Could GTA IV truely be the greatest selling game in history?

[lordxixor101]

Just thinking about this with EA's takeover bid.

EA is trying to force the takeover before GTA IV comes out. Take Two is fighting for this to happen after it comes out (this is via an article at Money.com). So, both companies are under the impression that Take Two is worth more after this game is released. Yet, stock prices are determined on future earnings, so a pretty strong earnings have already been estimated for Take Two.

But, if both companies (assuming with intellegent business people running them) are gambling this, how great must this game be that these companies both think will beat the projected sales estimates?

[InuFaye]

No.

It wont sell over 40 million.

/thread.

[TahoeMax]

SMB isn't really a fair inclusion. You weren't buying the NES for specifically for Mario Bros in most cases, so I wouldn't consider it a "sale" of the game. The best-selling game that was never bundled with a system is SMB3, which hit 18 million, according to Wikipedia. If we're looking for how well a game sold, that should be the target.

[cdrober]

I don't know about total units, but I definitely think it has the cajones to make the largest amount of $$ during its launch window (say 1 week or 1 month, however they want to calculate it).

I think this is for 3 main reasons:

1. There has been alot of hype and pre-order campaigns and there should be no supply issues on this, I bet every store everywhere is going to have this (don't be surprised if you see it at 7-11s or other convenience stores I think).

2. One of the versions costs $89.99, so this will raise the dollar value per game sold

3. This game is releasing in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia on the same day on two consoles. This will help move alot more units in the initial period and also games in these areas often cost alot more $$ than they cost in North America, yet again raising the per dollar value of game sold.

These are just my opinions of course, and I cannot comment on the 40 million units, we will have to wait and see on that one.

[Kyz]

Considering the average gamer is now 30+ and has the income necessary, I'd say it might have a shot. If it does, MGS4 will be interesting as well (being the first next-gen title in the series)...THAT will be a title that moves systems.

[InuFaye]

OK.

It wont sell 18 million copies.

[Kyz]

Why not?

Per Rockstar's Board of Directors Recommendation to reject EA's offer (http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12), Vice City has sold 17.5 million and San Andreas has sold 21.5 million. The series as a whole across all platforms has sold 70 million.

Seems possible to me.

[InuFaye]

Hardware is too expensive for most to buy.

Most people are too worried about the economy at the moment.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Why not?

Per Rockstar's Board of Directors Recommendation to reject EA's offer (http://taketwovalue.com/documents/TTWO_Value.pdf#page=12), Vice City has sold 17.5 million and San Andreas has sold 21.5 million. The series as a whole across all platforms has sold 70 million.

Seems possible to me.

Those software sales are on the PS2 juggernaut of 120 million+ install base, + 20m+ if your'e counting the xbox versions.

The worldwide HD console install base is barely 30 million. That pretty much makes it impossible.

[InuFaye]

I concur with the good doctor.

[happy]

I'd only say it's possible if they bring the GTA IV 40 gig PS3 to the states (I think I saw somewhere that they're doing that for Europe). At $100 less than the MGS bundle, not limited (I assume the MGS one is), and coming out over a month earlier I suspect it would move a lot of consoles. I'm not a GTA fan, but I plan on getting a PS3 this summer and would probably pick up the 40 gig bundle if it comes out (I'd get just about any bundle, but would prefer mid May to mid June for MGS (I still haven't played MGS 2 or 3 yet either)

[willardhaven]

When they port it to the Wii.

[62t]

dr mario kart got it right. The user base is no where close to PS2. Even if you count new system purchase just for the game it still wont be enough.

[schuerm26]

Look for GTA IV Sacramento (coming out in 12 months) or GTA IV Boise (coming out in 24 months) to be the greatest selling game in history due to the expanding PS3 and 360 user base. GTA IV won't quite get there.

[Dyson]

No but I expect it to be the best selling Next-Gen title (Ps3/X360), surpassing whatever holds that now. Cod4 or Halo 3 w/e

[quicksilv3r]

When i heard GTA4 has Offical Multiplayer, shit i pre-ordered it, And i dont even have PS3 yet lulz.

[spoo]

It will end up selling around 10 - 12 Million this year and will top out around 12 - 14 million. Mark my word on this one. It would be the best selling if Japan had more of an interest in the GTA games.

[Bioshocked360]

When i heard GTA4 has Offical Multiplayer, shit i pre-ordered it, And i dont even have PS3 yet lulz.Why preorder when you don't have a console to play it on? Isn't the whole point of a preorder that you get it right when it comes out so you can play it, not stare at it and wish you had a PS3?

[mykevermin]

Seeing as how it's coming out for two consoles with a combined install base of around 20 million, I suspect they'd like to see sales of 8-10 million in a very short order, along with a correlating enormous spike in PS3/360 console sales during the week or two leading up to 4/29, as well as for a week or two following.

As far as how well it will sell, I couldn't give a shit. I just want to play it.

[porieux]

I won't be buying it....not that anyone cares.

[akilshohen]

It will end up selling around 10 - 12 Million this year and will top out around 12 - 14 million. Mark my word on this one. It would be the best selling if Japan had more of an interest in the GTA games.

or if they got it to japan faster. GTA SA just came out over there last year, and it hit #1 it's first two weeks there.

[Mahoney07]

OK.

It wont sell 18 million copies.


If Call of Duty 4 could sell 10 million copies in less than a year, GTA 4 has a chance of selling 18 million in 6 years.

[double_j]

It's one of those situations where I know it'll sell more than I think, but less than what most would expect. Yeah, I know, it's a BS answer.

[Strife025]

When i heard GTA4 has Offical Multiplayer, shit i pre-ordered it, And i dont even have PS3 yet lulz.

That's retarded, by the time you get a PS3 I'm gonna laugh if the game is going for $30 because of oversaturation. Go look at the current price of all the other GTA's.

[CaseyRyback]

That's retarded, by the time you get a PS3 I'm gonna laugh if the game is going for $30 because of oversaturation. Go look at the current price of all the other GTA's.


That is one of the dumbest things I have read in a long time. You really want to compare a game that has yet to come out with some shit that came out three years ago?

[Redie]

GTA whatever so far is not going to be a big anything. It is more about the story since San Andreas allowed a whole bunch of customizations and network play with Patches and hacks.

Personally I more intrested in Vice City Stories then any other one at the moment which I have yet to touch. I also intrested in the unaltered Vice City game since I know my copy of the PC game is missing a bunch of graphics.

Then there is also A Liberty City Stories on the PS2 and PSP. I dislike the advertisment since the backgrounds while being NYC is somewhat one sided
( European based/Whitie based/Cuacasian based/The West Side ).

Also I have thought up a even better game then this GTA:NYC nonsense with a girl character also staring myself. The character looks like a dork or some bum you would see outside like the Guy in Spider-Man who was the Scropian also. He looks so shrimpish and to be honest while these small guys are like small dogs that can bite down I dislike Sunny Side up being the senario feels tooooo Russo-Italian. NYC is not just Poor Blondes, Itlain Jews, and Irish parents who take the turn pipe from NJ. It is the true Black America ( In the city/ Negro have the street/ In the city ) , Coperate ( Paradime/ Cinaplex/ Industiral/ Commercial)
and most importantly mixed City ( where you cna find everything when you have everything ).

RockStar is also based in NYC in Silicon Alley and to be honest if there studios is not in this game it is going to bomb.

Honestly this game would have to outdo any other Liberty City game even the original games which took place in such atmospheres.

I don't have a 360 or PS3 so what is going to make me run naked outside and pick up this waste of time. In NYC you can run around naked even in broad day light and there is no this Scorpian loser outside only teens/ Young adults who think they are big man.

Matel Gear must be stopped. You Cuntry Folks is going to Enjoy this I hear:booty:HAR HAR HAR now let me shine my nails.

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6047/jhjhjhp5.jpg

[Sleepkyng]

wat.

[botticus]

If Call of Duty 4 could sell 10 million copies in less than a year, GTA 4 has a chance of selling 18 million in 6 years.If GTA IV is the only GTA to come out this generation, then that would make sense. But future GTAs will curtail sales of this one significantly.

Considering it will be working on two consoles, it is conceivable that the follow-up to a game that sold 17 million (San Andreas) could eventually break 18 million if given the time, but it will have one of those asterisks due to being on two systems. The 360 GTA IV will not sell 18 million+, nor will the PS3 version.

[leveskikesko]

I don't know about that....

Isn't Guitar Hero unstoppable now? All my friggin teachers play that game.

I wonder if Wii-Fit will beat it out, or if it's doomed to be another game wii owners won't buy.

[jimbodan]

The install base just isn't high enough for this game to become the best selling game ever. I think 8-12 million would be pretty good considering everything.

[double_j]

I don't know about that....

Isn't Guitar Hero unstoppable now? All my friggin teachers play that game.

I wonder if Wii-Fit will beat it out, or if it's doomed to be another game wii owners won't buy.

Wii-Fit will be the game that'll sell well just because NPR runs a news report on it on how old people are using it in their therapy and some public interest story about 250 pound guy lost 25 pounds.


Oh, and people like me, that are just peripheral whores. Why do I have a Gamecube Dance Dance Revolution mat? I don't know, but god damnit I have one.

[Mahoney07]

If GTA IV is the only GTA to come out this generation, then that would make sense. But future GTAs will curtail sales of this one significantly.

Considering it will be working on two consoles, it is conceivable that the follow-up to a game that sold 17 million (San Andreas) could eventually break 18 million if given the time, but it will have one of those asterisks due to being on two systems. The 360 GTA IV will not sell 18 million+, nor will the PS3 version.



Being on the same system shouldn't mean asterisk if it's the exact same game.

[Dr Mario Kart]

Exclusive DLC would give you that argument that its not the exact same game.

Thats irrelevant however. Whether there is an actual asterisk or not, people are going to make the comparison of multiplatform and single platform, so its a legitimate distinction.

[botticus]

Being on the same system shouldn't mean asterisk if it's the exact same game.The asterisk is there because the question would be: would Super Mario Bros. 3 have sold more than 18 million if it had been on Genesis too?

[Thomas96]

this game will be one of the biggest selling games of all time. This is the first "next gen" version of the game. The most significant change that the series has seen. So it will definitely do extremely well. Even if its bad.

[Rig]

I won't be buying it....not that anyone cares.

I'm not buying it either. The GTA games just don't appeal to me.

Most "sandbox" games in general aren't my thing.

[InuFaye]

I just have a feeling that this game is going to sell alot less then what most analysts are predicting.

I mean I haven't seen that many ads. (Although I don't go looking for them)

We shall see how well this game actually sells, but due to the fact that the install base is so damn tiny, I dont think that this will get close to San Andreas numbers, probably closer to GTAIII numbers.

[the_deej]

of all time, no way

[Malik112099]

I doubt it will beat Halo 3's record and it came out on only one console

[insertcleverthing]

GTA whatever so far is not going to be a big anything. It is more about the story since San Andreas allowed a whole bunch of customizations and network play with Patches and hacks.

Personally I more intrested in Vice City Stories then any other one at the moment which I have yet to touch. I also intrested in the unaltered Vice City game since I know my copy of the PC game is missing a bunch of graphics.

Then there is also A Liberty City Stories on the PS2 and PSP. I dislike the advertisment since the backgrounds while being NYC is somewhat one sided
( European based/Whitie based/Cuacasian based/The West Side ).

Also I have thought up a even better game then this GTA:NYC nonsense with a girl character also staring myself. The character looks like a dork or some bum you would see outside like the Guy in Spider-Man who was the Scropian also. He looks so shrimpish and to be honest while these small guys are like small dogs that can bite down I dislike Sunny Side up being the senario feels tooooo Russo-Italian. NYC is not just Poor Blondes, Itlain Jews, and Irish parents who take the turn pipe from NJ. It is the true Black America ( In the city/ Negro have the street/ In the city ) , Coperate ( Paradime/ Cinaplex/ Industiral/ Commercial)
and most importantly mixed City ( where you cna find everything when you have everything ).

RockStar is also based in NYC in Silicon Alley and to be honest if there studios is not in this game it is going to bomb.

Honestly this game would have to outdo any other Liberty City game even the original games which took place in such atmospheres.

I don't have a 360 or PS3 so what is going to make me run naked outside and pick up this waste of time. In NYC you can run around naked even in broad day light and there is no this Scorpian loser outside only teens/ Young adults who think they are big man.

Matel Gear must be stopped. You Cuntry Folks is going to Enjoy this I hear:booty:HAR HAR HAR now let me shine my nails.


I don't know about you guys, but this man is quickly becoming my favorite poster on CAG.

[RelentlessRolento]

Even if it dosn't, it deserves to.

[spoo]

Even if it dosn't, it deserves to.

Caught up in the hype much?

[RelentlessRolento]

Caught up in the hype much?

I'm more out of the hype and just have done tons of research. also, I've been a huge fan of GTA humor so I was already sold a long ass time ago.

I still think those who don't believe the entire "hype" thing need to see around that. It's a milestone in gaming that is going to change alot of game development in the next few years.

[spoo]

It's a milestone in gaming that is going to change alot of game development in the next few years.

You post some mighty strong words for a game that isn't evenout yet. A milestone? What is you idea of a milestone, a new way to use a rocket launcher on hookers at Time Square?

[RelentlessRolento]

it sets a new standard for what gameplay can be taken to and is able to do. that's what I mean by milestone. it's doing what most other games never thought they could do.


Yes, I will say and stand by my words for this yet to be released game.

[RelentlessRolento]

Seeing as how it's coming out for two consoles with a combined install base of around 20 million, I suspect they'd like to see sales of 8-10 million in a very short order, along with a correlating enormous spike in PS3/360 console sales during the week or two leading up to 4/29, as well as for a week or two following.

As far as how well it will sell, I couldn't give a shit. I just want to play it.

my thoughts and feelings exactly. I wouldn't be surprised that sales won't hit its peak until about a week later once the masses and press tag along on its release. from there the general public will jump in more easily.

[Ghostcri]

It will sell a ton of copies but it won't beat COD4.

[plasticbathmonki]

I don't see it happening. I doubt that it has the unilateral popularity necessary to make it to the top.

[evyrew]

Despite the amount of publicity as it is getting, i don't think that the sales will take the all time record. The install base for 360/PS3 just isn't high enough yet. It will make a ton of money, and will probably be the best selling game this year.

Then again, I've haven't played a GTA game yet, so what do I know...

[help1]

It will sell a ton of copies but it won't beat COD4.

I think it will demolish Halo 3 and COD 4, in terms of sales.

[Javery]

I don't think it will top 18 million although it might in about 5 years when there are more PS3s and Xbox360s out in the wild. As for changing the way games are designed, I'm not so sure (maybe?) but it does look like they are packing about 4 games worth of material into this so it might up my expectations regarding how much content I should get for $60.

[TahoeMax]

Wii-Fit will be the game that'll sell well just because NPR runs a news report on it on how old people are using it in their therapy and some public interest story about 250 pound guy lost 25 pounds.

Oprah will stow it underneath every seat for one of her audiences.
She will say it's the secret to fun exercise and that she uses it every morning.
Every housewife in America will purchase it.
If they don't already have a Wii, they will buy that, too.
Nintendo will install golden toilets in all of its corporate lavatories.

That is all.

[Matt Young]

I doubt it will beat Halo 3's record and it came out on only one console

You mean for the first day, or week? Because Call of Duty 4 has already outsold Halo 3, and COD4 came out later.

[InuFaye]

Thats because COD4 is on like 14 platforms.
Take away the DS sales and Halo 3 wins.

[Chase]

No. The honor should go to A Boy and His Blob HD Turbo Remix.

^

[Kyz]

You post some mighty strong words for a game that isn't evenout yet. A milestone? What is you idea of a milestone, a new way to use a rocket launcher on hookers at Time Square?
Read from this point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_IV#Differences_from_previous_Gran d_Theft_Auto_games) to the bottom and tell me you're not halfway excited about what this game does that's fresh and exciting.

It's ok to be realistic about what a game might sell...heck we all know 18 million is insane. However, many of you need to stop being such a Debbie Downer about what could possibly be one of the greatest gaming experiences to come out in a while.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/3983/debbiedownerwb1.jpg

You're having fun playing devil's advocate now, but you might actually talk yourself out of picking it up and enjoying like everyone else will (who's going to be looking at you funny).

[eswat]

...we are preparing for a spike that could be much larger than what we saw with the launches of Halo 3 and Activision's "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
http://kotaku.com/383885/xbox-live-preps-for-gta-iv-server-riot

[AvidWriter]

Considering people already have downloaded illegal copies. I think that will hurt the sales of the PC and 360 versions.

Oprah will stow it underneath every seat for one of her audiences.
She will say it's the secret to fun exercise and that she uses it every morning.
Every housewife in America will purchase it.
If they don't already have a Wii, they will buy that, too.
Nintendo will install golden toilets in all of its corporate lavatories.

That is all.

This too. If Oprah even breaths a word about Wii Fit its going to sell out instantly. They go after Microsoft as a monopoly. They need to take down Oprah.

[dmaul1114]

Read from this point (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_IV#Differences_from_previous_Gran d_Theft_Auto_games) to the bottom and tell me you're not halfway excited about what this game does that's fresh and exciting.


Not really. But I've never liked the series so it just seems like more tweaks to a type of gameplay I don't like much (open ended, sandbox games).

[life.exe]

I won't be buying it....not that anyone cares.

Same here, the GTA series just doesnt interest me at all.

[Kyz]

I know the naysayers will keep on naysaying (because it's cool and all), but analysts expect is to sell 9 million in the first week. From the AP (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24338719/) via MSNBC:
http://c.msn.com/c.gif?NC=1255&NA=1154&PS=73838&PI=7329&DI=305&TP=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2f
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/images/MSNBC/msnbc_ban.gif MSNBC.com
'GTA IV' launch could top 'Halo 3'
Analysts expect game to sell 9 million copies in its first week
By Derrick J. Lang
The Associated Press
updated 9:00 a.m. ET, Mon., April. 28, 2008

LOS ANGELES - There’s no Burger King tie-in or special flavor of Mountain Dew. No commercial directed by Peter Jackson, or even an action figure.
The run-up to “Grand Theft Auto IV” has been considerably less ballyhooed than last year’s over-the-top “Halo 3” debut. Yet when “GTA IV” parks on store shelves on April 29, the latest entry in the controversial video game franchise could be the most lucrative launch in entertainment history — and one that many people may not even know about.

Analysts predict Take-Two Interactive Software and Rockstar Games’ open-world, action-driving game will easily top last year’s record-breaking $300 million first-week sales of Microsoft and Bungee Studios’ first-person shooter “Halo 3” — and without a similar marketing bonanza.

With the launch of “GTA IV” on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Rockstar is seemingly steering in one direction: the downlow.

“Rockstar wants to control the message all the time,” says Sam Kennedy, editorial director for the gaming site 1UP.com. “They want this to be seen and perceived exactly the way they want. That’s why — outside of the official trailers they released — people haven’t seen a lot of gameplay footage in advance of ’GTA IV’ shipping. They want to build that hype.”

Take-Two and Rockstar declined to comment for this story, but following a 90-minute demonstration of the game in January, “GTA IV” writer and Rockstar vice president Dan Houser told The Associated Press that the infamous game developer, who’s also responsible for the “Manhunt” and “Bully” games, was being overly protective for one very important reason.

“We want people to be really excited and not know everything by the time they play the game,” said Houser. “Of course, we want them to understand what they’re buying, but we want there to be surprises along the way.”

The desire for intel about “GTA IV” has been mounting since the game was announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2006 and again in August when Take-Two revealed “GTA IV” would be delayed until 2008. Other than four popular online trailers and some embargoed press previews, there hasn’t been much information.

The silent treatment is a savvy business move, according to Steve Fowler, vice president of strategy for the Ayzenberg Group, a company that specializes in interactive entertainment advertising and marketing. Fowler worked as a product manager on the original “Halo.”

“’Halo 3’ took the approach of going after a less core consumer, but they had an ulterior motive,” says Fowler. “Microsoft was using ’Halo 3,’ their biggest property, to try and sell more Xbox 360s. Take-Two and Rockstar are free of that constriction because ’GTA IV’ is on both platforms, so they’re only motivated to be true to what their game is and sell copies of their game.”

Thus far, Rockstar’s advertising campaign has consisted of several outdoor elements — billboards, bus wraps, building murals, phony wanted posters — spread across North America and Europe as well as a few viral videos featuring satirical commercials for fictitious “GTA” businesses posted online. GameStop and Microsoft have also aired their own TV commercials featuring the game.

The less-is-more approach might also have something to do with the controversial series’ M-rated content. “GTA IV” anti-hero Niko Bellic, an immigrant-turned-gangster from Eastern Europe, isn’t exactly one of the Mario Brothers. As Bellic, players can hijack cars, earn cash for criminal activities, flee from police, drive drunk, kill innocent bystanders and patronize strip clubs.

“If you look at their marketing, that’s not a selling point at all,” says Fowler. “They’ve gone with this comic book look and feel. It’s not about graphic violence. It’s not about profanity. It’s more about the feeling, expression and the emotional attachment to the characters and the world.”

The drama extends beyond Liberty City, the game’s fictional locale, and into the real world. Video game publisher Take-Two, which owns Rockstar, has been subject to a hostile takeover bid from Electronic Arts since February. Take-Two has been holding out, refusing to enter formal talks with EA or any other suitor until April 30, the day after “GTA IV” goes on sale.

Huge first-day “GTA IV” sales could certainly boost the value of Take-Two’s shares. The lack of a “Halo 3”-sized advertising campaign isn’t expected to affect sales, according to video game analysts. Unlike the Xbox 360-exclusive “Halo 3,” the ninth “GTA” game is being released for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on the day of release, a first for the 10-year-old gaming franchise.
“The addressable market at launch is about 24 million consoles,” says Michael Pachter, video game analyst at Wedbush Morgan. “So how many will sell in the first week or month or few months? Nine million. That’s the number. That’s about a 35 percent attach rate. By year’s end, it’ll be somewhere between 11 and 13 million because more consoles will be sold before the holidays.”

Such sales would beat the record held by “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” the previous “GTA” console game that sold over 9 million copies when it was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, according to NPD Group, which tracks video game sales. To meet the demand, retailers such as GameStop and Best Buy are opening their doors at midnight for special “GTA IV” launch events.
“I would expect April to be a monster sales month for the video game industry, one that is likely to break all sorts of previous records,” says Anita Frazier, video game analyst for NPD Group. “We release our April sales data on May 15, and I get goosebumps thinking of the numbers we’ll see on that day.”

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24338719/
MSN Privacy (http://mobile.msn.com/device/en-us/privacy.aspx) . Legal (http://mobile.msn.com/device/en-us/terms.aspx)
© 2008 MSNBC.com

[Dr Mario Kart]

Analysts arguing for it really strengthens the argument that it wont happen.

[Thomas96]

I'm wondering if Nintendo feels left out with all this new money circulating. (or about to start circulating tonight!)

[rsigley]

never played gta3 and not really hype for this one

might pick it up when its on sale eventually

[TahoeMax]

Can you imagine GTA on Wii? LOL. I picture a giant clusterfuck of motion controls and jaggies.

Not like it matters to the big N. They still have the keys to all those machines that print money...and Wii Fit. Fucking Wii Fit.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I'm sure Nintendo is quite happy not having to spend ~$100 Million (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3821838.ece) on just making a single game, excluding marketing.

[KingBroly]

GTAIV ain't selling 9 million copies the first week. No way, no how. Maybe 4 million. Maybe.

[Malik112099]

Even if it sells that many, it is on TWO consoles as oppossed to Halo 3's astounding sales on ONE console

[supergrass]

I wonder about the impact GTA4 will have on the rest of the industry. Not only will it be a monster sales-wise, it will eat up hours and hours of people's gaming time. Then again, I think the release schedule around its launch window is pretty tame. By the time June rolls around, I'll be excited to pick up the new Metal Gear, Ninja Gaiden 2 and the new Battlefield.

Also, I have to think GTA4 and the onset of summer is going to lead to a ton of cheap deals on games that are out. I would think games like Turok, Devil May Cry, Dark Sector, Burnout, Army of Two should be dropping pretty quickly.

I also see GTA4 selling a whole bunch of PS3s and getting that PS2, GTA group onboard. So while it probably won't be the best-selling game ever, it should have pretty good legs when it comes to selling a bunch of copies for several months, especially with the great reviews. I'll be picking it up on the 360 along with millions of other 360 owners, but I'm sure the PS3 version will close the sales gap month by month this year as more of that PS2 group comes along for the ride.

[Wolfkin]

SMB isn't really a fair inclusion. You weren't buying the NES for specifically for Mario Bros in most cases, so I wouldn't consider it a "sale" of the game. The best-selling game that was never bundled with a system is SMB3, which hit 18 million, according to Wikipedia. If we're looking for how well a game sold, that should be the target.you weren't buying the NES for Mario Bros? Who are the people who say that? SMB was the only game I had for years on the NES. Actually I also had the combo with Duck Hunt but still.

[Vinny]

I'm sure Nintendo is quite happy not having to spend ~$100 Million (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3821838.ece) on just making a single game, excluding marketing.

Holy crap... and I thought the $20 million for Shenmue was bad.

[TahoeMax]

you weren't buying the NES for Mario Bros? Who are the people who say that? SMB was the only game I had for years on the NES. Actually I also had the combo with Duck Hunt but still.

I actually played Dragon Warrior first. I got my NES for Christmas one year and my friend gave me an extra copy that he had gotten with a Nintendo Power subscription. Likewise, I opened up a copy of FF2 that I got for Xmas another year before I found the SNES behind all the other presents...and I played it before Mario World. Maybe I'm in the minority, yeah? Either way, though, once NES was a little further along in its life cycle I'm sure people were getting the system for other games and Mario was an afterthought. I'm sure people bought Mario 3 and an NES console together en masse and tossed the pack-in game into the corner.

[xxtheycallmedxx]

Holy crap... and I thought the $20 million for Shenmue was bad.

I recently read an article stating Shenmue costed $75 million and wikipedia has it at $70 million....besides,$20 million for a game that had quite a few innovations at the time isn't very expensive at all imo....

[lunatic_pandora]

SMB isn't really a fair inclusion. You weren't buying the NES for specifically for Mario Bros in most cases, so I wouldn't consider it a "sale" of the game. The best-selling game that was never bundled with a system is SMB3, which hit 18 million, according to Wikipedia. If we're looking for how well a game sold, that should be the target.

>>which hit 18 million, according to Wikipedia.
>>18 million, according to Wikipedia.
>>according to Wikipedia.
>>Wikipedia

Fail.

[Malik112099]

it broke the uk's records...609,000 the first day

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30423/GTA-IV-smashes-one-day-sales-record


GTA IV smashes day one sales record

Tim Ingham (http://www.mcvuk.com/email?authorStory=30423&popup=1) Apr 30 2008, 5:22pm

Comments (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30423/GTA-IV-smashes-one-day-sales-record#comments) (19)

ChartTrack data shows game is now UK’s fastest-selling title in 24 hour period





Data obtained by MCV from official UK industry monitor ChartTrack shows that Rockstar’s GTA IV has become the fastest selling game ever in a 24 hour period.

The figures – based on EPoS sales data and estimated retail transactions – show that total online and High Street sales for the game hit 609,000 in one day.

That beats the previous record of 501,000 set by another Rockstar title, GTA: San Andreas, on Friday, 29th October, 2004.

Xbox 360 narrowly nudged out PS3 in the ‘battle of the consoles’.

335,000 copies were sold on Microsoft’s machine – 55 per cent of all formats sales. The figure is a new record for the console, beating Halo 3’s first-day sales of 266,000 units on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007.

GTA IV sold 274,000 copies on PS3 yesterday – 45 per cent of all sales and another format record breaking performance.



PS3’s previous biggest day-one seller was Sony's Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, which released on Friday, March 28th with 80,000 sales.

“We’ll get into the whole week one debate next Tuesday, but it’s been a very good 24 hours for both Sony and Microsoft,” ChartTrack director Dorian Bloch told MCV.

“It’s looking very, very promising for Rockstar in terms of full week sales. Even if If they don’t even sell one more unit, the current figure would still make for an astounding week one performance

"Barring a catastrophe, with lorries bringing stock into stores going AWOL, we can only see that sales number going up and up.

“The Bank Holiday weekend should be a particularly fruitful period – but it will be interesting to see how long the stock lasts as people rush to stores.”

[Jewelz23]

I think GTA 4 will eventually suprass HALO just for the sole fact that it is on 2 consoles, and will eventually make its way to the PC.

Thats 3 platforms, HALO 3 will eventually be released on the PC...but it will be too late for anyone to care.

[Wolfkin]

first off i would discount PC because just like Halo I doubt anyone will care about GTA on the PC. Oh sure there are alwyas people but nothing like the console versions. that said I think two consoles will hurt GTA rather than help.

[Malik112099]

first off i would discount PC because just like Halo I doubt anyone will care about GTA on the PC. Oh sure there are alwyas people but nothing like the console versions. that said I think two consoles will hurt GTA rather than help.


pc = sales = you can't ignore it

how will selling games on 2 consoles hurt gta iv? that's ridiculous

[robin2099]

I'm sure Nintendo is quite happy not having to spend ~$100 Million (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3821838.ece) on just making a single game, excluding marketing.

And yet they put all that money to good use and made one of the most amazing games ever that will easily earn more then that. If a company could spend $100 million to make close to $500 million they'd be stupid not to.

[Maynard]

I'm sure Nintendo is quite happy not having to spend ~$100 Million (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article3821838.ece) on just making a single game, excluding marketing.

No no no, Nintendo will continue to push out the same fucking tired bullshit that they do with each and every fucking console. Whats that? Oh the same games... Mario Kart, Mario, Super Mario Tennis, Golf, Soccer, Hockey, Rugby, Shotputting, Olympics, Doctortime, Metroid, THE SAME fucking bullshit. You may argue that with GTA being released with sequels, but you know what IMO they took each game up a knotch compared to the last. Unless we're talking about Zelda and Mario, Nintendo churns out the same bullshit for Wii because they know they'll make money. That doesn't make them dumb, but I certainly wouldn't base my argument on what Nintendo is doing for development. At least with GTA IV it feels like the bar has been raised.

[Malik112099]

GTA IV couldn't beat Halo 3 on 2 consoles! It sold roughly 2.5 million copies which puts it around $150 Million while Halo 3 sold $170 Million its first 24 hours. The sales ratio was 6:4 in favor of the 360.

http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-140974.aspx


GTA 4 Sells ~2.5 million in North America on Day 1
(http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/NewsCom-140974.aspx?CT=1#Comments)
http://m.n4g.com/8/News/140000/140974_hs.jpg

60% of sales on day 1 were on 360. In Europe 60% of sales were on PS3.

VG Chartz today has announced that according to their early sell-through data, Grand Theft Auto 4 has sold an estimated record 2.5 million units in its first day of sales. GTA IV has been universally acclaimed upon release and the titles day 1 sales places the title in the upper echelon of industry hits - those that are universally loved by both critics and by casual gamers.

Data for the first day of GTAIV sales shows that the game sold roughly at a 6:4 ratio in favor of Xbox 360 to PS3 in the Americas. While that means the game sold better on Xbox 360, it had a higher attach rate on PS3 - the same story was the case in the UK according to an earlier report by Chart Track.

For comparison, Microsoft stated that Halo 3 saw $170 million in sales revenue day one so it seems at this point the combined Xbox 360 and PS3 sales for GTA IV are about on par with Halo 3.

Sales have also been brisk in Europe, along with Chart Tracks report of 600,000 copies sold in the UK in one day, VG Chartz estimates that around 1.7 million units were sold across Europe and others on day one -the format split is roughly a mirror image of the Americas, with around 60% of all European sales being on PS3.

[Redie]

You kow what they said the same thing about Vice City, GTA II, and even SA. What is the diffrence. Like I said this game is too white. I mean the past GTA games was really americanize bieng the orginal felt too NJ. This new one hmm hmm no I prefer mty dark alleys and cruising the sunshine.

no no no, Nintendo will continue to push out the same Fucking tired bullshit t

It is called a shelf life. Nintendo rotates every five years along with...

Oh the same games... Mario Kart, Mario, Super Mario Tennis, Golf,
Soccer,

Well people think all the games link together. The truth is they cut us off ( the original NES players ) by the balls when they ended it with Mario RPG. Mario 64 was never for us and was just Mario in 3d running around like that monkey in Fantasy Zone.

GTA being released with sequels, but you know what IMO they took each game up a knotch compared to the last.

No they did not they did the same thing no diffrent from last year and the year before that. They have been using the same 3d system since GTA3. So it is obvious they are going to come up with new ideas. I bet for the most part these advancements is things that you can find from most movies. GTA is made for people with a simple intelec. They can see what a car, street, and what is even dumber gangster is.

It is like Halo along with all these war games. From 2001-to now you have this Anti-American bullcrap. That put USA in the dog house. There has been pro war propaganda from a long time. Halo ( which I still think looks liek bomberman ) is just another cheap PC game while games like Beyond Good and Evil gets ignored.

The problem the game itself is built for those with little intrest in fun. It is like me watching a cyborg movie with bio people over a shoot out movie anyday or something with Illeagal activities but no cops or fake attitude. There has been many games like this the and people is not looking at it from a stand point view.

What would GTA look like on the SNES or even the Master System?

Nintendo churns out the same bullshit for Wii because they know they'll make money.

People just want to see what happens next.

At least with GTA IV it feels like the bar has been raised.


What fricken bar. GTA3D is just another 3d Explorer game where you can perform many actions and see various VRML characters. Stop trying to make your purchase look better then it is. You know you paid too much, you know it is and will never be worth it, and you know that PC users will get a crumbusmish version and have the exact same fun you had with your game that was not worth it to begin with.

Like me giving a self promotion.


Sonic-R is even better then any Sonic game in 3d since there is nothing that it does to turn you off. Name one thing that Sonic-R that makes you sick???

The truth is Sonic-R like all the other good Sonic games is not even made by SEGA and while SEGA tries to release another commercial Sonic game. Sonic-R along with others of it's type will allways be more fun then any official SEGA sonic game. Sonic-R is even better then Sonic Jam.



and I thought the $20 million for Shenmue was bad.

They are talking about man-hours. You know like your pay in combined with everybody elses pay along with lighting, and heat....not advertisment or things like that.


first off i would discount PC because just like Halo I doubt anyone will care about GTA on the PC. Oh sure there are alwyas people but nothing like the console versions. that said I think two consoles will hurt GTA rather than help.

Okay now somebody here almost has a head on there shoulders. However the truth is you can install the PC version on most systems. It is like the numskulls who said that I will wait for RE4 to come out on PC. However the GCN is the only version that has everything the way it is but people don't care and brought it for the PS2 still.


think GTA 4 will eventually suprass HALO

Halo looks like what people dreamth when they played Atari games. Green dots againt red dots.


$20 million for a game that had quite a few innovations at the time isn't very
expensive at all imo....

I tink er urt that ed..... What innovations? The game was a Action/ Comic Adventure game/ RPG for crying out loud. You walked back and forth and played with this and that. However Shenmue did outdo Metal Gear Solid II.....didn't it???


Can you imagine GTA on Wii? LOL. I picture a giant clusterFuck of motion controls and jaggies

Real funny. At least one person would start this whole jaggy nonsense. So how good could you think it would look on the Dreamcast..................No really the Dreamcast has no jaggs.

You crwazyy man you jrink alloaattaa multttii gera dtsry etmeal gaer.


I also see GTA4 selling a whole bunch of PS3s and getting that PS2, GTA group onboard. So while it probably won't be the best-selling game ever, it should have pretty good legs when it comes to selling a bunch of copies for several months

Yeah when 6% of players is playing Saturn games. Yeah umh like umh your right but then again I don't think you will be seeing a GTA PS2 console release with the Rockstar logo anytime soon.


GTA PS2 console release with the Rockstar logo anytime soon

Did we just predict the future???

[xxtheycallmedxx]

GTA IV couldn't beat Halo 3 on 2 consoles! It sold roughly 2.5 million copies which puts it around $150 Million while Halo 3 sold $170 Million its first 24 hours. The sales ratio was 6:4 in favor of the 360.

http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-140974.aspx


http://www.gamespot.com/news/6190520.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;0


http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/872/872078p1.html

Well,so much for that....