PS2 nuts play Getaway for real

Game action re-enacted on London's streets

By Kieren McCarthy • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 26th August 2003 11:41 GMT

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Many of the Web's finest moments have been created by people with a little too much time on their hands and an overactive imagination.

And The Real Getaway Tour is no exception. Daniel Hansson and friend, known collectively as The Geeky Boys, grew tired of the realistic rendering of their home town London in the PlayStation 2 game Getaway and decided to get out there and do it for real (an unusual twist for a pair of gamers).

Restricted only by the lack of a TVR Cerbera or Lexus 15200 and the strict firearms laws in the UK - which would have seen any attempt by the boys to discharge shotguns into people meet with the police's disapproval - they set off on a whirlwind tour of the Big Smoke.

Taking in Soho, Mayfair, Borough, Whitehall, Edgeware Road, Shoreditch, Euston and other such notable spots, Getaway missions were walked through in real life (with an umbrella taking the starring role of shotgun).

And the boys' 20 missions are lovingly recreated on the site with stills from the game interspersed with witty dialogue and digital shots of them at it. We particular enjoy the bit where the barman at the Six Degrees is persuaded to put his hands up.

This is the Internet at its best: allowing people bored out their minds to go create something with no inherent worth and then stick it all up for the rest of the world to see. It is the sheer pointlessness of recreating scenes from a computer game that makes it all the more valuable. We salute you, The Geeky Boys, and pray that your site can only inspire others to pull off other such daft deeds.

In fact, if anyone is interested, they can take on this reporter's never-realised dream of recreating album covers in and around London. Just for starters, Oasis' Morning Glory was taken at the intersection of Wardour St and Noel St (geddit?) and pointing down towards Berwick St market. And Bowie's Ziggy Stardust was taken on Heddon St just behind Regent St, Mayfair side.

Or even better, dress up in all-over denim and film a version of Dexy's Midnight Runners' video for Come on Eileen on some street in Vauxhall (can't remember which). This masterplan was only not realised due to a shortage of denim and possibly the drink that had been consumed.

Remember: it's your Internet and you can stick whatever nonsense you want on it. ®