IntroductionThis paper focuses on the evaluation of a video game. It will cover basic information about the game like game title and type of game, a summary of the game detailing game properties like artwork, sound and music. I will also review the game concentrating on features like game play, similarities to other games, and appropriateness.I will end my evaluation with a summary covering strengths, weaknesses and my own assessment of the game. Basic InformationThe game I chose to evaluate is one of my favorite games of all time, Grand TheftAuto: Vice City for Playstation 2. The game was written by Dan Houser and James Worrall. It is developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games and its’ release date was October 2002. The games genre or category is action/adventure. When the game was first released for Playstation 2, the cost was $49.99. Since it has been a fewyears the game was first released, according to a price comparison site, the price now ranges from $19.82 to its original price of $49.99 excluding individual seller prices like on Ebay.Grand Theft Auto: Vice City can be played on the Sony Playstation 2 game console, Microsoft Xbox game console or on a personal computer. Minimum requirements are not listed on the games website nor are they stated in the games manual.Actual specifications for all three systems to play the game are as follows:Sony Playstation 2- 300 Mhz processor- 32 MB of Direct RDRAM- 24 speed CD/DVD drive- 2 MB Sound Card- Controller port- Memory card slotMicrosoft Xbox- 300 Mhz processor- 32 MB of Direct RDRAM- 24 speed CD/DVD drive- 2 MB Sound Card- Controller port- Memory card slotMinimum PC Hardware- 800 MHz Intel Pentium III or 800 MHz AMD Athlon or 1.2GHz Intel Celeron or 1.2 GHz AMD Duron processor- 128 MB of RAM- 8 speed CD / DVD drive- 915 MB of free hard disk space(+ 635 MB if video card does NOT support DirectX Texture Compression)- 32 MB video card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers ("GeForce" or better)- Sound Card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers Keyboard & MouseRecommended PC Hardware- Intel Pentium IV or AMD Athlon XP processor 256(+) MB of RAM- 16 speed CD / DVD drive- 1.55 GB of free hard disk space(+ 635 MB if video card does NOT support DirectX Texture Compression)- 64(+) MB video card with DirectX 9.0 compatible drivers ("GeForce 3" / "Radeon 8500" or better with DirectX Texture Compression support)- DirectX 9.0 compatible sound card with surround sound- Gamepad (USB or Joystick Port)- Keyboard & Mouse Grand Theft Auto: Vice City uses Microsoft DirectX 9.0. Supported Operating Systems- Windows 98- Windows 98 Second Edition- Windows Millennium- Windows 2000 Professional (Workstation) plus Service Pack 3- Windows XP (Home and Professional) plus Service Pack 1The following operating systems are NOT supported:- Windows 95 (any version)- Windows NT (any version)Game SummaryGrand Theft Auto: Vice City is an extension of the Grand Theft Auto legacy which includes the following video games in order: Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto:London 1969, Grand Theft Auto 2, Grand Theft Auto III.InstallationNo installations required for the Playstation 2 version. Place the CD from the retail box right onto the console CD holder and press start game.Story LineWelcome to Vice City and to the 1980s. Having just made it back onto the streets of Liberty City after a long stretch in maximum security, Tommy Vercetti is sent to Vice City by his old boss, Sonny Forelli. They were understandably nervous about his re-appearance in Liberty City, so a trip down south seemed like a good idea. But all does notgo smoothly upon his arrival in the glamorous, hedonistic metropolis of Vice City. He's set up and is left with no money and no merchandise. Sonny wants his money back, but the biker gangs, Cuban gangsters, and corrupt politicians stand in his way. Most of Vice City seems to want Tommy dead. His only answer is to fight back and take over the city himself.Players RoleYou arrive in a town brimming with delights and degradation and are given the opportunity to take it over as you choose.User InterfaceGrand Theft Auto: Vice City features outstanding user interfaces. The user has multiple views as stand alone character, driving a car, riding a motorbike, sailing a boat, and when flying a helicopter. During game play the following are displayed on the top right corner of the screen: time of day, total amount of money, health, police stars, type ofgun, and number of rounds. All are visible and very significant during game play. It assists the user on decision making like weapon of choice for a mission or amount of money to buy a safe house to escape from the cops. There is no need for a separate menu to display all these contents. A round map is displayed at the lower left corner to help the character get around town easier.Game PlayVice City's greatest assets is the fact that there are no real rules. Vice City is the ideal example of nonlinear gaming, allowing players do whatever they want when they want. When one of the 100 missions becomes too boring or difficult, you have the ability to let loose, travel the city, and test the bounds of the game. In theory, there is an "end" to the game, but the variety of missions, stunts, and the absolute satisfaction of killing makes this game almost endless. Of course, there are also incentives to continue. Progressing through the missions will eventually open up more complex and dangerous missions, new game play options, more cars and weapons, and of course, more side missions. In addition to all of this, you only start with roughly two thirds of the overall city unlocked, and must complete around 25 missions to open up the island area (which isclosed because storms).The missions are very diverse. They range from simple missions like driving a person to a party to difficult missions like braking into the police station to free a prisoner, to very difficult missions like braking into to a military base to steal a BlackHawk duplicate as the whole Army is out to kill you. As you start the game you will get money for every mission you complete. At first you only receive small amounts of moneybut as you emerge notorious in the mobster scene you will be awarded more money for completed missions. Also included in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are the abilities to fly choppers and ride motorbikes. There are many more weapons in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City than its previous predecessor Grand Theft Auto III. There
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