The publisher pitch

The location is Vice City, and the vibe is glamour, power and corruption...An entirely new game set in the ‘80s, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City will surpass the unprecedented gameplay, cinematic graphics and immersive audio experience that gamers associate with Grand Theft Auto 3.

Having just made it back onto the streets of Liberty City after a long stretch in maximum security, Tommy Vercetti is sent to Vice City by his old boss, Sonny Forelli. They were understandably nervous about his re-appearance in Liberty City, so a trip down south seemed like a good idea. But all does not go smoothly upon his arrival in the glamorous, hedonistic metropolis of Vice City. He's set up and is left with no money and no merchandise. Sonny wants his money back, but the biker gangs, Cuban gangsters, and corrupt politicians stand in his way. Most of Vice City seems to want Tommy dead. His only answer is to fight back and take over the city himself.

From the decade of big hair, excess and pastel suits comes a story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile as Grand Theft Auto returns to the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system this October. Vice City is a huge urban sprawl ranging from the beach to the swamps and the glitz to the ghetto, and is the most varied, complete and alive digital city ever created. Combining non-linear gameplay with a character driven narrative, you arrive in a town brimming with delights and degradation and are given the opportunity to take it over as you choose.

• Unparalleled depth - bigger and better depth of gameplay than Grand Theft Auto 3.
• Non linear gameplay combined with challenging missions and compelling story, providing well over 100 hours of addictive entertainment like no other.
• Huge, open environments with hundreds of interior and exterior locations and incredible details, full of inhabitants who interact with you and with one another.
• 100% more style than Grand Theft Auto 3. with film-like art direction. Unprecedented production value as seen by the incredible voice talent and an authentic 80's hit soundtrack that is three times longer than the Grand Theft Auto 3 soundtrack.
• Announced songs and artists include "You've Got Another Thing Coming" by Judas Priest, "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, "Self Control" by Laura Branigan, "Summer Madness" by Kool and the Gang, "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls, "Out of Touch" by Hall & Oats and "I Just Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew.
• Goodfellas star Ray Liotta is among the many stars that will do voice-overs for Vice City.
• Players can now explore the interior of buildings as well as the huge city.
• The new Targeting System allows players to toggle between enemies causing their view to instantaneously change to the new threat.
• Drive over 120 vehicles including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Corvettes, boats and motorcyles.
• The game's water physics and boat handling have been totally revamped.
• Players can try tons of different missions - even take up a pizza delivery job to earn some quick cash.
• Use over 40 different weapons to rule the mean streets of Vice City. Use a sniper rifle to shoot out a car's tires, but be warned, the police have some good shooters as well.
• Gangs will also run wild in the streets of the city giving other targets for the police to chase.
• Using a new Renderware engine with some modifications to the old texture-streaming technology, players will see much better graphics and faster gameplay.