Multi Theft Auto
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/Mtadmalphapotd.png)
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 mod, MTA 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.
MTA was ranked as one of the top online games according to CSports.net. Current rough player numbers can be seen at Game-Monitor.COM, which records a reasonable percentage of all public servers (with reporting enabled).
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. Only in-vehicle play was allowed; when outside the vehicle the user was invisible to the other player. 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.
The team had originally planned an extra 0.5.5 release with bug fixes, a new style of deathmatch for GTA Vice City and several enhancements to GTA3:MTA. They decided, however, to focus on their next-generation technology, codenamed "Blue".
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. Blue 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. There will be a few "default" game modes included with the installation package though. 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. Deathmatch is expected at a later date once the team have fully synchronised shooting and balanced the gameplay.
Feature summary
- Optimised netcode results in less lag.
- Blue loads a DLL with the game instead of injecting code into its memory process. This improves stability and means that custom SCM files do not have to be moved to the game's directory when it is started.
- Full integration means that Blue's server list is directly integrated into GTA's GUI.
- Fewer glitches. This is achieved by synchronizing every animation, implementing a custom pause menu so that people can't pause to escape death, and forcing the frame limiter on so that everyone's game runs at the same maximum speed.
- Greater synchronization means that all animations, skins, weapons and vehicles are now available. This means that MTA players can now use boats.
- 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.
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.
MTAmA
Multi Theft Auto mIRC Admin (MTAmA) is an admin client for MTA made in mIRC (developed by Aeron). It has the possibility to create and run custom-made mIRC scripts on MTA servers, useful in creating gamemodes, cheating protection, and links to other programs. One popular script is MTA:mA:GRS (General Release Script, developed by Oliver Brown - [FMJ]Oli, who has since become a Multi Theft Auto developer), which is widely used in both GTA3:MTA and MTA:VC servers.
MTA gangs
Since the release of 0.1, gangs (commonly referred to as clans) have emerged to become the best in MTA. The oldest gangs are VCK (Vice City Killaz; Do not mistake with other gangs using a VCK tag), B.L.A.S.T.A. (a gang mainly made up of gang leaders on the MTA forum) and VCP (Vice City Police, who topped the first official MTA tournament in 0.2).
Since then, many more gangs have been created such as FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), VCES (Vice City Emergency Services), ULK (United Legion of Killers), E404 (Elite 404) SM (StuntMasters), XE (Xtreme Elites), [UVA] (Ultimate Vice Assassins, =AoA= (Angels of Anarchy), =LNL= (Lock N' Load), (RP)* Ruthless Predators, (MM) (Mass Murderer's), (TLR) and {KoQ} (Kings of Queens). Gangs like these have their own servers and enter official MTA tournaments.
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
- Official MTA:mA Site