Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto IV era)

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This article is about the rendition of the fictional Liberty City seen in the Grand Theft Auto IV era of the game franchise. For other uses, see Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto).
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America's Own Liberty City
—  Fictional City  —
City of Liberty
Nickname(s): The Worst Place In America
Country United States
State Liberty State
Boroughs Broker
Dukes
Bohan
Algonquin
Settled 1624 (as New Rotterdam)
Founded 1664 (as Liberty City)
Government
 • Mayor Julio Ochoa (D)
 • Deputy Mayor Bryce Dawkins (R)
 • Congressman Thomas Stubbs III (I)
Population (2008)
 • Total 8,363,710
Area code(s) 948[1]
Website Official GTA IV website
The Grand Theft Auto IV rendition of Liberty City features a more striking resemblance to New York City.

The fifth appearance of Liberty City in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise is in Grand Theft Auto IV, assuming a very different design that is based much more closely on New York City than previous renditions. This new rendition of Liberty City is larger in scope than any previous version, with highly advanced detail and a greater degree of realism. The city continues to be referred to as the "Worst Place in America", which has been trademarked by Rockstar Games[2] and appears on the License Plate given to those who pre-ordered the game.

Contents

Overview [edit]

The license plate used by vehicles in Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV. The images on the top of the plate are designed as a nod towards New York's license plate design.

The mayor of Liberty City, as of 2008, is Julio Ochoa, and the deputy mayor is Bryce Dawkins. During the course of the game there is an election campaign taking place for the state governorship. John Hunter and Michael Graves are the two main candidates although it is not clear who belongs to which party or who (if either) is the incumbent.

The bridges in the city are locked down during the early stages of the game due to a terrorist threat,[3] and crossing the police blockades will result in the player receiving a 6-star wanted level. As the player progresses through the game, the blockades are gradually lifted. This allows the player to access the other islands in the city in a fashion similar to previous games in the series. The population of the city as of 2008 is 8,363,710.

During the game, the player is able to watch the first part of a television documentary that tells the story of the history of Liberty City from its founding up until the Civil War. The city's timeline is also similar to that of New York City. The Liberty City area is said to have first been explored in 1609 by Horatio Humboldt. A Dutch trading post was established in 1625 on Lower Algonquin, quickly becoming a den of drugs and vice. The city was originally named New Rotterdam by its first Dutch settlers, but was changed to Liberty City when control of it passed to the English in 1664 due to a sponsorship deal that had been agreed with the Bank of Liberty. The British abandoned Liberty City in 1783, concluding the American War of Independence. Liberty City became the first capital of the United States and remained so until the government moved to Capital City in the 1790s.

Geographic layout [edit]

A very detailed map of Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto IV), rendered using in-game elevation and traffic node data.

At the center of Liberty City is Algonquin Island. Algonquin Island is bordered to the west by the West River, to the east by the Humboldt River, and to the north and south by open seas. Happiness Island sits a short distance southwest of Algonquin Island. To the northeast of the city, in the Humboldt River, sits Charge Island, and immediately to its south sits Colony Island. All four of these islands make up Algonquin Borough. The Humboldt and West Rivers both flow north to south.

Directly across the West River from Algonquin sits the State of Alderney. Alderney is bordered to its east by the West River and the other three sides by open seas. Alderney is connected by bridge and tunnel to Algonquin and does not directly connect to any other borough.

Across the Humboldt River to the northeast of Algonquin, past Charge Island, is Bohan. Bohan is the city's smallest borough. Dukes Bay separates Bohan from its neighbor to the south and it is bordered on the north and east by open seas. Dukes Bay is stagnant and has neither tides nor flow.

To Bohan's south lies another island which holds the boroughs of Dukes (nothern side) and Broker (southern side). This island is bordered by Algonquin across the Humboldt River to the west, Bohan to the north across Dukes Bay, and by the east and south by open seas.

With the exception of a rise on the northeast shore of Alderney, and hills in south Bohan and central Broker, the islands are flat land. The native flora is similar to that of New York City except less diverse. The native fauna in Liberty City is restricted to the odd pigeon (called a "flying rat" in Liberty City) or seagull. There is no aquatic life shown; no zoo, and no animals of any other type.

Landmarks [edit]

Liberty City includes many landmarks with real-life counterparts. Some prominent examples:

Culture [edit]

The culture of Liberty City of the Grand Theft Auto IV era is focused on the collective civic misery of the five boroughs.[4]

The general mood of the city is paranoid dread and self-loathing. The citizens of the Liberty State boroughs focus their disdain on the residents of Alderney; the residents of Alderney know they are the "ugly little sister" and wallow in self-pity. Every aspect of life is commercialized, from the name of the city itself (a naming rights agreement with Bank of Liberty) to every available surface in the city being coated with advertising, graffiti, or both. The average citizen of the city is a weatherbeaten addict of some ethnic extraction who would just as soon be dead as live in Liberty City. There are no grade schools or children depicted in Liberty City, despite the presence of several playgrounds.

Gangs permeate the entire city; no area is unclaimed as gang turf. Every ethnic group has its gang, from the Russians, who are portrayed as brutal maniacs without conscience, to the Jews, who are portrayed as money-mad hooknosed yarmulke-clad stereotypes. No ethnic group goes unspared, from WASPs to Eastern Europeans to African-Americans. The entire game is a function of urban satire with no regard to anyone's sensitivities.

For recreation, the residents of Liberty City might visit one of the city's beaches, which generally have some form of gun-based violence going on, or participate in sports such as baseball or tennis. Other pastimes include petty crime, sexual misconduct, and property destruction.

Commercialization [edit]

The city's most recognized brands are plays on real-life brands or smutty double-entendres.

  • Cluckin' Bell (fast food)
  • Burger Shot (fast food)
  • Sprunk (soft drink)
  • E.Cola (soft drink)
  • Rusty Brown's Rings (donuts)
  • Weazel News (broadcasting)
  • Liberty Tree (newspaper)
  • Bank of Liberty (financial)
  • TW@ [pronounced Twot] (internet cafe)
  • Pizza This (Italian food)
  • BAWSAQ [sounds like "ballsack"] (stock exchange)
  • Pißwasser [sounds like "Pisswasser"] (beer)
  • Dusche Gold (beer)
  • Bean Machine (coffee)
  • Whiz Mobile (cellular phone)

Media [edit]

There are a large number of media outlets in Liberty City. These provide the player with a more immersive experience as well as a vehicle for exposition of game situations.

Newspaper [edit]

The in-game newspaper for Liberty City and Alderney is the Liberty Tree. The paper is sold at vending machines and kiosks throughout the city, although the player is unable to purchase and read a hard copy. The user can view the paper's on line version on the in-game internet or in real life. As the player progresses through missions, the on-line Liberty Tree is updated to show "news" about the player's ongoing crime spree and related current events in the city.

Radio [edit]

Main article: Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack

The following are the radio stations available in game and in Episodes From Liberty City (EFLC) episodic content (where noted).

Station Title Description Host Notes
IF99 Funk/Afrobeat Femi Kuti
Vladivostok FM Eastern European/Dance Ruslana
K109 The Studio Disco Karl Lagerfeld Replaces IF99 on EFLC disc
The Beat 102.7 Contemporary Hip-Hop/Rap/RnB DJ Green Lantern and DJ Mister Ce Also hosted by Funkmaster Flex and Statik Selektah; replaces The Classics 104.1 on EFLC disc
Electro-Choc Electro House DJ François K Also hosted by Crookers
L.C.H.C. Hardcore Punk/Death Metal Jimmy Gestapo Also hosted by Max Cavalera
The Classics 104.1 Classic Hip-Hop/Rap DJ Premier
Fusion FM Jazz-Funk/Jazz-Fusion Roy Ayers
Jazz Nation Radio 108.5 Jazz Roy Haynes
The Journey Ambient/Chillout A computer Voiced by text-to-speech software and based on JACK FM
Liberty Rock Radio 97.8 Classic Rock/Pop Rock/Metal Iggy Pop
Massive B Soundsystem 96.9 Dancehall Bobby Konders
Radio Broker Alternative Rock/Indie Rock Juliette Lewis
San Juan Sounds Latin/Reggaeton Daddy Yankee Also hosted by Henry Santos Jeter
Tuff Gong Radio Reggae/Dub Carl Bradshaw
The Vibe 98.8 Soul/R&B Vaughn Harper
Integrity 2.0 Talk Lazlow Mostly Lazlow talking about himself; begins transmitting once Algonquin is unlocked in the main GTA IV.
WKTT Radio Conservative Talk Call sign stands for We Know The Truth
PLR Liberal Talk Call sign stands for Public Liberty Radio
Vice City FM 80's pop music Fernando Martinez Replaces The Vibe 98.8 on EFLC disc
RamJam FM Reggae/Dub/Dancehall David Rodigan Replaces Tuff Gong Radio and Massive B Soundsystem 96.9 on EFLC disc
Self-Actualization FM Ambient/Chillout "Audrey" Replaces The Journey, Jazz Nation Radio 108.5 and Fusion FM on EFLC disc
Independence FM Custom radio station n/a Exclusive to the PC port.

Television [edit]

There are three simultaneously running television channels in Liberty City, each with a real-life counterpart.

  • Weazel
    • Weazel's counterpart is Fox Broadcasting Company. Shows include:
      • The Men's Room
      • Split Sides (features Ricky Gervais and Katt Williams)
      • Republican Space Rangers (Episode 6 is added in TLAD).
      • Venturas Poker Challenge
      • Weazel News (Special report on the Motorcycle Menace) (TLAD).
  • CNT
    • Real life counterpart is TNT.
    • Name is an abbreviation of a vulgar term for "vagina". CNT offers these shows:
      • I'm Rich
      • The Serrated Edge
      • Princess Robot Bubblegum (TBOGT).
  • PBC
    • The Public Broadcasting Corporation (PBS) is the only non-commercial media outlet in the game.
      • A History of Liberty City The program comes in two parts: Part I in GTA IV, and Part II in TLAD and TBOGT.

Regions [edit]

Liberty City is made up of four major islands, three minor islands, and the interconnecting waterways.

Broker Borough [edit]

Broker is located south of the borough of Dukes, on the southern half of the island located in the eastern part of the city. Broker is primarily an industrial portion of the city based on Brooklyn, made up of factories, warehouses and brick townhouses, many of which are dilapidated. The borough's population consists largely of ethnic gangs, hipsters, and industrial workers. The island shared with Dukes is a truncated version of Long Island.

Broker is connected to Algonquin via the Broker Bridge and the Algonquin Bridge. It occupies the same island as Dukes and has no direct connection to Bohan or Alderney.

A taxi service owned by Roman Bellic, called Express Car Service, operates within the district. The game begins in this borough, with Niko Bellic living in Roman's small two-room apartment in the Eastern-European district of Hove Beach.

According to the TV documentary on the History of Liberty City, Broker is named after Sir William Broker III, the (fictional) illegitimate son of the King of Great Britain. Most streets in Broker are named after famous cowboys, such as Hickcock (sic) Street and Earp Street, while most avenues are named after Native American tribes of the Northeast, such as Mohegan Avenue, Seneca Avenue, and Mohawk Avenue.

Neighborhoods [edit]

The locations and landmarks in Broker which have real world counterparts are as follows:

Landmarks [edit]

Dukes Borough [edit]

Dukes is a borough in the northern half of an island at the southeastern corner of the city limits. The second largest borough in the city, it is based on the borough of Queens. Dukes is connected to Bohan by the Dukes Bay Bridge and the East Borough Bridge. The East Borough Bridge also connects Dukes to Algonquin. It shares a land border with Broker; these are the only two boroughs in the city with a land border. The city airport is located in Dukes.

According to the TV documentary on the history of Liberty City, Dukes is a shortened version of "dookie" (slang term for feces) because most of the residents there "smelled like shit." Most avenues in Dukes are named after famous American military battles, such as Bunker Hill Avenue, Inchon Avenue and San Jacinto Avenue.

The hospital for Broker and Dukes is located in the Schottler neighborhood.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Much of Dukes is occupied by Francis International Airport and the parkland surrounding the Monoglobe. The neighborhoods of Dukes and their real-life counterparts are:

Landmarks [edit]

The following locations in the game are based on these real world locations.

Bohan Borough [edit]

Bohan, based on The Bronx, is the smallest and poorest borough in the city. It contains dilapidated co-op housing projects and has high concentrations of homeless people, street people, and street prostitutes. Many of the businesses there are run-down. There are abandoned warehouses and construction sites in every neighborhood except the affluent Boulevard neighborhood at the northern side of the borough. Bohan contains two police stations, one medical center, and one fire station. The police are slower to respond in Bohan than in other boroughs.

According to the TV documentary on the history of Liberty City, bohan is a Dutch word meaning "Dutch word.", but this is not true. Most avenues in Bohan are named after prisons, such as Alcatraz Avenue, Sing Sing Avenue, Rykers [sic] Avenue, San Quentin Avenue, and Guantanamo Avenue while the streets are named after break dancing maneuvers such as Windmill Street, Worm Street and Drill Street.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Landmarks [edit]

Many real-life landmarks in The Bronx do not have in-game counterparts (for example, Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo).

Algonquin Borough [edit]

Algonquin, based on Manhattan, is the largest borough and is located across one large and three small islands in the center of the city limits. It is the most densely populated borough and serves as the city's business district and administrative headquarters. Algonquin's skyscrapers are concentrated towards the southern end of the island. A large parkland area called Middle Park, based on Central Park, occupies the center of the district and is suggested to have been built to give local drug users a scenic backdrop for narcotics abuse. The Liberty City Police Department (LCPD) have their headquarters on the island in East Holland. The Triangle features the Rotterdam Tower, the tallest building in the city based on the Empire State Building. The Exchange is the in-game equivalent of Wall Street. The Burlesque theater district, based on Broadway, can be found on Denver-Exeter Ave. just south of Star Junction (based on Times Square).

According to the TV documentary on the history of Liberty City, Algonquin is a Native American term meaning "place to build condominium skyscrapers", or "islan to catch an STD on".

Algonquin's street layout is a grid rather than a patchwork as in the other boroughs. East-west roads, called streets, are named for minerals and chemical elements, and ordered by letter, from A (Amethyst St.) in the southern part of the island to X (Xenotime St.) in the north. North-south roads are called avenues and named for cities, from A (Albany Ave.) in the east to G (Galveston Ave.) in the west. Some in-town streets have non-conforming names, such as Wong Way in Chinatown. There are a number of roads which lie outside the grid such as Grummer Road in the northwestern part of the borough. These are used to reach non-urban areas of the city such as docks on the West River.

At the start of the game, any access to Algonquin is forbidden. The bridges are blockaded and subways do not cross into the borough. This is due to an unseen "terrorist incident." The evidence of this is a number of wrecked freight ships aground off Algonquin and Alderney. Should the player attempt to enter Algonquin or Alderney during the "terrorist emergency" phase of the game, an immediate six-star wanted level is assigned and the in-game military police will hunt down the player with intent to kill.

There are three hospitals in Algonquin; one is in Castle Gardens; one is located in Lancet near Chinatown; the third, near Columbus Center in Middle Park West.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Landmarks [edit]

The following landmarks are found on Algonquin and have real-life counterparts in Manhattan.

The theater district in Algonquin is called Burlesque, based on real-life Broadway. The counterpart of the Manhattan avenue called Broadway is Denver-Exeter Avenue.

There is a large, unnamed construction site in the Castle Garden City area which is roughly analogous to Ground Zero. It is never mentioned in such a context.

Minor islands [edit]

Three playable islands exist off Algonquin Island and are part of Algonquin Borough. All figure in to various missions during the game.

  • Charge Island (combined counterpart of Randalls Island and Wards Island) to the east-northeast of Algonquin at the confluence of Humboldt River and Dukes Bay. The hub of the East Borough Bridge sits on Charge Island. There is a large industrial port on Charge Island as well as a forest and some athletic fields.
  • Colony Island (Roosevelt Island) to the east-southeast of Algonquin in the Humboldt River. The island is reachable by road bridges and the Colony Island Tramway. Colony Island has a number of residential buildings, some urban ruins, and an industrial presence.
  • Happiness Island (Liberty Island) sits near the mouth of the West River, between Algonquin and the state of Alderney, south-southwest of Algonquin Island. The Statue of Happiness (Statue of Liberty) is located on Happiness Island. This is the only part of Liberty City not reachable by road vehicle. The island can be reached only by boat, helicopter, or swimming from near docks. Happiness Island contains two marinas for boats to dock at, multiple hot-dog vendors and multiple buildings on the southern end of the island. There are also multiple observation binoculars on the water's edge.

Alderney State [edit]

Alderney
—  Fictional State  —
State of Alderney
Nickname(s): "Liberty City's Ugly Sister"
Country United States
Capital City Alderney City
Largest City Alderney City
Website Official GTA IV website

Alderney is a small state located to the west of, and politically independent from, Liberty City. The state is dominated by Alderney City. Alderney is based on Hudson County and Bergen County, New Jersey and named after the Channel Island of the same name. Alderney City's real life counterpart is Jersey City with parts of Newark and Hoboken) mixed in. Its population is concentrated towards the middle of the island with upmarket suburbs located to the north and the industrial areas located in the southern end. The city is filled with strip malls and condominiums. The state is infamous for its prison, located to the east of the Acter Industrial Park, and an abandoned casino to the north (an exact copy of an abandoned casino in Asbury Park) in Westdyke. Alderney City is connected to Algonquin via the Hickey Bridge and Booth Tunnel. It does not directly connect to any other borough besides Algonquin.

Access to Alderney is restricted during the "terrorist emergency" phase of the game. It is enabled only after Algonquin access is available and several missions have been completed there.

It is implied throughout the game that Liberty City citizens do not like Alderney, or anyone from it. One of the Helitours pilots says, "There's the West River. Every day people from Liberty City are glad to know this separates them from Alderney." In the game guidebook Alderney is depicted as "Liberty City's Ugly Sister."

Despite the mutual animosity between the two areas, Liberty City shares a number of its services with Alderney, including taxis and emergency services. The FDLC (Liberty City Fire Department) operates two fire stations in Alderney. Police officers in Alderney identify themselves as State Troopers and wear State Police patches on their uniforms, but drive LCPD-marked cars). Liberty City Sanitation Department trucks operate in Alderney as well.

Many members of The Lost can be found on the streets of Acter riding their motorcycles or standing around on street corners. In The Lost and Damned, the Lost have a clubhouse in Acter.

According to the TV documentary on the history of Liberty City, Alderney is named after Phillip de Alderney, the only person who could originally tolerate living there. The theming of streets is varied in Alderney. Northern Alderney has streets mostly named after mountain ranges within the Rocky Mountains, such as Percell Road and Big Horn Drive. A collection of streets in central Alderney are named after cult leaders, like Koresh Square, Applewhite Street, Jonestown Avenue and Hubbard Avenue. Most streets in southern Alderney are named after United States nuclear bomb tests such as Plumbbob Avenue, Emery Street and Niblick Street. Other streets in south Alderney are named after inventors, such as Farnsworth Road, Moog Street and Edison Avenue.

Neighborhoods [edit]

Landmarks [edit]

Government services [edit]

The government of Liberty City provides basic public safety services to its residents. The actual services themselves are as corrupt as everything else in the game and the service employees themselves show varying levels of dedication.

Police Department [edit]

Liberty City's police department, better known as the LCPD, covers all the boroughs and islands of Liberty City as well as Alderney. The police are unapologetically brutal and prone to simply shooting first and asking questions never. They function as the most powerful and least accountable gang in the game; the entire city is their turf. Their headquarters is on Algonquin Island near the Civilization Committee Building; they operate a large scale prison in southern Alderney near the oil refineries. Police cars are a traditional black and white color scheme and marked "LCPD" regardless of where they are operating. LCPD officers wear blue uniforms. In Alderney, they identify themselves as "State troopers," but in the rest of the city they are "Police officers."

The player can enter an unoccupied police car and read current police cases and the most-wanted lists from its on-board laptop, then "solve the case" (by killing or maiming the perpetrator) for a reward.

Two additional national-level paramilitary organizations operate in Liberty City in the aftermath of the in-game "terrorist crisis." These are:

  • NOOSE: The National Office Of Security Enforcement assist the LCPD when the player has reached or exceeded a three-star wanted level. Their vehicles and weaponry are comparable to those used by the LCPD, although their Annihilator helicopter outclasses any other flying vehicle in the game. NOOSE is divided into two subcommands, Liberty City Patriotism and Immigration Authority, based on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Liberty City Tactical Response Unit, a paramilitary SWAT-type organization.
  • FIB: The Federal Investigations Bureau assist the LCPD when the player has reached or exceeded a four-star wanted level. The name "FIB" is a play on the synonym for "lie." FIB agents are heavily armed and appear four to a car; they utilize strategy and tactics more advanced than that of LCPD or NOOSE. They are more accurate with firearms than NOOSE or LCPD agents; however, they wear less armor in exchange for their greater mobility and so are more susceptible to return fire. Some groups in-game refer to the FIB as "the Feds."

Fire Department [edit]

The Liberty City Fire Department, or FDLC, protects both the City of Liberty and the State and City of Alderney and operates out of eight fire stations throughout the areas. the Borough of Broker has one fire station, the Borough of Dukes has one fire station, the Borough of Algonquin has three fire stations (including one, Engine 47, without any fire engine); the Borough of Bohan has one fire station; and Alderney has two fire stations. The FDLC firefighters wear fire turnout gear similar to that of the FDNY, and utilize fire apparatus and pumpers that also resemble those of the FDNY. However, if the player calls the FDLC on his cell phone, they will respond by arriving, getting out of, then back into their engine, and saying, "Another false alarm", and leaving, whether there really is a fire or not. Also, all fire engines in the game are numbered the same, Engine 69.

Sanitation Department [edit]

As is practically every other entity in the game, the Liberty City Sanitation Department is corrupt and complicit in much criminal activity. It operates large garbage trucks and street sweepers working on the streets of each borough. Its employees wear distinctive green jackets with white reflective stripes. Their dress and operation in Alderney is the same as in other boroughs.

The Sanitation Department is headquartered in Fishmarket South in Algonquin.

Transportation [edit]

Liberty City suffers from surprisingly few of the same transportation issues as its real-life inspiration. Trains are rarely crowded and many of the streets and bridges are in good condition. Traffic in the city often flows smoothly and there is little if any gridlock to be found in Algonquin. Drivers, however, have a higher degree of reckless disregard and outright hostility to pedestrians and are less patient than would be expected.

Airport [edit]

Francis International Airport returns from the previous rendition. Its call sign is FIA, which is Internet slang for "finger in anus." The airport complex is located to the eastern most part of Broker. FIA contains elements of New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports (the terminal resembles JFK's TWA Flight Center, and the geography and layout of the airport is based on that of LaGuardia). The airport is very heavily guarded. If the player ventures onto the runways or maintenance area the player will be attacked immediately by in-game law enforcement.

Streets, tunnels and bridges [edit]

Many of the citizens of Liberty City own their own cars or motorcycles and the streets are generally very busy and crowded. In addition there are many taxicabs plying their trade throughout the city. A fare must be paid any time the user rides a taxicab; should the user not pay the fare, the driver will attempt to run the player down with his car.

Any car in Liberty City is "fair game" to be stolen or carjacked including the one occupied by the player at any time. Police cars can be stolen/jacked as well.

Each of the boroughs and the state of Alderney are connected via tunnels and bridges. Some of these have real-life counterparts in both location and design; others are drawn from one real-life bridge's design but placed in the approximate location of a different bridge.

  • The Northwood Heights Bridge has two spans, one for street traffic (Alexander Hamilton Bridge) and a span carrying the LTA subway. They connect Bohan and Algonquin over the West River.
  • The East Borough Bridge (Robert F. Kennedy Bridge) has one leg connected to Bohan, one to Dukes, and one to Algonquin, with its hub on Charge Island. All spans cross the West River. This is a toll bridge.
  • Dukes Bay Bridge (Throggs Neck Bridge) connects Dukes and Bohan across Dukes Bay. This is a toll bridge.
  • Hickey Bridge (Stickel Bridge) connects Algonquin and Alderney over the West River.
  • Algonquin Bridge (Manhattan Bridge) connects Broker and Algonquin over the Humboldt River. Its span carries both street traffic and the LTA subway.
  • Broker Bridge (Brooklyn Bridge) connects Broker and Algonquin over the Humboldt River.
  • Leaper's Bridge connects Algonquin to Colony Island over the Humboldt River.
  • The Booth Tunnel (Lincoln Tunnel) is a commuter tunnel under the West River linking Algonquin with Alderney.[3] This is a toll tunnel.
  • The Plumbers Skyway (Pulaski Skyway) is a series of deck truss bridges carrying an elevated highway over Alderney.
  • The Northern Expressway (Cross-Bronx Expressway) circles the northern part of Bohan, connecting the Northwood Heights and Dukes Bay Bridges.

LTA mass transit [edit]

The Liberty City Transit Authority (LTA) in the Grand Theft Auto IV era of the video game franchise is the in-game regional public transit administration for Liberty City and its four boroughs in Liberty State. The Liberty City Transport Authority (LTA) operates a multi-modal rapid transit service with destinations in each of the four Liberty State boroughs. The LTA does not serve Alderney and there is no active public transit option there.

In the real-world New York City MTA, the acronym "LTA" represents Lost Time Accident,[5] the formal term for an incident which results in serious worker injury.

A fare must be paid to ride any part of the LTA system. If the user does not pay the fare, in-game law enforcement will attempt to arrest the player.

Bus service [edit]

  • Not user-playable.
  • Mentioned in game documentation.
  • Buses are seen on the streets in Algonquin. There are bus depots in Star Junction and Fishmarket South.
  • There is a bus depot in Broker.
  • If the user boards an LTA bus, it is treated as boarding any other vehicle; the player will assault and eject any driver present and take over operation of the vehicle.

Subway services [edit]

The LTA operates a four-line subway system covering the Liberty State boroughs. There is no LTA service to Alderney. Each of the four lines carries two routes. The four lines (Algonquin Inner, Algonquin Outer, Bohan and Broker) are paired into two consecutive double loops. Half of each loop runs in Algonquin; the other half runs through either Bohan or Broker/Dukes depending on the line. The only transfer point between the two loops is at Easton Station, under Grand Easton Terminal in Algonquin.

The fare to ride the LTA subway is $2, automatically deducted from the player's cash balance. Ticket machines are shown in the stations but the player cannot buy a ticket and none is required.

All service in Bohan, Broker and Dukes is above-ground elevated rail similar to the real-life IND Culver Line in Brooklyn. All service in Algonquin (except for Frankfort High station) is underground, similar to the modern MTA subway in New York City.

Subway signage in the LTA is color- and shape-coded. Matching colors indicate continuous lines (the orange 3 route connects to the orange J route; the green 8 route connects to the green A route, etc). Shapes denote boroughs (squares for Broker/Dukes; diamonds for Bohan; hexagons for Algonquin). Stations in Algonquin can be identified by the globe lamps mounted on their street-level entrances.

In addition to the stations, there are a number of emergency exit locations in the tunnels. Players may open these doors and climb several flights of stairs to return to street level. However, the player cannot exit the train while in motion.

Grand Easton Station and both stations in Northwood act as transfer stations to different lines; both transfer spots are in Algonquin.

Broker Line

3/8 Line Logo
  • Line has seven stations (one closed) as well as LTA subway maintenance yard.
  • Line serves Broker and Dukes; only multi-borough routes in LTA subway system.
  • Broker Line 3 trains become Algonquin Outer Line J trains departing Huntington St Lower station.
  • Algonquin Outer Line J trains become Broker Line 3 trains departing Easton station.
  • Broker Line 8 trains become Algonquin Outer Line A trains departing Hove Beach station.
  • Algonquin Outer Line A trains become Broker Line 8 trains departing Manganese East station.
  • Passengers may transfer to Algonquin Inner Line and Bohan Line trains at Easton station in Algonquin.
  • The Dukes Blvd station is closed for maintenance and trains do not serve the Dukes Blvd spur track.
  • The rail maintenance yard near Huntington St station is not open to the public.
Signed • J → → 3 → → Signed • J
Easton •• Hove Beach Schottler Huntington St Upper Dukes Blvd (closed) Francis Int'l Airport Lynch St Huntington St Lower Manganese East
Signed • A ← ← 8 ← ← Signed • A

Bohan Line

E/B Line Logo
  • Line has two stations; fewest of any line in LTA subway.
  • Bohan Line E trains become Algonquin Inner Line K trains departing San Quentin Av station.
  • Algonquin Inner Line K trains become Bohan Line E trains departing Frankfort Low station.
  • Bohan Line B trains become Algonquin Inner Line C trains departing Windmill St station.
  • Algonquin Inner Line C trains become Bohan Line B trains departing Frankfort High station.
  • Passengers may transfer to Algonquin Outer Line and Broker Line trains at Easton station in Algonquin.
Signed • K → → E → → Signed • K
Frankfort Low Windmill St San Quentin Av Frankfort High
Signed • C ← ← B ← ← Signed • C

Algonquin Outer Line

J/A Line Logo
  • Line has eleven stations, most of any line in LTA subway.
  • Algonquin Outer Line J trains become Broker Line 3 trains departing Easton station.
  • Broker Line 3 trains become Algonquin Outer Line J trains departing Huntington St Lower station.
  • Algonquin Outer Line A trains become Broker Line 8 trains departing Manganese East station.
  • Broker Line 8 trains become Algonquin Outer Line A trains departing Hove Beach station.
  • Passengers may transfer to Bohan Line and Algonquin Inner Line trains at Easton station.
Signed • 3 → → J → → Signed • 3
Huntington St Lower Manganese East Quartz East Vespucci Circus Vauxite Quartz West Manganese West Hematite Feldspar Castle Gardens Emerald Easton •• Hove Beach
Signed • 8 ← ← A ← ← Signed • 8

Algonquin Inner Line

K/C Line Logo
  • Line has nine stations.
  • Algonquin Inner Line K trains become Bohan Line E trains departing Frankfort Low station.
  • Bohan Line E trains become Algonquin Inner Line K trains departing San Quentin Av station.
  • Algonquin Inner Line C trains become Bohan Line B trains departing Frankfort High station.
  • Bohan Line B trains become Algonquin Inner Line C trains departing Windmill St station.
  • Passengers may transfer to Broker Line and Algonquin Outer Line trains at Easton station in Algonquin.
Signed • E → → K → → Signed • E
San Quentin Av Frankfort High North Park East Park Easton •• City Hall Suffolk Frankfort Av West Park Frankfort Low Windmill St
Signed • B ← ← C ← ← Signed • B

Colony Island Tramway [edit]

  • Connects midtown Algonquin with Colony Island.
  • Algonquin station is located near the Civilization Committee building.
  • Colony Island station is located in the commercial area of the island.
  • Tramway cars proceed back and forth on same route.

Liberty Ferry [edit]

  • Not user-playable
  • Located in Alderney City near west entrance to Booth Tunnel
  • Under construction ferry terminal
  • No corresponding construction is seen in Algonquin
  • No corresponding boats are seen in game
  • Based on the Hoboken Terminal

Rail [edit]

There is also the remnants of a defunct elevated rail system in Algonquin based on the High Line in Manhattan. This and other derelict sections of railway track scattered around the city suggest a now-abandoned freight railway.

Sports [edit]

Liberty City has the following professional sports teams:

  • Liberty City Swingers (baseball), based in Dukes.
  • Liberty City Wrath (football).
  • Liberty City Penetrators (basketball).
  • Liberty City Warriors (basketball).
  • Liberty City Rampage (hockey), based in Algonquin.

There is a large tennis complex in Meadows Park, Dukes, based on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

There are public basketball complexes in Northwood, Algonquin; Tudor, Alderney; and Firefly Projects, Broker. There are bowling venues in the Meat Quarter, Algonquin and Firefly Island, Broker. Athletic fields exist on Alderney, Bohan, Charge Island and near the Monoglobe (based on the Unisphere) in Dukes. The player cannot participate in any of these sports.

There is a skate park in Algonquin between Fishmarket North and Exchange. The user can ride a scooter or motorcycle in this area but there is no skateboard available.

In the Ballad of Gay Tony episode an underground fight club is established in Northwood, Algonquin. The user can participate in MMA-style prize fights here.

Statue of Happiness [edit]

Send us your brightest, your smartest, your most intelligent,
Yearning to breathe free and submit to our authority,
Watch us trick them into wiping rich people's asses,
While we convince them it's a land of opportunity.
JULY IV
MDCCLXXVI

“
”
Inscription on the tablet carried by the Statue of Happiness

Based on the Statue of Liberty, located in game on "Happiness Island" southwest of Algonquin. Within the statue is a fully pumping beating heart, known as the "Heart of the City", held up with chains within the statue's inner walls. The statue is said to have been presented to the United States by France in 1886 to mark "100 years free from British food and spelling" in the in-game television documentary about Liberty City. The statue resembles its real-life counterpart, except that its face is that of Hillary Clinton, the statue faces towards the city and not out to sea, and the torch is replaced with a styrofoam coffee cup.

The rest of Happiness Island holds a boat dock and maintenance buildings as well as a grassy park. The user can freely enter the lower base and observation deck at the statue's feet; however, the user must climb or use a helicopter to reach the chamber where the "Heart of the City" resides.

There is a large police presence on Happiness Island including a security office in the base of the statue.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars [edit]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad takes place in the Grand Theft Auto IV rendition of Liberty City, except Alderney is omitted. Instead of a ground-level view behind the protagonist or a top-down perspective, Chinatown Wars uses a fully rotatable aerial camera angled down at the action. Most of the buildings and features in Grand Theft Auto IV can be found here, including the Statue of Happiness. There are 80 different drug dealers spread across Liberty City, all which are part of different ethnic gangs who supply and purchase different drugs (e.g. Jamaicans primarily supply marijuana and prefer to buy "downers" from the player).

Because of the aerial camera angle, making viewing underneath overlapping levels difficult, the road network of Liberty City has been 'flattened' to a largely two-dimensional layout. For example, bridges carrying roads over one another have been replaced with intersections.

Differences from real-life counterparts [edit]

Liberty City and the New York/Newark region by design share many similarities in geography and structure, but there are a number of key differences.

  • The real-life borough of Staten Island is omitted from the game.
  • The island occupied by Broker and Dukes has its real-life counterpart as Long Island but Nassau and Suffolk counties and The Hamptons are omitted. The real-life counterparts of The Hamptons are named in-game as The Caraways, but are not depicted.
  • There is only one airport.
  • There are no schools or children shown anywhere in Liberty City despite some playgrounds in residential areas. The reason is obvious; the producers of the game avoided any form of violence against children.
  • The rivers flow from north to south, but there are no tides in the open ocean or bays. The stink from the water would be therefore unbearable so this may be intentional, as the smell of stagnant water would certainly provoke anyone to anger.
  • There is one baseball stadium mentioned in the game, but it is not shown; there is no football stadium in Alderney; no basketball or hockey arenas are depicted.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Liberty City's area code". rockstargames.com. Retrieved 12 April 2008. 
  2. ^ ""Worst Place in America" trademarked by Rockstar Games". http://planetgrandtheftauto.gamespy.com. Retrieved 7 February 2008. 
  3. ^ a b GamesMaster (Future UK). 7 February 2008 
  4. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/arts/28auto.html?_r=0
  5. ^ http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/fastrack/j_04_01_13.html.  Missing or empty |title= (help)

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