Sales

Halo 3 racked in $300 million for Microsoft and Bungee Studios'; GTA sales are predicted to overthrow that amount in the first week.

There have been some big problems with the launch, specifically the online multiplayer modes on the PS3 versions. Some users have reported the game causing both consoles (Xbox 360 and PS3) to lock up during the introduction screens of the game. While the complaints were originally linked only to PS3 systems, Rockstar (the company behind the GTA series) support has admitted the problem occurring on both consoles. A support representative told Kotaku that they have no idea when a fix would be available. Not all copies are affected by this problem. If this problem is happening with your copy, a good suggestion may be to take the game back to the store where it was purchased.

Reviews

Looking beyond the problems, the reviews for the game are coming out extremely positive. At Metacritic, the game is at the top of both lists for the consoles.

Gamespot gave it a 10/10. Touting it's story and multiplayer modes.

PSX Extreme gives the PS3 version a "9.9" out of a possible 10. Their lowest factor was graphics. And quite obviously it should be. Despite the PS3 HD features, GTA IV is limited to 720p resolution, but most reviewers are calling it closer to 640p.

Xbox Family gives it a 9/10. Again, graphics seem to be the biggest complaint.

Aftermath

• Jack Thompson is renowned amongst gamers as being the guy who files lawsuit after lawsuit to put an end to the GTA series. It's so frequent that GamePolitics has a category just for Jack Thompson. Thompson has tried multiple tactics, including writing a letter to Take Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick's mother. No, you didn't read that wrong. He wrote to Mr. Zelnick's mother tattling.

• Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to up GTA IV's current "Mature" rating to an "Adult-Only" rating. The game features simulated drunk driving. But MADD is, well, mad and released a statement earlier this week stating: "Drunk driving is not a game, and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable." Rockstar's retort was simply that the "Mature" rating is sophisticated enough to separate the game from reality.

• The media is crediting one stabbing on the game in the United Kingdom. But it appears that this case is being debunked. Grand Theft Auto stabbing disputed at VNUNET