Rockstar's classic homage to Miami in the 1980's, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was recently re- released for iOS and Android gaming platforms to mark its tenth anniversary. The game is filled with pastel colors and some the best songs of the decade.
In an interview earlier this month with Edge, GTA: Vice City executive producer Sam Houser reminisced about the films, the clothes and the TV show that inspired the game.
"With something like the GTA series there are a lot of options," Houser told Edge. "You can have more fun in Liberty City, or you can do this or do that - but as we were all talking the idea that seemed to have the most meat on it, the one that had the most material that we could work with - in a lot of areas we're interested in: the vibe, the storytelling, the culture, the fashion, the music and on and on and on - was Miami in the '80s. To me, it's still hands-down the grooviest era of crime because it didn't even feel like it was crime."
Houser says that Brian De Palma's 1983 American crime film; "Scarface" was big influence on the game despite the decline of interest in the film.
"As kids, Scarface was one of our favorite films," Houser said. "That's a totally played-out remark, and most people will try not to say that because they've seen things like Scent Of A Woman and some of Al Pacino's other pieces of work that are a little bit more questionable, but with Scarface, we could put it on here now and you and I within five minutes would be saying, 'Actually, let's watch it - it's great, isn't it?' It's an amazing film."
But according to Houser, Michael Mann's television series "Miami Vice" had a bigger influence on Vice City than any other thing.
"But the thing that was more of a direct influence was Miami Vice, because it's a little bit later," Houser said. "'Scarface' is earlier, like '83, and it kind of looks it, but Miami Vice was '84 to '89, about five seasons, 110 or so episodes, and I've seen them all many times."
Houser praised Mann's use of color, night lighting and weapons. He says that "Miami Vice" was used as the template for GTA: Vice City.
"So there were plenty of other things that influenced us but I would have to say the strongest influence of all became Miami Vice - more so than Scarface, even though the story is more of a Scarfacey story," Houser said. "You can't beat Miami Vice's style, its production values, and its focus on details. Michael Mann went on to be one of the best film makers around, but Miami Vice just resonated with us. So hard."
You can check out the rest of the interview here on Edge and check out our review round up of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Anniversary Edition here.
Here is a list of compatible devices below:
Apple iOS Devices: iPad, iPad mini, iPhone 4, 4S & 5, iPod touch 4th & 5th Generation
Android Phones: Motorola Razr, Razr Maxx, Razr Maxx HD, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X, HTC One S, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note 1 & 2, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, P, T & TL, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S3, Google Nexus 4
Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, Google Nexus 7, Google Nexus 10
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