In an extremely rare interview, Rockstar North president Leslie Benzie has discussed his feeling of neglect from the Scottish government, which he says "seem to cut us out" when it comes to highlighting the country's success stories.
Considering GTA's massive cultural influence, notes The Times, it's strange that politicians committed to "a smart, successful Scotland" haven't come knocking at Rockstar North's door - the game is after all one of Britain's biggest exports.
"We'd love to help if we have time," president Leslie (you can only get away with that name if you're Scottish) told the paper. "But there are a number of agencies which actively seem to cut us out. There is this weird thing where people think Scotland is so innovative, but if you do anything truly innovative, you get beaten down."
Yesterday Rebellion boss Jason Kingsley called on Britain to "celebrate" GTA IV. "This is the world's biggest launch in the games market and the intellectual property is actually British made," he said.
"We've had such a beating over the past three years - by the American government, the British government, the Daily Mail," said Rockstar North boss Benzie.
Before DMA Design became Rockstar North, remembers Benzie, he had decided to leave the company. But new boss Sam Houser convinced him to stay by financing the team's move to Edinburgh. Why not move to Rockstar's head office in New York? "For the Weather," he says.
There is no sun. If I am abroad I can sit in the sun for a whole day and do nothing and feel great. If I sit outside here, I'm fidgeting after a couple of minutes. There are a lot of us here. This is our home."
Now that GTA IV's finally in the shops, Benzie says he's left with "a void" after living with the sequel for so long. "It is almost depressing," he said. "It's like somebody's gone from your life. A couple of weeks from now, I'll be fine.
"You've been working on the project for three-and-a-half years and you've given up all your friends. You've given up television. You do this nonstop. Up to the last four months, you're not sure it's going to gel. It is in those very last moments that it comes together. That's where the fear comes from. We spend our entire time just shaking and thinking: 'Is it going to work?'"
There is no sun. If I am abroad I can sit in the sun for a whole day and do nothing and feel great. If I sit outside here, I'm fidgeting after a couple of minutes. There are a lot of us here. This is our home."
Almost brought a tear to my eye
It's annoying the government don't embrace them more, but the government (both sides of the border) probably don't even understand what a computer is.
wheres the custom soundtrack option on the ps3 wanted to play my own music rockstar wahhhh>! doesnt have a happy hardcore option !
I dont think you get the option till you get a better phone which plays MP3, that my guess anyway. Probably just to make sure you hear most of the funnies on the radio stations!
He says all this, but when consolevania made a documentary about the Scottish games industry (I was at the premiere and it was awesome) Rockstar were the only Scottish company who REFUSED to take part. The film suffered because of this. They were given the perfect chance to do some Scottish games industry promotion and they pleaded the fifth.
The Scots pull the same type of crap with Sean Connery don't they. He floats around in a Russian sub talking Scottish and getting away with it and they don't say anything. Pretends to be a spaniard with a Scots accent and gets away with it and they do nothing. It was'nt until some wop shot him that they stood up and paid attention.
I read somewhere that GTA is Edinburgh's biggest export. Deserves at least a passing mention, surely. Always feel an irrational pang of pride when I walk past Rockstar's offices (usually half p**sed heading to the Cask and Barrel)
Maybe they should make a game that is set in Scotland ...........Just a thought.
could you imagine gta4: glasgow city? perhaps a special move could be the glasgow kiss and everyone could go round getting drunk on buckfast
they made GTA in Scotland
It's a film called Doomsday directed by Neil Marshall, it's a documentary about the quality of life for people on the breadline in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.
Perhaps the government would be a little more proud of Rockstar if they employed more brits, instead of shipping a load of their department staff over from San Diego and locking locals out of the jobs...
not that I'm bitter... as an Edinburgh-based 3d Artist I'd not have gnawed my own kneecaps off for a job with 'em, honest.
(edit) and yes, I know there's an awful lot of brits work for them too, and it's a global industry and all that, I accept. but when there's comments in interviews that R* heads go to Calton House for a week, and the studio could've just as easily been in NYC, it rather says something that it's no really a scottish company any longer.
Maybe it's partly because the GTA games don't feature Scottish characters. I don't know if they'd ever consider GTA Glasgow because central Glasgow is generally a beautiful, cultured place so, unless they're setting it in the past, they might not want to dig up dated stereotypes (although they've probably done that with New York to some extent, which is now one of the safest cities in America).
AS for getting no support from the Scottish government, have Rare, who have produced a wider range of titles, ever been courted by the British government?
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