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Grand Theft Auto - The Scarface Connection

Posted by simoniker on from the adam-sandler-too dept.

Tony Montana writes "If the words, "Say hello to my little friend!" mean anything to you, you'll want to check out an article at Game Chronicles detailing the similarities between the Grand Theft Auto Double Pack and Brian De Palma's Scarface." The comparison may be obvious, but the article adds some finely observed details of the homage: "[Tommy] Vercetti's office closely resembles [Tony] Montana's (video monitors and all), while the downstairs room has the same palm tree mural that decorates Frank Lopez's private office."

28 comments

  1. yeah... by Muerto · · Score: 1

    i think a lot of people made that connection when they first started playing the game.

  2. This is only NOW being noticed? by ChaoticLimbs · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Um, Uh, GTA and Vice City are '80's gangster/organized crime games.
    The difinitive '80's gangster movie is Scarface.
    Der.

    1. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People noticed it before Vice City came out... ...which means the real question is, why are we seeing a comparison NOW?

    2. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by innerlimit · · Score: 1

      to me Vice City is a lot like watching Miami Vice

      (reurns airing every day overhere -Antwerp, Belgium)

      when you reach a certain wanted level, you even get one cop car chasing you containing two vice cops that just happen to 'look' like crocket & tubbs

      gotta love that game :D

      --
      The Awful Truth
    3. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by unclethursday · · Score: 1
      Because now the people who didn't own it on the PS2 or PC, and own an Xbox, can see it.

      It's not like these things weren't plastered all over the Internet when Vice City was first released, though. But, remember "n0w i7'5 0n Xb0X!!!! P52 5uXX0rZ!!!!" will be heard througout the halls of gamedom as the diehard Xbox fanbois flock to the game they all said was a pice of shit when it was on the PS2.

      I have GTAIII and VC for my PS2. I have an Xbox, but see no reason to re-buy the games for it just for the improved graphics and custom tracks... it isn't like they added tons of missions to do, or the mod ability of the PC versions, or anything like that to really make it worthwile to those of us who already played through the games a year and two years ago.

      Honestly, most of the people who wanted to play these games, already have. Remember, MGS2: Substance didn't see healthy sales on the Xbox, either, with it being released a year after MGS2: SoL. Expect more of the same from this.

      Thursdae

    4. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by simoniker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's just a nicely put-together article summarizing some of the neater details in the comparison. Considering they use the Scarface soundtrack in the game, I think everyone is well aware that there's a homage already - this writes it all up in a worthwhile way and points out some extra cool things, though. Honestly. :P

    5. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by TheRoachMan · · Score: 1

      Totally offtopic but can't stop myself from doing this: I'm from Antwerp too!!

      On-topic: I like Starsky and Hutch better than Miami Vice, but there's another little easter egg in Vice City, but I couldn't find anything about it on google so perhaps it's just my imagination: In Vice City there's a cab company that you can buy and it's called Kaufman Cabs. There's an 80's TV show starring Danny DeVito called "Taxi", that has a character called Latka (he's a foreigner and speaks funny). The actor that plays Latka is Andy Kaufman. Perhaps the guys from Rockstar like the TV-show? It airs every week-night, around 00.30 on VT4 in Belgium.

    6. Re:This is only NOW being noticed? by innerlimit · · Score: 1

      it's not as much an easter egg, as it is the rockstar guys really liking their classics.

      Yes it is a reference to the Taxi television series. Even the cabs look the same to the ones in the series. Notice that the rival cabcompany in vice city has different cabs.

      The car dealership you buy from the footballpro is called 'sunshine autos' ... the name of the company in 'Taxi' was 'Sunshine Cabs'

      to go completely off topic... Taxi the movie rules :P

      --
      The Awful Truth
  3. No Shit News Hawk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who *didn't* see the Scarface (along with other classic crime movies) connection?

    Stop looking for black helicopters in the sky and checking your phones for bugs and live life.

    1. Re:No Shit News Hawk by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Who *didn't* see the Scarface (along with other classic crime movies) connection?"

      Me, but I never watched Miami Vice or Scarface. I was too busy potty training.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:No Shit News Hawk by jvalenzu · · Score: 1

      Then you're too young to be playing either of these games. They're rated 'M' for mature.

    3. Re:No Shit News Hawk by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Then you're too young to be playing either of these games. They're rated 'M' for mature."

      My parents raised me with strong sensibilities. After I turned 13 they weren't terribly concerned with movies rated R. M ratings for games weren't around (or at least widely known about) then, but they weren't exactly worried about me playing Mortal Kombat.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    4. Re:No Shit News Hawk by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

      Shit, I'm 25 and was still fairly young when Miami Vice was on the air and Scarface came out.

      That being said, Scarface has been plastered all over TV lately, and is still pretty decent even with words changed and bleeped out every 2 seconds.

      --
      -PainKilleR-[CE]
    5. Re:No Shit News Hawk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I should have guessed...well that explains how you have time for 4500 slashdot comments.

    6. Re:No Shit News Hawk by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      The explanation is that I have time on my hands while my computer is rendering.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  4. Don't Forget by mohhomad · · Score: 1

    In one of the apartment buildings you could get a chainsaw in a bathroom covered in blood.

    1. Re:Don't Forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow...that would've been great...if the article didn't mention that as well. =P

  5. Master of the Obvious by Intellectual+Elitist · · Score: 1

    I'd say that merits a collective "No shit, Sherlock" from the peanut gallery...

  6. From the "better late than never" department by cfadam · · Score: 1

    Guh, I noticed this forever ago when downloading tracks from the game for my amusement. Here is more info: http://www.bunker306.com/gta_music/gta3_music.shtm l

    Must be a slow day, I know it is over here and these crap-ass articles aren't helping! I smell a dupe in our future..

  7. Song. by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Funny

    Someday we'll find it - the Scarface connection. The lovers, the gamers, and me.

  8. Whoa, relax... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's obvious to me the article is intended to mark the release of GTA Double Pack, so it's not all that untimely. The opening paragraph even states that Scarface fans probably already know about the connections, so it's mainly directed toward those who are new to the games (presumably via the Double Pack release) or haven't seen the movie.

  9. I love this movie by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Scarface

  10. hey baby! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    LAZBEEANNE!

  11. You wana play rough?Say hello to my little friend! by EGSonikku · · Score: 2, Funny

    I kill a moderator for fun, but for a +5 funny, I gonna carve him up real nice.

    --
    - "Scientia non habet inimicum nisp ignorantem"
  12. Um... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Duh? Seriously. I watched scarface when I was little, basically forgot I did, and even I picked up on this. News for nerds dives another notch.

  13. obvious by green.vervet · · Score: 1

    In fact I've never seen Scarface and the Scarface connections were obvious. I do like this article being posted, however, just to read the 20+ sarcastic comments generated.

  14. And this is fresh, new, or important HOW? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *crickets chirping, tumbleweed*

  15. doesn't anyone listen to the soundtrack? by rj-eleven · · Score: 1

    One of the stations in GTA3 (not VC) played nothing but songs from that movie! The DJ was named Tony (female voice though so I guess it's Toni?) for criminy's sake!