cutscene in the retail release as well, without replacing the game's particle.txd file.
- ↑ Verified by User:AmethystViper on 2019-06-10
- Without Widescreen Fix, the mouse cursor was misaligned when using the "Standard" controls with the in-game Widescreen setting endabled, and was fixed after installing the plugin.
- ↑ Verified by User:Keith on 2020-11-16
- ↑ GTA III Dark Edition - last accessed on 2019-09-19
