Ep.112 – Isn't Theft Grand: The Chaotic Creation of Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto (1997)
A Trip Down Memory Card Lane · David Kassin and Robert Kassin
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Show Notes
In 1997, DMA Design released Grand Theft Auto, a chaotic open-world experiment that made being bad fun. We revisit how a buggy cops-and-robbers prototype called Race ’n’ Chase transformed into a top-down crime spree through Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. The episode explores the creative freedom that fueled the series’ identity, from AI police chases gone wild to satirical radio stations and shock marketing. Our conversation dives into the controversy that followed its release, the Scottish studio’s unlikely partnership with Rockstar, and how a small rebellion became a global phenomenon. Join us as we steal cars, cause chaos, and revisit the roots of an industry-defining franchise on today’s trip down Memory Card Lane.