Above: The intersection on Hyde and Lombard Streets, just above the start of the curvy portion of Lombard, as seen in real life and Grand Theft Auto.

Note the GTA version shows the Transamerica building clearly to the east although Coit Tower actually is the most visible structure and the Transamerica building isn’t visible at all from the top of Hyde/Lombard. Draw distance is also significantly higher in real life than on the PS2, at least on clear days.

I am a big fan of the taxi driving mission on the Grand Theft Auto series. After driving taxi in real life for a few months here is a quick comparison of the two experiences…

GTA taxi driving
– Striking pedestrians results in bonus cash.
Real taxi driving
– Striking pedestrians results in game over (prison).

GTA taxi driving
– You always have another fare immediately after dropping one off.
Real taxi driving
– Finding a fare is the most challenging part of the job, especially early Saturday mornings.

GTA taxi driving
– You earn a large amount of (virtual) GTA dollars.
Real taxi driving
– You earn a small amount of real US dollars.

GTA taxi driving
– Obeying traffic laws is optional but not recommended.
Real taxi driving
– Obeying traffic laws is optional but strongly recommended.

GTA taxi driving
– Shifts usually last for 5-10 minutes.
Real taxi driving
– Shifts usually last for 10-12 hours.

GTA taxi driving
– You have a virtual GPS map guiding you to the destination.
Real taxi driving
– You must develop your own map in your head. Asking a passenger for directions is embarrassing.

GTA taxi driving
– Is an empty time-filler.
Real taxi driving
– Is a fulfilling and challenging experience.

(Note: This was based on a post I made on Facebook a few months ago. But, nobody on the regular Internets can read that.)