Multi Theft Auto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Multi Theft Auto | |
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| Developer(s) | MTA Team |
| Release date(s) | MTA 0.5 (GTA3 and VC) : January 31, 2005 MTA:SA R1.1.1 : March 18, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Third party Add-on |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | PC |
| Media | Free download via the official website |
| System requirements | PC version of GTA 3, GTA:VC or GTA:SA |
Multi Theft Auto (MTA) is a mod ("modification") for the PC version of Rockstar North games Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that adds an otherwise absent online multi-player component.
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[edit] About
Although often referred to as a modification, Multi Theft Auto is based on the trainer and code injection methods of manipulating the game through its own memory, and does not alter any original files supplied with the game itself.
Multi Theft Auto was ranked as one of CSports.net's top online games, with statistics showing more than a few thousand players playing different versions of the mod on-line simultaneously.[1]
The project has also been the subject in multiple articles in different media.[2] The most prominent being a coverage on G4TV[3] and an exclusive release for Fileplanet with coverage on its frontpage.[4]
[edit] History
MTA was first released under the name GTA3AM (GTA III Alternative Multiplayer) on February 8, 2003. This allowed two people to play GTA III against each other after pressing the ALT+F12 key combination. Only in-vehicle play was allowed; when outside the vehicle the user was invisible to the other player.[5] This first version was received with a lot of scepticism due to previous hoaxes.[6]
As time has progressed, MTA has improved considerably and now allows users to play GTA Vice City as well as GTA III on the 0.x core, supporting many players and includes many of the features of the original games. MTA for GTA Vice City and GTA III is currently at version 0.5, while the new core supporting GTA San Andreas is currently at version 1.1.1.
0.5 offers two game modes for GTA Vice City: Deathmatch and Stunt. Deathmatch offers several character classes that players can spawn as, each with advantages and disadvantages. Stunt offers players the opportunity to race and perform stunts over ramps that are added to the map.
Although there are some RPG server aswell which use the deathmatch map for RP. By scripting RolePlay scripts it can become quite fun. One of the oldest RP servers on MTA must be the Ankeborg's Playground RPG server, more info can be found at Their official site
GTA III players are offered a "drop-in" style of deathmatch gameplay on Portland and Staunton Island, where the player spawns with limited weapons and has to purchase more at Ammunations with money earned from kills. There are no classes; each player has exactly the same advantages as the next. Shoreside Vale builds on this by offering the player a choice of skin and primary weapon to spawn with.
Multi Theft Auto San Andreas features the new game mode "race" where you race against other MTA players in GTA San Andreas. You have to go through all of the checkpoints/coronas to finish the race. It also offers a map editor that allows you to create your own maps for different styles of gameplay. A very popular map is Destruction Derby, in which you have to destroy the opposition.
[edit] MTA: San Andreas
The newest release of MTA is for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and is built upon a new core codenamed "Blue" which has been in development for two and a half years. This represents a major shift in the team's focus because they will be providing users with all the tools they need to create their own game modes and leaving much of the game mode creation to third parties.
The current release of MTA:SA features a vehicle racing mode and an accompanying map editing mode that allows you to create custom environments and races.
[edit] Feature summary
- Optimized netcode which results in less lag and better accuracy.
- MTA:SA's own dynamical GUI that replaces the original GTA GUI and allows control from any gamemode running on the server. This allows MTA to draw its own windows and widgets for any in-game user interaction such as the server-browser.
- MTA:SA uses a modular platform and loads several of its module DLL's (e.g. core, net, gui, deathmatch) into the game instead of injecting code into its memory process. This improves stability, speed and allows a better file management.
- Fewer glitches. This is achieved by synchronizing every animation, implementing a custom pause menu so that people can't pause to escape death, forcing the frame limiter on so that everyone's game runs at the same maximum speed, and a controlled memory management through the Blue platform.
- Greater synchronization means that all native elements such as animations, explosions, particles, skins, weapons, vehicles, objects, players, etc. as well as new elements such as custom 3d models are available and controllable.
- Modification support through, but not limited to, C++ means that complex game modes can be created, unlike the rudimentary ones possible with Multi Theft Auto mIRC Admin-addon (MTA:mA) at the moment. This may include any tools needed in the process. For example, combined with a powerful map editor, this would allow all kinds of custom modifications in totally new maps taking place in completely new scenarios to be created.
The advanced nature of the Blue core has allowed them to place a sophisticated WYSIWYG editor into MTA:SA for adding checkpoints, spawn points and power-ups. It also allows users to place extra models into the game such as ramps, roads, trees and exploding barrels.
Upon the next release of MTA:SA, the map editor will be completely renewed to cope with all the extra features MTA:SA "Deathmatch" will include.
[edit] The Gangs of Multi Theft Auto
Since the release of 0.1, gangs (commonly referred to as clans) have emerged to become the best in MTA. They operate very similarly to clans in other games, usually having their own servers and websites, advanced leadership and recruitment systems, and gang wars, or clan matches, with other gangs regularly.
For more information about any active clan in the community or how to join one, please visit the Gangs forum (you must be logged in to view this board) on the official website.
[edit] References
- ^ CSports.net game rankings.
- ^ MTA Wiki press summary.
- ^ YouTube version of G4TV's MTA fragment.
- ^ Fileplanet frontpage screenshot.
- ^ Internet Archive Wayback Machine of www.gta3am.tk
- ^ GoT forum topic announcing the very first release (Dutch)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Multi Theft Auto Site
- Multi Theft Auto wiki a documentation Wiki set up for Multi Theft Auto
- Multi Theft Auto forums
- Multi Theft Auto developers' blog revealing the latest features and developments
- MTA Center site for downloading user-created maps
