‘GTA’ selling well; early violence in Britain
Little bit of a link roundup for how “Grand Theft Auto” is doing on day of release:
From the Washington Business Journal:
“There is no question this is a huge product on the Xbox and PlayStation 3,” said Matt Wallace, assistant manager at GameStop in Tysons Corner Center. “We’ve had a lot of buzz and excitement beforehand, and having seen what the first 15 hours were like, I anticipate that it’s going to be very big this week. I’d say this is the biggest title of the year to date and nothing bigger is on the horizon. I’ve had customers saying they’ve reserved their copy since June of last year.”
Four-hour lines in San Franscisco, according to Forbes:
Daniel Jongeward … waited in line for over 4 hours to get his hands on GTA IV. He and his friends actually showed up at 5 p.m., but a queue hadn’t formed yet. They went to the movies and returned at 8 p.m. “Everyone expected there to be a line,” he said. Jongeward said he would probably wind up playing all night, since he has Tuesday off. “I planned [my] vacation around ‘Grand Theft Auto.’”
Some moron stabbed a man walking by the “GTA” line in Britain, which will probably provide fuel for all the GTA haters:
LONDON (AFP) — British police were Tuesday hunting the attacker of a man stabbed as he walked by shoppers queuing to buy the latest edition of the notoriously violent computer game “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
Around 100 people waiting for the game to go on sale at midnight Monday saw a hooded man jump out of the queue outside a shop in Croydon, south London, and repeatedly stab the 23-year-old passer-by, police said.
The victim required treatment to several stab wounds but later left hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
NYT loves GTA
The world surely has changed. As noted at the Beat, who would have expected a glowing front-page article about Grand Theft Auto from the New York Times back in the “old days”?
Published by Rockstar Games, Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun. It calls to mind a rollicking R-rated version of Mad magazine featuring Dave Chappelle and Quentin Tarantino, and sets a new standard for what is possible in interactive arts. It is by far the best game of the series, which made its debut in 1997 and has since sold more than 70 million copies. Grand Theft Auto IV will retail for $60.
David Hadju interview on “The Ten-Cent Plague”
On the Media talks to author David Hadju about his book “The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How it Changed America.”
Hadju says:
There were very few things in the 1940s and 1950s that were produced, marketed and priced specifically for young people to buy. And a great many comic book artists in the 1930s and ’40s were kids themselves, just in their teens or maybe their early ’20s. If they’re not young people, a great many of them were outsiders of other sorts.
A great, great many of them were members of minority groups – Jews, Italians, Asian-Americans – African-Americans, many more than people realize – and a great many women. They thought of comics as a place where they were welcome, and in comic books they expressed their pride in their outsider status. And comics were free and wild. Anything did go in comics, and they went too far.
More in the link.
Comics shipping 04-30-08
The DC Universe is shaken up, Dave Sim returns, and Brian Wood’s “Local” releases its penultimate issue. The easy sell of this week should be “DC Universe” Zero, which retails for only 50 cents. It’s written by Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns. Also by Johns this week – ”Green Lantern” No. 30 and “Action Comics” No. 864. “Action” features art by Gary Frank (edit: whoops, this issue is Joe Prado), and the cover, shown here, by Kevin Maguire (”Justice League International”). The Oklahoma adventures of Thor get a hardcover release, written by J. Michael Straczynski. Full list and commentary after the break.
“Hulk” issue 3 sells out
According to Marvel, “Hulk” No. 3, featuring the Red Hulk, has sold out at the distributor level. Copies may still be available at retail.
The book is written by Jeph Loeb and drawn by Ed McGuinness. Marvel is preparing a second printing to go on sale May 28.
The Eisner-winning, Emmy-nominated Loeb features the Red Hulk against A-Bomb and an appearance by the green Hulk, as well. Who is the Red Hulk? Future issues may hold the answers.
“I’m amazed and so grateful for our continued success — three issues and three sellouts! Ed and I set out to have fun on this title and clearly the retailers and readers are having a blast too!,” Loeb said in a release. “We know that everyone is spoiling for the Red Hulk vs. Green Hulk match-up and this one sets the stage.”
– Matt Price
Mekhi Phifer attached to “Hunter’s Moon”
Press release from BOOM!:
BOOM! Studios and James L. White have attached Mekhi Phifer’s Facilitator Films to adapt the graphic novel HUNTER’S MOON as a starring vehicle for the actor, it was announced today by Phifer and BOOM! Co-founders Andrew Cosby and Ross Richie. Phifer and his Facilitator Films partner Ronnie Warner will produce the film along with Cosby and Richie, via their Boom Entertainment banner.
The graphic novel was created and written by James L. White, scribe for the Oscar-winning film RAY. The story follows a single father who takes his teenage son into the woods for a weekend of bonding. When the son is kidnapped, the father is forced to do the bidding of the captors in a desperate bid to save his son.
Fund-raising to help injured retailer
The Grand Rapids Press reports that comic book retailer David Pirkola, owner and operator of Apparitions Comics and Books in Grand Rapids, Michigan was robbed at his store and then shot by the robber.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, Pirkola is in critical but stable condition in a local hospital.
iFanboy.com has set up a Paypal account to accept donations to help cover the cost of Pirkola’s medical treatment and to help keep his store going. iFanboy is also in the process of setting up auctions and other fund-raisers to help Pirkola.
To donate, go online to iFanboy.com.
Eva Mendes as Sand Saref
Well, this is certain to annoy my wife, who is looking forward to “The Spirit” but can’t stand Eva Mendes, but here’s some new promotional art from the film.
On the positive side, Scarlett Johansson is also in it:
GTA IV: Getaway
Getaway footage, courtesy of G4, from the mature-rated “Grand Theft Auto IV.”
(I assume I don’t have to tell Nerdage readers – don’t try any of this in real life.)
GTA IV: Police chase
Outrun the police. “Grand Theft Auto” footage courtesy G4.
