Gamer Buys Used Copy of GTA 3 and Finds a Surprise Inside the Case

A gamer bought a used copy of Grand Theft Auto 3 for the PS2 and discovered that the previous owner had left behind a hand-written note. The find has generated a lot of nostalgia for GTA 3 fans and gamers who were around during the PS2 era in general.

While it didn’t reach the same heights as the subsequent sequels that followed, Grand Theft Auto 3 was a smash hit on the PlayStation 2 at launch. Gamers were let loose in an open world where they could wreak havoc, but it didn’t take long for players to realize that the trouble they caused would generally come back to them. From the looks of it, the previous owner of this game was ready for a bit of chaos.

Gamers Buys GTA 3 and Gets a Handwritten List of Codes

On Reddit, user niallniallniall explained that they had purchased a copy of GTA 3 for the PS2, and discovered that it contained a list of cheats the previous owner had used. The list is handwritten, and includes GTA 3‘s built-in cheat codes. Specifically, the list includes increasing or decreasing a wanted level, getting all weapons, increasing health to full, and restoring all armor to full.

Fans responding to the post seem to be amused and nostalgic, with the story gaining over 17,000 upvotes at the time of publication. Those in the comments have been sharing stories and amusing memories regarding the game and how gaming worked at the time. One mentioned a strategy of writing down codes from game magazines while their mother shopped, while others rattled off the GTA cheat codes they still have fully memorized all these years after GTA 3 released. Others expressed surprise that the list was missing some cheats they considered invaluable, like spawning the Rhino tank, or the flying car cheat code.

Over the years, used games have become a bit of a time capsule for gamers, with buyers finding things like this cheat list, hand-written notes, and even maps. Depending on the type of game, fans also frequently find players’ old saves, with notable discoveries including things like full Pokemon teams and funny letters in Animal Crossing. As the game industry continues to shift towards an all-digital future, treasure troves like this one may become a rarity or even extinct someday. For the present, though, there’s no telling what a fan might discover when they buy a used copy of a game.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Released

October 23, 2001

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence

Engine

RenderWare