Rockstar Games

I think the Rockstar Games story is a fantastic saga to read about - If the Social Network got greenlit for a movie, I think the story of two brothers from England becoming the most influential figures of the games industry is surely worthy of being made for the big screen! From their beginnings in the music industry, via Lemmings and Dundee, via Race and Chase ... the iconic R* logo .... the leap into 3D with GTA III .... the attention to detail in both "Miami Vice" 80s styled Vice City and 90s "Bloods and Crips" LA portrayed in San Andreas .... to Hot Coffee - a watershed for the process of modding - and then Niko Bellic's turn as protagonist in GTA IV and New York being swamped with R* flyers in a wash of old school flyering inspired from the music industry that originally captured the imaginations of the two Houser brothers. Throw in Red Dead Redemption and LA Noire, showing R* are no one-trick ponies, and even the sport of kings, Rockstar Games Table Tennis!!

For a sense of nostalgia - as well as good research obviously! - you can download the first GTA and GTA2 from the R* website at http://www.rockstargames.com/downloads#/?collection=7



This shows great value for money as others could have cashed in here! But it increases the power of the brand.

The website also has a wide range of wallpapers - http://www.rockstargames.com/downloads#/?collection=1 I can't think of many other videogame developers whose logo I would want on the wallpaper of my PC, but it works! To bastardise the famous Barcelona tagline, Rockstar have become more than a games company. The word Rockstar has many connotations - glamour, danger, success, rebellious, wealth, cavalier - it's easy to see why the brand stands out among its competitors - few inspire the same dangerous cool as the team at R*.

For those wish to delve further into the story of Rockstar Games - If I had the power to do so, I would get the department to buy each of you a copy but alas not - you may wish to take a look at the following book: (Don't know if it's available in any local library)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jacked-unauthorized-behind---scenes-ebook/dp/B006FH0C6E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347472554&sr=1-1
I bought it on Kindle for £8.99 though it's about £13.99 in Waterstones.
Though I would definitely suggest downloading the 'trial chapter' as it's a very easy read and full of interesting information.