Vice City Stories price confirmed, plot details revealed?

Second PSP Grand Theft Auto game will cost $50 when it ships October 17; box art hints at least two characters from Vice City will return.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

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To date, the best-selling game for the PSP platform has been Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. Developed by Rockstar Leeds, the game has sold more than a million copies on the platform in the US since it was released in October 2005, generating more than $51.3 million in revenue. The game's runaway success caused it to become the first game ever ported from the PSP to the PlayStation 2. The budget-priced console version has also been a best-seller since it went on sale last month.

Given Liberty City Stories' success, few were surprised when Rockstar Games revealed that a second GTA game was in development for the PSP. At E3 in May, the publisher announced Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories would ship in the US on October 17 and in Europe on October 20. Today, the publisher reconfirmed the ship date, and announced the game would carry a full price of $49.99.

Though it didn't announce a rating for Vice City Stories--though there hasn't been a non-M-rated installment in the series since GTA2--Rockstar did release the final box art for the title (pictured). And while the publisher didn't unveil any new information on the title, the box art indicates that, like LCS, the game will feature characters from its console predecessor, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

In the middle of its left-hand side, the VCS box art shows a swarthy character with long black hair and a handlebar mustache. The person appears to be Umberto Robina, the Cuban gangster voiced by actor Danny Trejo (Heat, Desperado) in Vice City. Robina tasked Vice City protagonist Tommy Vercetti with a variety of missions, from a treacherous boat race to starting an all-out war with his archrivals, the Haitian gang. One such mission was the source of the controversial "Kill all the Haitians" mission, which sparked protests in 2004, two years after Vice City first went on sale.

In the upper-right-hand corner of the VCS box is a picture of a rugged, bearded biker riding a Harley-Davidson-like motorcycle. The character appears to be a more youthful version of "Big" Mitch Baker, the Vietnam-veteran biker-gang leader voiced by the Six Million Dollar Man himself, Lee Majors, in Vice City. From his hangout at the Greasy Chopper Bar, Baker assigned Vercetti several missions, which included motorcycle racing and riot-instigating.

But while both Baker and Robina appear to be on the Vice City Stories box, Rockstar had not responded to inquiries regarding either character's presence in the game. The publisher also had not confirmed whether either Trejo or Majors would reprise their roles. However, the actors' absence does not preclude their characters' return: Several Grand Theft Auto III characters, such as radio magnate Donald Love, were not portrayed by their original voice actors when they appeared in Liberty City Stories.

248 Comments

  • ccstrauss94

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 5:18 am PT

    yes i also agree with blancobo .Rockstar is showing now they can push there self to next limite starting from Grant theft auto liberty stories to Grant theft auto vice city srories which i think is a very big approvement on there part.

  • InzaneJuggalo

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 12:16 pm PT

    I like roast beef.

  • Gblock2016

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 1:50 pm PT

    definetly buying this!


    gtafan 4life!

  • blancobo

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 1:10 pm PT

    Rockstar is showing that they KNOW how to push the PSP software to the right limit. Cant wait to get my hands on the game. LCS IS the BEST PSP game ever... only to be succeeded and exceeded by LCS - I COUNT ON IT!!!. Can only hope that the PSP software can still be pushed futher more!!!

  • Panta

    Posted Aug 29, 2006 1:06 am PT

    I can't wait to get my hands on this game... too bad I gotta go fix my psp first >_>... damn disc reader problems...

  • saintbeast86

    Posted Aug 28, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    My friend.... LCS had motorcycles and the loading times were fast as hell when compared to GTA 3.... VC was a little to up there to compare with, so my bad on that

  • Enigma2K99

    Posted Aug 26, 2006 6:10 pm PT

    Saintbeast86, what in god's name are you smoking? LCS is barely as good as GTA3, and it doesn't even TOUCH Vice City...

  • saintbeast86

    Posted Aug 21, 2006 12:01 pm PT

    I was looking around some sites and it seems the new guy in GTA: VCS has a face and a name... hes a black dude which is awesome cause I'm black (more interracial games!) and he goes by the name Vic Vance, which I'm thinking Lance Vance's (GTA: VC) brother, so please check it out

    http://planetgrandtheftauto.gamespy.com/gtavcs/

  • saintbeast86

    Posted Aug 21, 2006 11:35 am PT

    Nazraq what are you saying?.. LCS had way faster loading times and better than both VC and GTA3

  • DarwinBC

    Posted Aug 20, 2006 5:42 pm PT

    This one is for HXCDEW
    "DS fans just shut your mouths. You're just feeling insecure to know there is another best-seller coming for PSP and this will be a bigger hit than any Mario trash on the DS."

    If it wasn't for that "Mario trash" the gaming industry would be a much different place after the Atari debacle in the 80's so show some respect. DS has a much better game line up then PSP right now.
    You do prove a good point though. Stop biching about the price of games. If want these state of the art videogames to blow you away then someone has to pick up the tab on the outrageous production cost, and that would be us gamers. So stop crying you can't have you cake and eat it too!

  • nazraq

    Posted Aug 18, 2006 11:48 pm PT

    its still cool to think that GTA is on my psp. I'm sure that I'll buy this game because I don't have much reason to play my psp anymore. Tekken is cool though. I'm just a bit let down by the psp. None of the games really feel like a portable game should. They should be easy enough to play for short bursts and still feel like you did something. If not, you are just carrying around a little wanabe PS2 and devoting too much time to the game you're playing. And since I paid $250 for it (not even counting the $160 for the memory stick) I'm a bit scared to take it places. Thank goodness GTA and Tekken is on psp or I'd never play it.

    Oh! And I'd rather pay 50 to 60 bucks for an XBOX 360 game compared to a scaled down, slow loading PS2 game.

  • Ocram_Zepol

    Posted Aug 16, 2006 11:09 pm PT

    I've said it before, and i'll say it again. This game is going to OWN!!

  • kurgendog

    Posted Aug 14, 2006 9:20 am PT

    i know wher to get a copy of this game now.

  • oliverbennett

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:36 am PT

    I Think dat VCS Is gonna be great

    I really hope that You can swim though

    p.s I doubt that SA stories will be released cos they only just maged to fit LCS on the PSP and San andreas is About 6 times bigger (they would have to do a massively scaled down version). After VCS, the next psp title will probably be on all new territory.

  • oliverbennett

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:31 am PT

    ytytytytyyt

  • oliverbennett

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:30 am PT

    GTA Rocks

  • oliverbennett

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:28 am PT

    yah

  • oliverbennett

    Posted Aug 12, 2006 4:27 am PT

    I doubt that SA Stories would fit in a psp

  • HXCDEW

    Posted Aug 5, 2006 7:40 pm PT

    I can't wait for this game! VCS is gonna rock and I know so many people waiting to get the PSP as soon as this game comes out.. Stop complaining about $50, the game will cost £35 in UK which = $66, just like LCS did and still sold like hotcakes... DS fans just shut your mouths. You're just feeling insecure to know there is another best-seller coming for PSP and this will be a bigger hit than any Mario trash on the DS.

  • jpfondeur

    Posted Aug 2, 2006 6:58 pm PT

    This will become a best seller no matter what, so I'm gonna wait for the price to drop, platinum series baby, yeah!

    p.s. I LOVE my PSP, if you don't like yours "that is if you even really own one you little liars", then boo freakin hoo, too bad for you, but we really don't wanna hear about it.

  • EvilGenesis

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 3:10 pm PT

    Ill only buy this if: The voice-cast isnt diffirent, the music isnt bad cheap and fake and if you can swim..
    Because LCS felt cheap imo...

  • piyush_371

    Posted Jul 31, 2006 6:12 am PT

    i own on gta LCS

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jul 30, 2006 1:58 am PT

    50$ for a PSP game! And Cows say that 60$ 360 next-gen games are costly!

  • njr1489

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    Get with the times kids, $50 isn't a lot of money anymore. I would pay $50 to take a second stroll in Vice City (the best GTA city). If you kids can't afford $50, wait for the $20 (Which is a steal) PS2 version. If you are going to complain about the PS2 version, don't talk about it then. You'll miss out on some good fun in VC.

  • SEr_803

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 8:11 pm PT

    man i got a psp and i got liberty city stories what waste i have way more fun wit my ds anyways

  • lucas81093

    Posted Jul 29, 2006 11:07 am PT

    i so hope u can swim on this 1 cus that was a big let down 4 GTA liberty city stories

  • Ocram_Zepol

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 5:47 pm PT

    This is awesome. I can't wait tiill it comes out, since GTA: VC was always my favorite game in the series. It had the best story line, the best characters and, well the best city. I hope this game will be AS good or even better than the original (or at least better than LCS).

  • rifleman91

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 1:53 pm PT

    man this game makes me wanna get a psp sooo badly.

  • just_me_8

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 12:57 pm PT

    I personally like Rockstar's GTA series. Especially GTA Vice City. I am definitely looking forward to what they will do with this new game. I'll wait till it comes out for PS2.

  • maoonparas

    Posted Jul 27, 2006 10:09 am PT

    i want it!

  • dcangel

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    Robacon1: I own no sports games whatsoever. Try again.

  • absolut_wisted

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 12:38 pm PT

    These guys [rockstar] have uncommonly good box art.
    That's all I'll say.

  • Stubz_Turner

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 10:57 am PT

    I'd consider getting a psp just for this game.

  • P2L5NM

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 9:43 am PT

    Seeing as i actually liked Vice city i might consider this.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 8:27 am PT

    Complete with un-upgraded graphics a la the last 3 or 4 GTA cashins

  • NekoFever

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 6:26 am PT

    I'll wait for the $20 PS2 version. That way I won't have to suffer the nice blurry screen which will look great with all the neon.

  • yugimasa9999

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 3:13 am PT

    This is a MUST-HAVE title for the PSP !!!

  • relset

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 2:54 am PT

    it`s cool, but this one will be available fro the PC sometimes??

  • Lonewolftom87

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 2:41 am PT

    LOL my College Tutor worked on this game when he was at Rockstar (for a few days before he quit because it was a borning job lol) so I have know this was going to arrive sooner or later. $50 is pritty pricey, I think I will just stick to playing on my DSlite rather than my PSP...

  • blink-jfg

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 1:29 am PT

    GTA Vice City Stories Looks Great And I Can't Wait For San Andreas Stories

  • rich_jammer

    Posted Jul 26, 2006 12:05 am PT

    I wonder who you'll be able to play as?

  • grimface_87

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 8:15 pm PT

    dunno what you're complaining about. in australia, VCS is going to be AU$80 on release which is US$60, and usually our new release games are AU$100 (US$75)

  • Robacon1

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    I would love to know how many of you people calling this a rehash own more than one entry in any EA sports series.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    wait for the inevitable, cheaper port, innit.

  • BirdBoy_CM_HB

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 5:20 pm PT

    im waitin for the PS2 version anyway

  • dcangel

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 5:09 pm PT

    Gotta hand it to Rockstar, they know how to repackage and remarket the same tired game design so that it looks fresh and exciting. Table Tennis at least looks like a fun game.

    God, I wish I hadn't wasted so much money on a PSP...

  • boxcarracer565

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:54 pm PT

    Gta does get old after awhile, i was sick of gta when i beat it. At the moment im playin liberty city stories. kinda sick of liberty city, but note vice.

    I'll prly pick this up when the price drops, i'd rather buy a 360 game for 10 more bucks.

  • thorsen-ink GameSpot staff member

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 3:01 pm PT

    Along with SOCOM: FTB, GTA: LCS is the PSP game that came closest to being an all-around satisfying experience on the PSP. Every other game I've played on it besides Burnout Legends has been a major disappointment, especially the atrocious versions of Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia, both of which took over two minutes to load each time you died. I'll be getting VCS for sure.

    PS: Miami Vice for PSP is gonna get a good review--no, i'm not kidding! It's a decent RE4 knock off with drug dealers in it!

  • samuelroberts

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:49 pm PT

    Seriously, to the moronic DS fanboys who can't type properly(you know who you are), shut up. The fanboy crap tires so, so much after so many years. Seriously, shut up.

    This is great news! I've played Liberty City Stories to death. Great stuff.

  • HamsterLV

    Posted Jul 25, 2006 2:45 pm PT

    Bring back Tommy!

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