logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
18m 38s

The game that shocked the world

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Grand Theft Auto changed gaming forever. In this programme we find out how.

Chris Warburton meets the creative team from Dundee in Scotland who came up with the concept for Grand Theft Auto 25 years ago. We look into how it was picked up, marketed and ultimately sold to millions and millions of us.

Grand Theft Auto was revolutionary, but it was also controversial with its depictions of shocking, graphic violence. This is the story of how the game and its makers overcame moral panic, political opposition and naysayers to become one of the most successful entertainment brands of a generation.

Presenter: Chris Warburton Producer: Ciaran Tracey Image: GTA: Credit: Getty Images

Up next
Yesterday
Getting goods to the ends of the Earth
In one of the most remote and unforgiving regions on the planet, the final stretch of any delivery becomes a test of endurance, ingenuity, and sheer determination.In this episode, Jane Chambers travels deep into Chilean Patagonia, where last mile delivery, or last-mile logistics, ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 7
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 7
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2021
Grand Theft Auto: How the Scottish game outraged on release
<p>A new action-adventure computer game - designed in Scotland - became a surprise global hit in 1997. But Grand Theft Auto also courted controversy and sparked debate over violence and drugs in video games. Paul Schuster spoke to Brian Baglow - one of the original team behind th ... Show More
10 m
Dec 2013
Grand Theft Auto
A new computer game - designed in Scotland - became a surprise global hit in 1997. But Grand Theft Auto also courted controversy and sparked debate over violence and drugs in video games. Listen to Brian Baglow - one of the original team behind the launch. 
8m 55s
Dec 2023
Microcast: GTA 6 reveal, The Game Awards 2023
Chris Dring and James Batchelor discuss the biggest stories of the past week, on (potentially) our final Microcast of 2023. Today's discussion begins with the reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, from the changes at Rockstar since GTA 5 to the sales expectations and potential impact the ... Show More
28m 23s
Feb 2014
The Cars of GTA V
<p>Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most controversial - and popular - titles in gaming today. And, whether you love or hate it, you have to admit: they've got some nice cars in the game. Join Scott and Ben as they take a closer look at the cars of Grand Theft Auto.</p><p> </p> L ... Show More
44m 3s
May 2021
10 Simple Facts Most Gamers Don't Know - The Original Pac-Man Has A Safe Spot! The Mobile Gaming Market Is Bigger Than Console & PC Combined! Adult Women Play More Video Games Than Teenage Boys! Resident Evil Holds The Guinness World Record For "Worst Game Dialogue Ever"
Grand Theft Auto V sold more in 2020 than any year since launch. Josh Brown presents 10 Simple Facts Most Gamers Don't Know... ENJOY! Follow us on Twitter:@JoshBroown@WCultureGaming Check out our YouTube channel: youtube.com/whatculturegaming For even more awesome content, check ... Show More
10m 8s
Aug 2023
Take-Two Interactive: GTA and NBA 2K - [Business Breakdowns, EP.124]
This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down Take-Two Interactive Software. If you listened to our Business Breakdown on Electronic Arts, Take Two is another giant in the video game publishing space. They are best known for their Grand Theft Auto and 2K franchise. To break ... Show More
54m 51s
Dec 2020
Riot Games: Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill
At USC in the late 1990s, Marc Merrill and Brandon Beck were bonding over video games and noticing that free, player-made modifications for the game <em>Warcraft III</em> were becoming wildly popular online. The two friends were so impressed by these mods that they decided to cre ... Show More
1h 31m
May 2017
Video Games
From Spacewar to Pokemon Go, video games – aside from becoming a large industry in their own right – have influenced the modern economy in some surprising ways. Here’s one. In 2016, four economists presented research into a puzzling fact about the US labour market. The economy wa ... Show More
9m 11s
May 2020
Sponsored: When Small Businesses Think Big - Atari & Red Bull (Dell Podference) | 1
<p>This episode is brought to you by Wondery in partnership with Dell Technologies. In honor of small businesses, we’re featuring inspiring stories of successful companies that started out small.</p><p>In 1972, pinball machines and mechanical games ruled the arcades. Then, Atari ... Show More
31m 39s
Oct 2021
Grand Theft Auto – The Trilogy
Rockstar Games, as rumors this summer suggested, is releasing remastered versions of GTA III, GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas later this year for newer consoles and PCs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy# ... Show More
2m 42s