Take-Two Interactive Software announced today that Grand Theft Auto IV has surpassed the all-time records for the first day's sales and first week sales (in dollar value). The game, which released last Tuesday, April 29 ^th , sold approximately 6 million units worldwide in its first week in stores. The retail value of those sales has been estimated at over $500 million; that's $100 million to $140 million more than most analysts were expecting. GTA IV also took the opening day sales record, selling approximately 3.6 million units, with an approximate retail value of $310 million worldwide.

With these numbers, Take-Two beat out both Microsoft's opening day and first week sales records, set by Halo 3 in September of last year. To be fair though, as I mentioned in the GTA IV launch day article , which unfortunately didn't make it online until later that week because of our site glitches (see our publisher's joke article), GTA IV launch on two consoles, giving people more options to buy. Halo 3 only released on Xbox 360.

As for the team at Take-Tw o, they couldn't be happier with the game's success. "We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two, “Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well.” Of course, there were many factors behind the game's massive sales. There was the gigantic ad campaign, featuring television, online, public transit ads and more. Let's not forget all of the preview coverage from critics preceding the launch.

However, we can't forget the people who really gave Grand Theft Auto IV its biggest boost of mainstream media coverage; its detractors. If it weren't for interest groups like MADD, a number of politicians from around the globe and, Take-Two's biggest promoter, Florida lawyer Jack Thompson. Without these fine people, Grand Theft Auto IV would not have received half of the mainstream media coverage it ended up with, and thanks to them the words their viewers, readers and constituents heard over and over again were “ Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto IV ”. Don't get me wrong, drunk driving is downright wrong, violence and crime are despicable, but for all the help these people have given Take-Two by spreading the word about the GTA IV 's release, it's enough to make you think that they're working with the promoters.