If imitation is flattery, Grand Theft Auto V is an ode to Los Angeles. The latest installment in the series by Rockstar Games is set in a version of L.A. called Los Santos, which Sony Entertainment describes as “a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis full of self-help gurus, starlets and fading celebrities...." It’s basically a beautifully rendered digital version of Los Angeles... without the traffic, which makes it even better.

The GTA series continues to be a cultural milestone for gaming: parents protest, competitors imitate, and the sales break industry records. The game was destined to be popular, but with the arrival of two new gaming consoles just months away, runaway success wasn't a sure thing. Plus, the game is the most expensive ever produced, with a total development price tag of around $265 million.

Twenty-four hours after its midnight release, sales of GTA V were at $800 million–a record for Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive. To put this in perspective, consider Marvel’s “The Avengers”, which holds the record for a film's opening weekend gross at $207 million. The film was also the fastest to reach $500 million in sales–but it took 23 days.

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Grand Theft Auto and Los Angeles complement each other well. Exploring the city sans traffic and other human beings is like scratching a long-ignored itch. Angelenos will recognize much of the scenery in the game, from the downtown skyline to the hillside “Vinewood” sign. Even the nondescript locations that meld the landmarks together are reminiscent of somewhere in Los Angeles–the freeway onramps and neighborhood streets are eerily familiar, even when they aren’t exact replicas of real places.

Here are screenshots of some of the best reproductions of famous Los Angeles locales: 

The Beverly Center

One of the characters has an iPhone, so it's good to know there's an Apple Store in Los Santos. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Monica Pier

Look how gorgeous it is without all that pollution in the air!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rodeo Drive

A little something for the swanky gamer. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santee Alley in the Fashion District

If Beverly Hills doesn't hit the spot, there's always "Simmet Alley".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Capitol Records Building

It's round. It's iconic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hollywood Bowl

Shown here in the background via "selfie mode". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, of course, the Hollywood sign...

...which can be visited by simply driving up the hill. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The game has garnered some criticism for its imitations of other things, like torture. Theclever parodies provide not only entertainment, but a glaring social commentary. This billboard, modeled after Apple's ubiquitous advertising, reads, "iFruit 9iX - 3% Thinner, 3% Faster, 30 Hour Queue."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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