Can it be played on a PS3 though? I keep my PS2 in storage and the controller and AV cable went MIA. I doubt the online store really supports cross platform at all, though the PSN was instituted around the Playstation 2's Network hardware, which I DO have, but it's 56K isn't it?! haha The PS2 has Firewire iLink and USB ports but never really uses them in all the ways possible, that I know of, anyway.

The PS3 can broadcast wireless to PSVita and I believe Vita could get a redux version of Vice or GTA III, but of all the GTAs, an original reboot of GTA III as you say, in HD with the same plotting and characters, missions, just re-dressing it modernized, would be acceptible to fans and I would bet it could make some serious money, but not all GTA players might feel dedicated enough to "double dip", I have the version on PC and PS2, but I feel it's just plain flawed, and that can stand to be remedied to this day, just rebuffing it with motorcycles and 360 viewing, jumping from vehicles at speed, Better water and swimming, as examples

The cross-platform thing is confusing was hoping someone can fill me in, if I own a PS2 I buy specific software, in the case of PS3, I was having issues with that BD drive even when it came to GTA IV on the original 60GB I paid over 0 for. The optical drive was a problem for several serial number PS2s, I was declined a trade in pawn in a pawnshop because they were going by these same serial batches as troublesome units. Most of you know RROD is such a mess, you only get a week or so to test a purchased used system, a month at best. Of course the 60GB has that magic Emotion Engine chip, offering backward compatibility, and after the newer SKUs I got a bit confused about what was going on there, since it had been rumored the chip would be supplanted by firmware emulation, I am sure some site got the specific timeline with specs out right, but I'd just moved to Xbox and it's assorted problems

Anywho, I'm still a bit confused if this is hardware specific requirements to download from PSN

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/27/grand-theft-auto-iiis-release-date-on-playstation-network

It wouldn't make any sense to just make the game available to the systems that always had backwards compatability. You'd just Amazon / ebay the game for a fiver and be done. The digital format is designed to play on all PS3 hardware.

It's been delayed

Note: Due to an unforeseen complication, the Grand Theft Auto III PS2 Classic is not publishing with today’s Store post. We will update you when a new release date has been identified. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Apparently it has to do with music licensing. http://kotaku.com/5930698/gtaiii-on-psn-delayed?tag=blip

I was Googling it all over, nothing about a delay earlier.... odd that

As far as it making no sense, PSN as I said was initiated under PS2, this is true, and it would have supported online Playstation 2 infrastructure, but maddening gamers, Sony scrapped the plans in favor of PS3 at the time. The whole Emotion Engine issue came as more SKU and corner cutting arose. that's where I think consumers basically get confused if it's not made clear. What is the extent of shared programming on PS VIta and PS3 capability or offered games on PSN, so I am happy if they've over come any issues thought to exist in the past

I did clarify I moved away from PS3 when GTA IV gave me plenty of unknown origin troubles. To the Xbox camp, somewhat reluctantly but just so Fanboys know, I had always intended to own both, seeing as they will be around for the 10 years predicted, as we wait for even one official word about next gen consoles, the companies are glad not to have to compete for a while longer in that arena, because it's a definite challenge

Thanks for the tip though, I like to know BEFORE I spend cash on it! haha