Kotaku
The country's second largest videogame chain is getting isn't content with merely having all of their stores opening up at midnight for the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV. Game Crazy is also hosting the Extreme GTA IV Experience at 10 locations scattered across the U.S., featuring prizes, limited-edition merchandise, and an exclusive GTA IV faceplate for the Xbox 360. Gamers attending the 'Experience' will also get a special text to win number that enters them in a drawing for two plane tickets to anywhere in the U.S. and $1,000 in mad money.
"New Grand Theft Auto games are always a huge event in the gaming community and this one is sure to be no exception," said Wes Sand, senior vice president at Game Crazy. "Rockstar has outdone itself again by making GTA IV completely immersive and interactive. Our customers have been eagerly anticipating this game's arrival. This is a launch they won't forget."Hit the jump for a full list of the stores hosting the 8PM events on the 28th, as well as a picture of the faceplate!
Cash-in on Grand Theft Auto IV at Game CrazyExclusive, Limited-Edition XBOX 360 Faceplate and 'Extreme GTA IV Experience' Midnight Launch Events in 10 Markets Kick-Off Release of Rockstar's Highly-Anticipated Game
WILSONVILLE, Ore.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Snag the goods, grab the cash and catch the getaway flight - all in one wild night! To celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV title, video game retailer Game Crazy is holding midnight launch events that will give fans first access to the game, as well as exclusive prizes and limited-edition merchandise, including a specially designed Grand Theft Auto IV-themed faceplate for their XBOX 360 consoles.
"New Grand Theft Auto games are always a huge event in the gaming community and this one is sure to be no exception," said Wes Sand, senior vice president at Game Crazy. "Rockstar has outdone itself again by making GTA IV completely immersive and interactive. Our customers have been eagerly anticipating this game's arrival. This is a launch they won't forget."
Ten stores in the Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Detroit; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; Las Vegas; Austin; and Providence, R.I. markets will hold special "Extreme GTA IV Experience" events beginning at 8 p.m. local time on Monday, April 28th. All other Game Crazy stores nationwide will also host midnight launch events that evening.
Customers who attend one of Game Crazy's "Extreme GTA IV Experience" events will receive a special text-to-win number that enters them into a drawing to win two airplane tickets to anywhere in the U.S. and $1,000 in spending money. The winner will be notified at the store shortly after midnight on Tuesday, April 29th. All other Game Crazy stores will have a different text-to-win number for a similar drawing.
The 10 "Extreme GTA IV Experience" events will be held at the following Game Crazy locations:
* 100 East Compton Blvd., Compton, Calif. (Los Angeles, 310.668.9074)
* 1738 165th St., Hammond, Ind. (Chicago, 219.844.4163)
* 855 El Camino Real, San Bruno, Calif. (San Francisco, 650.871.8710)
* 14104 Woodward Ave., Highland Park, Mich. (Detroit, 313.883.0509)
* 719 Sleater Kinney Road SE, Lacey, Wash. (Seattle, 360.413.7774)
* 1422 North Lombard, Portland, Ore. (503.286.3759)
* 3105 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego, Calif. (619.521.4734)
* 540 N Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev. (702.437.9902)
* 903 North IH 35, Bellmead, Texas (Austin, 254.867.8168)
* 933 Pleasant St., Fall River, Mass. (Providence, 508.235.1093)Grand Theft Auto IV is rated M for mature audiences. Fans looking for more information about Game Crazy's launch events in their area can go to Game Crazy's online store locator.
Comments
Now thats CRAZY!
Sorry couldn't resist.
Wow. Sounds extreme. Better get some clean underwear for this one, kids.
Cool. Too bad the closest GC is about an hour away from me. :-(
Aw hell, providence is a bit too far. No offense, but why go away from a major city such as Boston and head out to the boonies?.
really? only one on the east coast? lame
How many Game Crazys are there still around the country? Last I heard the company was bankrupt.
I like the idea of releasing GTAIV at midnight with a huge party in Compton. Asking for trouble? No. Asking for wacky times? Si.
i wanna be like compton fool. wish we still had direct flights from AC to Vegas. stupid economy
@Funkofages:
In my head, I imagine that Compton is identical to how it was in 1993.
Gamebuzz in Montreal is also doing a midnight launch.
@Fyren: Not actually Providence. ( My stomping grounds are about 1/2 hour south of that fair city, in thick traffic. 15 minutes away at about 3 am.)
The list thingy says Fall River, which is kinda South East-ish of Boston, while still in Massachusetts.
That reminds me I need to find out if Best Buys are doing a Midnight Launch. Anybody hear anything?
my gamestop is doing a midnight launch, but i don't know if it's going to be a party, or jsut a bunch of anxious nerds waiting in line
/Southeast US bends over
/GameCrazy inserts shaft
That's pretty awesome... I wonder if GameStop will be doing the same thing, but different? I wonder if GameStop will be launching GTAIV at midnight period. Guess I better call.
@Barum: Thats even worse, that is the boonies. Once again, much to my fellow fall river citizens, but c
Ten stores in the Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Detroit; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; Las Vegas; Austin; and Providence, R.I.
903 North IH 35, Bellmead, Texas (Austin, 254.867.8168)
Uh thats Waco Foolios. Now there is nothing wrong with that cause it "supports our troops" (the 3 waco game crazys customers are like 95% armed services) but don't say austin.
actually im glad its not austin cause the people who run the austin stores suck :(
hell thats not even an austin area code >.>
@Funkofages:
Who the hell plays GTA in Compton?? that would be like me playing a videogame about waking up late, going to work and doing overtime. Been there done that. Lol
@Zaos: No doubt. Lacey, WA is South of Tacoma. Not even close to Seattle.
1738 165th St., Hammond, Ind. (Chicago, 219.844.4163)
Um, yeah... that is NOT Chicago.
@3inst3in: yeah, an extreme lack of East Coast love right there
I love how they think Hammond, IN is CHICAGO! I'll just stick with my local gamestop and not risk getting shot in shitty Indiana at midnight.
Yeah, and Lacey, Washington is like 2 hours from Seattle. Why didn't they do it at the Wallingford store, thats actually IN Seattle.
Wow! They're doing what any 24hr Wal-Mart does!
theres over 650 gamecrazys in the country, and we're opening 100 more this year. our parent company movie gallery went bankrupt after buying hollywood video (who was originally our parent company) a couple years ago. nowadays, hollywoods are being closed left and right while new gamecrazys are opening up. so gamecrazy by itself is doing fine, but movie gallery (due to things like netflix and on demand) is suffering.
@AndrewG009: hmm i clicked it but it didnt show up, but that last comment was meant for you.
My GameCrazy is having the launch also, but isn't on this list. And its in chicago......in the ghetto.
@Jaid: Not a good mix.
Hey, Shouryuuken- Which Game Crazy do you call home? Myself, I am from the Utah market, which is growing by leaps and bounds.
Analysts are predicting this launch will surpass Halo 3's. I am anxious to see what the numbers will show.
I Work at a hollywood video/Game Crazy Mini is what they call it.. Kinda both stores combined in one.
Were having a midnight launch aswell..
Middleboro, Mass.
557 west grove st. 02734 ( I think thats the zip)
Its Between Taunton and Bridgewater..
We have until the middle of next week left on preorders.
But yeah. Just a heads up for you since people were talking about driving to Fall River (which is a small and shitty store)
Awesome to see Portland in there!!!
@Livid: Yeah, don't think I'll be making that one.
I work at a Hollywood video/mini gamecrazy.
We'll be hosting a midnight launch..
Gamecrazy isnt supplying us w/ any launch special items or anything. You can just pretty much pick up the game, and concessions. Is what I was told were allowed..
Were located in Middleboro Mass. right off of 140/495..
If you need any information you can email me at touya168@hotmail.com (w/ gta4 release as subject or sn paulxbroxchillx. I am the assistant manager there..
I believe we have til wednesday on preorders for the game.
How the hell is Hammond, Indiana considered Chicago?
I was all psyched about Vegas being on there, until I remembered that it's in a "rough" area.
I'm thinking I'll just avoid it.
Gamecrazy > Gamestop
Anyone Agree?
As an ex-GC employee, I'm glad to see them getting the jump on Gamestop for once...
@Pieman2: Agreed, but unfortunately the drive to Gamecrazy is much longer than the 1 to Gamestop. I really prefer Gamecrazy because of the nicer employees, the better "MVP" Card you get, the better prices, and the whole experience.
I wish they were as prolific as Gamestop, because I would stop going to Gamestop all together.
"Rockstar has outdone itself again by making GTA IV completely immersive and interactive."
I think if Chris Rock were here, he'd say, "You're supposed to make your game immersive and interactive!"
@Pieman2: I did, but recently the GC nearest me fired the entire staff and replaced them with... Well, rude idiots.
They also cleared out all their old school used games, and replaced them with stacks of old XBox and PS2 stuff.
I now just hit GameStop for new stuff and a local place for older titles.
a local store here called "Play n Trade" is also doing a midnight launch, but the workers there are my friends and went to school with me so i just asked them to hold me one haha
We have one of those where I live too. It's in a crappy location, but they're always a few bucks cheaper than MonopolyStop.
Are you f*cking joking? The portland store is 1 mile from my house, and I have to wake up for a final exam on tuesday. wtf?! are the game gods trying to make me go crazy?
Why does the one in San Diego have to be in some far off area in the ghetto? Why in the hell did they have to close the Encinitas store? Damn you, Hollywood Video!
My local GameStop is opening back up at 10:00pm and having a midnight release. I don't know if they're doing prizes or anything, but I'll be there for my copy of GTA IV.
I dont think i will do any midnight launch thingy, it's a workday and i need to get up at 5.30am lol and i won't preorder, i will just arrive at Walmart and get it, lol.
There's a Gamecrazy in Los Angeles? Who knew?
Oh, I see. Compton. Yeah.
Yep. Even the other stores are having some pretty fun activities. My store is having a band and a number of other things going on that night. Oh... and I am of course wearing my GTA Made Me Do It shirt.
ALL GameCrazy's are opening at midnight for this AND Mario Kart. And all are doing tournaments at 8pm for both launches. This is actually fairly common for GameCrazy. Much better than sitting outside waiting for midnight.
Glassboro, NJ one is doing free food. 8)
But they're going to ask you to pay for the plate, right? People don't get one for waiting in line at midnight? It doesn't make that clear anywhere. As I live less than a mile from a Game Crazy, I'd walk down there for the face plate if the price was right (free).
@Dunny0:
This is funny seeing how many people who want a Grand Theft