Sunday, 29th November 2026, All day session (11:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
"Space for sound (samples, etc.) will amount to 1MB." That single line was the entire audio plan in the original design document for Grand Theft Auto. Fortunately, Colin Anderson ignored it. As DMA Design's head of audio, he gave the game its now-iconic radio stations instead, then wove DJ personalities, police reports, satirical advertisements and a host of other audio features into the sonic tapestry that helped turn the series' cities into the living, breathing sandboxes generations of players have since fallen in love with.
Colin cut his teeth on the ZX Spectrum and Commodore Amiga before joining DMA Design in Dundee in 1993 as its first full-time audio designer. There he squeezed a rock soundtrack into the Super Nintendo's 64KB of sound memory for Uniracers, before building the audio team behind the GTA games. Ten days after Grand Theft Auto VI launches, he'll be sharing how a kid who wasn't allowed to upset the neighbours by making noise in a high-rise council block ended up making noise that's still heard around the world in the streets of Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. Hear why Nintendo turned down GTA, how a song by Seal helped persuade DMA to invest in its own studio, and why a country and western song became a centre piece of a game that outraged parents and politicians.
Expect to hear nerdy details about sound chips, sampler hacks, early demo mixes and stories from inside DMA Design, followed by a Q&A.
The day will include:
• A special talk from our guest, Colin Anderson
• Full access to The Cave, Arcade Archive and Pump House to explore and enjoy
• A buffet lunch
• An invitation to join us for dinner in Stroud after the event
Snacks, sweets and soft drinks are also available. (Please note, The Cave operates on a cashless basis; only card payments are accepted.)
We look forward to welcoming you to The Cave and Arcade Archive, a retro technology haven in the heart of The Cotswolds.
Important information
If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know immediately after booking so that we can do our best to accommodate your requirements.
Please try to arrive no more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. There is no access to any of the museum spaces before the event begins.
The Cave is located on the 4th floor of an 18th-century mill, and there are approximately 40 steps up to its entrance. Unfortunately, due to the listed nature of the building, there is no elevator.
Please note that the toilets are located on the 3rd floor and are only accessible via stairs.
If you have any questions about your visit please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Please see our booking terms & conditions here.
"Space for Sound Will Amount to 1MB": How Grand Theft Auto's Radio Stations Were Born - with Colin Anderson
Sunday, 29th November 2026 11:00 AM
(prices inclusive of VAT)
There are currently no other
Special Offers
These discounts will be applied to your basket automatically:
10% off a day out
Book a morning and afternoon session, on the same day, at any of our venues and receive a 10% discount.
