At this years’ E3, Rockstar shocked many when they announced a GTA game for the Nintendo DS. Called as Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, it is expected to be true 3D through and through. Now Rockstar has also indicated that GTA: Chinatown Wars will extensively use the Nintendo DS touch screen.
Gordon Hall is the head of developer at Rockstar Leeds. In an interview with video games news website 1UP, he was asked about Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and the touch screen controls. This was the explanation that Hall provided:
“The touch screen is used extensively throughout the game. During normal gameplay, the bottom screen controls your PDA. This gives you access to your GPS navigation system, which is nicely linked in to all your contacts and favorite locations around the city. Another key item on the touch screen is your e-mail system.”
The Rockstar Leeds developer also said that email is a medium most of the contacts in the game will be using. According to Gordon Hall, touch screen is also used in the GTA Chinatown Wars minigames related to hotwiring cars, breaking into warehouses or even disabling key-code locks. In fact, the Nintendo DS touch screens will be used in everyday events such as buying and using lottery scratchcards.