GTA San Andreas: The Enduring Appeal

Many years ago, back during the PlayStation era, like many people my age, I was a big fan of the Grand Theft Auto series. Apart from GTA III, I owned all of the “3D Universe” instalments. Having completed all of them, at some point I am sure I will try and find the time for GTA III! While all games were great fun, if I feel like playing one of them whether it be in sandbox mode or the storyline, San Andreas is my immediate choice, every time. While all games were successes, all this time on, it is San Andreas which in many people’s eyes is still the ultimate game!

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas was the third instalment in the 3D Universe, following on from the successful entries GTA III and GTA Vice City. While both Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories would follow, San Andreas is widely considered the high point of the 3D universe. Released in October 2004, it would go on to be one of the most popular games of all time, being critically acclaimed throughout its life. It is common that when any avid GTA fan is asked which game their favourite is – for San Andreas to be the answer.

The questions is though, what makes San Andreas a game with such a strong enduring appeal. There are several features that set this game apart from other strong games such as Vice City and Liberty City Stories. First, the storyline is exceptional. Carl Johnson – the protagonist is a good character to be. The player sees clearly the struggle he and his family go through throughout the game. Being loosely based on real events, San Andreas’ storyline proved very popular.

Next up is the incredible array of features. In terms of the games’ standing in 2004, it was years ahead of its time. The player could do an incredible array of actions – swim, fly planes, helicopters and access several mini-games. San Andreas in terms of a map as well was unprecedented – the size ensured that a considerable amount of exploring could take place. There were so many different parts to the map as well – desert, countryside, cities, the vast nature of the map ensured a lot could be done.

Perhaps what made San Andreas best was its reputation as a ‘jack of all trades’. It certainly was the pinnacle of the 3D universe, bringing together all the best features of previous games to create something truly special. Even small things like the great soundtrack or customisable nature of the protagonist helped contribute to making the game an absolute classic. The mythological universe of San Andreas certainly also deserves mention.

Overall, GTA San Andreas deserves the recognition it receives. For so many people, many, many happy hours have been spent on the game, happily exploring the game and playing it in their own way. I certainly hope to continue playing the game for many years to come, there is no denying the impact it has had. It is all the incredible features that come together to make this game a hugely memorable one – a game with considerable enduring appeal!

/MF/
(‘071’)

Robert Falcon Scott: A lasting legacy

It has been a mammoth 104 years since the first successful expedition to the South Pole. The story behind the great race that unfolded all that time ago has been documented and told hundreds of times over. Earlier today, I had the pleasure to remind myself of the story, where I soon realised that Robert Falcon Scott left an incredible legacy behind, despite ultimately losing the race!

Back in 1912, Robert Falcon Scott led an expedition to the South Pole – his team were determined to be the first to reach the South Pole. Any project like this takes an incredible amount of planning, with considerable time dedicated to it. Scott’s team had high hopes when they left. Very famously, Scott kept a diary of the events, which also makes compelling reading.

Scott’s team were one half of the race to the South Pole. The opposing team, who kept their intentions of going to the South Pole a secret, were led by Roald Amundsen. Sadly for Scott, yet triumphantly for Amundsen, the Norwegian expedition reached the South Pole first. Scott’s team reached the South Pole, albeit five weeks behind their counterparts, with Scott remarking that “the worst had happened” in his diary. It must have been a terrible moment for his team after all their work. The featured picture above was taken just a day after they had seen Amundsen had beaten them to the South Pole.

While Amundsen’s side returned home to a heroes welcome, there was little joy for Scott’s team, who were struggling in the inclement conditions. Tragically, not one of the five-strong team would survive the journey back. Records and analysis suggest that Scott was the last to die of his team – he was a battler until the end. While this was the end of Scott and his team, they left a strong legacy behind.

Firstly, the tale of a race to the South Pole is the stuff of folklore. I remember being in Primary School when I first learned about the race, it was thrilling to learn and hard to comprehend. Scott’s story will be told for many years to come, his expedition is simply unforgettable. His diary, which was recovered intact, will also ensure he is remembered for a long time, while providing incredible insight into the perils of their incredible journey.

Ten months after Scott and his team perished, January 1913 saw the Observation Hill Cross erected, which served as a memorial to Scott and his team. He also has a statue erected in his honour in Portsmouth, England. Perhaps most memorable of all, a United States scientific research station located at the South Pole is named the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station – showing once and for all the incredible legacy left behind.

This is a great story. It is also an important story in that in this instance, failure isn’t something bad. Sometimes, when we get things wrong, or put in an incredible amount of work into something yet don’t receive anything back, it can be distressing. It is hard to imagine how Scott and his team felt when they saw that Amundsen’s team had beaten them to the South Pole, but it didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Scott’s team had put in enough of an effort to secure a lasting legacy, one that will last for a long, long time in the future.

/MF/
(‘070’)