Former GTA dev on the studio that became GTA 5-maker Rockstar North: "There was a spirit of creativity and freedom that just doesn’t exist today"

GamesActionGrand Theft AutoFormer GTA dev on the studio that became GTA 5-maker Rockstar North: “There was a spirit of creativity and freedom that just doesn’t exist today"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesActionGrand Theft AutoFormer GTA dev on the studio that became GTA 5-maker Rockstar North: “There was a spirit of creativity and freedom that just doesn’t exist today"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: DMA Design) One Rockstar veteran has reflected on the history of the developer that would become known for the Grand Theft Auto series, and how it started off as a very different studio. It’s this studio that the ever-chatty Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar North, is remembering in the tweet from earlier this week, just below. Vermeij reflects on DMA Design’s arguably lesser-known games like Hired Guns, Blood Money, Body Harvest, Space Station Silicon Valley, and Wild Metal. Dma-design (1987-2000) made a bunch of games worth playing before morphing into Rockstar North.Hired Guns, Blood Money, Body Harvest, Space Station Silicon Valley, Wild Metal.Some games fell short or never made the finish line.Attack! Clan Wars, Tanktics, Covert, Zenith,… pic.twitter.com/e9VoP4UgH0August 19, 2024 Dma-design (1987-2000) made a bunch of games worth playing before morphing into Rockstar North.Hired Guns, Blood Money, Body Harvest, Space Station Silicon Valley, Wild Metal.Some games fell short or never made the finish line.Attack! Clan Wars, Tanktics, Covert, Zenith,… pic.twitter.com/e9VoP4UgH0August 19, 2024 More crucially, however, Vermeij believes DMA Design represents “a spirit of creativity and freedom that just doesn’t exist today.” This isn’t the first time Vermeij has soured on modern game development, in particular atRockstar Gamesitself - earlier this year, Vermeij told of howhe left Rockstar after GTA 4 because the series had become “too dark, too depressing almost.” “I thought GTA 4 wasn’t as good and as fun as the games before. And I thought that the next one was going to be like, even darker. I’m happy to see that I was wrong. GTA 5 is a lot more light-hearted than GTA 4. So I got that wrong,” Vermeij continued at the time. If you’re curious about the history of DMA Design, Vermeij points his Twitter followers in the direction ofthis website, which chronicles things like staff pictures, the establishing of the studio, and hits like Lemmings. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more GTA 6is currently the focus of Rockstar, and it’sstill on course to launch late next year in fall 2025. 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review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 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special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos 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