Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
Key points
- Fully remappable keyboard controls
- Ability to import your music for your own custom radio station[1]
- Supports many resolutions including 16:10 and 16:9 ratio resolutions[2]
- There are many issues and it is very likely to encounter at least one[3][4]
- Vertical mouse sensitivity is nearly unchangeable
- Lack of many important video options
- Virtually no support on the Rockstar page of this game[5]
General information
- Grand Theft Auto game series steam forums.
- Steam Community Discussions
- GTA: Vice City on GTA Forums
- Information on all things game play related
- Mods and add-ons for the Grand Theft Auto Series
Availability
Template:Availability Table
- Steam version is currently the easiest method of obtaining the most updated version, but needs to be downgraded in order to resolve stretched UI issue.
Game data
Game save location
Template:Game Location Table
- Save file location is dependent on whether or not "Compatibility Mode" is enabled as well as the operating system selected. (i.e. GTA-vc.exe on a Windows 8 operating system set to run in "Windows 98/Windows Me" Compatibility Mode will create save files in the default Windows 98 folder and not the default Windows 8 folder.)
- "gta_vc.set" which are the game's settings configuration file is saved in these folders as well
- Note that save files are NOT cross-compatible between Mac and Windows
Video settings
Template:Video settings
"Wide Screen"
- An option located in the graphics settings that can be toggled on or off
- When enabled, allows the user to play in unstretched 4:3 resolutions on widescreen monitors.
- Basic resolution remains still 4:3. Check Widescreen UI and FOV fix for details.
"Frame Rate Limiter"
- An option located in the graphics settings that can be toggled on or off.
- When enabled, solves most issues when playing on modern PC's.
- Limits frames per second to 30.
Input settings
Template:Input settings
Y-axis modifier
- This will allow the user to modify the y-axis sensitivity.
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
Issues and Fixes
Timing-related issues
Any of the following problems, refer to a single common fixbox.
If you have
- Broken cutscenes (When a cut scene starts, the game seems to be frozen.)
- It is noticeable upon starting a new game, when a black screen appears with the writing "Marco's Bistro, Liberty City, 1986".
- Random crash when changing resolution
- Cars that reverse extremely slowly and/or stop quickly after releasing the accelerator
- Inhuman difficulties while performing boat missions (such as "Stunt Boat Challenge")
- Boats that accelerate and move slower than they should be (like cars issue above)
- Game that runs almost comically quickly[3]
- Pedestrians seem to be "running" and cars move on and off screen extremely fast.
- Textures & models "pop in" too slowly[3]
- Certain models such as bridges or stairs take a few seconds to "pop in" even if the character is standing near to or next to the model.
- In the mission "The Driver", a character may fall through the a bridge.
- Vice City with almost no cars or pedestrians on the streets and seems a ghost-town.
THEN
Mouse clicks do not register
- Moving the mouse has no effect outside of the menus or clicks do not register at all outside (and/or inside) of the menus.[6]
- Try the fixes under timing-related issues first.
Game crashes after intro movie or fails to start entirely
- Nothing occurs, other than a possible quick flicker, when attempting to run the game (gta-vc.exe)
- The game starts, however it crashes directly after the intro move with the error "gta-vc.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close."
Camera locks after a unique jump is performed
- The camera locks in slow-motion and does not release the view.
Crosshair inaccuracy
- When playing on a higher and wider resolution, the onscreen crosshair is not accurate.
- The real aim is slightly above and to the right of the displayed crosshairs.
- The latest steam version[7] places the crosshair in the correct location on the screen.
Improvements
Graphical tweaks & updates
- Numerous texture packs and modifications can be made to improve graphical fidelity on higher resolutions, especially noticeable when playing in the 1920x1080 resolution.
Tommy Vercetti high res texture pack
- Tommy Vercetti rebuilt from the ground up to add some quality to the main player.
- Includes a 3D model watch
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
High quality weapon icons
- This mod replaces all of the weapon icons with high quality versions of those icons.
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
Particle effects
- This modification adds effects such as reflections and improves upon other effects such as smoke and cloud cover.
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\particle.txd
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
High resolution textures and GTA IV style streets
- This modification replaces most of the roads and many textures with high resolution ones.
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
High resolution radar mini map
Realistic
- This modification to the mini map is a high resolution, realistic depiction of a mini map[8].
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
High quality original remake
- This modification to the mini map is a high resolution remake of the original Vice City mini map at four times the original size[9]
- ALWAYS make a backup of
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
before attempting to make any changes to the file else be prepared to reinstall the game if anything goes wrong.
High quality mini map icons
- This modification is a great addition when paired with the high resolution radar.
Long distance pop-in mod
- Allows the user to change the distance limit of the "pop-in" effect.
IMG script editor
- Allows for modifications and image replacements to be made to game files contained within
Game Install Location\Grand Theft Auto Vice City\models\gta3.img
automatically via an install script.
- Modifications to
gta3.img
are compatible with the steam version of the game.
TXD editor
- Allows for modifications and image replacements to be made to game files contained within the Game Install Location.
- Modifications to .TXD files are compatible with the steam version of the game.
CLEO
- A script installer host capable of injecting memory changes as well as modifying the scrips of the game.
- CLEO is not compatible with the steam version of the game.
Widescreen UI and FOV fix
- Attempts to fix issues caused due to widescreen resolutions
- Contains:
- A crosshair fix.
- A fix for the stretched HUD and minimaps
- A fix for the FOV setting and the Aspect Ratio distortion
- This fix will not work with the steam version of the game
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
98/98SE/ME/2000/XP | |
Processor (CPU) |
| |
System memory (RAM) |
| |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
915 MB free | |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 9.0c Compatible with 32 MB
| DirectX 9.0c Compatible with 64 MB 1024 of VRAM |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) or newer |
Processor (CPU) |
|
System memory (RAM) |
|
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
1.7GB of free hard disk space |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI X1600, NVIDIA 7300GT, Intel X3100 integrated graphics chip, or better |
References