Diana 4-30-2008 09:09
Grand Theft Auto 4 set for record sales
Video game's release comes as Take-Two,publisher of the popular series, faces hostile takeover offer fromrival Electronic Arts.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The fourth installment of the controversial videogame "Grand Theft Auto" goes on sale worldwide Tuesday withexpectations that it will break sales records.
Grand Theft Auto 4is loud, violent, and racy - and gaming fanatics can't wait to play it,some even vowing to take the day off work or school to get their handson it.
The highly-anticipated release comes as Take-Two Interactive Software Inc ([url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=TTWO&source=story_quote_link]TTWO[/url])., the publisher of Grand Theft Auto, faces a hostile takeover bid from rival Electronic Arts Inc ([url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=ERTS&source=story_quote_link]ERTS[/url]).
Thevideo game industry estimates "GTA 4" will sell about 6 million copiesand make about $400 million in sales worldwide in its first week alone.If those numbers hold up, the game would break the record held by thecurrent all-time sales champ, Halo 3.
One reason for the great expectations is that the fourth version of Grand Theft Auto can be played on Microsoft's ([url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=MSFT&source=story_quote_link]MSFT[/url], [url=http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2008/snapshots/3063.html?source=story_f500_link]Fortune 500[/url]) Xbox 360 as well as Sony's ([url=http://money.cnn.com/quote/quote.html?symb=SNE&source=story_quote_link]SNE[/url]) Playstation 3.
Gamebox makers, which are featuring GTA 4 on their Web sites, hope the gamewill bring increased sales. Gaming retailers also are looking forwardto the shoot-'em-up.
"It is probably one of our top-sellingproducts for us in 2008," said Chris Olivera, spokesman for video gameretailer Gamestop. "Overall, it will probably be one of the top threebest-selling video games ever."
The premise of the Grand TheftAuto series is controversial, with characters who are underworldcriminals armed to the teeth, but that's also part of the game's appeal.
"Controversydoes sell, but it is targeted to an older audience," said MichaelGartenberg, an analyst at market research firm Jupiter Research. "It isnot geared to children."
GTA 4 has a "Mature" rating, meaning itis intended for users 17 years of age or older. The game's label warnsof blood, intense violence, partial nudity, strong language, strongsexual content, use of alcohol, and use of drugs.
That mature rating, however, stopped parents groups from blasting Grand Theft Auto and its creator, Rockstar Games.
"Aheavy diet of these games puts kids at risk for aggression," says theNational Institute for Media and the Family, an independent non-profitgroup that researches the effects of media on children.
Police groups have also raised concerns, and in Chicago, ads for GTA 4 have been removed from buses and trains.