The TTC route map gets the 8-bit treatment

There are TTC fantasy maps, and then there are TTC fantasy maps — this latest effort would fall into the latter category. As much as I might dream of a DRL, a station named Ataratiri, and a subway line along Queen Street, the TTC's best hope for future prosperity might just be Mario and Luigi.

Posted by Dave Delisle to his blog before appearing on Reddit yesterday, this Mario Bros.-inspired TTC route map deserves a whole sheet of gold stars. And while the Toronto version is not the only one out there — the artist has previously put together similar maps for the Vancouver SkyTrain and Calgary C-Train — we can perhaps claim it as the best.

There are already some good examples of 8-bit renderings of Toronto out there, but this one ratchets up the nostalgia (not to mention the geek catchet) to a whole new level with its marriage of the TTC and retro video game graphics. One can only imagine what fun it would be to ride this line. Want to dispatch a fellow passenger? Just jump on his or her head.

When I was in 5th grade, I traded an Atari system with 50 games and $40 cash for a Nintendo with Mario Bros. and Rad Racer. Despite the hefty cash top-up, it remains to this day one of the few business transactions I've been a part of that really went all my way (sorry, Atari). For about the same amount, you can buy a huge poster print of this map. Sounds like a good deal to me.

For various purchase options, check out this page.