Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the highest-selling video game series of all time, spawning a cult fandom while also attracting a lot of controversy for its hyperviolent content. Diehard fans of the games would be very well aware of not just the cheat codes and numerous movie and music references but also the behind-the-scenes buzz that goes behind this popular series.
The game has never shied away from controversies either with lawyers and celebrities even threatening to sue Rockstar. But for the video game studio, GTA games have still proven to be increasingly profitable with some noteworthy statistics that again loyal fans would know of.
Lindsay Lohan Sued The Makers Of GTA 5 But Lost The Case
Actress Lindsay Lohan took Rockstar Games to court in 2014 after she felt the Grand Theft Auto character Lacey Jones was based on her. Lohan claimed that the character resembled her physical features, had a similar voice, and even wore clothes that resembled her fashion line.
However, the judges at New York state’s Court of Appeals rejected her plea and added that the character might just resemble a generic woman. As BBC reported Judge Eugene Fahey’s ruling, “[The] artistic renderings are indistinct, satirical representations of the style, look and persona of a modern, beach-going young woman… that is not recognizable as plaintiff,”
Recognized By Guinness World Records For Being The Most Controversial Game
Drawing the ire of celebrities, parental groups, and many others, the outrageous crimes in the Grand Theft Auto series have attracted a lot of controversies. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records regarded GTA as “the most consistently controversial game franchise in history”.
The official site of Guinness Book made this estimate in 2009, mentioning that the video game series received over 4,000 news stories and 20 lawsuits for its violence, collection with real-life crimes, and the corruptive impact on gamers. With more than a decade gone by, these controversial stories would have only risen further.
Ken Rosenberg Was Inspired By A Sean Penn Character
Voiced by William Fitchner, Ken Rosenberg is a lawyer who assists in arranging drug deals and helping gangsters. While the character is quite popular among fans of Vice City, not many would know that he bears similarities with Sean Penn’s character Dave Kleinfeld from the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way.
For starters, Rosenberg and Kleinfeld wear a similar frame of glasses and even the interior of their offices look similar. Further, both serve as lawyers and criminal associates and are heavily addicted to cocaine.
London And Manchester Are The Only Real Cities In The Games
Even though GTA locations like Vice City and San Andreas are fictional, they can be compared to actual cities in America. Tracing the franchise’s British origins, the second installment Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 featured its titular city. The English capital is also mentioned by name in the HD and 3D Universe games, implying its presence in the GTA continuity.
Manchester was also featured as a part of the expansion pack Grand Theft Auto: London 1961. This makes London and Manchester the only real-world locations in the game series.
James Bond’s Car Is Reinvented As JB 700
Out of the many cars featured in the James Bond franchise, the Aston Martin DB5 has been a prominent pick. The car has appeared in old Bond classics like Goldfinger and recent releases like Skyfall.
Appearing in GTA 5 and GTA Online, the JB 700 is introduced as a sleek 2-door sports car. The ride is very similar to the aforementioned DB5 and the JB in its title might also allude to James Bond himself. Further, the Legendary Motorsport description of the car includes its clientele as drunk and misogynistic British spies.
A Russian Outfit Was Called The “GTA Gang”
The GTA franchise might have many gangs but the influence of the games is such that Russian media dubbed a real-life gang after them. The so-called “GTA gang” included terrorists and murderers who attacked drivers on a Moscow expressway.
The gang’s origins can be traced back to 2012 and it continued operating until its members got apprehended during a 2014 gunfight. The Moscow Times further reported that five members of the “GTA gang” were sentenced to life in 2018.
GTA Is The Fifth-Highest Selling Video Game Franchise
While the first two installments of the Grand Theft Auto franchise are cult classics in their own right, it is from Grand Theft Auto III that the franchise started growing both in terms of popularity and sales. After the success of Vice City and San Andreas, the games’ sales have only skyrocketed. With GTA 5 being ported to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game has become the highest seller in the franchise with 155 million copies sold worldwide (as estimated by Statista).
As mentioned in The Gamer, the ever-growing popularity of GTA has made the series the fifth highest-selling video game franchise of all time with a whopping 335 million copies sold collectively.
Co-Creator David Jones Also Created Lemmings
1997’s Grand Theft Auto is the game that started it all. It was the brainchild of Scottish video game developer David Jones who was also involved in the development of the 1999 follow-up Grand Theft Auto 2.
If there is any other video game franchise that Jones is most popular for, it is the Lemmings series of puzzle/strategy video games. Jones served as designer and programmer for 1991’s Lemmings, a game that required players to save the titular creatures through a series of obstacles. The game turned out to be a huge best-seller and Jones was involved in four more Lemmings games since then.
GTA 5 Is Filled With Red Dead Redemption Easter Eggs
Everyone knows that Red Dead Redemption is arguably one of the best Rockstar games apart from Grand Theft Auto. The Western period games’ character John Marston shows up in unexpected places in GTA 5.
For instance, Non-Playable Characters in Los Santos seem to wear a red t-shirt with John Marston’s face printed on it. Similarly, some have also foundnd a book titled “Red Dead” in Franklin’s house in Vinewood Hills. The book is also authored by a certain someone called “J Marston” which might imply John or his bibliophile son Jack.
San Andreas Was Written By DJ Pooh
Legendary record producer DJ Pooh has collaborated with hip-hop heavyweights like Ice Cube and 2Pac. Over the years, Pooh has also dabbled in other ventures like screenwriting and voice-acting. This is where his GTA connection comes into the picture.
When it comes to video games, Pooh has served as writer and co-producer for the fan-favorite classic San Andreas. For GTA 5, not only was he a creative consultant but he also acted as a DJ on the “West Coast Classics” radio station. Pooh is also featured as a minor character in The Cayo Perico Heist update for GTA Online. Hence, the musician has been an integral member of the GTA crew.
