Written Assignment #2

	The reality of a game can make a game attractive and popular.  Grand Theft Auto 3 
is one of those attractive and popular games.  The computational effects that make the 
virtual city feel real in Grand Theft Auto is the endless layout of a city, the ability for the
player’s character to interact with the non-playable characters, and the realistic
consequences to various actions.  In Grand Theft Auto 3 the city can be completely 
explored by driving around in a car or walking the streets; and like any real city in the 
world there are different names for the districts in the city with features that are common 
to that area, such as “The Red Light District” which is dark and gloomy with 
hookers and pimps strolling the streets and also “Downtown” where the hospital and 
police station are located.  The consequences to the player’s actions make the game feel 
real because when the player steals a car, the police start to chase the player and when the 
player hits a person the victim will fight back or run and these actions coincide with the 
consequences of a person’s actions in reality.

	In the game you know your location by looking at a grid map at the bottom of the 
screen.  In the middle of the map is a green dot (that is the player’s current position in the 
city).  When working on missions in the game the player knows where in the city to go 
by the letters marked on the grid map.  The player can tell which direction to go by 
moving closer to the letter on the map and using the map to know which streets to turn 
on.  When the player is at the destination a blue light shows where to enter and progress 
to the next mission.  When entering the blue light, the player expects to be given another 
mission.

	There are many options for movement in the space given in the game.  The player 
can explore the city by car or foot, the controls allow for different views of the city, when 
there are weapons obtained the player can decide on different weapons to use.  The space 
in the city was organized by the districts in the city where the player would expect to find
objects unique to those districts.  Missions are the primary aspect that provides a path 
to follow a direction.  After a mission is completed the player is awarded with money.  
The more money that the player obtains the more he can buy with the money and the 
more power he has.