You know it, I know it -- Grand Theft Auto is 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 analyst has predicted that 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's GTA IV release could hurt ticket sales for the May 2 release of Iron Man is an interesting one. Analyst Mike Hickey anticipates that Iron 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 3 was released on just one platform, the Xbox 360, and attached nearly 50 percent of the installed base. GTA IV will be released on both the Xbox 360 and PS3, which have both significantly increased their installed bases since the release of Halo 3. A GTA IV 25 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 on Halo for poor ticket sales in the past, and Hickey's point about GTA having two audiences instead of Halo 3's one is valid. The Grand Theft Auto games, like Bungie's Halo, 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 least Iron Man has an excuse if it doesn't do as well as expected.
Contest:
10:37 AM on 03.12.2008
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And I WILL be buying GTAIV. I have multiple hooker killing scenarios I have to simulate.
correlation, but no connection
Im more excited about the Iron Man film then GTA.. i am always skeptical about GTA games with all there hype. Hasn't disappointed me yet with GTA:VC and SA but still.. nervousness!!
However, I will say this. That is by far going to be my best week ever. My last two exams for the year on the monday? GTAIV tuesdays? Iron Man movie friday?
Definitely cannot wait.
These are all reasons we choose to speak with our wallets and plop down $170 on a game with guitar controllers, the movie studios keep cranking out the same crap. Eventually when the game developers start doing the same in their inevitable stagnation, we might find some other medium to spend our monies. If there's anything left after the nuclear holocaust. :P
Owen Wilson is a stapler!
GTA IV: the game that keeps on giving after hours and days...
yeah, I don't see a correlation... I'm probably hitting GTA first though.
Yep, you got it. I'm seeing the same things happening more and more in games too (money driven development styles and marketing towards individuals who know nothing besides what entertains them), so I'm glad there's a multitude of great books out there to read, not to mention doing stuff outside like sailing and camping and what not. And also, SUPPORT INDIE GAMES/MOVIES!
Also, it's FUCKING IRON MAN. I doubt it will do poorly.
If the movie doesn't meet sales expectations, that will be excuse though.
Although, 10,000 B.C. did reasonable well the same weekend SSBB came out, so maybe the Halo excuse never worked in the first place...
P.S.: Iron Man looks good. But Batman looks better...
we'll see if Iron Man will make a total of 135 million dollars in the U.S. when its all said and done.
You've clearly ignored the whole political uproar that's been going on for years since GTA III first came out. There's a huge teen audience for GTA. It's not MEANT for them, but they're getting it and playing it anyway.
Either way, it depends on how good the movie turns out to be. If the movie blows, word's going to spread fast, and everyone's going to put their money towards something else, and since Hollywood can't fail, they're going to blame it on something other than the people who killed the movie. If not GTA IV, then another game, another movie, P2P downloads, having sex with an attractive partner, sleeping, ect.
The reason Box office sales were down when Halo3 came out was because there were shit movies on. You know when a Resident Evil movies is the no.1 film that there's not much else going on.
I think this guy has a point though, there will be some gamers who will be glued to GTA4 but not enough to make a significant dent in Iron Man (no pun intended) and I bet even they will go to the cinema to see it eventually.
Ultimately as neveranything said if the movie is good people will go if it sucks (which I doubt it will) then they'll be playing GTA
but just the fact that 5.8 million people are doing something else at that time can indeed be a cause of concern for Hollywood... ( and that's just the guy playing, I can immagine lots of places where 4 to 5 people would be watching :-) )
PS I SMARTER THAN U.