GTA2 - Saved Game Editor Util <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Ishani (ishani.com) has created a utility that will let you edit your GTA2 save game files.  So if you happen to be low on guns, ammo, cash, health, armor, lives, multiplier or powerups when you saved your game, you can now add them with this handy utility (26k).

More On The GTA2 Debug Screens <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Zog is working on enabling the GTA2 debug screens and he seems to be making progress.  Here is the message he sent in:

I noticed that a couple of debug screens were found the the GTA2 manager, so I took a look for myself.  I found them, and started messing around with a few things.  After a while I actually got somewhere.  I managed to make the screens appear in the manager menus.  You can load car files and edit all the data etc., change all the values and a whole load of stuff that I don't understand yet.  After messing with the stuff, I loaded the game.  OK, it definitely does something, the game acted all weird and advanced frame by frame, something was really up with the cars.  I kinda trashed the manager a bit, so I'll do a bit more work and fix the probs and see what comes out of it.

GTA2 In Australia <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Just a few reports in from Australia...  Tristan Beard found GTA2 at Harvey Norman in Ballarat, Victoria and SeNorLoCO found GTA2 at Toys r Us in Sydney.

Back To The Crushers <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Since GTA2 came no one has sent in an updated list of car crushing rewards.  James sent in this update that will hopefully inspire the creation of a full list sometime soon:

I' ve done some playing around with GTA2 on Map 2 : Residential area and I've got a list of stuff you get off the conveyer belt when you crush a car (only tried the scientists crusher.)

Arachinio : 30 shotgun
B -Type : invisibility
Big Bug : armour
Bug : 30 machine gun
Eddy : 30 machine gun
Futore GT : fast reload
Hachura : 15 rocket launcher
Maurice : 30 machine gun
Meteor : invulnerability
Morton : get out of jail free card
Panto : 15 grenades
Secret agent car : RESPECT
Spritzer : 15 molotov cocktails
Squad car : Police bribe
Taxi : double damage
Trance Am : 60 flame thrower
T-Rex : 60 electro gun

Today's GTA2 Nuggets of Joy! <8:30 PM CST - schu>

• Questionable, But Not Out Of The Question:
  I'm not sure about this one, but anyway, egg claims that you can get 5 grand from from crate jumping:
  

  In the 2nd level, somewhere in north east dominatrix, there's a crate with a little slope. From that crate to can jump to another, and from that one you can jump to yet another crate, and so on.  When you've done all your jumping, you get to a building with a chicken wire roof and a car in it, with something that looks like a keyhole on top of it.  Step in the car and you get teleported, without car, to a used cars shop (uncle wangs I think it's called), hear a 'yippee' sound, and receive $5000... after that, the car's gone.

• Down With SCIENCE!
  Robbman doesn't like Scientists:
  

  I don't know if this really a tip, but in the second city, go to the Scientists compound and run over all the scientists you can see, most of them have good weapons, and the cops don't care if you kill gang members (they do care if you kill civilians, so be careful).

Site Updates <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Finally.. I'm almost well and I now have the power of PRESCRIPTION DRUGS to help me.  Thanks to everyone who sent in the get well messages :).  Hopefully I'll have this thing kicked by Monday.

Gameboy GTA Release Date <11:30 PM CST - schu>
Pocket.IGN.com just updated their release date listing.  Gameboy GTA currently shows a November release date.  Many online retailers are also showing the same date so hopefully the date is accurate.

Gamespot PC Review <11:30 PM CST - schu>
I think I mentioned the PSX review at Gamespot, but not the PC review.  You can check it out HERE.

GTA2 Unofficial Screensaver <11:30 PM CST - schu>
Tony Sutton has created a GTA2 Screensaver, here is the update he sent in:

I've just finished making my Unofficial GTA2 Screensaver, featuring some of the greatest screen shots of GTA2 in action. With this screensaver, you can change the effects like split, stretch, diamond, random lines and many more.

You can download it from my GTA2 web site at www.hypertony.co.uk/gta2 under the Files section.

Editing GTA2 <11:30 PM CST - schu>
Zog sent in this message on changing the cities around so you can play them in any order without having to complete any missions:

I found a way (dunno if it has been discovered) to change the order in which  you play the cities in GTA2, go into the data folder, open the file "test1" in wordpad or the like, and you will see the first section is like so:

MainOrBonus = MAIN
GMPFile = wil.gmp  ((this is the map)) 
STYFile = wil.sty   ((this is where all textures, cars, etc. are))
SCRFile = wil.scr   ((this contains the missions))
Description = City 1 Map

The third city, as you can see in the test1 file looks like this:

MainOrBonus = MAIN
GMPFile = bil.gmp
STYFile = bil.sty
SCRFile = bil.scr
Description = City 3 Map

So to change from starting in the normal city simply change all the wil. to bil. and so on for other cities.

Today's GTA2 Nugget of Joy <11:30 PM CST - schu>
Kryptic Kiwi sent in this tip on creating your very own cop train:

This is a little trick that I figured out in GTA2. This makes it worth more to you if you get the SWAT Team after you. But before you start, make sure you have a good gang on your side! Also, it helps to be somewhere near the gang's main hideout.

Start shooting to get the cops' attention. The SWAT Team will probably show up... but as soon as they do, start running BACKWARDS in the opposite direction, just holding the PUNCH button down (the shoot button, but not armed). And just run BACKWARDS anywhere you want.

The SWAT Team will eventually go away, and you'll have a train of cops running after you! They can't open fire in a public place, so they won't shoot. And if you keep the punch button down, they can TRY to get near you, but you'll just knock them back to the end of the line. It's hilarious. Then just lead them to your favorite gang's hideout and watch them be murdered!
 

GTA2 In New Zealand & Australia <11:30 PM CST - schu>
I've gotten a couple of emails from people who cant find GTA2 in Australia or New Zealand.  If you live in either one of these countries and you've found GTA2, please email me with a message saying what city and what store you found GTA2 at so I can spread the word.

Announcements <11:30 PM CST - schu>

• GTA City will hopefully be opening on Friday after Aonghus Ó hAirt gets the technical difficulties ironed out.
• The GTA Store has been updated with a new design, lots of additions to the download section, and some background sounds.

Project News <11:30 PM CST - schu>

• Criminal Valley Help Needed
  RobertB sent in the following on Criminal Valley:
  

  When I started with Criminal Valley I was very enthusiastic, but now I just think it's boring. GTA1 is history now. Well as you may have noticed by the beta, CV will add a bit GTA2 feeling to GTA1. I only need one thing first: someone that can finish the map for me. It must be in good quality, if more than one guy is interested I'll make a competition. If noone is interested, CV may be released unfinished, which would be a real tragedy after all work I've done to it. Thank you peeps!

Community News <11:30 PM CST - schu>

• Tiffany's Unofficial GTA Shrine
  Long time no update, eh? *giggle* Well, for those of us who still enjoy original GTA, come on over to my GTA Shrine!  Rusty sent in new mugshots of Violent Females, Crow, Thrill Kill, Ozzie Osbourne, Coal Chamber, and Jim Morrison.  I've added quite a few new cars to my Car Depot since my last update I've sent to G!, and I've updated my Links and Criminal Prison!  Also, car creator Patrick Russell sent me this: 

  Hi Tiff, I've just made a new car (but not entirely finished) - the marauder evo 3 and I was wondering if you would upload the attached pic for me on your site for about 5 days or so. The pic contains all 3 evos of the car, dunno why, I just felt like doing it. so mail me back with your answer and if yes the URL of the pic. Thanks, you will receive the full version of this car when I've finished. 

  Check out the car on my front page! =-)

• Hackenslash
  Hackenslash's Last Words
  Ok peeps as you may have noticed Hackenslash hasn't been updated for a long while. I will make a last update soon, and probably upload the last cars too. No Hackenslash will not close, if I can grab a copy of GTA2 I will remake it and continue as before. Until then, if noone is interested in taking over, it will not be updated. So car makers don't send any more cars, they will not be posted.
   
• Hughesies Hut
  Hughesies Hut has been updated, Da cop has added some new cars and some news and I myself have also added some news.
   
  2 New members have been added to the HH team - El Bazo and Stig will now be news guys on the site.  Welcome aboard guys.
   
• Unparalleled GTA
  Hello, This is Calisto yet again. My site being up for only 3 days, I've 
  already had one hundred and twenty some people at my site. But now I have a  challenge for all the car designers out there.  Make some cars from GTA2 for normal GTA and send them to me for UGTA's highest reward if you are the best.  Mail me at unparalelled@hotmail.com
   
• The GTA Directory
  The GTA Directory" has launched the first ever GTA2 saved games section, were you can do and download other peoples saved games, its a must visit site!

New GTA Sites <11:30 PM CST - schu>

The GTA London Underground

The GTA2 Head Quarters

Site Updates <11:30 PM CST - schu>

• Sorry for the late update, but I'm still sick and I didn't really feel well enough to type until now.  You wouldn't believe how hard it is to type when your head is spinning.  Just a tip on being sick... Never watch the Pokémon cartoon if you are sick.  I fell asleep shortly after that and my brain created some fu*ked up dream.  Its pretty hard to sleep with that stuff running through your head.
• Does anyone know for sure if GTA2 requires a 3D card?  I used to think that it did, but I get all kinds of mail that makes me unsure.  If anyone out there is running GTA2 without a 3D card, please send me an email.

Rockstar Pager <7:00 PM CST - schu>
Jeh has posted an update over on Xtreme Getaway about a Motorola/Rockstar deal for a free pager, check it out the full story at www.gtaxtreme.net

Mundeep's GTA2 Configuration <7:00 PM CST - schu>
Mundeep is offering his help to anyone who wants to run GTA2 on a slower computer.  Simply send an email to mverdee@hotmail.com and he will see what he can do.

GTA2 T-shirts <7:00 PM CST - schu>
GTA Fire Burner is checking with Take2/Rockstar to see if it would be possible for him to make his own GTA2 t-shirts.  If the plan goes through GTA Fire Burner is considering doing a contest where fans could submit t-shirt designs for both GTA and GTA2.  I'm not really sure what decision Take2/Rockstar will make on this, but most companies are pretty defensive when it comes to stuff like this.  Keep checking the GTA Fire Burners site for details.

More On GOURANGA! <7:00 PM CST - schu>
Aonghus Ó hAirt (GTA City) sent the following message in about the meaning of GOURANGA!:

My brother [who studies Theology] tells me that a Krishna that used to go around a forest chanting was called GOURANGA and started the whole Krishna's Chanting thing. I'm not sure how accurate that is but he did look it up in some big book so I suppose it probably is.

Site Updates <7:00 PM CST - schu>
Grr... I'm sick... One of my roommates brought in the cold/flu equivalent of the ebola virus when he came back from Chicago and now I've got it.  Luckily I was able to crawl the five feet from my bed to my computer so I could do the update.  I tried to respond to most of the email but most of my energy went into the update, this is very much a cut and paste day.  Wouldn't you know the day GTA2 arrives in this sad excuse for a town I'm sick.  Oh well, hopefully loads of drugs will fix the problem.  If no update appears tomorrow its because I overdosed on vitamin C.  I think I need some GOURANGA! Potatoes :).

GTA2 Cheat Correction <9:00 PM CST - schu>

Yesterday I posted a GTA2 cheat, however I fu*ked it up!  It should have been "muchcash" NOT "muchmoney".  I've made the correction to yesterday's update.  Sorry about that and thanks to KAISER SOSE for notifying me of the error.

GTA2 Replay <9:00 PM CST - schu>
David is working on getting the replay files to work.  If he is successful you will be able to record and playback your best GTA2 action sequences.  You can check on David's progress at Section 487.

GTA2 Reviews <9:00 PM CST - schu>
Jeh has posted three new GTA2 reviews over at Xtreme Getaway.  Get over to www.gtaxtreme.net for the latest.  Speaking of GTA2 reviews, Mugwum just informed me that he has finished his review and it should be up on Gamespy.com in roughly six hours time, keep an eye out for it.

GTA Palette Hacking, Car Crushing & Tanks <9:00 PM CST - schu>
JH4C sent in this update on his new site along with some information in finding the car crushers in the GTA2 demo and the tanks in the 1st level of GTA2:

"I now have my own site (website.lineone.net/~jh4c or i.am/jh4c)with tutorials on how to hack stripes, numbers, etc. onto GTA cars, and as soon as a car editor is out for GTA2 I'll see if it works in that too.

Also, seeing about crushers and tanks, I've found 3 different crushers in GTA2 Demo and first level full game, and 2 tanks on the first level of the full game too.

Each crusher seems to be gang-operated, and the gang's cars themselves seem to give the best rewards, the Z-Type for example giving the silenced Uzi.

Tanks I found were the 2 you appear to have news on already, I wrote down the game areas. Top-left tank is in is Funabashi, right at the edge of the map - as you drive along you'll see a turning to take you ever-so-slightly further west, go in and south and it's there, you have to kill 35 cars in 60 seconds.....

Second is in the bottom-right corner in the Flotsam "Docks". Go into the crusher yard, south to the bottom wall, then follow all the way to the left and it's parked there - kill 60 peds in 60 seconds.

While in KF mode, the tanks have unlimited ammo, then after the frenzy you have a standard ammo counter appear under the "cannon" logo.

Best way to use the tanks seems to be aim behind you and drive over everything - they're MUCH tougher than the regular GTA tanks..... However, if you're going up a slope and something gets in your way the added angle of climbing a car/van AND a hill stops the tank dead "in it's tracks" as it were."

GTA2 Saved Games <9:00 PM CST - schu>
The GTA Directory has opened a GTA2 saved games section where you can download other people GTA2 saved games.  You can find The GTA Directory at www.olliesplace.com.

GTA2 On A P133 <9:00 PM CST - schu>
Smarties wrote in to say that he is running GTA2 on a P133, 80MB, a Voodoo1 card, under Win95 and GTA2 runs fine.  I think the key is the Voodoo1 card.  Despite its age an old Voodoo card can make all the difference.  I was able to pick up a Voodoo2 card, brand new, for $60 after rebate awhile back so I'd imagine a used Voodoo1 wouldn't cost much.  

Another email came in from Mundeep who said he noticed GTA2 ran faster using Win95 on his machine than it did running Win98.  I can't confirm this, but I have heard that older computers tend to run a little faster using Win95 (without IE4/IE5/Active BS installed) than with Win98.  Personally I wouldn't go installing Win95 to up your framerate.

Hungry for GOURANGA!? <9:00 PM CST - schu>

I was registering G! with a few different search engines when I came across two rather interesting references to the word, GOURANGA!.  The first is a Krishna recipe for GOURANGA! Potatoes and the second is an explanation of the word GOURANGA!.  The explanation pretty much mirrors the quote that DMA's Brian Baird gave me a long while back.  You can find that quote in the about section.  Wooo!  How many other sites have their own recipe for potatoes?  I'd wager absolutely none!  I just hope they taste good...

Announcements <9:00 PM CST - schu>

• K@in has opened up a German GTA2 site at www.gta-2.de.  The site is in German but he plans on creating an English mirror when he finds time.  Regardless of whether you speak German or not the site look very nice and is definitely worth a look.
• Lingster's Automobiles is going to be moving to a new address soon.  Its currently at home.rochester.rr.com/lingster/gta, but it will be moving to more spacious accommodations at website.lineone.net/~lingster.
• GTA2 Burnout has started a GTA2 Cheatmail service.  If you join the service you will receive the GTA2 cheats as soon as they are known.  You can sign up at users2.50megs.com/tobe
• David's Section 487 went under the knife and now has a new appearance.
• The Tuckman has made some modifications to his site, Grand Tuckman Association that should make is a little easier to navigate.

Project News <9:00 PM CST - schu>

• GTA2 Add-On
  KT is looking for help on a new GTA2 mod:
  

  I am looking for help on a new modification for GTA 2 , work will begin the day gta2 editors begin to be released. The setting will be Y2K Salt Lake City, Utah. Your name: Michael Myers , for those of you wondering, who the hell is that ? Michael Myers is from the long running series of Halloween Movies.  You will be out on a killing spree , the date is October 31.  Halloween 2000, all of the Halloween movies take place on ,yep you guessed it, Halloween.  Your mission, kill as many people as possible, you will have few  missions except running from the cops. In this Modification of gta2 there will be many different ways to kill. Since Michael Myers doesn't know how to use guns you do not either. You will have to kill with weird, psychotic, planned out deaths,  traps, etc.  No modifications to the cars, or buildings but pretty much everything else. Also, no more gangs.  The meters will represent, Publics Fear, Public Awareness, and killings. Visit www.gtaplus.net for more info.

• Millennium Studios Returns
  They where around for awhile, and then the disappeared, and now they are back with the following update:

  I am not really sure if you remember us, but we were working on GTA Revenge.  Well, just before summer our company was sold to someone else.  Now we have a new management.  Those guys decided to cancel old projects and start new ones. Well, what can we do!  So, now we are working on a new project GTA Extreme Gamer.  It will include information, printable maps, car info, and all other stuff about GTA. Soon it will be released.  So... here is a little update of what we are doing! And you can post this update (LOOK BELOW) on your web site!  Millennium Studios is back. Now our developers are trying hard to bring you GTA Extreme Gamer. It will include all information about GTA, printable maps, car info, cheats, hints and tips, and mission walkthroughs. It is coming out soon. Keep visiting  www.grandtheftauto.com and gouranga.com for more information! Millennium Studios web site coming REALLY SOON!

Community News <9:00 PM CST - schu>

• GTA2 Mainframe / Vice City Docks
  The GTA2 Mainframe has been slow for the last few days but now its back again with lots of news.  Finally the release of GTA2 has come and you can all run down to the shops to get your copy.  I have been sent hundreds of options on GTA2 already most of which are saying that the game is excellent and then some say that the graphics aren't that much different and the game hasn't changed. I did notice that on the back cover the images do seem to be very blur???
   
  Anyway get down to the mainframe www.gta-2.freeserve.co.uk
  And send any new to me at jordan@fenetre.co.uk
  
  The vice city docks after many long and hard months has closed down. I had to close because too much work on with different sites and setting up a company wasn't easy. The site is still attracting visitors and I don't know whether to hand it over or not. Already 20 people have asked for it.
   
• Unparalleled GTA
  This is Calisto. I've just awakened from my GTA vacation with a totally new GTA home. Come to Unparalleled GTA for TCs, Mods, Cars, and more. Submit your cars and mods to get awards monthly. We need some TCs and cars for people. If you have a favorite, or one of your own, send it in. The new address is www.geocities.com/troy_meyer
   

New GTA Sites <9:00 PM CST - schu>

GTA-2.de

GTA2 4 U

In the US and Canada it looks like we are waiting another day or so.  My local EB is saying that it will be in tomorrow sometime, and I've heard similar stories from people all over the US and Canada.  By Wednesday at the latest you should be able to find GTA2 just about anywhere, except Walmart because they don't have the balls to put it on the shelf.  You might want to check tonight but I'm guessing most cities will have it by tomorrow, October 26th.

Australia and New Zealand look to be in the same boat as North America.  GTA2 should be available there tomorrow hopefully and at the latest on Wednesday.  This isn't a guarantee but it seems to be the consensus of all the emails I've been getting.

Off the rails... <Part 2> <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Klamy is at it again and has added part two to his "Off the rails" project.  You may, or may not, recall that "Off the rails" is Klamy's story version of the GTA2 developer chat that took place about a month ago, check out part one if you haven't already.  While you're over that way visiting Spray Shop / GTA, make sure you take a look at the Updates section to see what else Klamy has been up to, namely, the Bubby Mosaic that is made up of various Spray Shop Game entries.

Nice-One Updates <8:30 PM CST - schu>
Mugwum has a whole bevy of great updates over at Nice-One, including a file that enables blood in the German version of GTA2, loads of screen shots, and scans of the GTA2 maps.

GTA2 Files