Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

By Kristan Reed Published 4 November, 2002

First Impressions - Kristan played another game this weekend. You may have heard of it.

This time last year: Grand Theft Auto 3 emerged with virtually no fanfare, no PR stunts, no reviews even. But what happened over the next 12 months was nothing short of a phenomenon. For the first time in many years, the power of word of mouth became hugely apparent as people realised just how good the game was.

It hardly needs us to remind you why it was so good, but we will anyway: it was simply a landmark. Even without the 70 odd missions, their foundations were incredibly solid. Here was a game that you didn't even have to play with any serious intention and still have more fun with than just about any other game out there. But of course, progression through the missions brought huge rewards in terms of new islands to explore, new vehicles, weapons and the fact that the mission were almost uniformly brilliantly conceived.

Feverish playground behaviour

'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' Screenshot sep021b

Bikes play a key part in GTA Vice City

Throw in more secrets than you could know what to do with, a genius radio system and you had the game of the year - by a mile. Going into work would inevitably result in a feverish playground huddle as grown men compared notes on what they had discovered. Sure, people get excited about videogames from time to time, but this was different. GTA 3 had tapped into something no other game has ever managed, and 1.2 million sales to date in the UK tells its own story, and in our opinion was a key reason why the PS2 has dominated to the extent it has.

And here we are, just twelve months down the line and Vice City has emerged, except this time Rockstar has realised it could do with some advance publicity. Or at least anything released has been jumped upon by the print mags, running frankly hysterical coverage of the year's biggest and most important release.

Naturally, Eurogamer has been champing at the bit, hopeful for a chance to play the game for itself, albeit slightly annoyed that it already has to contend with 10 out of 10 reviews emerging from the print press. Suffice to say, it's easier to form an opinion when you know nothing about the game, but we'll try our best.

No doubt, if you're reading this, you're already pretty well up on the background, but to sum up, it's effectively GTA set in Miami in 1986, with a dude by the name of Tommy Vercetti playing the lead, meaning this time we get all the clothes, the tunes and the attitude of the era.

The time that taste forgot

'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' Screenshot sep022b

But of course old faves return, shinier than ever

What that means to you will largely depend on your age. For the majority of the scamps here at Eurogamer, this means they'll be experiencing the 80s for pretty much the first time. But for Krudster, your faithful correspondent, the decade that fashion forgot was an experience indelibly etched in the memory.

So when the loading screen simulates the loading of a Commodore 64, you know these guys are on your wavelength, and the nostalgia blasts away at you at every opportunity. The aural reminders of the era hit you every few minutes, thanks to the most incredibly comprehensive music licensing deal in the history of entertainment.

With over 80 incredibly well known tracks from 1980 to 1986 featured, it transforms the feeling of playing a game. From merely driving around some fictional interpretation of Miami, you're suddenly part of some retro nostalgia experience, voiced by some of the most well known Hollywood actors (Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds, even Debbie Harry for Chrissakes). What the hell's going on? [There's also a bit of Jenna Jameson in there, not that we'd know anything about her work. -Ed]

The early missions prove just as much a training ground as previous GTAs. Simple taxi missions, clothing pick ups, combat trainers and the like - nothing too taxing, and enough to ease you back into the proceedings.

But what these early forays demonstrate with aplomb is that almost every element of GTA 3 has been refined over last year's effort. Firstly the cut scenes have been dramatically improved, and now come complete with far better animation, and genuinely witty scripts. And refreshingly your character, Tommy, actually speaks, so there's no more of this pensive, moody stuff of old - it's now full on wise cracks, and it's all the better for it, although thankfully it never tries too hard in this department.

Frankie goes to the Golf course

'Grand Theft Auto: Vice City' Screenshot sep023b

The grandiose environments are a lot better for their lovingly crafted interiors, too

The game's littered with new vehicles to try out - the most obvious new entrants being the motorcycles; particularly the scooter which allow you to cruise around pulling wheelies, while engaging in a golf cart chase to the strains of 'Two Tribes' is simply gameplay genius.

Frame rates have been improved dramatically, and the speed is now at Burnout 2 levels, although the sight of palm trees drawing up suddenly is hardly what we expected. Clearly this is pretty much the same engine as before, and as such there's a massive sense of déjà vu when you first play the game. In certain respects, the engine's beginning to show its age these days, with pretty ropey plant scenery spoiling an otherwise smart look, while the camera angle issues still bedevil at regular intervals.

You will have no life. Resistance is futile

However, the ability to go indoors makes things far more varied, and where Vice City will kick in, we hope, is in the characterisations, the variety of missions, the numerous secrets, and all the associated freedom. This is, no doubt about it, a stop gap release before we get an overhauled GTA 4. But it's possibly the most feature packed stop gap you'll ever lay your hands on, so there's barely any point thinking about not playing the game. It will rob your life - we're already resigned to that fact, but just don't expect to be wowed by a fresh new gameplay experience. Vice City is a crowd pleaser - a case of giving the people what they want.

Check out our full review on launch day, November 8.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (91) Latest comment 9 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Errol #1 9 years ago

    I must say, I have not read the above yet, but I am very impressed by the length of your article.

    ooooo, MATRON !

  • Errol #2 9 years ago

    Read it now.

  • Errol #3 9 years ago

    And it was very good. Roll on November the 8th !

  • pjmaybe #4 9 years ago

    A well deserved 10 in OPSM2 (well they had to make up for the fact that they made a hog's ass of the GTA3 review), practically no competition out at the moment gameplay-wise...it's a must have...!

    If only to hear Fernando Martinez's radio station!

    Me, I'm parading around in my hawaiian shirt all this week just to remind my boss where I'll be all next week - vacationing in Vice City.

    Peej

  • Merefield #5 9 years ago

    Kristan, you are indeed a committed journalist...if I had Getaway and Vice City disks I'm not sure I'd get much work done for weeks...

  • martu #6 9 years ago

    Is there any 'Adam and the Ants'?

  • ST.. #7 9 years ago

    Wonder if Edge will undo their greatest ever wrong (7/10 for GTA3) with the review for this one?

  • Merefield #8 9 years ago

    Edge scoring...hmmm....

    Eurogamer and Halo? Anyone?

  • gizmo #9 9 years ago

    lol, hey told you no 60hz mode didn't I - eh eh, inside info mate.. wink wink

  • Nemesis #10 9 years ago

    99 Red Balloons? God, 20 years later I can still hear that song. Make it go away.

    Have we any confirmation that the number of copies released this Friday will only be 200K??? If so, there are going to be alot of oldies in Farrah trousers and HT Silver Shadow trainers this Friday going home unhappy.

  • gizmo #11 9 years ago

    Gameplay.com alone have had over 5000 pre-orders.

  • Merefield #12 9 years ago

    You probably can't even get hold of Rockstar shares, let alone of copy of the game, LOL

  • st3ph3n #13 9 years ago

    game of the year – by a mile

    Everywhere except the eurogamer awards it would seem.

  • AnotherMartin #14 9 years ago

    So Kristian, the $1,000,000 question..

    after spending time with both GTA:VC and The Getaway which is the one to get? or or they different/good enough in there own right to warrant buying both?

    I really liked GTA3 but never completed it as I found it lost its magic after a while.

  • Errol #15 9 years ago

    Get one now, and the other for christmas.

  • Tyronne #16 9 years ago

    Well I pre ordered this a few weeks back so touch wood i`ll have a copy this friday, and the good news is for me is that i`m off work for a week from thursday so I`m quite looking forward to playing this....but no doubt there will be the newspapers going on about how bad this is for various things and to be honest I could`nt care less...its fun and thats what i`m looking for....

  • Nemesis #17 9 years ago

    Get GTA:VC at the end of Novemeber, play it solid, finish it, return it free on the GAME policy and swap for The Getaway (if you're name is Billy Tightnuts)

  • AnotherMartin #18 9 years ago

    if you're name is Billy Tightnuts

    only on the weekend

    but don't tell the misses ;-)

  • skalmanxl #19 9 years ago

    Everywhere except the eurogamer awards it would seem.

    Where the people made the choices.

  • Tricky #20 9 years ago

    Ah Nem, but are you talking the English version or the purist Deutsch version?

    "Neunundneunzig luftballons"

    ;-)

  • Nemesis #21 9 years ago

    IIRC (and I don't know where this thought comes from) if you purchased the UK copy of 99RB you got the German version on the flip side.

    This is back in the days of Vinyl kids.

  • Khab #22 9 years ago

    So when the loading screen simulates the loading of a Commodore 64...

    I think I just came.

  • UncleLou #23 9 years ago

    For the majority of the scamps here at Eurogamer, this means they’ll be experiencing the 80s for pretty much the first time

    I think you reallyneed to do some field research here... :-)

  • Pirotic #24 9 years ago

    a case of giving the people what they want.

    except for the 60hz mode, i know it doesn't make a dramatic difference but its to be said that slightly bordered slower PAL versions are inferior.

    hopefully they are making a PC version, if not.. i'll just have to wait and see if i can import.

  • krudster #25 9 years ago

    I think the £79.98 question is you simply have to have both games. You'll like different elements of both. VC has more to do, will last longer (I suspect), but The Getaway has a newness to it that is inescapable.

  • Pirotic #26 9 years ago

    OPS2M also said Devil May Cry was full-speed, and that FFX would have no borders.

  • krudster #27 9 years ago

    *definitely* no 60hz mode.

  • woody #28 9 years ago

    Someone please tell me there is a pc version coming out, Please!

  • #29 9 years ago

    It's not confirmed yet.

  • rauper Verified Managing Director, Eurogamer Network #30 9 years ago

    "For the majority of the scamps here at Eurogamer, this means they’ll be experiencing the 80s for pretty much the first time"

    UncleLou: "I think you really need to do some field research here... :-)"

    I think he is talking about the staff! :-)

    Errol: "I must say, I have not read the above yet"

    These kinds of posts really are annoying... :)

    st3ph3n: "Everywhere except the eurogamer awards it would seem."

    Voted by the readers. Unfortunately we were bombarded with OpFlash fanboys... probably next time we will make it registered users only I think. Everyone here *knew* it wasn't the right result but we didn't want to go down the road of rigging the results!

  • BlackANUS #31 9 years ago

    "So when the loading screen simulates the loading of a Commodore 64"
    You forgot to mention that it simulates the extremely long loading times of the Commodore 64 as well. ;)

    While it's nice that you can now go inside a few buildings, I've been shying away from it unless I know that I have to absolutely go inside because it does take so long to load...either that or my PS2 is going to shit and I'll have to replace the damn thing for the second time. :( Still, it's an awesome game.

    edit: my shit grammar
    Edited by 2 at 05/11/02 @ 01:38

  • Bill Gates is Evil #32 9 years ago

    "either that or my PS2 is going to shit and I'll have to replace the damn thing for the second time. "

    ahahahah! sorry i've got to laugh at you. i've replaced my PS2 twice already and I'm always happy when I see others going through the same pain.

    seems a lot of companies are putting out make-up reviews for poor GTA3 scores. Can we expect a 12 out of 10 review score for Halo here at Eurogamer?

  • UncleLou #33 9 years ago

    Er, which of these poor scores do you refer to?
    Though I also have the impression a lot of sites give their readers what they think they want to read in this case. But I am biased and didn't like GTAIII too much, probably GTA:VC is just a great game...

  • pjmaybe #34 9 years ago

    Very surprised to hear this game getting a pseudo-slagging when I doubt very much that many of the people on here have actually played it yet. Sentences in the review like "The engine is looking outdated" and "The first impressions are that the gameplay is the same" are just hilarious to read. Well DUH!!! If they'd changed too much there would've been an outcry. I would've personally been quite happy with just an add-on mission disk (in fact I'd more or less convinced myself that they were going to do that) but no, we've got a totally separate whole new game to play with, various improvements (the new threat targetting system is beaut!), seriously different to handle vehicles (the bikes really are as good as you'd expect - the scooter is a bit tough to control though) and of course let's not forget a living, breathing, free roaming environment which seriously throws a lot of nice little touches at you constantly.

    Bad reviews, good reviews - it won't matter in the long run as this game will sell by the bucketload, and will probably ensure that the PS2 will lead the christmas console sales stakes. If Sony have got any marketing sense, they'll do a bundle pack like Microshaft are - and make sure this is one of the games that gets bundled...

    Peej

  • Errol #35 9 years ago

    S0NY R0CK5.

  • Killerbee #36 9 years ago

    While it's nice that you can now go inside a few buildings, I've been shying away from it unless I know that I have to absolutely go inside because it does take so long to load...

    So does that mean the game stops to load each time you go inside a building? Okay, there weren't many indoor environments in it, but the only loading times in GTA III were when you moved between each of the three islands. If the game stops to load whenever you want to go inside, surely that's going to spoil the experience a bit?

  • gizmo #37 9 years ago

    How long is that load time ba? I've heard reports between 'almost instantaneous' to up to 5 seconds?

    You reckon its longer than that ?

  • Wretched Chin #38 9 years ago

    What of the reports only 200,000 copies are UK bound? even pre-ordering it somewhere may result in disappointment. I want my copy safe, but can anywhere guarantee it?

  • Errol #39 9 years ago

    I have some freinds who can guarantee it. They are planning a daring raid on GTA - VC storage warehouses.

  • Wretched Chin #40 9 years ago

    Tell your friends I shall meet them near the watch tower at midnight. I shall wear a tin of carnation...

  • gizmo #41 9 years ago

    You know how GTAIII would sometimes not maintain the state of certain vehicles you had parked, ie. they would disappear if went a few yards away, or someone you desperately wanted to bash with the BB would be gone when you looked behind you? Or suddenly everyone is driving the same car as you ?

    I hear all these problems are worse in Vice City... :(

    Have you experienced this Krudster ?

  • Errol #42 9 years ago

    gizmo - I heard exactly the OPPOSITE.

    I heard that Vice has a much better 'memory' of where cars are. E.g. if you turn around or run around the corner the car you got out of will still be there when you return.

  • Mr_Sleep #43 9 years ago

    That is one compliment that Mafia should receive, it dealt with the dissapearing cars really well, I can't recall the cars becoming repetitive or my cars disappearing.

    GTA3 always did a poor job of that imo, hopefully as Errol says it has improved.

  • gizmo #44 9 years ago

    I'm hopeful then. I picked it up from reading thru the critisisms of the people who had bought it in the states, on ebgames.com.

    Ah, yanks, who'd trust em. ;)

    I think its one of those areas that could really make it or break(ish) it.
    Edited by 1 at 05/11/02 @ 13:18

  • Razz #45 9 years ago

    Every game has a glitch or 2, you guys worry too much

  • krudster #46 9 years ago

    hmmm, not sure on the car memory thing. Some of the time it seems to keep a good track of wrecked cars, other times they disappear like before. I'll pay more attention to this and let you know. All I know is riding bikes is the best fun!

  • SeniorEditor #47 9 years ago

    I've noticed that pedestrians disappear ahead if you check behind you (R3) and face them again.

  • Razz #48 9 years ago

    My flat is the Getaway!!

  • gizmo #49 9 years ago

    You live in a DVD sized box ?

  • Nemesis #50 9 years ago

    My flat is the Getaway!!

    Wha? Apartments aren't known for their speed.

    'Quick everyone, the Rozzers, into the semi detached'

  • Razz #51 9 years ago

    "You live in a DVD sized box ?"
    Bleh!!! No fool, I have a flat on Marlybone road.

  • Razz #52 9 years ago

    "Wha? Apartments aren't known for their speed.

    'Quick everyone, the Rozzers, into the semi detached'"

    ROFLOL!!! :D Nem' ever consider a career in comedy?

  • pjmaybe #53 9 years ago

    Yowch, apologies for this huge entry...Does this remind anyone else of their cassette collection like it does me!?

    Peej



    Vice City Soundtrack – Track Listings…

    Lazlo – The Rock Station V-ROCK.

    1) Judas Priest – You’ve got another thing comin’
    2) Motley Crue – Too young to fall in love
    3) Megadeth – Peace sells
    4) Rockstar’s Lovefist – Dangerous Bastard
    5) Autograph – Turn up the radio
    6) Twisted Sister – I wanna rock
    7) Ozzy Osbourne – Bark at the moon
    8) Anthrax – Madhouse
    9) Iron Maiden – 2 Minutes to Midnight
    10) Slayer – Raining blood.
    11) Tesla – Cumin’ atcha live
    12) David Lee Roth – Yankee Rose


    Fernando Martinez – Emotion FM

    1) Toto – Africa
    2) Jan Hammer – Crockett’s Theme
    3) John Waite – Missing you
    4) Cutting Crew – I just died in your arms
    5) Foreigner – Waiting for a girl like you
    6) Mr Mister – Broken Wings
    7) Roxy Music – More than this
    8) Squeeze – Tempted
    9) REO Speedwagon – Keep on loving you
    10) Night Ranger – Sister Christian
    11) Luther Vandross – Never too much
    12) Kate Bush – Wow

    Adam First – Wave 103

    1) Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Two tribes
    2) Tears for Fears – Pale Shelter
    3) Kim Wilde – Kids in America
    4) Blondie – Atomic
    5) A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran
    6) The Human League – Keep Feeling Fascination
    7) Nena – 99 Red Balloons
    8) The Psychedelic Furs – Love my way
    9) Spandau Ballet – Gold
    10) Thomas Dolby – Hyperactive
    11) Romeo Void – Never say never
    12) Corey Hart – Sunglasses at night


    Mr Magic – Wildstyle Pirate Radio Station

    1) Herbie Hancock – Rockit
    2) Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 – The Message
    3) Zapp & Roger – More bounce to the ounce
    4) Davy DMX – One for the treble
    5) Mantronix – Bassline
    6) Man Parrish – Hip hop be bop (don’t stop)
    7) Kashim – Al – naafiysh (the soul)
    8) Cybotron – Clear
    9) Afrika Bambaataa – Looking for the perfect beat
    10) Run DMC – Rock Box
    11) Kurtis Blow – The breaks
    12) WKDDINI – Magic’s Wand.

    Oliver “Ladykiller” Biscuit on Fever 105

    1) Michael Jackson – Wanna be startin’ something
    2) The Pointer Sisters – Automatic
    3) Fat Larry’s Band – Act like you know
    4) Mtume – Juicy fruit
    5) Teena Marie – Behind the groove
    6) Oliver Cheatham – Get down Saturday night
    7) Rick James – Ghetto life
    8) Evelyn Champagne King – Shame
    9) Mary Jane Girls – all night long
    10) Kool & the Gang – Summer madness
    11) Rene & Angela – I’ll be good
    12) Whispers – And the beat goes on

    Toni on Flash FM

    1) Hall and Oates – Out of touch
    2) ELO – Four little diamons
    3) Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
    4) The Outfield – Your love
    5) Talk Talk – Life’s what you make it
    6) Bryan Adams – Run to you
    7) Wang Chung – Dance Hall Days
    8) Go West – Call me
    9) Lionel Richie – Running with the night
    10) Laura Branigan – Self control
    11) INXS – Kiss the dirt
    12) Yes – Owner of a lonely heart.



  • ST.. #54 9 years ago

    Whats a cassette? and who's this Michael Jackson guy?

  • brutal #55 9 years ago

    i think they're both made out of loads of plastic.... not sure about the cassette things though.

  • Dirtbox #56 9 years ago

    as a point of interest, you can drive a pontiac firebird as well as the trans-am's and so forth. common sense and logic tells me there has to be a black one with flashing red light on the front... perhaps even a turbo boost.

    i'm placing bets.

    for those who've played, have you managed to ride a bike off the red girder at the top of the building on the building site and made it across the river? we haven't, but we only tried the once and spooned it a tad.

  • Nemesis #57 9 years ago

    2) Jan Hammer – Crockett’s Theme

    Nick sports car and get that tune going. Can you imagine /big grin/

  • Dirtbox #58 9 years ago

    mp3's i will be adding when the pc version will be released:

    1) knightrider theme
    2) the a-team theme
    3) streethawk theme
    4) airwolf theme (what the hell, eh?)
    5) magnum pi theme

    and i'm not pushing it, but how come even the scooter has a radio?

  • pjmaybe #59 9 years ago

    Me, I'm personally waiting to do the drive-bys with "Two Tribes" thumpin' along in the background...

    Carno believe they've got "Talk Talk" in there too!!! Ack tunes to fail my A-Levels to..!

    Peej

  • Nemesis #60 9 years ago

    I just got mine pre-ordered. My Game contact said to call after lunchtime tomorrow just in case someone breaks the official date.

    Wahoo.

  • ST.. #61 9 years ago

    I'd love to know what all those moronic slipknot kids will make of that soundtrack though...

  • Whizzo #62 9 years ago

    God knows! I have found it quite obvious what age people are that have previewed/reviewed VC because the ones who mention the clothes being crap obviously never saw the seventies! :-O

  • Dirtbox #63 9 years ago

    damn, i still dress like that :/

    we got our copy today btw xD
    Edited by 1 at 06/11/02 @ 16:54

  • Nemesis #64 9 years ago

    Well I lived through both and the clothes WERE crap in the 80's.

    Boiler suits ala Treasure Hunt - and that was fashion. God help us all.

  • Errol #65 9 years ago

    Can you still pick up prostitutes in this game ? And then kill them in a dark alleyway ?

  • Whizzo #66 9 years ago

    Well I lived through both and the clothes WERE crap in the 80's.

    But compared to the seventies though, ugh, I still have scary flashbacks to man-made fibre flares... As Colonel Kurtz would say "The horror, the horror."

    The eighties were much better, t-shirt and jeans pretty much staple dress ever since. Obviously some of the fashions of the eighties have been consigned to the dustbin of history forever, which is just as well... :-)
    Edited by 2 at 06/11/02 @ 17:55

  • BlackANUS #67 9 years ago

    Can you still pick up prostitutes in this game ? And then kill them in a dark alleyway ?

    I've had the game for about a week now and have only played it for about an hour and a half (yeah, I know, but PSO for GC is keeping me busy) and tried like hell to do the hooker trick but no go.

    Gizmo >> The loading times aren't as bad as it seemed initially, I was just used to the quicker load times for games on the Gamecube and XBox. But there are are by far more moments that the game pauses to load than with GTA3

  • pjmaybe #68 9 years ago

    I don't know why people slag eighties fashion off....have you been in your local Top Man lately? It looks like a cross between Alan Partridge's wardrobe and a jumble sale...!!!

    Peej

  • Nemesis #69 9 years ago

    Because 80's fashion, like every other past fashion, just makes you cringe!

    I must be honest, I'm not sure about these stripy shirts at present, even though I own one. The girlfriend says it looks nice, but I'm still not sure you know.

    1 more day to go 1 more day to go /drums fingertips/

  • JeetKuneMaul #70 9 years ago

    OMG this game is sooooooooooooo smart.

    I suddenly want to buy a moped and cruise around to Billy Jean, smart. :o)

    Can't wait to leave work!!!
    JKM

  • pogothemonkey #71 9 years ago

    It's out! In Bath at least... Game are flogging copies as of this lunchtime... chuckle, got mine without having to pre-order :-)

  • brokenkey #72 9 years ago

    Also on sale in shops in Berkshire. Really pointless for the shop the broke the rules - everyone's going to sell out because they haven't managed to produce enough copies, so no-one's going to get any extra sales - they'll have just pissed off the publishers and distributors.

  • sam_spade #73 9 years ago

    I popped into a few shops to see what was going on and they said that they wouldn't be able to fill preorders on Vice City. Most of them had their allocation slashed by 1/2 or, in some cases, 2/3.

    Still managed to get hold of a copy though and I've got one coming through on pre-order from Amazon tomorrow. Whoopee!

  • UncleLou #74 9 years ago

    Hm. Game's on sale here, played around with it a little in the shop, and noticed it seems to have severe framerate problems, much more than GTA III. Anyone else noticed this? Or was their machine just a bit f***** up? Mind that I didn't breeze through the city at high speed with 20 cops following me, but was just running around.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/02 @ 13:41

  • pogothemonkey #75 9 years ago

    Asked about pre-ordering last week and was told they'd had 300 pre-orders already and couldn't guarantee that if I pre-ordered then I'd get my copy on release day. This was the same place that just flogged me a copy this lunchtime without pre-ordering. Beats me.

  • ST.. #76 9 years ago

    Play posted this a while back:

    "We have received notification from the supplier of GTA Vice City that there will not be enough initial stock to fulfil all pre-orders on the day of release. We are expecting further stock next week."

    Bugger....

  • ssuellid #77 9 years ago

    If you did manage to preorder from Play early enough then you order would be in the 'packing' state like mine is. Delivery will be some time next week.

  • brutal #78 9 years ago

    if play cant deliver it, just cancel and order elsewhere....

  • ssuellid #79 9 years ago

    Its too late to cancel when the order is in the packing state. I don't mind waiting for it tho as I'm busy this weekend and have already had access to a copy :)

  • Nemesis #80 9 years ago

    Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice one. GAME in Victoria Station are selling 'em now; pick mine up tonight. Come to Daddy.

    80's music. Hmmm, maybe it'll get this Leo Sayer song out of my head from TV the other night.

    /hums quietly/ mmmmmmmm you make me feeel like dancing gonnadancethenightaway
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/02 @ 14:38

  • Errol #81 9 years ago

    Please post your initial review/reaction to the game in the GTA- VICE CITY thread on the forum.

    Thanks.

  • pjmaybe #82 9 years ago

    "Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice one. GAME in Victoria Station are selling 'em now; pick mine up tonight. Come to Daddy."

    I doubt it...

    if they are they'll be their asses kicked. We sold Tomb Raider II 2 days ahead of time when I worked at EB Oxford and we got A) Fined and B) banned from stocking Eidos' new titles for 2 months afterwards.

    not nice

    Peej

  • Nemesis #83 9 years ago

    I doubt it...

    Sorry to disagree Peej, but I phoned them and I am picking this up tonight.

  • DocX #84 9 years ago

    I pre-ordered mine from Play.com only about two weeks ago & apparently it was posted yesterday. I'm hoping it'll be waiting for me at home, but I have my doubts. How long does post take to get to the mainland from Jersey? Two weeks, by some lad in a row boat no doubt.

  • Whizzo #85 9 years ago

    Play stuff usually turns up in 3 working days, obviously weekends can stuff things up a bit if they send it out on a Thursday/Friday though. If it was posted yesterday (Wednesday) I think you'll probably get it Saturday, perhaps tomorrow if you're lucky.

  • bleeptest #86 9 years ago

    They generally sell things at least one day early in the big London Stores - I think cex sell things as soon as they get 'em in.

  • Tipsy #87 9 years ago

    Apparently my copy was dispatched by play yesterday. Hopefully be playing it at 4pm tomorrow :)

  • pjmaybe #88 9 years ago

    Crikey, not often a game gets coverage on the Beeb website as a separate news story!

    Peej

  • Nemesis #89 9 years ago

    I doubt it...

    if they are they'll be their asses kicked. We sold Tomb Raider II 2 days ahead of time when I worked at EB Oxford and we got A) Fined and B) banned from stocking Eidos' new titles for 2 months afterwards.

    Peej, they were indeed selling them! The whole shop was pretty much covered in posters and the DVD cases for sale. So if anyone if having problems tracking down a copy, GAME in Victoria, or there is a nicely hidden GAME in House of Fraser on Oxford Street ;-)

    Edited by 1 at 08/11/02 @ 09:25

  • catterz #90 9 years ago

    YEAH......i'm on Eurogam er.net.net/gtavicecity.com.html

  • pjmaybe #91 9 years ago

    "Peej, they were indeed selling them! The whole shop was pretty much covered in posters and the DVD cases for sale. So if anyone if having problems tracking down a copy, GAME in Victoria, or there is a nicely hidden GAME in House of Fraser on Oxford Street ;-)"

    No FAIR!! Rotten buggers..We got rapped across the knuckles well and truly for the Tomb Raider debarcle.

    Still, one thing (and possibly the only thing) I'll miss about working in EB - getting to take stuff home as soon as the delivery arrived...that and the nice full working demos of stuff that reps tried to get us to display on the game pods (nope - sorry, that's goin' 'ome with me guvna!)

    Peej

  • Whizzo #92 9 years ago

    Of course there isn't! Why would Rockstar hide a two player mode without telling people?