Rockstar North

Background
In 1999, Take-Two Interactive, owners of Rockstar Games acquired DMA Design from Infogrames for $11 million. In 2002, they were renamed, first to Rockstar Studios and then to its current name, Rockstar North to continue developing games in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

1st Logo (GTA III variant) (22 October 2001/2002)
Visuals: Continuing directly from the Rockstar Games logo, and on the same black background as that logo, we see the Rockstar Games logo (an "R" with a star attached to it) in a light blue color with a bunch of white dots surrounding the logo's outline. It spins around two times, then zooms back. A box appears around the logo, the "R" turns black (with a white outline), and the star turns white (with a black outline).

Technique: Pretty good computer animation.

Audio: The background energy humming, continuing from the Rockstar Games logo animation.

Availability: Can be seen on the PC, Xbox and iOS versions of Grand Theft Auto III. Additionally, a widescreen version exists in Grand Theft Auto III: The Definitive Edition.

2nd Logo (GTA Vice City variant) (27 October 2002)
Visuals: There is the famous Commodore 64 menu, with "**** ROCKSTAR NORTH ****" at the top, "READY." below it, and a blinking insertion point below that. The insertion point types "LOAD "VICE CITY"" and "PRESS PLAY ON TAPE" appears. The menu disappears for a brief moment, and then reappears, with "OK" below "PRESS PLAY ON TAPE" and the text "SEARCHING" and "FOUND VICE CITY". The menu disappears again, and the background changes to a bunch of rapidly changing multicolored lines. A white rectangle with the Rockstar North logo and a black oval reading "NORTH" below it then appears, and stays on screen for about 6 seconds.

Trivia: The use of the Commodore 64 interface fits really well considering that it helps fit the game being set in the year 1986 and especially on how Commodore 64 was more popular across Europe (including the UK; where this game was made) than the US.

Technique: Familiar Commodore 64 effects.

Audio: Typing sounds when "LOAD "VICE CITY"" is typed, the sound of something being inserted when the menu disappears the first time, the sound of a key being typed when the menu disappears the second time, and an 8-bit tune based on the original GTA theme played on a 8580 SID chip when the Rockstar North logo is on screen.

Audio Trivia: If you listen closely, the song "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles plays faintly throughout. It can also be heard in full when listening to one of the game's radio stations, Flash FM.

Availability: Can be seen on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Once again, a remastered version can be seen on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: The Definitive Edition.

3rd Logo (Manhunt variant) (18 November 2003)


Visuals: Superimposed over the opening of the game, we see the Rockstar North logo with white magnets above and below it. "A", in black, is on the top magnet, while "ROCKSTAR NORTH GAME", also in black, is on the bottom magnets. The logo "flickers" a few times, and then fades out.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The opening theme of the game, accompanied by static sounds.

Availability: Can be seen on Manhunt for PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

4th Logo (GTA San Andreas variant) (26 October 2004)
Visuals: On a black background, we see the Rockstar North logo being drawn onto the screen with an invisible marker, along with a registered trademark. "rockstar north" in the "San Andreas" font appears below, a white outline appears around the "R", and the star turns white. After a few seconds, the outline of the "R", the star and the name fade out, leaving the part intact.

Technique: Simple animation.

Audio: The sound of a marker's lid "popping" off, and a few "scribble" sounds.

Availability: Can be seen on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. Yet again, a widescreen version can be seen on Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: The Definitive Edition.

5th Logo (GTA Liberty City Stories variant) (24 October 2005)


Visuals: A couple of police cars come right, with a siren sound, coming through the logo-shaped hole. They leave the Rockstar North logo behind with the words "ROCKSTAR NORTH" below. A registered trademark is displayed at the bottom-right of the logo.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Engine sounds, siren sound from police cars.

Availability: Seen on Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PS2, PSP and iOS.

6th Logo (GTA Vice City Stories variant) (31 October 2006)


Visuals: The Rockstar North logo appears on a black background, with the company's name displayed below the logo.

Technique: None.

Audio: Ambient music that comes from the game's intro.

Availability: Seen on Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for the PS2, PSP and iOS.

7th Logo (GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City variant) (29 April 2008-29 October 2009)


Visuals: On a black background, the Rockstar North logo zooms out and fades out.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The music used on the game's respective intro.

Availability: Seen on Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City.