Vice City proves runaway success

from BBC news
Vice City proves runaway success

 
Vice City has been praised for its attention to detail

The fourth instalment of the popular Grand Theft Auto video game has become the fastest selling title of all time in the UK.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City sold more than 250,000 copies in its first two days on sale, according to official figures from European Leisure Software Publishers Association (Elspa) and sales analysts ChartTrack.

The Playstation 2 game quickly sold out in many shops shortly after its release on Friday, suggesting sales could have been even higher.

It seems set to become the biggest-selling game of the year, following its sell-out release in the US earlier this month.

Violent nature

Vice City, by Rockstar games, is set in a fictional city modelled on Miami in the 1980s. In the game, you play a gangster called Tommy Vercetti, who roams the streets crossing the paths of all kinds of people.

 
Gamers plays a gangster called Tommy Vercetti
 
There has been some concern about the violent nature of the game, with parents worried that it may be sold to under-18s.

But this does not seem to have dented sales in the UK.

With sales in excess of 250,000, Vice City accounted for half of all the Playstation 2 titles bought this week.

It has easily broken the previous sales record, held by Metal Gear Solid 2, which sold 120,000 copies on release.

Analysts estimate that it is also the highest grossing consumer entertainment product of the week, with an estimated £12 million being spent on the game

Attention to detail

Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto 3, remains a top seller. It is still the tenth best-selling game, despite being released more than a year ago.

Vice City has won rave reviews for its attention to detail in recreating the era of the 1980s.

The game features 80 different tracks from bands including Judas Priest, Blondie, Flock of Seagulls, Kool and the Gang, Hall and Oates, Grandmaster Flash, and Cutting Crew.

Voices are supplied by actors Miami Vice star Phillip Michael Thomas, Ray Liotta and Dennis Hopper, among others.

1/4 million.. not bad for the UK in fact like it said thats a record for us.

Woot

[Kurt Angle]

We have sold out at work and have turned loads of people away. Lucky I got my mitts on it first.

damn thts a lot, didnt expect it to beat mgs2

Im going into town at the weekend, hopefully EB or game or somewhere will have it , i know loadsa peple who pre-ordred it and then didn\'t get it - they gotta anticipate this and make more discs!!!! =]