Grand Theft Auto 3's Cinematic Camera Angle: A Train Ride's Unexpected Legacy
The iconic cinematic camera angle, a staple of the Grand Theft Auto series since Grand Theft Auto 3, has an unexpected origin story. Former Rockstar Games developer Obbe Vermeij recently revealed that this now-beloved feature stemmed from the surprisingly mundane task of making train rides in GTA 3 less tedious.
Vermeij, a veteran who contributed to several landmark GTA titles including GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA 4, has been sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes on his blog and Twitter. His latest revelation details the evolution of the cinematic camera.
Initially, Vermeij found the train rides in GTA 3 "boring." He explored skipping the journey entirely, but this proved impossible due to potential "streaming issues." His solution? He implemented a camera that dynamically shifted between viewpoints along the train tracks, adding a touch of visual interest. A colleague's suggestion to apply a similar approach to car driving led to the birth of the iconic cinematic camera angle, which the team found "surprisingly entertaining."
This camera angle remained unchanged in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. However, it underwent a revamp in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas by a different Rockstar developer. A fan even demonstrated what GTA 3's train rides would have looked like without the cinematic camera, prompting Vermeij to clarify that the original, un-enhanced view would have been a static perspective from above and slightly behind the train carriage, much like driving a car.
Vermeij's recent contributions also include verifying details from a significant Grand Theft Auto leak last December. This leak revealed early plans for an online mode in GTA 3, including character creation and online missions. Vermeij confirmed working on a rudimentary deathmatch prototype, but the project was ultimately scrapped due to its requiring "a lot more work." The cinematic camera angle, however, proved to be a lasting and impactful contribution to the franchise.
