Grand Theft Auto IV launches amid a flurry of rave reviews and critical warnings while Rockstar and Take-Two are on track to enjoy another record breaker
By: Captain Maverick
Apr 29, 2008 23:13 PM GMT
Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games are facing both rave reviews from gamers and screams of warning from critics as Grand Theft Auto IV launches Tuesday. Among much of the hoopla are lines formed prior to midnight on Monday at many of the retail outlets that were planing midnight sales launches of the game. GTA parties were reported in those lines around the country while waiting for the launch time to approach.
At the same time, critics are warning parents to be careful and not allow their children to get their hands on Grand Theft Auto IV, which is rated "M" for Mature for sale to those aged 17 and older only. Their great concern is not only the violence in the game, which is gratuitous, but also the sex. There are instances in the game where gamers are able to pick up prostitutes and have sex in the car, or enter a strip club and receive a lap dance by one stripper or even by two where simulated sex acts are performed. But at no time are these women completely unclothed, and this is only a small part of the game, and only an option of the gamer to choose and not a part of the quest by the game's hero, Niko.
While the these critics are having their say, game reviewers who had the opportunity to view the game early are saying that the game is remarkable, that the graphics and storyline are superb, and that the game is much more than the critics claim. These reviewers are advising that though the game does have sexual and violence content, it is a Mature game and is indeed intended for adults and should be treated that way. It has in many instances been compared to an episode of The Sopranos where the gamer is allowed to make the choices of what to do and how to respond to those options of good or bad.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, the game launch was marred by violence. In London, a man was walking by a line of people waiting for their chance to buy their copy of GTA IV at midnight, and as he passed the line, a man in a hooded sweatshirt jumped out of the line and stabbed the passerby several times and ran off. It is unknown as yet what the motive for the stabbing was but the victim was treated at the hospital for several stab wounds and released in good condition.
All of that being said, Grand Theft Auto IV is expected to smash the old records for entertainment sales around the world. Halo 3 sold 4 million copies in its first week of release, but GTA IV is expected to break that record resoundingly by selling more than 6 million copies in the first week of its launch. This will again place the GTA series back in the Guinness Book of World Records again which is a position familiar to the series as the previous games also enjoyed such stellar sales.
It is also unknown if this record breaking launch will have any effect on the Electronic Arts bid for Take-Two Interactive. Most analysts believe that since there are no other bidders at this time, that this launch will have no effect on the EA bid at this time.
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