You know it, I know it —Grand Theft Autois big. Not just a huge videogame in its own right, it can be argued that Rockstar’s flagship franchise is very much a part of modern culture, a game known and played by the hardcore and more laid back gamer alike. One analysthas predictedthat this game is even big enough to affect one of the biggest movie releases of the year,Iron Man.
Usually I ignore analysts and their informed opinions, but the theory that April 29’sGTA IVrelease could hurt ticket sales for the May 2 release ofIron Manis an interesting one. Analyst Mike Hickey anticipates thatIron Man‘s ticket sales will be “dampened” by Liberty City keeping millions of potential customers glued to the TV screens.
“The last significant videogame release,Halo 3, generated over $300 million in sales from its first week in the market,” stated Hickey. “Halo 3was released on just one platform, the Xbox 360, and attached nearly 50 percent of the installed base.GTA IVwill be released on both the Xbox 360 and PS3, which have both significantly increased their installed bases since the release ofHalo 3. AGTAIV25 percent attach rate to a combined Xbox 360 and PS3 installed base at its April 29 release would imply 5.8 million units sold or roughly $360 million in retail sales the first week of the game’s release.”
Hollywood has already pinned the blame onHalofor poor ticket sales in the past, and Hickey’s point aboutGTAhaving two audiences instead ofHalo 3‘s one is valid. TheGrand Theft Autogames, like Bungie’sHalo, are proof of the power that videogames can have, and the mainstream weight they can carry. I actually think this theory could hold water. And even if not, at leastIron Manhas an excuse if it doesn’t do as well as expected.
