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{{GameInfobox | type = Mod | developer = Multi Theft Auto Development Team | publisher = Multi Theft Auto Development Team | base_game = Grand Theft Auto III,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City,Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | ww_rel = {{Release|2003|February|9|WW|Microsoft Windows}} | license = GPL 3.0 | genre = Third-person shooter | features = Multi-player | platforms = Microsoft Windows | media = Download | version = 1.0.4 }} '''''Multi Theft Auto''''' (abbreviated '''''MTA''''') is a multi-player [[mod]] for the [[Microsoft Windows]] releases of the games ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' that adds an online multi-player component<ref name="MTA">{{Cite web|url=http://files.mtasa.com/|title=Multi Theft Auto file archive|accessdate=2010-07-24|publisher=Multi Theft Auto}}</ref>. ==Background== The release of ''Grand Theft Auto III'', a critically acclaimed [[Nonlinear gameplay|sandbox-style]] [[action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[computer game|computer]] and [[video game]] [[video game developer|developed]] by DMA Design (now [[Rockstar North]]) represented the first [[3D computer graphics|3D]] title in the [[Grand Theft Auto (series)|''Grand Theft Auto'' (''GTA'') series]]. Despite its success, it was the first ''Grand Theft Auto'' game to ship without the [[Multiplayer video game|network gameplay features]] that were present in earlier titles, which allowed players to connect through a [[computer network]] and play the game with others.<ref name="liles2">{{Cite web|title=Becoming a Fully-Realized GTA Fanatic|url=http://planetgrandtheftauto.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=72|publisher=[[IGN]]|first=Jordan|last=Liles|date=2006-05-01|pages=3|accessdate=2009-12-02}}</ref> The first version of ''Multi Theft Auto'', dubbed ''[[Grand Theft Auto III: Alternative Multiplayer]]'', attempted to fill in this gap by extending an already existing [[Cheating (video games)#Trainers|cheating tool]] with functionality that allowed the game to be played with a very crude form of two-player racing over a computer network purely as a [[proof of concept]].<ref name="liles2" /> Newer versions of ''Multi Theft Auto'' with increasingly better gameplay and other improvements were released based on the same concept of game manipulation, by a small team of developers. With the introduction of successor ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'', it became clear that this computer game title also lacked any form of network gameplay. The ''Multi Theft Auto'' software was subsequently extended to include support for this title, and eventually shifted its entire focus towards this title and the concept of a new [[software framework]] dubbed ''Blue''.<ref>{{Cite web|title="MTA Blue" Details|url=http://planetgrandtheftauto.gamespy.com/fullstory.php?id=23056|publisher=[[IGN]]|first=Jordan|last=Liles|date=2004-09-03|accessdate=2009-12-02}}</ref> As the original concept (of game manipulation by memory) was prone to various problems with performance and stability that often resulted in [[Crash (computing)|application crashes]], this new framework was created as a successor and laid the foundation of all future ''Multi Theft Auto'' software.<ref name="slashdot1">{{Cite web|url=http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/24/0237259|title=Multi Theft Auto - San Andreas Goes Open-Source |date=2008-11-24|work=timothy|publisher=[[Slashdot]]|accessdate=2008-11-24}}</ref> ==Overview== The latest ''Multi Theft Auto'' software is based on [[code injection]] and [[hooking]] techniques whereby the game is manipulated without altering any original files supplied with the game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://osdir.com/Article4775.phtml|title=Multi Theft Auto: Hacking Multi-Player Into Grand Theft Auto With Open Source|last=Wen|first=Howard|date=2005-03-29|publisher=[[OSDir]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> The software functions as a [[game engine]] that installs itself as an extension of the original game, adding core functionality such as [[computer networking|networking]] and [[Graphical User Interface|GUI rendering]] while exposing the original game's engine functionality through a [[Scripting Language|scripting language]]. The project has also been the subject in multiple articles in different media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/519/519510p1.html|title=True Crime: Streets of L.A. Review|coauthors=Aaron Boulding, Tom McNamara|date=2004-03-27|publisher=[[IGN]]|pages=2, 4|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/605/605982p1.html|title=GTA San Andreas PC Hands-On|last=McNamara|first=Tom|date=2005-04-19|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/saints-row/718937p1.html|title=Saints Row Preview|last=McGarvey|first=Sterling|date=2006-07-14|publisher=[[GameSpy]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://megagames.com/news/show.cgi?&idtype=software&database=160|title=Multi Theft Auto - San Andreas|date=2006-02-06|publisher=[[MegaGames software]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=32142|title=Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas Released|date=2006-01-24|work=Howard|publisher=[[Neowin.net]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://games.techwhack.com/54-multi-theft-auto|title=Multi Theft Auto|date=2004-09-06|publisher=[[TechWack]]|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> The most prominent being a coverage on [[G4 (TV channel)|G4 TV]],<ref>[http://youtube.com/watch?v=B6FqSiJBMgM YouTube] version of G4TV's MTA fragment.</ref> an exclusive release for [[Fileplanet]] with coverage on its frontpage,<ref>[http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/153/mtafileplanetbx5.jpg Fileplanet frontpage] screenshot.</ref> and features in published magazines such as [[PC Gamer]]<ref>{{Cite journal | title = PC Gamer UK - Issue 140 | publisher = ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer UK]]'' | date = October 2004 | issue = 140 }}</ref> and [[Total PC Gaming]].<ref>{{cite journal | title = Total PC Gaming - Issue 26 | publisher = [[Imagine Publishing]] | issue = 26 | date = October 2009 }}</ref> The Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas project was revised and relaunched as an [[open source]] project, leaving all prior versions behind. The [[source code]] was licensed under the [[GPLv3]] license and made available on [[Google Code]] and [[GitHub]]. ==Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas== Multi Theft Auto's latest release is for the game ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' and is built upon a now open source [[game engine]] that has been in development for several years and is the only project that is still actively maintained. The engine provides users with all the necessary tools they need to create their own [[Gameplay|game modes]] and [[Level (video gaming)|maps]] by exposing a large part of the original game functionality through a [[Lua|Lua scripting machine]]. The initial version of the software was dubbed ''"Race"'' and unveiled on Sunday 22 January 2006, when the first playable content was released. This version featured a networked [[Racing game|vehicle racing game mode]] and a [[map editor]] that allowed users to create custom environments and races. The advanced nature of the engine's early incarnation allowed the developers to develop a sophisticated integrated [[WYSIWYG]] editor for adding gameplay elements such as [[Checkpoint (video gaming)|checkpoints]], [[Spawning (computer gaming)|spawn points]], [[power-up]]s and various objects ranging from ramps to exploding barrels.<ref name="liles3">{{Cite web|title=MTA: San Andreas "Race" Review|url=http://planetgrandtheftauto.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Articles.Detail&id=63|publisher=[[IGN]]|first=Jordan|last=Liles|date=2006-01-19|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> The successor release, dubbed ''"Deathmatch"'', was designed to improve upon "Race" by providing minimal [[Nonlinear gameplay|sandbox style gameplay]] that could be extended by users and developers. The production on this release started shortly after the initial release, but stagnated due to what is seen as a lack of focus by the development team. As many new features were being introduced, the continuous introduction of these features delayed a stable and final version of the modification.<ref>{{cite web|title=Multi Theft Auto - Update and Beta News Review|url=http://www.mtasa.com/65.html |date=2006-06-13|publisher=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> Instead, several on-line facilities were introduced during the development phase to allow visitors to track the development process of the software as changes were made to the [[Source code repository|code repository]], illustrating any notable updates to the progress of the modification. The first "Deathmatch" successor was introduced as a fully playable version on the 2nd of January 2008 and tagged as ''"Developer Preview"'' to promote the [[Third-party developer|third-party development]] of custom gameplay content and utilities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Multi Theft Auto: SA Deathmatch 1.0 Preview Release |url=http://news.filefront.com/multi-theft-auto-sa-deathmatch-10-preview-release/ |publisher=[[Filefront]] |accessdate=2009-12-08 |date=2008-01-07}}</ref> This version was followed by a second "Developer Preview" that introduced several new features and fixes and was subsequently followed by a period of major code restructuring that led to the open source relaunch on Friday, 21 November 2008 under the GPLv3 License. On Saturday, 22 August, ''Multi Theft Auto: San Andreas v1.0'' was officially distributed as the first open source release.<ref name="slashdot1"/> This release abandoned the now obsolete "Deathmatch" tag in the product name to emphasize on the versatility of the software. Gameplay functionality is solely provided by the scripting language, so users can choose or develop their own combination of scripts and other contents to customize and host their own type of game. ===Content delivery and development=== The initial "Deathmatch" version and its underlying engine presented a series of relevant changes to the functionality of the modification as well as the introduction of an online community [[content delivery]] system. Through the use of this website, registered users (such as players, server administrators or developers) can accumulate in-game statistics whilst playing on servers or share custom created content with other users. Third party content is made possible through the addition of the Lua scripting language in both the server hosting the game (e.g. providing functionality for a specific game mode), as well as the client playing the game (e.g. providing a graphical front end or user-specific local content to the game mode). Different [[Scripting language|scripts]] can then be run in parallel on either of these, communicating to each other through the use of [[Event handlers|events]]. The custom created content is grouped into "resources" that are hosted server-side. This is a [[Software package (programming)|package based system]] that packs all script files, custom content (e.g. [[image]]s, [[3d modeling|3D models]], [[Texture mapping|textures]] and [[Collision detection|collision files]]) and [[metadata]] files inside a single [[Archive file|archive]] or directory. Specific content can then be marked to be uploaded to every connected player, to enable [[client-side]] execution of Lua code. This system allows for package dependency and inheritance of functions between different packages, easy management and distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mtasa.com/48.html|title=MTA "Resources" explained|date=2007-03-04|publisher=Multi Theft Auto|accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> ===Feature summary=== * Multi Theft Auto uses a [[Modular (programming)|modular platform]] to separate several facilities such as the GUI, network, game and scripting code and loads these into the game instead of injecting code into its memory process. This improves stability, speed and allows a better file management. * Uses the freeware [[CEGUI]] system, replacing the original Grand Theft Auto GUI, allowing Multi Theft Auto to draw its own [[Widget (computing)|widgets]] for any in-game user interaction such as the server-browser and allows scripting from any third-party resource. * A versatile set of scripting functions. By building upon Grand Theft Auto's own [[Class (computer science)|class-based design]], implementing this into the client and server and synchronizing between these two, a third-party developer can control almost any aspect of every player's game by means of the Lua scripting language: native [[Entity|elements]] such as animations, explosions, particles, skins, weapons, vehicles, objects and players, as well as new elements such as custom 3D models are controllable. ==Gameplay== ''Deathmatch'', ''Roleplay'', ''freeroam'' and ''Race'' gameplay options are available. Some gameplay elements include checkpoints, spawn points, power-ups and various objects ranging from ramps to exploding barrels. Most servers nowadays play ''freeroam'' or ''Race''. ==See also== * [[Grand Theft Auto (series)|''Grand Theft Auto'' series]] * [[Multi-player game]] * [[Lua]] * [[Third-person shooter]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External Links== * [http://mtasa.com Official ''Multi Theft Auto'' website] * [http://wiki.mtasa.com/ ''Multi Theft Auto'' wiki] a documentation wiki for Multi Theft Auto * [http://code.google.com/p/mtasa-blue/ ''Multi Theft Auto'' source code repository] on [[Google Code]] * [http://community.mtasa.com ''Multi Theft Auto'' community] website for downloading user-created gameplay content * [http://nightly.mtasa.com/ ''Multi Theft Auto'' nightly releases] for the latest [[Neutral build|development builds]] {{Grand Theft Auto}}
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