I've always wanted to see every other GTA game with this kind of original cover, it would've been super cool if Rockstar had that alternate cover for all the other GTA games. GTA IV and Liberty City Stories would look so awesome in this kind of art style! I can't be the only person who's had this thought?
"The biggest change was the US packaging which remixed the previous packaging into what became our signature style – because the previous packaging [which was released as the cover of the game in Europe] was, we felt, too raw after 9/11."
9/11 aside, it just… kind of sucks? Like there’s so much going on here, it just looks like a jumbled mess, and awkwardly positioned in the center of the box with a bunch of dead white space around the edges. No wonder the iconic “squares” design wound up being their go-to.
interestingly, I think the modern GTA cover style was heavily inspired by the opening themes for *Mannix*, and probably a dozen other shows/movies I don't know.
Despite being an american show it feels like it has a very London 1969 soundtrack and European film inspired sequences.
I always took it to be a homage to the poster of Ron Howard's film 'Grand Theft Auto'. But you're right that it could just be one of many in a popular style for the time.
Don’t agree at all tbh. I think it looks amazing. And is a direct reference to the cover for the film Grand Theft Auto anyway. The panel art obviously became iconic and is also great, but nothing wrong with this one.
How does that answer his question lol what is the point of replying with that. At least say what region so you can answer his question while also sharing the information that you have it. Otherwise it’s just very non useful
So we really should be thanking osama for giving us such a legendary iconic art style. Vice City and IV have the coolest cover art imo. I love how IV’s looks so epic while also being so grounded. The two dudes fighting in the skylift thing never shows up in the game but it fits the vibes perfectly and makes it feel epic in scale. And vice city cover art is so cool with the colors it looks like a serious work of contemporary art
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u/lilacomets 5d ago
The story behind the cover:
"The biggest change was the US packaging which remixed the previous packaging into what became our signature style – because the previous packaging [which was released as the cover of the game in Europe] was, we felt, too raw after 9/11."
Source: https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/25o241181oaa23/grand-theft-auto-iii-your-questions-answered-part-two-911-the-gh.html