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The unlikely story of how a young group of Scots created ‘GTA’ 30 years ago
A young team at Dundee studio DMA Design created the original Grand Theft Auto, whose experimental design helped launch one of gaming’s most successful franchises. The article revisits the game’s origins as anticipation builds for the sixth instalment, illustrating how an unlikely Scottish project grew into a global entertainment phenomenon.
The team spent more than two years developing the game through trial and error, and its name reportedly came from a BMG marketing director drawn to police jargon. Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, has generated about €9 billion in revenue and is described as the second best-selling game in history, behind Minecraft. Aaron Garbut, the original DMA Design creator who stayed with the project, is now co-director of Rockstar North.
In short
- DMA Design made the first GTA in Dundee.
- The game evolved through years of experimentation.
- GTA V has generated about €9 billion.
Explained simply
Grand Theft Auto began at DMA Design, a games studio in Dundee, where a small, young team spent more than two years developing it. The game’s name reportedly came from a BMG marketing director who liked the police term for stealing a car.
The original game helped establish a series that is now one of the biggest in gaming. Its fifth instalment, released in 2013, has reportedly made about €9 billion and is among the best-selling games ever.
Aaron Garbut worked on the original project and remained with the series; he is now co-director of Rockstar North. The story traces how a Dundee studio’s experimental project became a global entertainment success.