"Grand Theft Auto 3" is coming to iOS and Android, but touch screen controls may leave fans of the classic game disappointed.
Video game developer Rockstar is relaunching the game on mobile devices to celebrate the title's tenth anniversary. High-end handsets and tablets are now powerful enough to run old console games without a hiccup, but they may lack the control scheme to maintain strength of the original.
GTA 3 gained national popularity by being one of the most controversial games of its time, but was also hailed by critics as one of the best games ever. Its innovative sandbox gameplay allows players to explore an entire city and progress through the game as they please, rather than being subjected to a rigid level-by-level design.
The game's control scheme also played a tremendous role in the game's success. The PlayStation 2 controller gives users two analog sticks, allowing players to use one to move their character in three-dimensional space and another to adjust their camera view of the action.
Top smartphones and tablets set to offer the game, like the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1, do not include these same controls. Instead, players can position their thumbs on virtual analog sticks on the devices' screens. The method has been used before in iOS games like "Geometry Wars" and first-person shooter titles like "Rage," but has been met with mixed results.
The initial reaction from those who have previewed GTA 3 on mobile devices seems to be focused on the controls as well. Releasing the game on iOS and Android will likely expose thousands, if not millions of people, to the game, but the poor control scheme may leave them wondering why people ever made such a big deal about GTA 3 experience.
Analog sticks are a pivotal tool in some of the most popular modern titles for serious gamers like the "Call of Duty" series, the Madden football franchise and countless others. The popularity of smartphones and the power they now pack makes it a no-brainer to bring these games to mobile devices, but touch screens don't appear to have what it takes to offer users the best possible experience.
The power of today's smartphones makes traditional games look fantastic on the devices, but analog sticks don't look quite as pretty. Gaming on smartphones has unlimited potential, but one element that may stand in the way of realizing it is what no device seems to have anymore: buttons.
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