5 reasons why GTA 3 on Sega Dreamcast could have been a hit
GTA 3 was the title that really put the Grand Theft Auto franchise on the map. It offered an unparalleled gaming experience at the time and paved the path for what the brand is today. Rockstar Games released the title on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC originally, and it is also available on mobile devices today. However, what's interesting is that the game was initially being developed for another console, the Sega Dreamcast.
While it never dropped on that console, it may have still been just as successful had that been the case. In this article, we will take a look at five reasons why GTA 3 on Sega Dreamcast could have been a hit.
Note: This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions.
Here are 5 reasons why GTA 3 on Sega Dreamcast could have been a hit
1) It was originally being developed on the console
Grand Theft Auto 3's development began on the Sega Dreamcast. According to Obbe Vermeij, former Technical Director at Rockstar Games, the process had to be shifted over to the PlayStation 2 because of concerns regarding Dreamcast's commercial viability.
However, had the title's development continued on the Sega console, it would've been tailor-made for it. In short, Sega Dreamcast might have been the best place to experience GTA 3.
2) Would've been a top title in Dreamcast's library
Sega Dreamcast's library boasts games like SoulCalibur, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. But GTA 3 was a step ahead of other games of its era, offering features like a sizeable open-world map for the time, engaging missions, various cars to drive around, and a lot of player freedom.
Needless to say, such a game would have been a top title in Dreamcast's library and could've easily been a big hit on the console.
3) The game was revolutionary
GTA 3's release in 2001 brought about a revolution in the gaming industry. It was a very successful project for Rockstar Games. Its gameplay features, some of which have been mentioned in the previous entry, may seem pretty basic today, but they were a big deal two decades ago.
Add to those the ability to fly an aircraft, unique NPCs, and an interesting plot, all of which made for a fiery combination back then. It isn't hard to imagine such a game doing well on any platform that it released, which is why it would've possibly been a hit on Dreamcast as well.
4) There seemingly is still an audience
Modern consoles and video games are much more advanced than the Sega Dreamcast and Grand Theft Auto 3. However, there is an audience that is still interested in experiencing the Rockstar Games title on that particular console.
In fact, some fans have been working on an unofficial GTA 3 Dreamcast port and have made some progress. If there is genuine interest from gamers on the subject today, then there could've been even more intrigue for the title's official Dreamcast port all those years ago.
5) The game was a hit anyway
GTA 3 was a big hit and became one of the best selling games of 2001. Had Rockstar released it on Dreamcast, that would've just added to the number of places one could experience the title, and it would've likely been a hit there too.
Additionally, Dreamcast didn't fare as well as it would've hoped to, but the Grand Theft Auto title releasing on it might have changed its fortunes a bit. While there is no way to be certain of this, it does seem like an interesting prospect, to say the least.
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