I'm right at the mission that kidnaps you from home and leaves you for dead out in the boonies. I know this because I triggered it once already and bailed out to the last save. I decided to go back because there seemed like so much left undone in Los Santos... chiefly, pushing out the area's rival gangs.

This weekend I finished clearing out all the purple Ballas and yellow Vagos locations. Every available territory is now a jaunty Grove Street green. However, I received no hidden bonus for completing this task, which makes me think that there will be more gangbanging to come. GTA is so bonus-happy that I can't imagine a player taking the time to control the map and not receive something cool for it.

Like the 8-Track mission over in the amphitheater. Finish the Hotring (NASCAR) race in first place after twelve laps and two new vehicles become permanently available in the amphitheater parking lot: the Hotring Racer and a monster truck. The racer is a typically garish and floaty stock car, and the monster truck rolls over anything at the cost of feeling lighter-than-air.

Then there's ghetto trash Denise. As near as I call tell, achieving 100% on your Denise Progress gets you One (1) Pimp Suit and the keys to the Hustler in her driveway. From then on, it's nothing but annoying calls and repitimissions.

I checked in with Mike on his San Andreas progress. He's pretty much at the same place. He cleared out his rival gangs before I did, but I was a couple storyline missions ahead of him. Playing GTA becomes such a personal experience, and the customization options of San Andreas make your game even more individual. Your clothing, your weapons preferences, your level of fitness, the order in which you choose missions, your favorite radio station, all the sidebar stuff... it all adds up to a deep user-defined experience that ensures no two people will play it the same way. We spent about 20 minutes quizzing each other: Did you play basketball? How many tags did you spray paint? Did you bother modding your car? Did you find the 2P rampage spot in Pershing Square?

I have purchased all the available properties - except that big $120,000 rapper mansion up on the hill. And I still have $50,000 remaining, which just goes to show how fruitful those gang wars were. Ballas drop a lot of cash. I also completely lit up the northern part of the island, where all those small towns are dotted. Not much to do up there (yet), so I grabbed a chopper and went sightseeing. There's a massive brewery near Blueberry, and some kind of abandoned paintball shanty town called the Panopticon or something.

Neither Mike nor myself have been able to find a moving van. I should have paid more attention in that mission where the game tutorials you on breaking and entering. Mike says he's getting the strategy guide, so that will be the first thing I ask him to look up. I'd hit GameFAQs but I always end up reading too much and ruining the surprise for something else. In fact, my SOP for FAQ-checking is to make Rhonda do it so she can parcel out the info without giving too much away.

The ignominious expulsion from Los Santos is inevitable. I can only run taxi missions for so long before I bite down and do it. Los Santos - particularly within the Grove Street power radious - has come to feel like home. I wonder what will happen in my absence.