Grand Theft Auto: Cupertino
The Apple & Grand Theft Auto mashup you didn’t know you needed.
Grand Theft Auto III, released in late 2001, was my first exposure to open-world gaming. The success of its 3D open-world gameplay mechanics has made it one of the most influential games in defining the genre. Decades later, studios are still building on the foundations and mechanics introduced by GTA III that helped make the game such a success!
I was not 'of age' when GTA III was released. And with an M for Mature rating in Canada, GTA III was only sold to people over 18, ID required. To make matters worse, the world was gripped by the 'video games cause violence' panic, with news nationwide interviewing parents and professionals about the scourge this game would bring. I had no older sibling to nab me one, online downloads weren't a thing, and no retailer would risk selling me a copy. What's a kid to do?
It's not like I lied, but I didn't paint the most thorough picture of what the game was all about to my family. Somehow, and my memory is fuzzy on how, I sold them on the idea that the game, or at least my use, would primarily be as a driving simulator. That Mature rating? That was because the game had a few explosions and curse words; otherwise, it was a run-of-the-mill driving game. I don't know if they truly believed me. Still, it was enough to have them buy the game on my behalf during one of our trips to the mall, the clerk eyeballin' me suspiciously as my folks requested the game, knowing full well that I had tricked them but unable to refuse the sale because my parents, unlike me, were over 18.
Two decades later, the GTA series remains an institution in the video game universe. With a robust online community and numerous ports, GTA is now on nearly every platform and device. And while the world anxiously awaits the next chapter in the GTA franchise, I decided to create an Apple-inspired GTA collage based around Cupertino.
These images were generated using the latest model of MidJourney at the time (5.2). I ran through dozens of prompts and hundreds of variations to begin narrowing down a look that most closely mimicked the art style of Rockstar's GTA V. I started with Craig Federighi & Tim Cook, initially posted on July 28, 2023. That post exceeded my wildest expectations so I followed it up with a GTA-style game cover art the following day. That collage featured several iconic Apple figures (Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, Eddy Cue, and former Apple designer Jony Ive), along with a few tech-related images and references to the Bay Area.
The final piece I wanted to create was a set of wallpapers for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Each image was picked out of dozens and dozens of prompts in Midjourney to complete the look and feel of authentic Grand Theft Auto artwork. The full-size Mac wallpaper features returning characters including Tim, Eddie, Craig, and Jony, adding Apple Fellow Phil Schiller. I tried creating more of Apple's leadership to incorporate into the image but couldn't develop a satisfactory likeness for them. Other photos in the collage include scenes from the Bay Area, people using Apple products, and a courier we all impatiently wait upon whenever a new product is out for delivery. The wallpapers are available for the iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Enjoy.
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