The original verson is now available for free* download. I rarely play video games, but this one was excellent. I will be downloading just as soon as I can get through to the site.
http://www.rockstargames.com/classics

*You must supply information about "yourself"

That's pretty amazing! I bought the original and the London expansion pack. Classic game. It seems that releasing classics like these is becoming pretty big. That's fine with me!

Here's some questions, though:
-are they releasing the London part too?
-will it run on Win2k? mine doesn't

Sweeeet. Downloading to my server now woot!

Wow! I just paid for this a few months ago. I didn't know there was a London expansion pack.. It surprises me that they'd release this for free when it's still going to be a few months before Grand Theft Auto Vice City comes to PC (I head not until this summer?)

This game was an instant classic I guess, but it's hardly outdated and I can't see why they'd release it for free so soon. But I'll tell a few buddies.

Are you thinking of GTA or GTA3. I think the original one came out in 1998.

Just to clarify, this is the original version of GTA released in 1997.
Not GTA3 that came out just a year or 2 ago (the precursor to GTA-Vice City).
Its a very different game than the last 2 versions.
Here are some screen shots.

will it run on Win2k? mine doesn't

From the site:

This version of Grand Theft Auto is modified from its original version to enable support for modern PC's and current Microsoft® Windows® platforms. However, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that Grand Theft Auto will work correctly on your PC. Installation and execution of this software is entirely at your own risk.

So, maybe.

D-oh! You're right. Now this makes sense! Thanks for correcting me on that. After playing GTA3 you forget the others!

I finally got to the site and I'm downloading the game but I'm being given an estimate of 1 hour 28 minutes to download and I have ADSL. Is it taking this long for others?

Looks fine to me. It's about 330MB and at around 60k/s you'd download it in around 1.5 hours. Probably will end up around 2 hours to get it though.

- Trevor

I am still unable to submit the form properly. I tried at work on our T1, and now on my ADSL at home. Currently, I am unable to even load the site!

Does anyone have a link to the actual download?

EDIT: It's coming. The URL they give you is unique and you have to eat a cookie.

They give you a unique ID and it has to be in your cookies. In other words, you'll have to go through the form.

10 minutes to go. You were closer with your 2 hours total. I hope it is worth the time it took.

I was downloading quite quickly, but it completely stalled at 99% for about 10 minutes. Why does that happen??

I was downloading quite quickly, but it completely stalled at 99% for about 10 minutes. Why does that happen??

Perhaps the site is run by gas station employees?

They give you a unique ID and it has to be in your cookies. In other words, you'll have to go through the form.

Hehe I just used the URL and downloaded it from my server box. I didn't have to download it from my home computer. I managed about 2.6Mbit/s during the download.

I downloaded it lastnight. I must say, that website is weird. When i was downloading GTA, i didn't even get a download box, IE just took 5 min downloading at 700kB/s. Got to love DU Meter

The original verson is now available for free* download

How is the game played? I mean, does it require any special equipment (like steering wheel/pedal set) or is it played with keyboard/mouse?

tanstaafl.

Just keyboard

*edit*
to be more specific, the controls are rather basic. There's a button for attack, jump/brake, enter/exit vehicle, next weapon, prev. weapon, and special (things like turning a police siren on and off or shooting water from a firetruck hose).

The movement controls are probably the hardest thing to get used to. The arrow keys are not directional. For example, if I press the up arrow, my player moves forward. if I press left or right, I turn. It's a little difficult to orientate yourself at first, but you get the hang of it.

Frankly, the downside of playing this game on modern computers is that now I can play the game at full speed, and man is that fast! I purposefully steal taxis now because they are relatively slow. If I hop in a Stinger or a police car, driving through traffic is litterally a hit and miss operation!

Same deal as last year, but now for GTA 2:
http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/

You are the man. The linking man.

I hope this one runs on my system. I fondly remember playing this over 5 years ago now. Can't wait to get into it again It'll be a great tide-me-over while I wait for the PC port of San Andreas

I'm still unable to submit the form. I guess I'll have to wait until the excitement dies-down.

Bugger, the week I get an iBook.