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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What if GTA 6 released on PS2? This fan trailer shows you
Source: Rockstar Games The fan-made endeavor is sweeping the internet with a lighthearted yet intriguing question: How would Grand Theft Auto 6 be if it was released in the PS2 era? YouTuber Foosmoke recreated the second official GTA 6 trailer using early 2000s low-resolution textures, animation, and charm of games such as San Andreas and Vice City. The outcome is an entertaining and absolutely imaginative tribute that has stoked fans online. A retro reenvisioning of GTA 6 in the style of PS2 GTA 6 Trailer 2 but it's PS2 In this demake, all scenes from GTA 6's Trailer 2 are painstakingly recreated with PS2-era assets and visual oddities. The game employs blocky character models, stiff movements, and flat shading to emulate the hallmark aesthetic of Rockstar's classics. Even vehicles and environments have been reduced to polygon-laden designs with clipping zones in plain sight, just the way fans remember games from the early 2000s. Made by YouTuber Foosmoke, the video is a complete shot-for-shot remake of the trailer, down to the music and pacing. It's not a parody, it's an homage, and the devotion to detail is what makes it stand out. From reduced-explosion greatness to vacated sidewalks, the demake highlights just how much gaming has come in terms of advancement while still pulling from a massive sense of nostalgia. The video, having gained hundreds of thousands of hits, has been praised for its humor and authenticity. One fan commented, "This is beautiful... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 40대 이상이고 PC가 있으세요? 그럼 이 게임을 정말 좋아하실 거예요! Sea of Conquest 플레이하기 Undo now all we need is some gameplay of this ps2 version." Image Via YouTube Another, "I just love how it didn't take long to make this yet the quality is just amazing," which indicates how much the project has been appreciated by the fans. Image Via YouTube A fan project combining humor, talent, and nostalgia This PS2-era recreation is more than a great-looking gimmick, it shows the creativity of the GTA fan base. It's also part of a larger phenomenon of "demakes," in which games or trailers are reimagined on current tech using the resources and constraints of older hardware. Foosmoke's project not only puts a smile on fans' faces, it's also honoring the legacy of Grand Theft Auto and reminding us how far the series has come, particularly in visuals, physics, and open-world detail. By making GTA 6 a PS2-era trailer, Foosmoke has caused laughter and applause. It's a playful mix of parody and tribute that will appeal to the franchise's long-time fans, demonstrating that even in a time of hyper-realism, there's always space for low-poly love. Also Read: GTA 6 screenshots recreated in Cyberpunk 2077 showcase Rockstar's next-gen visual leap
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Explained: What was the GTA 'Hot Coffee' controversy and how it cost Rockstar millions
The " Hot Coffee " controversy, which was caused by a hidden mini-game in Grand Theft Auto ( GTA ) San Andreas , cost Rockstar Games millions and significantly impacted the video game industry. This feature, which was not intended for player access due to its graphic nature, was discovered by modders in 2005. Originally an inaccessible element within the 2004 game, the "Hot Coffee" mod allowed players to unlock explicit sexual content after its release for the Microsoft Windows port of San Andreas. Modders later found ways to access this content on PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions as well. How GTA San Andreas 'Hot Coffee' controversy cost Rockstar millions The discovery led to widespread public and legal backlash. GTA San Andreas, initially rated "Mature," was re-rated "Adults Only" by the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), causing many retailers to pull the game from shelves. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also launched an investigation into Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive , for allegedly misleading consumers about the game's content. Ultimately, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive faced class-action lawsuits and settlements. Reports indicate the controversy cost Take-Two Interactive an estimated $20 million in legal fees and other expenses, in addition to the costs of reprinting and distributing a revised version of the game with the content removed. The incident also prompted the ESRB to implement stricter policies and potential fines for developers failing to disclose explicit content. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo The 'Hot Coffee' mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas became one of gaming's most notorious controversies because it unlocked a hidden, interactive sexual mini-game between the protagonist, Carl 'CJ' Johnson, and his girlfriend. By responding to on-screen button prompts, players could simulate CJ's intimate movements. The name derives from the girlfriend's invitation—'Do you want to come inside for some coffee?'—just before the scene. Initially, Rockstar Games claimed hackers had inserted the content post-release, stating, 'Hackers created the 'Hot Coffee' modification by disassembling and then combining, recompiling and altering the game's source code.' However, investigators soon demonstrated that the requisite code was already embedded in the retail version, contradicting Rockstar's defence. The uproar quickly drew scrutiny from activists and legislators, prompting a review of the ESRB, where they determined that San Andreas warranted an Adults Only (AO) rating—the first and only GTA title to receive such a designation. In response, Rockstar issued a sanitised re-release to restore the M rating. The scandal also spurred the Family Entertainment Protection Act—championed in part by Hillary Clinton—to strengthen enforcement of ESRB ratings. Despite—or perhaps because of—the uproar, 'Hot Coffee' inspired similar adult-oriented mods for other Rockstar titles. Most recently, a modder recreated a 'Hot Coffee'-style scene for Red Dead Redemption 2, stitching together existing in-game animations and audio without adding nudity. Rockstar reportedly demanded its removal, but the creator refused, arguing the mod only repurposed assets already in the game. Xbox and PlayStation Price Hikes Explained AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
GTA 6: 7 GTA 5 mistakes that Rockstar needs to fix for GTA 6 to succeed
GTA 6 has to be the talk of the gaming town right now. After getting an initial release window of fall of 2025, the game is now delayed to May 2026. However, it seems like there aren't going to be any delays as such. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Actually this delay was needed, to make sure that the upcoming game will carry forward the legacy. As GTA 6 hasn't been released yet, it's safe to say that GTA 5 is arguably the biggest gaming release ever. The 2013 title took realism to a whole new level, along with highly optimized graphics, a superb storyline, and a great gameplay. Still the game had its fair share of issues, which its worthy successor needed to fix. GTA 5 issues which GTA 6 should fix GTA 5 has a lot of flaws. | Image via Rockstar Games. After GTA 5 released, it seemed like fans have seen everything, everything an epic open world game offers. Yes, there were shouts for its sequel, but it was pretty hard to comprehend what the sequel had to do to feature in order to overcome the legacy of its predecessor. However, after watching both the trailers of GTA 6, it can be said now that the upcoming title is surely going to reach a whole new limit, far beyond GTA 5's. But in order to that, the upcoming game must get rid of these 7 issues which GTA 5 has: 1. Limited character customization GTA 6 is promised to be the most realistic game ever. In order to achieve that crown, Rockstar needs to sort out the character customization options. In GTA 5, players only get a handful of options, in terms of hairs, beards, accessories, costumes, garments, and everything else. It's kind of boring to have that old same staff again and again. Instead, Rockstar should add a trend feature, which would regularly update the available clothes in the market as per the current shopping trends. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 2. Unbalanced economy Every player in GTA 5 starts their life as a low-level criminal who aspires to be the ultimate lord of Los Santos. However, for that players will need loads of in-game money. But with the unbalanced economy system, it's pretty tough. Yes, in GTA Online, there are tons of options to earn money. But in GTA 5, only heists and stocks are your only sources of money. In previous titles like San Andreas or Vice City, players used to get monetary rewards for completing missions, but that's not the case with GTA 5. Also, the stock market mechanism is quite flawed, with random returns on investments. So, these are some issues which have to be fixed in GTA 6. 3. Stealth gameplay GTA titles are all about all-guns blazing gameplay. But in GTA 5, stealth was an option to progress in the game, like slow crouching. However, the stealth mechanism in that game was quite faulty as it needs a proper overhaul in GTA 6. It will be pretty great if Rockstar adds totally stealth based missions, just like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, with actual stealth mechanics to support them. Also, if Rockstar gives the option for players to evade the cops by sneaking, then it would have been cool as well. 4. Car physics There is no doubt that car physics in GTA 5 was probably one of the most realistic aspects of the game, but for 2013. In 2025, cars in GTA 5 don't look realistic like they used to be. For example, the cars in this game feel a lot lighter than the real life cars. In any instance if a car is bumped to another car, it instantly flies away, which baselessly ignores the actual car weight. That is why to make the game more realistic, Rockstar should make proper changes in the car physics mechanisms. 5. Limited building access GTA 5 features a wide range of buildings, from shops to restaurants, it has got all covered. But the major problem with them is that you can access the inside of every building. If Rockstar Games adds the options to enter into buildings like shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and if players get the option to actually buy staff or order food from these, then it will add a different level of realism in GTA 6. 6. Refined combat mechanics Despite every other essence of the game that feels realistic and interactive, the combat mechanics in GTA 5 were quite lackluster and unresponsive. The cover mechanism while fighting in the game was quite weird. Rockstar should add a proper cover mechanism like other shooter titles, to make GTA in-game fights a lot more immersive. Also, GTA 6 needs to refine the melee combat mechanism, with several combos and staff. 7. Negligence towards DLC Despite a proper support in terms of DLC towards GTA Online, GTA 5 never got any type of DLCs, despite being released over a decade ago. It's true that GTA 5 features one of the greatest in-game storylines, but once the game's single player campaign is completed, there was nothing to do much except for some paltry side-quests or wandering in the open world. Rockstar needs to make sure that an adequate amount of expansions is already planned for the upcoming game, to make the game relevant for a longer period. If it wasn't for GTA Online, many people would have forgotten GTA 5. And Rockstar won't absolutely want it. Read More:
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GTA 6's new trailer has a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Red Dead Redemption 2, further proving they're set in the same universe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. There's a split-second reference to Red Dead Redemption 2 hiding out in the new GTA 6 trailer, somewhat unsurprisingly. Rockstar Games has been tucking clues and Easter Eggs in its open-world games for decades, and over the years, it's become increasingly obvious that its cowboy romps (Red Dead) are set a few decades before its modern crime fest satires (Grand Theft Auto). In the new GTA 6 trailer, if you zoom in on any of the scenes set in a strip club - for research purposes, of course - you'll be able to spot President Thaddeus Waxman's (RIP) face and permanently frowning moustache printed on all the flying dollar bills. And if you were bored enough to flick through all the newspapers in Red Dead Redemption 2, you might remember that Waxman led the country during the events of the game, starting in 1899. This isn't the first connecting glue between the two series, either. GTA 5's world has tons of 'Red Dead' books on various bookshelves written by a certain 'J. Marston,' and that's without mentioning all the sasquatch shenanigans littered across both. Over the years, some fans have pointed out that Red Dead has a knack for name-dropping real-life places, like New York and San Francisco, instead of GTA's fictionalized versions, like Liberty City and San Andreas, potentially disproving the shared universe theory. But this article kind of sent me down an endless rabbit hole of useless Rockstar Games facts. For one, did you know that GTA 4 directly names the state of Florida, too? That would mean GTA 6's state of Leonida exists alongside Florida, it's not just a satirical stand-in. The same thing happens in Red Dead Redemption 2, as well, since the game's take on the Rockies is called the Grizzlies, but the Rocky Mountains are also explicitly named in the same reality. Rockstar has a habit of adding ever so slightly wilder versions of real-life places to the USA, rather than simply replacing them. So, this seems like a shut case. GTA and Red Dead Redemption more than likely exist in the same timeline, and the newest trailer only adds more fuel to the fire. Let's hope my theory doesn't completely fall apart when GTA 6 drops on May 26, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. 85 new GTA 6 screenshots and images drop alongside new trailer, providing an in-depth tour of Vice City and all its surrounding locations
The Star
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
It's Hollywood, but not made in America
IT would have been simple to shoot the game show The Floor in Los Angeles. The city has many idle studios that could have easily accommodated its large display screen and the midnight-blue tiles that light up beneath contestants. But Fox flies the show's host, Rob Lowe, and 100 American contestants thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean to answer trivia questions about dogs, divas and Disney characters at a studio in Dublin. It makes more financial sense than filming in California. In the past few years, as labour costs have grown after two strikes, producers of reality shows, scrappy indie movies and blockbuster films have increasingly turned away from Los Angeles to filming locations overseas. Those business decisions have considerable consequences for the industry's thousands of middle-class workers: the camera operators, set decorators and lighting technicians who make movies and television happen. Frustration has reached a boiling point, according to more than two dozen people who make their living in the entertainment industry. They say that nothing short of Hollywood, as we know it, is at stake. 'This is an existential crisis – it's an extinction event,' says Beau Flynn, a producer of big-budget movies like San Andreas, which despite being about an earthquake in California was filmed mostly in Australia. 'These are real things. I am not a dramatist, even though I'm in the drama field.' So, while shocking, US President Donald Trump's 100% tariff threat on movies produced outside the country to prevent the American movie industry from dying a 'very fast death' was not so fantastical. But of course, Trump blames other countries who are offering incentives to lure filmmakers. As Trump had said in a post on Truth Social: 'This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda.' Better incentives and cheaper costs Productions have been filmed outside the United States for decades, but rarely has Hollywood work been so bustling overseas at a time when work in Hollywood itself has been so scant. Studios in European countries are bursting at the seams, industry workers say. And film and television production in Los Angeles is down by more than one-third over the past 10 years, according to FilmLA data. Michael F Miller Jr, a vice president at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, who oversees film and television production for the union, says that roughly 18,000 full-time jobs have evaporated in the past three years, primarily in California. 'We are allowing California to become to the entertainment industry what Detroit has become to the auto industry,' Miller says. Plenty of production has stayed within the United States; 38 states have spent more than US$25bil (RM107bil) in tax incentives for film and television, leading to hubs in Georgia and elsewhere. (Some economists deride this use of taxpayer money as a revenue loser for those states.) But with established infrastructure and cheap crews internationally, more productions are now leaving the country. Some Marvel movies, long the beating heart of Georgia's film industry, are decamping to Britain. Ted Sarandos, the co-chief executive of Netflix, says in February that the company – which has constructed a filming hub in New Mexico and is building another in New Jersey – would invest US$1bil (RM4.3bil) over the next four years to produce series and films in Mexico. International sites often come with lower labour costs and more expansive tax incentives than those that California offers, making it much cheaper to film there. Hungary has become one of the most popular locales. Aaron Ryder, who produced Arrival, Dumb Money and many other films, recalls bumping into actor Mark Strong at the Four Seasons Hotel in Budapest while he was scouting a project. He has also seen the producer Jerry Bruckheimer using a treadmill in the hotel gym, he says. 'You can walk into the bar in the lobby in the Four Seasons and probably see more colleagues or actors and directors and agents and people you know there than you can at the Four Seasons in LA,' Ryder says. That is bad news for people like Josh Viers, a concept artist for more than 25 years. He says he latched on to three major movie projects in the past six months but was cut prematurely on each one when the productions moved to England, Australia and Hungary. 'I more or less have given my career, my life, to this industry,' says Viers, a 48-year-old father of two whose family lost its house in Altadena, California, during this year's wildfires. 'It just really hurts.' Sometimes a movie calls for a California backdrop. And sometimes the cost of shipping props and people overseas ends up costing studios more than they hope to save with tax credits. But more often, producers say, the cost of working in California is prohibitive. The budget is the budget, and those budgets keep getting tighter. Peak streaming is over, fewer people are going to movie theatres, and studios no longer get dollars from DVD sales. 'We're getting a smaller piece of a smaller pie,' says Paul Audley, the head of FilmLA. In January, when the wildfires were still smouldering, producer Amy Baer wanted badly to move her upcoming buddy comedy from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Los Angeles. It would help her director, whose neighbourhood had been destroyed. And it would help her city. But when Baer ran the numbers, she found it was impossible. To meet the US$10mil budget, her team would have to cut 10 weeks of work – a third of the schedule. 'The idea was, 'Can we take a run at keeping this in Los Angeles?' And the answer was no,' says Baer, whose credits include last year's 'The Apprentice.' 'We've reached a tipping point where we run the risk of losing the ability to make movies here for good.' More countries offer generous tax incentives than ever before, and many of the programmes – including Germany's and the Czech Republic's – have recently sweetened their deals to give out rebates that are comparable to or larger than California's, with looser rules that allow more kinds of projects to qualify. Unlike California, some countries allow productions to include residuals and the costs to employ actors, directors and producers when they calculate their expenses, driving up the size of the tax credit they get. Other countries make reality television and game shows eligible for a tax credit. Even without those incentives, filming outside the United States is often cheaper and more streamlined than filming in a state with a refund. 'It's criminal what California and LA have let happen – it's criminal,' Lowe, the host of The Floor, recently quipped on his podcast. 'Everybody should be fired.' 'Roll cameras, not luggage' In California, its governor Gavin Newsom has pushed to more than double the available funding for the state's tax incentive programme. Under pressure from constituents and several coalitions that formed after the wildfires, California lawmakers have also put forward bills that would increase the base rate of its film tax credit and make more kinds of programming eligible. Another sticking point is the limited window of time to apply, which can pose logistical problems for filmmakers. At a hearing in Sacramento last month, however, some state officials argued that many of the restrictions were critical. 'We don't subsidise any above-the-line work, anybody that has multiple million-dollar actors' salaries,' JT Creedon, a state finance budget analyst, says during the hearing. 'The limitations, I think, are our strength.' Labour leaders says that they understood that Hollywood was a business, and that it would never cost the same to film in California as it does in Bulgaria. That is part of the reason Miller and others says the federal government must step in, although it is not clear what Trump's efforts to bring more business back to the US might mean for filmmaking. The competition abroad is fierce. Labour costs in countries where the government pays for health care are often far lower than anywhere in the US, particularly in California. And the disparity has only grown wider, some say, after the studios and the unions agreed in recent years to new contracts that included wage increases for workers. Los Angeles now ranks as the sixth-best location for filming according to a survey of studio executives by ProdPro, which tracks production trends. Toronto, Britain, Vancouver, Central Europe and Australia are all more desirable, the survey says. Industry workers are concerned about the new landscape. During one unseasonably hot day in the valley this month, hundreds of them rallied for improved incentives to keep productions in California. 'Roll cameras, not luggage,' one sign says. Recently, Nadine Mejia, 38, of Pomona, California, upended her schedule and arranged for child care to go to the hearing in Sacramento. As a Hollywood labourer in Local 724, Mejia moves furniture around studio lots and lugs desks up the stairs of production offices. Theoretically. She found a single day of work in February and a single day in March. Long a single mother, Mejia says she got married two years ago as 'almost a way to survive.' But these days, she says, times are so tough that she and her partner 'question whether or not even being together is affordable.' When she is not working, her husband has to pick up the slack even though he, too, has children to care for. Should they sell their home? Go their separate ways? 'We've got one shot at this,' says Alex Aguilar, the business manager for Mejia's union. 'If we screw this up, this industry's gone.' — 2025 The New York Times Company This article was first published in The New York Times,
