Studio
DMA Design is born in Dundee
David Jones forms DMA Design in Dundee, Scotland. Some sources use 1987 for the initial activity and 1988 for the formal founding; that is why the dossier records both dates.
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The history of Rockstar Games
The trajectory of Rockstar Games and the people behind GTA: DMA Design, the Houser brothers, Leslie Benzies, Rockstar North and current studios.
See the full dossierReal-world history
Rockstar Games and Rockstar North
from DMA Design to the HD era
Origin of GTA
Race'n'Chase becomes Grand Theft Auto
The concept of chases and urban crime evolves into Grand Theft Auto, created at DMA Design by David Jones and Mike Dailly with the studio team.
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Release
Grand Theft Auto debuts
GTA is born before Rockstar North exists. The first game is published in the BMG Interactive/DMA Design period.
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Business
Take-Two, BMG Interactive, and Rockstar Games
Take-Two acquires BMG Interactive's assets. In December 1998, Rockstar Games is founded by Sam Houser, Dan Houser, Terry Donovan, Jamie King and Gary Foreman.
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Studio
DMA Design becomes Rockstar North
The old DMA goes through restructurings and becomes Rockstar North, the main development studio of the GTA franchise.
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Technical turn
GTA III redefines the open world
The third-person camera, the 3D city, the radios and the cinematic missions create a model that influences the entire industry.
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Scale
The 3D era at its peak
Vice City, San Andreas, Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories consolidate a criminal continuity full of recurring characters.
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engine
HD era with GTA IV
GTA IV opens the HD phase with RAGE, Euphoria and a more realistic, dense and somber Liberty City.
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Phenomenon
GTA V and GTA Online
GTA V combines three protagonists, heists and a gigantic Los Santos; GTA Online grows from a multiplayer mode into a living platform.
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Next chapter
GTA VI takes the HD era to Leonida
GTA VI is officially set for November 19, 2026, set in Leonida/Vice City, with Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval.
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People files
Creators, producers and developers
13 profiles with real photos and sources
Founder of DMA Design, creator and producer
David Jones
A central figure in the birth of DMA Design in Dundee. Before GTA existed, Jones had already turned DMA into a respected studio with Lemmings; later, he helped drive the idea that would become Grand Theft Auto.
- Was
- DMA / Origin
- Games
- Lemmings, Grand Theft Auto, Body Harvest
creatorDMA Design
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Programmer, designer and prototyper
Mike Dailly
One of the most important names of DMA's early phase. He's frequently cited as the designer of Lemmings and creator of the original prototype that would lead to Grand Theft Auto, when the idea still orbited Race'n'Chase.
- Was
- DMA / Race'n'Chase
- Games
- Lemmings, Race'n'Chase, Grand Theft Auto
creatorprogramming
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Co-founder and president of Rockstar Games
Sam Houser
The name most associated with Rockstar's public leadership. Coming from BMG Interactive, Sam Houser helped turn GTA from a transgressive game into a franchise of cultural scale, with an identity of music, cinema, satire and marketing.
- Was
- Rockstar / Branding
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
founderpresident
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Co-founder, writer and creative producer
Dan Houser
He was one of the central voices of Rockstar's writing during the phase when GTA became mass satire. His work helps explain the aggressive dialogue, the radios, the contradictory characters and the acid gaze on the USA.
- Was
- Rockstar / Narrative
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
founderscript
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Co-founder and executive of Rockstar
Terry Donovan
Part of the founding group that gave Rockstar Games its corporate shape. His importance lies in building the label, running publishing operations, and bringing games, music, clubs, and urban culture closer together.
- Was
- Rockstar / Business
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
founderexecutive
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Co-founder and production leadership
Jamie King
One of Rockstar's five founders. He played a role in structuring the company's production and technology during its growth phase, before leaving and taking part in founding 4mm Games.
- Was
- Rockstar / Production
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, Midnight Club
founderproduction
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Co-founder and producer
Gary J. Foreman
The founder least remembered by the general public, but essential in Rockstar's early formation. He's cited in historical records as one of the five founders and later appears tied to technical and production roles outside the company.
- Was
- Rockstar / Technology
- Games
- GTA, Midnight Club, Max Payne, Bully
founderproducer
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Producer and former president of Rockstar North
Leslie Benzies
A key producer of the period when the old DMA became Rockstar North and GTA became an open-world machine. Benzies is associated with GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV, and GTA V.
- Was
- Rockstar North / Scale
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
producerRockstar North
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Art director and world director
Aaron Garbut
A fundamental name for the visual identity of Rockstar's cities. Garbut is associated with designing worlds that feel observed, documented, and satirized all at once.
- Was
- Rockstar North / Cities
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
artopen world
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Programmer and technical director
Obbe Vermeij
Historic Rockstar North programmer, also known for recording technical memories on his blog. His work helps illuminate the behind-the-scenes of streaming, urban systems and hardware limits of the PS2 era.
- Was
- Rockstar North / Technology
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
programmingtechnical direction
Profile ›
Design director and producer
Imran Sarwar
Design leadership tied to modern Rockstar games. His profile represents the phase when GTA stops being just missions and a map and becomes an ecosystem of activities, economy, vehicles, upgrades and heists.
- Was
- Rockstar / Design
- Games
- GTA IV, GTA V, GTA Online, Red Dead Redemption
designproduction
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Senior director and producer
Rob Nelson
Part of Rockstar's modern leadership, when the company began operating with global teams and productions of gigantic scale. He is an important name for understanding the leap from GTA V/Online to the company's contemporary structure.
- Was
- Rockstar / Global production
- Games
- GTA V, GTA Online, Red Dead Redemption 2
productionleadership
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Writer, audio producer and radio personality
Lazlow Jones
Helped give voice to modern GTA. Radios, fake commercials, absurd interviews, hosts and the 'Lazlow' caricature itself made the city feel alive even when the player was just driving.
- Was
- Rockstar / Radio
- Games
- GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV
audioradio
Profile ›Editorial note:Steve Hammond, Russell Kay, Keith Hamilton and Scott Johnston continue to be cited in the historical context of the DMA when relevant. They don't have an individual card because there is no reliable, traceable public photo to use as a portrait.