GTA for Palm OS

[artdask8er]

What ever happened to Grand Theft Auto for the Palm OS?
I downloaded the BW Demo version and heard there was a Color Demo version much later, but couldn't find a working link. Has production ceased? I was really looking forward for a full release.
It really wasn't a bad idea.

[aaronrkelly]

I remember a discussion about this a few months ago (in the forums before the big crash)....production has ceased, however there was a link to the color demo. The speculation was due to licensing but it was speculation only. Yes, I would devote a large space to it on my memory stick - hella good idea, especially with the extra processing power the newer NX/NZ machines have available.

[artdask8er]

AWWW...Oh well.
thanks for the followup Aaron....
By the way..."THE BIG CRASH?"

[aaronrkelly]

Yeah, not to long ago the database here got corrupted and they lost all the posts......alot of wonderful information.

[pip]

i have the color+b&w version--

GTADemoFiles.zip (http://opus.homelinux.com/public_files/GTADemoFiles.zip)

[jmg_NX21]

IS it OS5 compatible?

THANKS for the LINK!!

[pip]

i seriously doubt it will work with OS 5

it doesn't even work with my T665 (claims that it needs a M68000 CPU), but it worked fine with my T615.

after playing Vice City, the top-down GTAs seem kind of boring anyway

[yorrick]

Since the old thread was corrupted, I'll fill in a quick blurb on this program.

This program only reached beta stage and stopped development in 2001 or so. It is 160x160 resolution and only on pre-OS5. The gameplay was always from a top-down view (like the early GTA versions, not like Vice City and GTA3) - so it's quite dated in it's gameplay.

Development was stopped since the software writers could not get permission and licensing for the Palm OS. You may be able to get a copy (see above link) of the beta version, but is unlikely to see the light of day.

[Zork]

yorrick, gameplay is never dated. At best the graphx and sounds are. But graphx and sound is at worst only some way to obscure you from the zero gameplay some games offering.
And the gameplay of GTA 1 were as awesome or bad as it is with GTA 3.
And something changed essentially : GTA 1 is now avail for free (check http://63.236.94.8/rockstar/classics/index.php
). So it shouldnt be any prob at all anymore to finsh this awesome game which were never released before for PDAs.

[tifosiv122]

Just because Rockstar is letting you download it for free doesn't mean you can port it to the Palm. Maxis has been giving out SimCity for free for years and they still own the license to it.

Erik

[Zork]

tifosiv, I know that this doesnt stop copyright, but it should make things easier for talking with Rockstar (why the hell should they still say no to a port of a stone old game even they give away for free ? But then again : even the idiots, which own the copyright for Elite and Civilization, didnt allowed ports of their stone old games. In my eyes they are simply sh*theads which doesnt know anything bout economics).

[tifosiv122]

Its not money...its reputation...if the port is bad it looks bad for the company even if they didn't produce it....The Civ and GTA are huge names which can't be tarnished by a bad port.

Erik

[Zork]

tifosiv, I would fully understand that reason. But all three of this named ports looks at least almost identical (Elite simply looks completely identical and the developer of this port is one of the most competent palm developers ever (filled vectors with goraud shading even on the slowest Palm devices - another myth (vector games arent possible on Palms) identified as lie); Civilization (according to the few screenshots) looks not identical to the original game, but identical to the Symbian version. And I didnt heard Infogrames complaining bout that one. And GTA again is simply identical to the PC version) to the original version.
I think they are just a few sh*theads sitting around and thinking how they could avoid bringing money to their companies. Cause all three games looking identical to already avail versions and it wouldnt cost the copyright owners a single cent to grantify this ports, but could (!) bringt them further income. Seems like more income is the only real prob for this companies.

[tifosiv122]

I understand your frustration, but I still don't think its about money. Rockstar has made a fortune off of GTA3 and GTAVC that the $9-19 palm OS port wouldn't be a motivational factor. IMO these companies will not give the ok to port their products unless they created the port, either for free or for money. Even if the game looks the same there are other factors such as product support (OS5 compatability) where people could complain it doesn't run on OS5 and help ruin GTA's name, they don't want to be bother by tech support calls (people would assume to call rockstar direct) and who knows what else. Also, you have to understand that Rockstar might pay royalties to the creator of GTA unless he is under contract, which means that if a port was created, even if Rockstar said OK, the creator would be entitled to money from Rockstar even if Rockstar didn't collect 1 cent from the port. Like I said it seems to be a lot more complex then just money, but who knows, maybe they are trying to get every last cent?

Erik

[Zork]

Compatiblity is always listed on the package or on the download site. So if this is true every Mac user could ruin the image of Sierra on a daily base ;) .
And tech support is always called at the source. So when you buy the package or DL this stuff you check their (at the manual if packaged or at the site where you DLed the game) for support and not at Rockstar (most people wont even know that Rockstar exists, if they wouldnt place their logo at the start of the Palm version ;) ).
So this stuff is mainly bout incompetent people sitting at the wrong places. No risk (cause they are indeed able to grantify the final version), no money to spent and potential sources for incomes (and if its just a single dollar or euro ;) ).
So Rockstar have to learn to think economically or they will fade away sooner or later (think bout Sierra when they stopped Mac support. It were a clear sign, that this company were almost dead and this action destroyed their reputation. Not that some Mac Version wouldnt run with OS X for example ;) ).

[tifosiv122]

Originally posted by Zork
Compatiblity is always listed on the package or on the download site. So if this is true every Mac user could ruin the image of Sierra on a daily base ;) .

You would think, but some people just aren't that smart (or informed):

http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6247

The rest of your statement (and mine) is mostly opinion and is debateable but I still feel its more then money. Either way, arguing here won't help, if you feel compelled, I suggest you write/fax/or call the company and ask to license the game.

Erik