So, it was just after last New Years and I'm sitting in a room with some of the guys from Rockstar NYC. They had just finished limping through a demo of the radio station functionality in GTA IV and I ask them about Midnight Club Los Angeles, mostly why its release was being pushed. I pretty much heard "bla, bla, bla...but it's gonna be so much bigger and better than Burnout Paradase. It's gonna have real parts of LA in it..." Yup, Burnout Paradise had just released and understandably everyone was pretty high on it.

Months later as MCLA is about ready to roll out some South Central specific DLC maps for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, I gotta say I think they were right, at least in the reality department. Being from LA myself, it is pretty cool that they were keen on inserting some of iconic LA kitsch scenery into the game. The only thing better would be the hotdog stand, downtown by the courthouses that gives out legal advice. Following suit, I think it is/was shaped like a hotdog as well, but that could just be the remnants of the subpoena talking. Anyway, joints like these that have been around since the 50s or earlier, and it looks like the image below may be of the Randy's Doughnuts in Inglewood or is it Compton? Regardless, well done Rockstar on making an old Angeleno transplant happy.

Aside from my own personal jollies, I think that what Rockstar has done here could be a good business move that should be applied to other games as doable. Video games get stale awful quick, so by
monetizing DLC that can feasibly be generated to cover several metro areas where the game will probably sell well, publishers and developers can
keep the register working long after it might otherwise be time to
close up shop or have a fire sale. In the case of Midnight Club Los Angeles, that
time looks to be a good ways off yet. Beyond actual LA environs the DLC will contain
new character competitions, races, cars and more. As far as I know, no exact date beyond early '09 has been set for its release and pricing has not been noted either. You can read more about this DLC and hopefully others at the Rockstar's Midnight Club Los Angeles page. One question for Rockstar though. Where is the DLC love for East LA? Come on, just take the 10 east to the 60. You can't miss it.

--Hobson's Choice

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