According to the Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Rockstar is set to launch its first downloadable console games in the very near future. The magazine claims that both Grand Theft Auto and GTA2 will be available on the PlayStation Store soon:

"Can't wait for GTA IV? Well, GTA and GTA II, the top-down classics that started it all, are set to appear as PSN downloads"
-- PlayStation Official Magazine UK Issue 16

Source: PlayStation Forums (Scan)

Back in the 1990s Rockstar North didn't exist and Mortal Kombat was considered the prime example of video game violence. DMA Design was a small software company working in Dundee, Scotland and they hit the big time with the release of "Grand Theft Auto" on PC.

Times have definitely changed and thanks to the wonders of the internet, founding member Mike Dailly has shared a wealth of photographs of the team, its premises and its products with the world. In the many photo sets which he has uploaded, you'll be able to sample exactly what life in Scotland's fourth city is like, along with early images of Grand Theft Auto.

Full Collection: DMA Design on Flickr
GTA Set: GTA on Flickr

Nintendo have today announced the introduction of a new system in the Game Boy franchise. Game Boy Micro is the latest handheld from the company, and will play all Game Boy Advance games released to date. The most attractive aspect of Game Boy Micro is its tiny profile, measuring just 4 inches wide, 2 inches tall and 0.7 inches deep. The console weighs just 2.8 ounces and features a 2 inch backlit screen and built in rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Now you've got no excuse not to carry a copy of GTA everywhere you go! Game Boy Micro will be released this Fall. Pricing will be announced at a later date.

An early christmas present has arrived from Rockstar in the form of Grand Theft Auto 2, which is now available for free download! Re-released as part of their "Classics" series, the 353MB download contains every feature included in the original game which hit shelves back in 1999 and was overlooked by many.
GTA2 expanded on the top-down, open-ended crime world gameplay formula with a host of new features including the advent of multiple rival gangs – seven, to be exact, including the Yakuza, Scientists, Looneys, Rednecks, Zaibatsu, the Russian Mob and Hare Krishnas. Earn your respect with each gang in this recoded version fully optimised for modern PC's and Windows versions.

Download: Grand Theft Auto 2 - Rockstar Classics Edition
Resources: Top Down GTA at GTAGaming

Rockstar and Take2Games have released a new collection of Grand Theft Auto games (including the original Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London, and GTA 2) all in one package, aptly named the Grand Theft Auto Classics Collection. This is a great way to learn the roots of GTA, especially if you're just sitting around, waiting for the PC version of San Andreas.

If you're interested, you can purchase the Grand Theft Auto Classics Collection for $9.99 at Gamestop.com for PC or for $19.99 at BestBuy for the Playstation.

Note: It is rated M for "Mature (17+)" due to blood, strong language, and violence.

Big thanks to Darkon_X and Angel for their submissions.

Gamespot and IGN recently took the time to review today's other big title - Grand Theft Auto for Game Boy Advance. Unfortnately, Gamespot gave the game a low 6.5/10, with IGN being a little more supportive with their 8.5/10 rating.

"There's some nostalgic gameplay here, but by and large GTA Advance just isn't much fun."
-- Gamespot

"The portable rendition retains much of what has made the series, starting with Grand Theft Auto III such a success on the PlayStation 2, and it's clear that Digital Eclipse understood the idea of the series...even in its 2D design. It's definitely one the most ambitious games created on the Game Boy Advance."
-- IGN

The first trailer of the game has also been released by Rockstar. You can grab it from the link below.

Review: Gamespot
Review: IGN
Movie: GTA: Advance Trailer

Finally, we've posted all thirteen GTA: Advance screenshots in our gallery. All are high quality, and two of them have never been posted here before:
Looking closely at the second screenshot above, a speedometer is present in the top right hand corner of the shot. Looks like you'll be able to tell just how fast you're travelling when you hit the roads of Liberty City for a third time!
The fan-favourite weapon, the rocket launcher also makes a welcome return. Expect to wreak plenty of havoc with this!

GTA: Advance is scheduled for release on October 19, 2004 in North America and October 22nd in Europe and Oceania. Check back later for our own special section on the site dedicated to the game!

Also, check out this new high quality, digital screenshot from Los Santos, San Andreas:

UK gaming site MSN Gamesradar have posted their own short preview of GTA: Advance. Included are four, brand new, never before seen screenshots from the game's story section. The preview itself has no new information, other than confusing everyone with the release date noted as October 22 for Europe.



Check out the screenshots in our gallery and look out for our own GTA: Advance section on the site later this week!

Gamespot have posted their own 'hands on' preview of Grand Theft Auto for Game Boy Advance. There are a few minor new details about the storyline, and it makes for an interesting read if you missed last week's coverage.

Link: Gamespot - GTA: Advance Hands-On

IGN have finally added their own preview of Grand Theft Auto: Advance. Surprisingly, since Craig Harris (the article's editor) has had his own "hands-on" with the game, not much is revealed. Yes, there's new information to IGN, but nothing that's worthy of being touted "exclusive". Mention is made to the "auto zoom", seen in the other top down GTA titles on Playstation, Game Boy Color and PC. There's also a small section on the fact the game saves your progress. Makes for interesting reading, if you've been living under a rock. We've had many of the screenshots online for a number of days now, although there are small bits of character artwork to see.
Yet more confusion has arisen about the title's release date, with today's article pinpointing October 26th. We're currently awaiting official confirmation of the date.

UK Visitors may also be interested in knowing that Game Boy Advance SP will be reduced to the wallet-friendly price of £69.99 from 24th September.

Link: IGN Game Boy - GTA Advance
Link: IGN - GTA Advance Screenshots