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Tag Archives: open-world games

Fun Things, Sony

GTA 3 Almost Penalized Players for Running Red Lights

Posted on by Owen

The open-world chaos of Grand Theft Auto 3 could have been a little stricter—at least according to early development plans. Originally, players were meant to receive a wanted level simply for running a red light. However, the idea didn’t sit well with the development team, leading to its swift removal.

According to former developer insights, this mechanic was scrapped because it conflicted with the game’s overall design philosophy. While realism has always played a part in the GTA series, the goal was to encourage freedom rather than restrict it with minor infractions. Getting a wanted level for something as trivial as ignoring a traffic signal would have significantly slowed down the pace of gameplay, leading to frustration rather than fun.

At its core, GTA 3 revolutionized the gaming landscape by introducing a fully explorable 3D city where players could engage in mayhem at their own pace. The decision to remove penalties for red lights allowed for smoother, more dynamic movement through Liberty City, ensuring that the action never felt bogged down by unnecessary rules. Instead, the game focused on rewarding player agency—whether that meant evading the cops after a major heist or simply cruising through the streets without fear of petty violations.

This anecdote serves as an interesting look at the design choices that shaped one of gaming’s most influential titles. While the GTA series has since evolved with more immersive mechanics, it continues to prioritize open-ended gameplay over rigid realism. And given the franchise’s massive success, it’s clear that the developers made the right call.

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Gaming History

Rolling Stone’s top 50 video games of all time

Posted on by Owen

Rolling Stone has revealed its list of the best video games of all time, celebrating titles that have redefined gaming and left an enduring mark on the industry. The top three games in this illustrious ranking are:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) – A genre-defining open-world adventure that set new standards for exploration and gameplay design.

2. Tetris (1984) – The universally loved puzzle game that remains a timeless classic, captivating players for decades.

3. Grand Theft Auto V (2013) – A sprawling open-world epic known for its gripping storytelling, dynamic multiplayer, and record-breaking success.

Here’s the full list.

50 – ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’
49 – ‘Hades’
48 – ‘Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’
47 – ‘The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past’
46 – ‘League of Legends’
45 – ‘Fortnite’
44 – ‘Elden Ring’
43 – ‘Celeste’
42 – ‘Batman: Arkham City’
41 – ‘Metroid Prime’
40 – ‘Chrono Trigger’
39 – ‘God of War’ (2018)
38 – ‘Shadow of the Colossus’
37 – ‘Pokémon Gold and Silver’
36 – ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’
35 – ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’
34 – ‘Hollow Knight’
33 – ‘NBA 2K11’
32 – ‘Ms. Pac-Man’
31 – ‘Counter-Strike’ (1999)
30 – ‘Wii Sports’
29 – ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’
28 – Minecraft
27 – ‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)
26 – ‘Mass Effect 2’
25 – ‘Stardew Valley’
24 – ‘The Sims’ (2000)
23 – ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’
22 – ‘Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’
21 – ‘Fallout 3’
20 – ‘Mario Kart 64’
19 – ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’
18 – ‘Madden NFL 2004’
17 – ‘Diablo II’
16 – ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’
15 – ‘The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’
14 – ‘Street Fighter II’
13 – ‘Doom’ (1993)
12 – ‘World of Warcraft’
11 – ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’
10 – ‘Super Metroid’
9 – ‘The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
8- ‘Final Fantasy VII’
7 – ‘Metal Gear Solid’
6 – ‘Half-Life 2’
5 – ‘The Last of Us’
4 – ‘Super Mario World’
3 – ‘Grand Theft Auto V’
2 – ‘Tetris’
1 – ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’

For me, it is missing some key titles – no Perfect Dark, Gran Tourismo, Space Invaders or Championship Manager!

For the full list and more details, visit Rolling Stone’s feature: Best Video Games of All Time.

Whats missing for you?

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