On what and in what to make graphics like in GTA 1, StarCraft, etc.?

Question

Graphic arts

Help with technologies for developing a graphical interface:
Let's say we have a landscape, there are roads, trees, streets, houses, rivers flow, the task is such that it would seem to show the natural life of this area, people walked, cars drove, the river flowed, the trees moved from the branch, there was a change in the weather, the
view is exclusively from above , there may be shadows from the sun, the weather may change and others, in general, imagine an ordinary area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city that seems to be living life, the view is only from above, no 3D animation from the first person and others!
The task in total is this - the application is launched, and according to the API, it should be able to change the weather, for example, add infographics, pictures, and others.
I’m interested in exactly how to do this technologically in terms of graphics and linking it to code

Answer 1

I don’t know what GAT1 is, but if GTA was meant then:
Just a set of sprites (pictures) that change according to some events