1. Birth Of A Legend

Screw being the good guy. A game is born where being criminal is winning. It had started as an innocent cop caper: but being bad was just too good. Add a hint of controversy – and a modern classic arrives.

GTA has been with British rapper Bugzy Malone as long as he can remember. Just as it has with millions upon millions of fans worldwide, over the last 25 years.

To understand the success and enduring magic of Grand Theft Auto, you’ve got to understand how it all began.

That’s the coming together of two very different stories. One – of a young man schooled in hip hop and with a dream to make edgy media. The other – of a Scottish games team who’d had a brainwave that would change everything.

They’d been making a game which was fun but safe; being a cop, taking on the bad guys. But when they realised that being the bad guy was much more satisfying – their creativity had been unleashed.

They’d meet a dynamic young man at an interactive publishing label who, along with his team, believed in what they’d done.

Sam Houser: a music and movie fan who saw the possibility in edgy games that would challenge the market.

Grand Theft Auto was unleashed in 1997 – and a modern classic was born.

WARNING: This podcast contains adult language, depictions of violence and sexual themes.

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CREDITS:

Written by Ciaran Tracey and Chris Warburton Presenter: Bugzy Malone Presenter: Chris Warburton Mixing and Mastering: James Bradshaw Assistant Producer: Gabrielle Gatti Additional journalism by Jo Newsholme, Helen Ledwick and Laura Conder

Executive Commissioners for BBC: Richard Maddock and Dylan Haskins Assistant Commissioner: Natalie Mace

The Executive Producer is Ciaran Tracey for Big City Nights