Midnight Club Los Angeles Comes to Life

Touting the realism and detail in Midnight Club Los Angeles, Rockstar have taken a series of photographs of landmarks from the LA area to match up with their in-game counterparts.

"Midnight Club Los Angeles takes full advantage of the potential in the current generation of hardware to exceed all expectations. And that begins with the city of Los Angeles that Rockstar San Diego has conjured up. It’s the most detailed and evocative real-world location ever to exist inside a game.

From the Ferris Wheel on the Santa Monica Pier to the Chateau Marmont above Sunset Boulevard, there’s an instant hit of recognition as you turn every corner of the city. Each street, underpass, and back alley of Los Angeles has been transposed from the real world and then ever so lovingly tweaked for racing perfection.

It’s the idealized version of Los Angeles, designed to be navigated at break neck speeds. And all of this detail isn’t just for show: when you’re making split second decisions at 245 mph, you’ll want to learn every twist and turn, and know the topography of the city like the back of your hand. So by way of introduction, here are just a few of the many landmarks you’ll be getting to know."

Mulholland Drive
Mulholland Drive snakes up and through the Santa Monica Mountains, affording views of both the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles Basin. Name checked in songs and immortalized in movies, Bad Boy Drive, as it has been called, is a legendary spot for street racers looking to put their drifting skills to the test

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

The Shangri-LA Hotel
The timeless art deco styling's of Santa Monica’s Shangri-LA echo California’s golden years, and its vantage point above the beach make it one of the most recognizable buildings in LA. Make sure to drive by at night to see the majestic curves lit in all their glory.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

The Roxy Theatre
The Sunset strip was the centerpiece for LA’s hard rock scene, and the Roxy Theatre was – and still is – the epicenter of the strip. Early gigs by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane’s Addiction went down here, and before that, the venue hosted underground parties for John Lennon and Heidi Fleiss. If you’re tearing down the strip in Midnight Club Los Angeles, keep an eye out for the distinctive neon sign.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Hollywood Wax Museum
Hollywood’s obsession with celebrities may more than skin deep, but not at the Hollywood Wax Museum. The classic blue and red signage on Sunset advertises the uncannily lifelike renditions of stars from all eras, from Marilyn to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Carneys
Back in the ‘70s when burger joints still fought to have some kind of unique angle (other than food, that is), Carneys topped the lot by opening in a canary yellow, 1942 railroad car. The burgers and chili dogs tend to bring a crowd, and thanks to its prime location on Sunset, it’s a great place to hang out at all hours.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Whisky A Go Go
How many other clubs can claim to have broken so many bands – and so many rules? Aside from being the spiritual home of dancing girls in cages, the Whisky was the place legends of rock as diverse and legendary as The Doors, Led Zeppelin and Guns ’n Roses made their mark on the LA scene. You’ll pass the Whisky on Sunset and San Vicente as you go about making your own mark.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Chateau Marmont
Set into the side of the Hollywood Hills, and perched above Sunset Boulevard like a medieval French castle, the Chateau is the place the famous and the wannabe famous have gone to hide, recover, rehearse, cause trouble, and occasionally just luxuriate and relax in the middle of Hollywood since 1927. Rumored to be earthquake proof, the Chateau has weathered 5 major earthquakes with barely a crack in the plaster. If you can see the Chateau, you’ll know you’re deep in the heart of Hollywood, and driving some of the most famous streets in the world.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Hollywood Sign
Probably the single most iconic billboard in the world, Hollywood’s famous 9-letter sign was originally constructed in 1923 as just another ad for a new housing estate called Hollywoodland. But times change, and the former ad has taken on a deeper meaning as a potent symbol of making it big in the land of celebrity. Visible from most parts of town, it serves as a constant reminder that you’ve always got another race to run.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.

Santa Monica Pier
Opened on September 9th, 1909, the carousel and ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier have been prime destinations for millions of tourists. The cheap burger joints and seafood shacks that line the pier do little to detract from its incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding beaches. The entrance marks the symbolic finish line of Route 66, but its long wooden deck is the perfect place to start a midnight run, or blast off its steep incline and catch some massive air on one of the better jumps in the game. Whether you’re shooting the trestles underneath the pier, or taking a shortcut across the sand and through the adjoining parking lots, the Santa Monica pier offers some of the most iconic and exhilarating moments in you’ll find.

Mouse over this image to see the in-game counterpart.