PSP GTA like nothing else on handheld, says Rockstar

By Patrick Garratt Published 1 July, 2005

More details sally forth.

Rockstar has spoken out on the first PSP Grand Theft Auto title, GTA: Liberty Stories, claiming the title will be a complete removal from the traditional handheld oeuvre.

"We never looked at it like it was a portable game," a senior Rockstar rep told the American Official PlayStation 2 Magazine in a soon-to-be-published interview. "I would really be surprised if there were more expansive handheld games ever made, but content-wise, I can be very confident in saying there has never been anything on a handheld like this."

Another snippet from the interview regarding the free-roamer's transition to PSP concerns battery life considerations.

"The process of laying the data and code paths out to facilitate elegant streaming automatically ensures we are as battery-friendly as possible," the spokesperson said. There were no specifics on how long the battery would actually last during play.

As previously disclosed, players will again take on the jaw-heavy persona of Tony Cipriani from GTA III in GTA: Liberty Stories, three years before the now-classic console title. Liberty City has been reworked to represent the change in time-line, and vehicles have been altered over the third instalment in the blockbusting crime series.

GTA: Liberty Stories is slated for a September release.

Picture of Patrick.

About Patrick Garratt

Read more articles from Patrick by visiting the Patrick Garratt archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (31) Latest comment 7 years ago

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

  • Blerk #1 7 years ago

    "We never looked at it like it was a portable game,"

    Hmm. A bit worrying. Portable games by their very nature have to be rather different to home console games, if only because people tend to play them differently.

  • symmetry #2 7 years ago

    Well I wouldn't mind a game with a bit more depth on the PSP, so this is good.

  • gamingdave #3 7 years ago

    Have to agree with Blerk here. If its not tailored for 5-30 min sessions then its not much use as a portable title to me. Sure, I dip into the home versions for short sessions, but I need something I can play on the bus/tube. Id hope they would finaly get around to allowing a mission select screen for those youve completed.

    My biggest concern is that its going to use the analogue nub for control, I just cant get to grips with it, its in such a horrid position, and give me cramp. Maybe im holding it all worng but its just not right for me.

  • killyourtv #4 7 years ago

    it does use the analog for control. the d-pad is used for cycling through enemies, as opposed to the L2, R2 in the ps2 versions

  • drumbaby #5 7 years ago

    This will make the PSP in Europe.

  • Blerk #6 7 years ago

    I thought Sony made them?

    /runs

  • max #7 7 years ago

    I thought Sony made them?

    Apparently not in Europe though.

    Max

  • DaveT #8 7 years ago

    Call me cynical if you will, but....

    So basically, a PS2 game.

    Joy. Like I need to spend a load of money for something I've already got.

  • Kafeen #9 7 years ago

    Sheesh, people complain when MGS does something new for hand helds then still complain when GTA keeps the same format.

    No pleasing some people.

  • #10 7 years ago

    I'm very interested in how long this game can be played on 1 charge...

  • dadrester #11 7 years ago

    don't mind this approach as long as you're able to quicksave, and maybe save during a mission

  • Samiad #12 7 years ago

    I think GTA will be fine to play in small doses...do a mission, save, turn off - etc.

  • Sid-Nice #13 7 years ago

    What will happen to the 14 year old kids, playing this game on public transport? Infact what would happen to anybody 'taking Liberties' playing a game title in public that has adult content? You're sitting on the bus travelling to work and someone behind you has a PSP with GTA, listening to a Jenna voice-over could be embarrassing. :)

  • tiddles #14 7 years ago

    Sheesh, people complain when MGS does something new for hand helds then still complain when GTA keeps the same format.

    No pleasing some people.

    Is it the same people complaining, though, or is just different people with different opinions? :)

  • JHuxley #15 7 years ago

    "I think GTA will be fine to play in small doses...do a mission, save, turn off - etc."

    My thoughts exactly. Along with Pro Evo, this would have me sold.

  • IronGiant #16 7 years ago

    "Call me cynical if you will, but....

    So basically, a PS2 game.

    Joy. Like I need to spend a load of money for something I've already got."

    Wow.. you're like, some kind of genius. The PSP is a portable PS2 with multi media features, don't buy one if that's not what you want, it's not rocket science. Using your logic you've never wanted or bought a Gameboy or GBA then.

  • RandolphScott #17 7 years ago

    Can we have a thread dedicated to complaints about the PSP battery life and how everything on PSP is exactly the same as the PS2 so I never have to read it ever again?

  • Madder-Max #18 7 years ago

    The positive side of it not being like a handheld game is that it can easily be ported to the PS2 no?

  • Kafeen #19 7 years ago

    Most people don't play it for the mission anyway.

    Run a few people over, kill a bunch of cops. That's most people happy and it only takes 5 minites anyway.

  • terminalterror #20 7 years ago

    " You're sitting on the bus travelling to work and someone behind you has a PSP with GTA, listening to a Jenna voice-over could be embarrassing. :)"

    If they aren't using headphones then they deserve dodgy stares.

  • rinoaMW #21 7 years ago

    " You're sitting on the bus travelling to work and someone behind you has a PSP with GTA, listening to a Jenna voice-over could be embarrassing. :)"

    using a psp on a bus...are you mad?... phone crime is so high at the moment that im guessing that when the psp is realeased its only gonna fuel that problem.

    I can hear the news now... litte jonny (age 14) had his PsP stolen today and is now in a critical condition in hospital... this is one of the rising violent crimes since the release of the PsP in september... Oh and he was playing GTA, notorious for its violance and sex driven antics....

    etc, etc.....

    Edited by 1 at 01/07/05 @ 12:02

  • TS2610 #22 7 years ago

    Sod the game, I just want to get my grubby mitts on a new GTA soundtrack.

  • asphaltcowboy #23 7 years ago

    "PSP GTA like nothing else on handheld", says Rockstar

    Well of course they're going to say that!

  • Mr_Brown #24 7 years ago

    "PSP GTA like nothing else on handheld", says Rockstar

    Except for GTA on the GBA, in 3d...

  • onyxbox #25 7 years ago

    I don't want stuff like this for PSP... I WANT NAMCO ARCADE... I want something quick to load and entertaining for 15 to 30 mins....

    Come on Sony take a leaf out of Ninty's book... offer a Popcap download service or something !

  • Xerx3s #26 7 years ago

    crap. crap. crap.

  • kgthatsme #27 7 years ago

    This is goner be awsome, Liberty is a brillient city, best atmosphere.

  • texx #28 7 years ago

    where do all you guys play these hand helds. I have a gba sitting in the toilet, but apart from that I can't see the point. maybe if the g/f wants to watch something on the telly then they would have a purpose. If you are honest most portables will never leave your house.

  • bunglebonce #29 7 years ago

    I don't want stuff like this for PSP... I WANT NAMCO ARCADE... I want something quick to load and entertaining for 15 to 30 mins....

    No-one's going to force you against your own will to buy it. Go pester Namco if that's what you want to spend £40 on.

    I look forward to this game a lot. Rockstar claim that it's breaking the traditional handheld oeuvre? I reckon there are a lot of PSP or prospective owners that would like to see some quality gameplay sometimes combined with the depth to be involved for maybe an hour or hours at a time.

    Bit of variety's what I say.

    If it's coming out at the European launch, there's the chance that with some decent advertising this'll do what Nintendogs is doing to sell its console in Japan.

  • texx #30 7 years ago

    the ds does not need any help to shift of the store shelves. But the psp needs something special to get people interested. the north american launch was very poor. 80% of stores had surplus stock

  • kryten #31 7 years ago

    after just finishing GTA:SA on the PC, i cant wait for this.

    GTA in the palm of your hand? on something with such a great screen? Yes please. I dont care if its a "ps2 port". Bring it on.

    GTA advance(GBA) FYI is crap if youve not played it.