How GTA IV and Reality collide

Grand Theft Auto IV is quite a videogame, depicting the environment and the simulated life of Liberty City, which in itself is quite strongly based on New York. The parallels between the two places are obvious. Both have a Statue (of Happiness), a big (Middle) Park in the middle, a heavily advertised (Times) Square and so on and so forth. The parallels were so strong, I had actually considered pulling someone out from his car.

But GTA IV has some weird quirks that are even more realistic than intended I think:

• One part of the game is that you can forge relationships with a number of people. You can take them places, eat out with them or go out drinking. But YOU always have to pick them up, they will NEVER offer to drive themselves, and in fact most of them don't even bother to have a car. Also the guy friends you entertain might give you a suggestion what to do, but not where they want to go exactly. And then they start complaining about you driving fast.
• GTA IV is known for parodying American life. But some of its parodies hit a little close to home. Psychics who withhold information, unless you pay them. "Weazel News" that provides unbiased and balanced news, as long as it encourages the own opinion. Blacks fighting with Jamaicans, fighting with Russians, fighting with Koreans etc.

GTA IV is not like reality. It's more than that.