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A screenshot of one of the earlier closed MTA:SA Deathmatch (alpha version).

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 allows them to be played online against other players around the world, in a similar way to other popular online games, such as Counter-Strike.

Although often referred to as a modification, Multi Theft Auto is more or less 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]

History

File:Gta3amingame1.jpg

The world's first third party GTA3 multiplayer screenshot.

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. ^[2]

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.

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.

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.

Feature summary

File:Mtasagui.png

MTA's own in-game GUI.

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 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 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.

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.

References

^ CSports.net game rankings.
^ Internet Archive Wayback Machine of www.gta3am.tk

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 The newest release of ''MTA'' is for ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and is built upon a new core codenamed "[http://www.mtablue.info 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 first release of ''MTA:SA'' features a vehicle racing mode and an accompanying map editing mode that allows you to create custom environments and races.
+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.
-The next release "Deathmatch" will include (but is not limited to) a Deathmatch mode along with a new kind of expandability, and is expected at a later date once the team has finished its alpha stage development.
 === Feature summary ===