GTA United is one of the biggest total conversions for
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ever made. Together with the limit adjustment system it is and was a major breakthrough in
San Andreas modding. It uses the most modern technologies which make it possible to get a mod as big as none has been before. But not only it's size is huge, also the work behind it. It is not yet finished, but since the work on the modification started there were 2 major releases and the next milestone –
version 1.2 – is currently in development...
History
The modification was started in April 2006 firstly just with the target to add
San Andreas' ancestor
Vice City next to the default game map. It did not took long when the first problems appeared. There were many game internal limits like a limited number of models you can add, just as parts of the map are not rendered when they are mapped outside of an fixed boundary. At this time modding was not very sophisticated so there was no way to bypass those limits. This is a reason why the developers decided to clear out
San Andreas and replace it with the new map. However untill today no stable way has been found to add the whole map next to the original one.
It did not take long and the modification called
VC2SA (Vice City to San Andreas) entrenched in the GTA modding scene and the project became well-known even in the international scene, although it was not released. But also voices became louder to convert
Liberty City and finally a sister-project called
LC2SA (Liberty City to San Andreas) was formed. After the union of both modifications their leaders became the heads of
GTA United and today they are the last members of the original team. On April, 1st 2007 – exactly one year after the
Vice City 2 San Andreas modification was announced it was ready for the first public release and finaly at 12 o'clock (AM) it was shown to the world. Two months later on June, 2nd 2007 the first public version of
Liberty City 2 San Andreas was released. With the time there came smaller updates and fixes for both mods, but in general it was silent around future releases. This had a reason. In summer 2007 the leaders of the modifications –
Aschratt and decided to go future ways together and unite boths maps. It was the birthday of
GTA United, which was firstly announced November, 21st 2007 to be released in April 2008 – 2 years after the birth of the modification. And finaly it came this day. Untill today it has been downloaded more than
250000 times and impressed more modders than most mods ever did before with 2 major releases as milestones (BETA 1.0 and 1.1) and a breakthrough in modding with the first mod which proved using an limit adjustment system or working paths and traffic, just as an insane script which is not yet been finished.
The setting
GTA United takes the player back to the ancestors of
San Andreas:
Liberty City (LC) and
Vice City (VC). Both cities are combined on the map, but there is no direct way to get from one island to the other (like a tunnel or a bridge). Although some people wanted this feature to be includet it is not in the point of our interest, since this would destroy the unique look of both islands on their own. But for those wo realy want the cities to be connected there are
various custom modifications. Also since BETA 1.1 there is a ferry which you can use to get from one island to the other and back. Of course you may also use a boat or swim.
The cities are orientated on their original patterns. But they are also customized on some places, to include features of the
San Andreas engine, such as clothing, buying houses, tuning cars or other things. There are just a few missions yet, but it is planned to add more forming a storyline in general.
Modding ability & Multiplayer
With BETA 1.1 more and more people wanted to share their hours playing GTA United with others, so the voices desireing an multiplayer got louder.
Since the modification requires more ressources than the original game it was delivered together with an tool called
Limit Adjuster, which is based on an
DirectX hook. Since the most important multiplayer modifications for
San Andreas –
Multi Theft Auto and
San Andreas Multiplayer – are based on
DirectX hooks, too, it was impossible to play the modification online. With version 1.2 a new Limit Adjustment system has been announced, which works different from the hook and allows the player to play simple multiplayer modifications. In 2008 the
San Andreas: Multiplayer development team released a special client model for GTA United, which sets it's limits internaly new and allows the player to play online, too. Due the seperate limit adjustment system the
United SA-MP client is compatible to all major release versions of the modification, including the upcoming version 1.2. However the
GTA United Development team is not related into the development of this client and so it is just released as a seperate
download.
Note that MTA will not work with GTA United 1.2, since MTA also sets limits internaly and those are not compatible with the ones the modification uses.
Modding is also no problem. Since
GTA United on itself is just a modification you can mod it like you are used with
San Andreas.
Where to download?
Since GTA United is a community project born and raised on
GTAinside and
GTA-Worldmods it is protected through exclusive rights and only downloadable on those 2 sites.
Cultural Attache. Has diplomatic immunity - bear this in mind when bugging his house. Has somehow survived 30 coups in his native country. Likes to eat endangered species. Considers this to be fine living. Lives with daughter. Widower. Long term dislike for Frech Secret Service. Believed to facilitate trade in criminal activity, including, but not limited to, narcotics, firearms, weapons, and military secrets. In own country, has been sentenced to death 9 times, but always survives and gets promoted. 
Extremely dangerous. Bribed INS for Green card in 1978. Entered country from Columbia. Contacts in Columbia believed he is major player in narcotics industry and anti-government activity. Extreme popular philanthrophist. Gives to various Ricardo Diaz foundations across Vice City and Central and South America. All are believed to be a front. Extremely short, is believed to suffer from Napoleon complex. Medical records show he has overactive glands and sweats more than socially accepted. Gun collector. Always armed. Has private army/militia and is heavily guarded at all times. Has been involved in long running battle for control of narcotics business in Vice City. Known to have bribed police and officials within the town. Feared due to reputation for unpredictable behavior. Thought to be responsible for 18 murders. 
Head of Forelli Crime Family. Major crime family in Liberty City. Believed to have major influence in racketeering, gambling, union troblue, corruption, and prostitution. Came to power young. Thought to have ordered several mob killings, including Harewood incident. Only minor changes have ever stuck. Thought to be interested in entering narcotics trade, traditionally a no go trade for Liberty City mob. Phone records reveal calls to home address of Ken Rosenburg. Notoriously poor taste in clothes. 
Recently arrived in town with his brother. Asks a lot of questions. Trained helicopter pilot. Believed to be in narcotics trade. Heard mouthing off in a lot of nightclubs. Believed to get aggressive or needy when he drinks. Possibly emotinoally insecure. 
Partner at Rosenberg & Associates legal firm. Suspected problems with narcotics and egomania. Believed to be developing contacts with Liberty City mob. Suspected of cheating in law school exams. Believed to have employed heavies on numerous occasions to intimidate and corrupt juries. Very poor success rate in trials. "Blue chip" clients include Georgio Forelli. Cousin of Liberty City crime boss, Sonny. Always desperate for money. 
Known to have made contact with biker gangs, but believed to have fallen out with Baker's gang. Pathological liar. Appalling haircut. Nasty clothes. Suspected narcotics addiction. Known heavy drinker. Seems to have contacts in certain SWAT divisions. Frequently seen together in bars. Frequents Malibu Club virtually every night. "Kent Paul" is believed to be an assumed name. Real name unknown... Also known as "KP," "Paulo," and "Kent." English youth. Claims to work in music business. No known employment. INS papers not in order. Claims to be criminal mastermind. no criminal record yet found.
Texan property magnate and real estate developer. Likes to talk about his father. The good old days. Extreme Capitalist. Suspected to do anything to manipulate prices and land value, including, but not limited to, arson, rioting, and bribery, intimidation, murder. Always wears cowboy hat. Believed to be involved in several developments and slum-clearance programs. Known guest of Cortez. Uses Ken Rosenburg for legal advice - possible weak link? Hair suspected to be fake. 
Cuban warlord. Long term feud with Haitian criminals. Wants control of turf. Extreme macho man. Wants to wage full scale war with Haitians. Never implicated in a crime personally. Bravery has been questioned within Cuban circles. Completely obsessed with boating's ability to show masculinity. 
Vietnam veteran, turned bike enthusiast. Won Purple Heart for killing a village of Vietcong. Extreme bitterness at treatment of verterans has led to violent clashes with authority. Jailed on 13 occasions. Lawless degenerate sociopath. Loves bar sports, fighting, pinball, pool, eating living animals, hard rock music, wrestling, racing motorbikes, urinating in public places, and scaring police. Believed to have been implicated in several civil disturbances. Runs local gang of bikers. Believed to be implicated in narcotics distribution. Extreme lyalty with gang. Initiation rituals preclude getting man on inside. Known loathing for soft rock, communists, and wigs. 
Elderly Haitian matriarch. Believed to be involved in long term feud with Cuban crime families for control of eastern and dowtown Vice City. Heavily protected by Haitian thugs at all times. 
Extremely popular Scottish rock band famous for singles such as "First Till Morning", "Dangerous Bastard" and "Down Down Down". Members are: Jezz Torrent, Percy, Dick and Willy. (Voiced by: Kevin McKidd, Paul Mackie, John Ritchie and Mark Hanlon) 
Daughter of Colonel Cortez. Likes to party, this one. Will offer services to anyone flashing enough cash. Used frequently by criminal rings for "evening entertainment" after a hard day's work. 
Works for Colonel Juan Cortez in various capacities. Diplomatic immunity - part of cultural affairs division of San Dominican consulate, where Cortez in Cultural Attache. Believed Gonzalez' visa was issued as Health and Fitness Commission. Greedy - known to take bribes; could try bribing to find out more about Cortez' operation. Has been seen leaving property of Diaz without Cortez. Possible weakness in organization? More information needed on Cortez. Gonzalez has problems with his weight. Formerly very active in Vice City underworld. Now spends a lot of time in penthouse, away from Cortez.
Film director spotted at various parties where organized crime carries on. Thought to be seeking any money he can to finance his films. Shows an unnatural obsession with sharks and mountains of mashed potatoes. 
Adult film starlet with extremely ill repute. Close ties with Steve Scott & Congressman Alex Shrub. Possible involvment of blackmailing politicians. Never seems to get cold. Would float if left in water. 
Former Tight End for Vice City Mambas. Very successfull career in pro football, but haunted by problems off the field. Famous for hurting opponents. Now runs a celebrity endorsed used car lot, which we believe may be a front. Thought to sell stolen vehicles. Believed to be heavily in debt with loan sharks and is now doing anything for money.
Redneck arms dealer. Believed to be involved in weapons trade. Gun enthusiats. Member of many second amendment organizations and various Vice City gun clubs. Sources suggests he also distills "boomshine" in own stills. Fighting war with Mexican gun running gangs. Linked with "Cam" Jones. Jones and Cassidy believed to have worked together numerous times although Cassidy has avoided convictions. Degenerate. Patriot. Also believed Cassidy claims to have served in various divisions although Army records show that he was repeatedly rejected for service because of drunkenness and an unsuitable temperament for combat. 
Extreme Right Wing congressman. Happily married. Known philanderer with close ties to adult film star Candy Suxx. Will do anything for votes. Power obsessed. Usual politician. Expected to go very far.
Maniac firebrand preacher obsessed with money. Has written several awful books. All completely fabricated. Most given away. Obsessed with degenerates. Has been campaigning to build a large statue in his own image. Has beem attempting to bribe officials at NASA for rocket technology. Believed to embezzling money from the fund for a private mansion in Hawaii. Possible polygamist. Hates people who help others. Fervent anti-communist. Obsessed with nuclear winter. Hateful human being, but menace to society uncertain at present.
Expert driver believed to have worked with Cam Jones and Phil Cassidy. Neurotic. Compulsive eater. Psychological profiling reveals obsession with abandonment issues. Ginger. Hilary comes from stable family background. 
