[[File:BetaLCGTA4.png|frame|Early map showing Beta Liberty City in GTA IV. Notice the extra space in Northeast Alderney, and the third runway at Francis International Airport]]
[[File:BetaLCGTA4.png|frame|Early map showing Beta Liberty City in GTA IV. Notice the extra space in Northeast Alderney, and the third runway at Francis International Airport]]
*Some areas named ''Anger Bay, Norfolk, Jefferson Heights ([[wp:Washington Heights|Washington Heights]]), Acter Bay ([[wp:South Kearny, New Jersey|South Kearny]]), Richmond , Frogtown, Washington Heights'' were cut. Two areas called ''Hedgebury'' and ''Goatherd'' can be seen on roadsigns on the [[Broker-Dukes Expressway]]. It is likely that they are two more cut neighborhoods, or they could be beta names of the neighborhoods that are where ''Hedgebury'' and ''Goatherd ''supposedly lead to ([[Firefly Projects]] for ''Goatherd'', and [[Outlook]] for ''Hedgebury'').
*Some areas named ''Anger Bay ([[wp:Pelham Bay|Pelham Bay]]), Norfolk ([[wp:NoHo|NoHo]]), Jefferson Heights ([[wp:Hamilton Heights|Hamilton Heights]]), Acter Bay ([[wp:South Kearny, New Jersey|South Kearny]]), Richmond ([[wp:Richmond Hill, Queens|Richmond Hill]]) , Frogtown ([[wp:Turtle Bay, Manhattan|Turtle Bay]]), [[wp:Washington Heights|Washington Heights]]'' were cut. Two areas called ''Hedgebury'' and ''Goatherd'' can be seen on roadsigns on the [[Broker-Dukes Expressway]]. It is likely that they are two more cut neighborhoods, or they could be beta names of the neighborhoods that are where ''Hedgebury'' and ''Goatherd ''supposedly lead to ([[Firefly Projects]] for ''Goatherd'', and [[Outlook]] for ''Hedgebury'').
*The setting of the game was originally going to be [[Liberty State]], rather than just [[Liberty City]], and it would have included countryside surrounding Liberty City, mountains based on the Adirondacks and Catskills [http://media.rockstarwatch.net/news/2015839764.jpg], and possibly [[The Caraways]].
*The setting of the game was originally going to be [[Liberty State]], rather than just [[Liberty City]], and it would have included countryside surrounding Liberty City, mountains based on the Adirondacks and Catskills [http://media.rockstarwatch.net/news/2015839764.jpg], and possibly [[The Caraways]].
*A street called Liberation St was either cut or renamed.
*A street called Liberation St was either cut or renamed.
Revision as of 21:29, 17 October 2010
Part of this article are based on realistic Speculation and might not turn out to be correct.
Before the release of any Grand Theft Auto game, there were features that were removed from the final product. These changes range from deleted vehicles and player skins to the removal of entire characters and mission strands.
See Beta Vehicles for information about the vehicles.
Grand Theft Auto
Accessible Tram's were removed early in the games development for the San Andreas.
Originally, the Superbike was supposed to be called "Bike".
Claude's appearance went through many different designs. Some screenshots show a poorly detailed Claude, who looks completely different from the final version. Other pictures show a more final Claude with different hair and a chubbier appearance.
Some, but not all, of Darkel's missions were subsequently given to other characters. It has been said that Darkel had 13 missions for Claude, though most of them were cut.
Originally, when doing Vigilante, Paramedic, or Firefighter missions, the vehicles radio could go out of range - requiring the player to drive closer to the nearest police station/hospital/fire station.
A mission where you need to bomb a school bus full of children was cut due the violence and gore. (?)
City
The Old School Hall changed appearance. It previously looked newer and lit up.
Punk Noodles was originally just with a small grass park with two statues. The statue model still exists in the game's files.
The Callahan Bridge was going to be named West Port Bridge, as referenced by a road sign in Portland.
The Callahan Bridge also had two suspensions.
In the beta, the airport was once in Staunton Island and there are many roads in Shoreside Vale. The Callahan Bridge is also absent.
Accorded to the GXT files, metro stations were named like in Liberty City Stories (with the same name).
The ability to blow limbs off of non-playable characters was cut, but only from the PS2 version of the game.[[2]] This can still be activated in the PS2 version via cheat codes.
The ability to name the character, much like in Grand Theft Auto, was cut. An unused line of text reads "[DEFNAM] Claude----------------------" - interestingly, this confirms that the protagonist’s name is Claude.
Unused lines of text within the game's text files contain phrases, such as "You're perfectly healthy, get out of here!" and "I'll just fix you up". These lines of text seem to imply that the game's hospitals were, originally, accessible/usable.
The "Busted!" text and target arrows were originally red instead of blue.
There was a bus company named Jelly Tours.
The song "Back to the Streets", was deleted out of the soundtrack with no explanation.
The Rocket Launcher's original scope looked alot like the one of sniper rifle.
Safehouses would gradually improve in their appearance as the player progressed and gained more money
Claude may have originally been planned to have a voice as shown in the first trailer (though the voice saying "Get out of the car" is actually a sound clip from GTA2)
Some of these changes are thought to have been as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, although others were made as well before that time.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Characters
A character called Mr. Moffat was removed from the game.
It is believed by some fans that trash collecting missions based on the Paramedic missions were in the beta.
City
According to some screenshots, there was no Leaf Links in the beta
Fort Baxter Air Base originally included an air traffic control tower and a runway. The runway is totally absent, but the tower can still be seen in the distance from Vice Beach.
There is a model and textures for an AK-47 in the game files. However, it has never appeared in any of the screen shots or trailers for the game. What some fans claim to be an AK-47 in one of the trailers, is actually the Ruger with its brown texture from the PS2 version of the game.
There was a Tazer, a Nailgun and Landmines in the beta version, textures exist in the game files.
The shotgun from GTA III was originally in the game.
Shown on a poster featured in the flash version of the official website, there was a silenced Ingram.
The M4 had a longer barrel and a different aim in the beta.
There was originally a Steyr Aug in the beta version, files of it exist in the PS2 Version.
Others
The ability to manage fuel in the car was cut
There were many phone conversations between Tommy and Mercedes Cortez. [8]
Tires were able to be slashed and recorded into the stats. [9]
There was going to be an additional outfit called "MC Tommy," but it was taken out. It was originally a brown biker jacket that could be found in Howlin' Petes Biker Emporium
The Haitian gangster who wears the blue shirt used to have a picture on the shirt instead of the word "Relax". [10]
There was once a blond haired prostitute with pigtails and a red skirt. She was supposed to appear around the streets of the downtown area, and dance in the Malibu Club as shown in several trailers.
According to TXD files, a radio station named VCN (Vice City News) was cut late in the development.
According to three TXD files, a first person view was proposed. [11]
A Gamecube version was going to be made, but was scrapped. Reproduction carts do exist however.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Out of all the Grand Theft Auto games, San Andreas may have had the most changes before release. For the first and only time in the series, there were animals in the game (even though there are fish in the water and birds in the air), the player was able to have uncensored sex, drink, and do drugs. There were many interiors that were left unused, though many remain in the game files. There were a considerable amount of missions cut, as well as numerous weapons, vehicles and character models.
Both Sweet and Big Smoke had their appearances changed. Sweet was originally dressed in black and wore a black skully, Big Smoke wore a white jersey and did not wear a hat, exposing his shaved head.
Kendl Johnson's facial model and clothing were altered.
Gang members looked different and wore different clothing.
Each city had its own motorcycle cop model, whereas in the final release the same model is used for all cities (The beta cop models can still be found on the game´s files)
According to a strategy guide, the Triad members were originally different.
According to a preview before the games release, Steve Scott was originally going to return for a "big" action movie in San Andreas.
In a screen before the games release Carl Johnson looked slightly older than the current one.
In the first version of Saint Mark's Bistro, CJ had to chase Marco Forelli with a car in the streets of Portland, but for some reason, Portland is not full in the final version (only Saint Mark's, Red Light District and some place of Chinatown and Portland View) and the road isn't solid everywhere.
Fish in a Barrel was supposedly an actual mission instead of a mere cutscene.
In Sweet's Girl, originally Sweet did not have a gun, so CJ escorted him out.
In Photo Opportunity, unused text implies that CJ hijacked and used a helicopter.
According to cut text, San Andreas was going to have a mission pack.
In beta, car- and bike school had to run in same place, in Doherty's driving school.
The Pizza Boy side-mission was removed.
The Top Fun mini game from Vice City was supposedly to return but its was removed for unknown reasons.
According to the PS2 files, there was to be originally 50 rampages (non-multiplayer) all over the map, but this was cut for unknown reasons.
City
Originally, if Carl Johnson killed a pedestrian, a news van would arrive and the crew would report on the event.
If Carl crashed into a lamp post a mechanic would arrive to fix it. If the player killed the mechanic the lamp post would remain broken for a time, even if the player left the immediate area.
The Mulholland Safehouse seemed to have a full interior that can be seen from the outside. The change on final version causes a glitch which allows the player to go through the wall.[13]
San Andreas was much bigger and had several different land masses, such as a larger San Fierro (which resembled San Francisco more closely), A full beta map of San Andreas can be found on a wall in the Lil' Probe'Inn.
Las Venturas had a different name by the initials "LG". In early screen shots of Las Venturas, Police Cars had the initials "LG" printed on their doors. One can only assume what "LG" stood for.
Santa Flora Medical Center had 2 helipads on its roof. These pads were most likely meant for the Maverick and Raindance that spawn there in the alpha. Oddly enough, these helipads were absent in the alpha, so the choppers simply spawned on the roof.
The Clown's Pocket casino was originally called The Ringmaster, its original name can still be seen on the paper map included inside the game box.
Hardware Stores was originally included in-games, and you can buy tools (like in GTA Vice City).
Pharmacies from Vice City were originally included where you can buy health and adrenaline.
The second beta name for Las Venturas (after LG) was : Las Venturra.
The village of Bayside didn't exist in the beta version.
The village of Dillimore was smaller in the beta version.
Some roads present in the Red County beta are absent in the final version.
According to the beta map, there was a small island in San Fierro bay which was most likely based on Alcatraz.File:Beta San Fierro.jpgThe beta map of San Fierro located on the driving school of San Fierro
Weapons
The Skateboard was cut from the final game (its icon is still on the disk, and it can still be used but only as a weapon).
Strategy guides and other prints speak of a Gun Cane available alongside the Cane. The Gun Cane does not appear anywhere in the game.
The Parachute was originally smaller and blue (it can be seen in the demonstration video in Flight School showing how to control parachute).
Accorded to some early preview of the games, 150 weapons where originally included in-game.
Another Rocket Launcher called "M47 dragon" was cut, its files can be found only in the PS2 version.
Animals that would roam the rural areas were cut. (Their models are still available in the game's files, albeit without AI present).
Originally, there were over 300 gang territories to be taken over all over the map.
The ability to create and run your own casino was taken out after the alpha version.
Usable car-washes, similar to those in GTA IV, were cut.
The ability to ride the trolleys in San Fierro was cut.
It was possible to hear many vague sounds from your car if it was broken. These sounds can be hear from Rockstar games's beta gameplay video[5] or some of the trailers.
You can also hear many minor sounds included in beta release which are useless in the final game, but these files are still in GENRL file and can be moddable with mod tools.
The mobster who Carl kills in Saint Mark's was originally going to be called Marco Forelli but due to deleted audio, his name was never mentioned in the final version.
The Grove Street Families were originally going to be called The Orange Grove Families.
Pedestrians would walk into and out of accessible places like stores, clubs, etc. And GSF members would walk into and out of / hang out in your safehouses.
Pool tables were originally going to be colored green instead of blue.
Carl Johnson would be able to use drugs, which would make the camera wobble around making it more difficult to control CJ.
The ability to drink beer was cut from the final version.
Through the hidden interiors universe, unused brothels can be found, these were most likely to be placed on top of Strip Clubs.
Pre-release magazine articles showed that stealing cars was to be much more difficult. In early screen shots, car jacking was shown to involve smashing the car's window and then hot wiring it. This was all removed, possibly due to the limitations posed by the PS2. A similar system is present in GTAIV.
The ability to rob stores (like in GTA Vice City) such as 24/7 was removed.
The ability to put many way point on the map was removed at the very end of the development. In the final version, we can put only one way point.
Accorded to the strategy guide, adrenaline from previous GTA were in the beta version. However their effects can still be activate with a cheat code.
According to a picture from the strategy guide, there was originally a pool table inside Madd Dogg's Mansion.
According to Rockstar Game, the game was made on 2 DVDs, that's why a lot of things were deleted when they put the game in one DVD.
According to american.gxt, there was several phone call and lines which where cut.
According to gta3.img, There are several more items of clothing available at the clothes stores, including t-shirts, trousers, caps and more - these were all in the game but not used.
Early map showing Beta Liberty City in GTA IV. Notice the extra space in Northeast Alderney, and the third runway at Francis International Airport
Some areas named Anger Bay (Pelham Bay), Norfolk (NoHo), Jefferson Heights (Hamilton Heights), Acter Bay (South Kearny), Richmond (Richmond Hill) , Frogtown (Turtle Bay), Washington Heights were cut. Two areas called Hedgebury and Goatherd can be seen on roadsigns on the Broker-Dukes Expressway. It is likely that they are two more cut neighborhoods, or they could be beta names of the neighborhoods that are where Hedgebury and Goatherd supposedly lead to (Firefly Projects for Goatherd, and Outlook for Hedgebury).
The setting of the game was originally going to be Liberty State, rather than just Liberty City, and it would have included countryside surrounding Liberty City, mountains based on the Adirondacks and Catskills [6], and possibly The Caraways.
A street called Liberation St was either cut or renamed.
A street called 128th St was either cut or renamed
Fingerless gloves were probably available during game play. Pre-release screen-shots and videos of the PC version also show Niko with fingerless gloves but were still not available in the game. They still however can be found in the game files.
Binco was going to be the first clothing store. It is replaced by the Russian Shop, while ZIP has become Modo.
According to a french preview, a few of Rolling Stones' songs could be heard on the in-game radio.
Others
The first removed haircut design for Niko was a cut that seemed to resemble helmet-hair.
The second removed haircut design for Niko was a buzz cut.
The Well Stacked Pizza Co. was originally meant to return but removed before release. Outside Pizza This, the employees are still seen sporting the logo and some with "Well Stacked Pizza Co." on the back of their shirts. This may also indicate that this was once the original location for one of the stores.
Pedestrians were to carry planks. A model is still present in the game files.
According to early in-game previews, a city bus service was available for Niko to use, with a bus schedule popping up after walking to a bus stop. A bus driver character model is also found in the in-game files. Occasionally, an operating bus with the driver will be seen exiting the runway roads of Francis International Airport, however, if the player attempts to get in, the driver is 'pulled' from the bus.
According to previews, Niko could climb telephone poles.
Niko would have been able to get limo rides just like taxi rides.[15]
According to the model names of Roman's taxi depot, he was originally supposed to do limos. This may have a connection with the limo rides mentioned above.
Health pickups originally glowed yellow and not orange.
Niko would originally bring prostitutes to his home.
There were two deleted cheats : the first one gave money to the player, it was probably "729-555-0100" ("729" for "PAY"); the second one made the game advance the time by one hour, probably something like "???-555-8463" ("8463" for "TIME").
Originally, the bailing out animation involved Niko diving forward, as seen in the second trailer.
The police helicopter would originally fly very low.
Cars could explode very differently, and turn on their sides and catch fire in the cabin.
Niko had these contacts in his phone: Cab, City, and Dock.
Snow was a weather condition but it is only seen as an unused scenario for pedestrian behavior in the game files.[16]
Developers originally considered letting players purchase music by going to an in-game record shop and for Niko to have an MP3 player, but both ideas were cut
A Game Informer preview states Johnny could originally change outfits.
According to previews, Johnny had the access to date girlfriends.
TAC-700 was cut. However, files of exists in game's files.
The Lost MC Clubhouse originally had a newer exterior, it had white walls with the door moved more to the right, it was also much smaller which can be noticed in several early pictures.
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
An early interview stated that there would be a random character encounter where a crazy ex-girlfriend of Luis would rig a bomb to his car (possibly Margot).
Tony wore different glasses that were tinted purple instead of clear.
