Almost everyone who played Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas knows the moon size changes when you shoot it with a sniper. It’s one of those easter eggs that gets brought up whenever you discuss hidden facts in the game. It turns out there is a good reason this happens, and it is a way better fun fact than just changing sizes.
In a recent tweet, one of the developers of San Andreas, Obbe Vermeij, shed light on an interesting behind-the-scenes story regarding the moon’s creation. The developers initially faced a challenge in determining the ideal moon size in the game. After initially placing the moon in the virtual sky and ensuring its visibility and size at night, there were disagreements among the development team.
Four artists approached Vermeij with differing views on its size. Two supported a smaller size for a touch of realism, while the other two advocated for a larger moon to improve the cinematic experience.
Despite the deadlock, Vermeij proposed an innovative solution. Recognizing the impasse, he suggested making the size of the moon changeable within the game itself. By implementing this solution, the development team could decide much later and figure it out themselves. This allowed them to toggle through three sizes – small, medium, and large – as they used the sniper rifle. This approach allowed the artists to reach a consensus on their own time, allowing the issue to be addressed without interrupting the development process.
Surprisingly, the tweet revealed that the artists never provided a definitive decision on the moon’s size. Consequently, the flexible moon feature remained intentionally unchanged in the final version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. As a result, players could manipulate the moon’s size using the sniper rifle. This became a memorable aspect of the game that has left a lasting impression on players.
I never imagined this wasn’t a purposeful easter egg but a decision that was never resolved. Either way, it’s awesome to know.
Comments