Video game release causes frenzy
Xbox 360 and PlayStation versions of Grand Theft Auto IV have sold out in stores across Lawrence after the video game was released Tuesday
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008
Sounds of gunfire filled KU dorm rooms, apartments and houses all over Lawrence Tuesday after the debut of the long-awaited and controversial Grand Theft Auto IV. The game’s release meant big business for Lawrence retail stores.
AJ Matthews, Wal-Mart employee, said Wal-Mart sold all 72 of its Xbox 360 copies in 30 minutes. He said half of the PlayStation 3 copies were sold.
“The line went from electronics to almost out the door,” he said. “I was actually one of them in line.”
Matthews said Wal-Mart would double its next shipment, which should be in by the end of this week.
Kaitlyn Fairchild, an Overland Park freshman who works at Hastings, said Hastings sold out of its PlayStation 3 copies, but had 30 Xbox 360 copies left as of 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
She said she had personally sold 15 copies in one hour.
“Pretty much every five minutes someone comes in wanting one,” Fairchild said. “I’ve personally had to turn away seven customers who wanted PlayStation 3 copies of the game.”
She said she wasn’t sure when Hastings would restock its PlayStation 3 supply.
Jeremy Tuggle, Target electronics team leader, said Target sold 55 of its 94 Xbox 360 copies and 12 of its PlayStation 3 copies.
“We get a customer who wants one every three or four minutes,” he said.
Tuggle said he went to Target at 8 a.m. to buy his own copy so he could play it before he went to work.
He said Grand Theft Auto IV was a little different than the previous games of its series, but he said it still had all the trademark aspects to it.
“There’s a multiplayer part to this one, so you can get online and play with your friends,” Tuggle said. “Graphic-wise, it also looks a lot sharper than the previous GTAs.”
Insider Games News gave the game a 10 in every category: presentation, graphics, sound, gameplay and lasting appeal. According to IGN’s Web site, the last game to receive an overall rating of 10 from IGN was Soul Caliber in 1999.
— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
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