Episode Details

Grab your pastel suits and crank up the radio—this week on pplpod, we’re heading back to the neon-soaked streets of 1986. We take a deep dive into Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the 2002 masterpiece that defined a generation of open-world gaming.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Development: How Rockstar North built this massive world in just nine months, drawing heavy inspiration from Scarface and Miami Vice to create a satire of 80s excess.

• The Vibe: The star-studded voice cast led by the late Ray Liotta as mobster Tommy Vercetti and the legendary soundtrack that captured the era perfectly.

• The Controversy: The backlash regarding the depiction of Haitian and Cuban gangs, and the high-profile lawsuits blaming the game for real-world violence.

• The Legacy: How Vice City sold over 17.5 million copies and set the stage for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.