Grand Theft Auto IV

The fourth go-round for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto dropped yesterday, pushing the boundaries of sex, violence, and sales. The game is estimated to break the record currently held by Halo 3, according to industry insiders, it's poised to make Halo 3 look like a small-time crook. Analysts expect the free-roaming crime drama to generate over $400 million in its opening week alone.

How big is that exactly? When it comes to video games, it's unrivaled, about a hundred million more than Halo 3 and closing in on the top film opening ever, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It pulled in a bulky $401 million in it's first week.

As far as ratings go, It's pretty much A+'s, 10/10's, and 5/5's all around. I Wouldn't expect less for a game that's been itching to have this kind of quality available to it. The franchise has been waiting for consoles to catch up to it's visions, and I think this time it probably has.

Of course with any GTA release, we have the "old folks" trying to drop it from stores. Claims that violent games cause children to act violent, (of course movies rarely get these claims) but unless there's another hidden sex game it won't happen. Although there has been some interesting happenings at the stores so far.

"Prior to the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, there have been reports in the United Kingdom of violence perpetrated against people waiting to buy the game. One man was stabbed while waiting in line to buy the game in Croydon on 29 April 2008. Some bystanders said that they initially thought the attack was a stunt pulled to whip-up yet more excitement for the eagerly anticipated title. In Leyland, Lancashire an 18-year-old man was mugged later the same day by two thieves who punched the victim to the ground and then kicked him, shattering his nose and jaw, before snatching the game and running away." According to the Wiki

Since this is a Hip Hop blog, the game also features some nice radio stations. Of course they have their talk radios, hard rock, and techno stations. But, in addition they have an Old School Hip Hop station with DJ Premier as the host. Oh, and some new crap station with newer radio "Hip Hop" songs. Station Guide (first two)

---

I've been a fan of the franchise since it began, and I'll have to patiently wait this one out. Might play it at a friends or Best Buy for a quick minute, but seeing as I have no next-gen console, it's a nice wait until it comes to PC for me.