Mapping Los Santos! Building/landmark analysis

[lxr]

 

Sorry for double posting but I think we should identify each peak with a color dot.

We should do this on every screenshot these peaks appear and regroup all of them in a single file.

I think you should do it lxr and I'll add it into my flickr album.

This should clear things up and facilitate discussion about mapping that Salton Sea area.

Ok, good idea. So I've made an album with 50 screenshots, and named 44 mountains on them. I tried to pick memorable names that somehow fit with the mountains, or their surroundings.

 

 

This is most likely not 100% accurate. There may be single names for multiple mountains (Mt. Arrowhead? Rockford Hill?), and also multiple names for a single mountain (Mt. Chili? Mt. Cocktail? Mt. Smoke? Mt. Unknown?). If you find any errors, or want to suggest improvements, let me know.

 

 

North of Los Santos (6)

 

Vinewood Hill

W Vinewood Hill

Griffith Hill

N Griffith Hill

Rockford Hill

Malibu Hill

 

 

East of Los Santos (5)

 

Mt. Corona

Mt. Bernadino

Mt. Antonio

Chino Hills

Mt. Arrowhead

 

 

Western Rivers (7)

 

Zancudo Hill

Mt. Zancudo

Mt. Tun

Mt. Nel

Mt. Para

Mt. Chute

Mt. Motocross

 

 

Alamo Sea (7)

 

Mt. Boot

Mt. Alamo

Mt. Northern

Mt. W

Mt. X

Mt. Y

Mt. Z

 

 

Eastern Territories (6)

 

Mt. Flat

Mt. Smooth

Mt. Rough

Mt. Pointy

Mt. Windy

Windy Hill

 

 

Unknown (13)

 

Mt. Chiliad (may be Mt. Zancudo)

Mt. Chili

Mt. Molotov (may be Mt. Flat)

Mt. Cocktail

Mt. Fire

Mt. Smoke

Mt. Famous

Mt. Unknown

Mt. Grapeseed (may be Mt. Pointy)

Mt. Wine

Mt. Radio (may be Mt. W)

Mt. Rocket

Motocross Hills

Edited January 25, 2013 by lxr

[TwistedMedia]

 

What if they just turn the map 45 degrees? BAM west coast!

That's what I said in my original post, if the created map was turned 45 degrees, everything would make geographical sense

The thing is that "north" is totally arbitrary. We can decide what we want to call north. So far, the consensus is that:

 

- the Vinewood Sign runs from west to east,

 

- the radio tower right above is north of it,

 

- and the US Bank Tower is south of it.

 

That's just because it seems to be the most practical choice. It also fits with the position of the sun (even though there are shots where R* have put the sun in an impossible position, just to make the light look more spectacular).

Yeah, I suppose you're right. We may be saying geographically north, but that's not to say that it will be 'map north'

For all we know, Los Santos could be at the top of the map (not to say it will be, just as an example that they could rotate the map any way they wanted to), it just depends which way round the actual map is I guess.

[OUPS]

Good !

 

cocktail,molotov,fire,smoke hahaha super travail lxr

[Fail_At_GTA]

this is how i had it in mind, its more towards the real geological lay out of the west coast and the salton sea.

im still working on it

 

Maybe you should make a map that is actually based on the screens and trailers, instead of making sh*t up

Well that was very rude for absolutely no reason.

 

Anyway, I had a very similar map pictured in my head. I imagined Salton Sea being south east of the city. When I realized it was north, I was surprised.

[lxr]

 

WTF! Did we ever notice this? Two huge signs in the background, one of which says LIQUOR.

Here are the relevant frames.

 

The liquor sign seems to be rather generic (same as this one), but the other one looks quite unique. May be worth looking for it, around the Salton Sea.

 

Edited January 25, 2013 by lxr

[jmb180]

 

Also, could somebody explain the Grand Unified Theory to me? 

It's a collaborative theory on how the map fits together based on the trailers and screen shots we've seen to date. I believe lxr coined the term when he put up a useful post that summarised everything we knew at the time. Lxr might be able to add a better link, but his post on 20 November is a good place to start if you're interested.

 

[Magic_Al]

 

What if they just turn the map 45 degrees? BAM west coast!

That's what I said in my original post, if the created map was turned 45 degrees, everything would make geographical sense

The thing is that "north" is totally arbitrary. We can decide what we want to call north. So far, the consensus is that:

 

- the Vinewood Sign runs from west to east,

 

- the radio tower right above is north of it,

 

- and the US Bank Tower is south of it.

 

That's just because it seems to be the most practical choice. It also fits with the position of the sun (even though there are shots where R* have put the sun in an impossible position, just to make the light look more spectacular).

If there was just one screenshot showing the HUD radar it could orient the whole thing.

 

Actually, what about sunrise and sunset? Have these been due east/due west on previous Rockstar maps?

[jmb180]

Good !

 

cocktail,molotov,fire,smoke hahaha super travail lxr

Mt. Tun.

 

Classic!

[lxr]

 

Also, could somebody explain the Grand Unified Theory to me? 

It's a collaborative theory on how the map fits together based on the trailers and screen shots we've seen to date. I believe lxr coined the term when he put up a useful post that summarised everything we knew at the time. Lxr might be able to add a better link, but his post on 20 November is a good place to start if you're interested.

 

Here is all of it in one image.

 

It's basically a list of 18 claims, "A"-"R", saying these points are the same.

 

GTAKiwi's map was made in parallel, and both happen to agree.

 

As noted before, only either claim "I" or claim "J" has to be correct for the basic layout of GTAKiwi's map to hold.

[TwistedMedia]

Also, could somebody explain the Grand Unified Theory to me? 

It's a collaborative theory on how the map fits together based on the trailers and screen shots we've seen to date. I believe lxr coined the term when he put up a useful post that summarised everything we knew at the time. Lxr might be able to add a better link, but his post on 20 November is a good place to start if you're interested.

 

Here is all of it in one image.

 

It's basically a list of 18 claims, "A"-"R", saying these points are the same.

 

GTAKiwi's map was made in parallel, and both happen to agree.

 

As noted before, only either claim "I" or claim "J" has to be correct for the basic layout of GTAKiwi's map to hold.

Ah right I see, Thanks

[lxr]

Also, could somebody explain the Grand Unified Theory to me? 

It's a collaborative theory on how the map fits together based on the trailers and screen shots we've seen to date. I believe lxr coined the term when he put up a useful post that summarised everything we knew at the time. Lxr might be able to add a better link, but his post on 20 November is a good place to start if you're interested.

 

Here is all of it in one image.

 

It's basically a list of 18 claims, "A"-"R", saying these points are the same.

 

GTAKiwi's map was made in parallel, and both happen to agree.

 

As noted before, only either claim "I" or claim "J" has to be correct for the basic layout of GTAKiwi's map to hold.

Ah right I see, Thanks

Ah, and just to be clear: While I made the arrows, and called it "Grand Unified Theory", the findings are of course not all mine. It's more of a summary of what had been found in this thread.

 

And the purpose of the theory was to show that a lot of what we were seeing was actually connected. In other words, if the theory is true, then we know how to get from any of the screenshots to any other.

[iiConTr0v3rSYx]

Small towns surrounding LS(I count 3-4)

1-Seems to be near Zancudo River(Looks rundown)

2-This one seems to fair better than the "Zancudo town". Also seems to be near a large mountain aswell.

3-This one seems to be a rest stop along the highway???

4-Hard to see but I would think this is heading towards area number 3.

 

Sorry for the long post...

[kesta195]

 

Same rounded mountain in the background?

 

EDIT: Smaller pic

Edited January 25, 2013 by kesta195

[GtaVComments]

I think this is correct, but just from a different angle. It's unclear if the two mountains are attached though.

 

Here's a pic comparison.

 

 

[kesta195]

I think this is correct, but just from a different angle. It's unclear if the two mountains are attached though.

 

Here's a pic comparison.

 

Thanks for making it clearer, and yes it is probably at a slightly different angle. You can also see the larger mountain next to it behind the house when Trevor is walking away from it.

[lxr]

 

I think this is correct, but just from a different angle. It's unclear if the two mountains are attached though.

 

Here's a pic comparison.

 

Thanks for making it clearer, and yes it is probably at a slightly different angle. You can also see the larger mountain next to it behind the house when Trevor is walking away from it.

It's a good idea. Still think Mt. Cocktail is a separate mountain, but doesn't matter much.

 

Actually... don't you think Mt. Molotow looks even more similar to Mt. Alamo? Just the part to the right of Trevor's head.

Edited January 25, 2013 by lxr

[kesta195]

I think this is correct, but just from a different angle. It's unclear if the two mountains are attached though.

 

Here's a pic comparison.

 

Thanks for making it clearer, and yes it is probably at a slightly different angle. You can also see the larger mountain next to it behind the house when Trevor is walking away from it.

It's a good idea. Still think Mt. Cocktail is a separate mountain, but doesn't matter much.

 

Actually... don't you think Mt. Molotow looks even more similar to Mt. Alamo? Just the part to the right of Trevor's head.

When you say Mt Molotov, are you referring to the mountain behind the burning house or the one beside it (the one I brought up before). If you look at the Franklin dirtbike screen, I think Mt Molotov is the one he is driving towards, and Mt Alamo is the larger one sloping up to the left out of shot.

[lxr]

 

I think this is correct, but just from a different angle. It's unclear if the two mountains are attached though.

 

Here's a pic comparison.

 

Thanks for making it clearer, and yes it is probably at a slightly different angle. You can also see the larger mountain next to it behind the house when Trevor is walking away from it.

It's a good idea. Still think Mt. Cocktail is a separate mountain, but doesn't matter much.

 

Actually... don't you think Mt. Molotow looks even more similar to Mt. Alamo? Just the part to the right of Trevor's head.

When you say Mt Molotov, are you referring to the mountain behind the burning house or the one beside it (the one I brought up before). If you look at the Franklin dirtbike screen, I think Mt Molotov is the one he is driving towards, and Mt Alamo is the larger one sloping up to the left out of shot.

Sorry... Mt. Molotov/Mt. Cocktail, Mt. Fire/Mt. Smoke.

 

Edited to add: Given how R* have edited the trailer, they may turn out to be in very different places.

Edited January 25, 2013 by lxr

[kesta195]

Sorry... Mt. Molotov/Mt. Cocktail, Mt. Fire/Mt. Smoke

I see what you mean, I didn't notice mount cocktail but we have seen it before (the very pointy one in the windfarm scene). And I can't seem to find Mt smoke in the Franklin shot, but yes I believe Mt Fire is part of Mt Alamo and Mt Molotov is the rounded mountain. This would mean that the house is nestled in a corner between Mt Molotov and Mt Fire.

[lxr]

 

The thing is that "north" is totally arbitrary. We can decide what we want to call north. So far, the consensus is that:

 

- the Vinewood Sign runs from west to east,

 

- the radio tower right above is north of it,

 

- and the US Bank Tower is south of it.

 

That's just because it seems to be the most practical choice. It also fits with the position of the sun (even though there are shots where R* have put the sun in an impossible position, just to make the light look more spectacular).

If there was just one screenshot showing the HUD radar it could orient the whole thing.

 

Actually, what about sunrise and sunset? Have these been due east/due west on previous Rockstar maps?

In GTA IV, sunrise/sunset matched east/west. Also, the Algonquin grid was aligned with the compass, which is why I assume the same will be true for Downtown Los Santos. This would fit with the Vinewood Sign running from exactly west to exactly east.

 

 

 

Sorry... Mt. Molotov/Mt. Cocktail, Mt. Fire/Mt. Smoke

I see what you mean, I didn't notice mount cocktail but we have seen it before (the very pointy one in the windfarm scene). And I can't seem to find Mt smoke in the Franklin shot, but yes I believe Mt Fire is part of Mt Alamo and Mt Molotov is the rounded mountain. This would mean that the house is nestled in a corner between Mt Molotov and Mt Fire.

Having looked at it again, you're right, Mt. Molotov = Mt. Flat is very tempting.

Edited January 25, 2013 by lxr

[Choco Taco]

 

I'm not for one moment doubting anybody in this thread ( everybody's doing a great job  ) but I just thought that they would have Los Santos on the west part of the map. It doesn't make sense to create a game based on a west-coast city, which doesn't have a west coast.

 

The maps are all similar to Los Angeles -

 

 

They haven't shown enough of the map yet to determine exactly where the city is located. It could be on the western end or it could be to the south.

 

 

 

(even though there are shots where R* have put the sun in an impossible position, just to make the light look more spectacular).

 

The two pictures in which the sun is located in an impossible position for me both come from the IGN picture set. They both have the sun in the same spot in the north.

 

[lxr]

 

The two pictures in which the sun is located in an impossible position for me both come from the IGN picture set.  They both have the sun in the same spot in the north.

The first one seems fine to me, should be looking roughly west. But, yes, the second one is looking north. Here is another one, looking south, sun far too low.

[Choco Taco]

 

The first one seems fine to me, should be looking roughly west.

 

I can make some adjustments to get it farther west, but I think it would still be too far to the north. I can't get the Zancudo to run too far northwest to southeast without it cutting into other areas. It depends on how long it is too.

 

 

 

Also, this picture makes it look like the Zancudo runs a little northeast to southwest:

 

 

[RockStarNiko]

Look at ~11:16 in trailer

 

 

 

Under the right front tyre of the truck there is what looks like a fairly large mountain

 

It is between the prison and the "runway"

 

Now look at these two screenshots, especially the second one

 

 

 

If there is a mountain there, where is it?

 

 

Could what we see under the right front tyre not be a mountain at all, but instead a quarry

 

Also look at the runway. It looks very much like a runway and I always assumed it was a runway

 

But, why is there a runway there?

 

What if it is not a runway but part of the same quarry?

 

 

Please give thoughts

 

If someone can point out where the mountain is then I can just go back to seeing mountain and runway and forget all talk of quarry

 

 

[Choco Taco]

RockStarNiko,

 

It might just be dark vegetation.

 

[RockStarNiko]

RockStarNiko,

 

It might just be dark vegetation.

 

Could be, but I just would have expected the area to be lot more elevated

 

What about this screenshot

 

 

I have marked what I believe to be two separate mountains, one closer to us marked green, one further away and behind the green, marked red

 

Do you see the same or do you believe green and red are ONE mountain?

[Choco Taco]

 

I have marked what I believe to be two separate mountains, one closer to us marked green, one further away and behind the green, marked red

 

Do you see the same or do you believe green and red are ONE mountain?

 

I think they're all connected and it appears to be the Zancudo River mountain.

 

 

The shape, bridge, roads, and trees seem to match up well. It's still possible that they're different mountains and you might be right though. I don't think we can be 100% sure at this point.

[RockStarNiko]

 

I have marked what I believe to be two separate mountains, one closer to us marked green, one further away and behind the green, marked red

 

Do you see the same or do you believe green and red are ONE mountain?

 

I think they're all connected and it appears to be the Zancudo River mountain.

 

 

The shape, bridge, roads, and trees seem to match up well. It's still possible that they're different mountains and you might be right though. I don't think we can be 100% sure at this point.

I think the Zancudo river mountain is the same mountain as this one, surrounding Trevor's head

 

 

And the triangular mountain is top left of that screenshot

 

So in mountain and lake we are looking west at two separate mountains, green one in foreground, red one in background

 

Then in Trevor and dead body screenshot we are further north and looking at Zancudo river mountain with triangular mountain ~SW of our position

 

 

In the above screenshot, if the mountain at top left is not triangular mountain, then which mountain is it?

[kraq567]

 

As we know from IGN http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/15/gran...know-los-santos this is Mt. Chilliad, "Blaine County has a hidden beauty in the form of Mount Chiliad and, at the bottom of its slopes, the Alamo Sea.". So this is probably big mountain from trailer 1

[RockStarNiko]

 

As we know from IGN http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/15/gran...know-los-santos this is Mt. Chilliad, "Blaine County has a hidden beauty in the form of Mount Chiliad and, at the bottom of its slopes, the Alamo Sea.". So this is probably big mountain from trailer 1

There are two large mountains and I cannot decide which one I think is Chiliad

 

In that article they post the mountain and lake screenshot as they talk about Chiliad, so that could indicate that Chiliad is indeed that one, the triangular one

 

We see it here

 

 

Its position is directly north between Griffith observatory and Vinewood sign

 

The other large mountain I considered as candidate for Chiliad is the one seen at 13:08 in the trailer, in the distance behind the Vinewood tower

 

 

 

Now, from the IGN article they seem to indicate it is the triangular mountain, however the huge mountain we saw in trailer 1 does not resemble the triangular mountain, the summit is totally different shape

 

If we were a lot closer to the distant mountain that is behind the Vinewood tower, then this could resemble the mountain from trailer 1

 

Also look at 11:19 in the trailer, judging from the estimated position of where Vinewood sign is, from the position of prison and telescopes, we would assume the triangular mountain to be just off screen at the very bottom right

 

The question is where is the Alamo Sea when we look at 11:19 in trailer?

 

I see water on the far left which I think could be the Alamo Sea.

 

I also see water at the very bottom right that resembles a river and there is also definite water in the very top right, which we can also see in this screenshot

 

 

So which mountain is Chiliad?

 

I really want RockStar to give us some more screenshots or even trailer 3