"Grand Theft Auto: IV" blew away videogame and Hollywood records as its creators reported Wednesday that it raked in an unprecedented $500 million in its opening week.<\/p>\n
Take-Two Interactive said approximately six million copies of "GTA IV: Liberty City Stories" have sold worldwide, with more than half of those games snatched up within 24 hours of the game hitting store shelves April 29.<\/p>\n
"Grand Theft Auto IV's first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment," said Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick.<\/p>\n
"We believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date."<\/p>\n
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" took in 196 million dollars in its first week to seize the Hollywood crown for top-grossing film opening, according to Box Office Mojo.<\/p>\n
Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter expects "GTA: IV" to be the second best-selling videogame ever behind its predecessor "GTA: San Andreas," which has sold 23 million copies.<\/p>\n
"I'm sure 'GTA: IV' beats Hollywood movie opening weeks," Pachter told AFP.<\/p>\n
"But it depends how one looks at it. I'm sure more people saw 'Ironman' than played 'Grand Theft Auto' in the past week but fewer dollars changed hands."<\/p>\n
The 'Ironman' film based on the Marvel Comics character opened in theaters Friday.<\/p>\n
The "GTA" franchise is the work of Take-Two's Rockstar Games studio and is an epicenter for outrage over violence in videogames because players triumph with acts such as carjacking, thuggery, and killing.<\/p>\n
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) stamped a "Mature" label on "GTA: IV" banning US retailers from selling the game to anyone less than 17 years old.<\/p>\n
Take-Two hopes the superstar launch of "GTA: IV" will give it leverage in takeover talks with the world's largest video game maker, Electronic Arts, which is trying to buy the New York City-based firm.<\/p>\n
Take-Two rejected a two-billion-dollar offer from EA and delayed talk of negotiation until after the release of "GTA: IV."<\/p>\n