Sony, MS Provide Fresh Spin On GTA IV Sales

First week sales figures provided by Microsoft, courtesy of unnamed retailers, put sales of Grand Theft Auto IV at 60% for the Xbox 360 version, 40% for the PlayStation 3 version. A win, undoubtedly, for Microsoft. N'Gai Croal of Level Up got his hands on some GameStop-only sales data, which puts the percentage more accurately at 64% on the Microsoft side, 36% on the Sony side.

Argh! Not accurate enough, for our tastes! Fortunately, we'll be able to more obsessively split hairs on the matter later this week, when NPD data is revealed, but for now we have some expertly sculpted spin to enjoy!

GameStop Ending Wii Fit Pre-orders

Samba De Amigo To Get Paid DLC?

Your GameStop "Reservation" For GTA IV May Be Meaningless

We really hope that if you were one of the bazillions who threw down a tenner on a reserved copy of Grand Theft Auto IV at your local GameStop or EBGames, that you've already acquired your prize. If not, we wish you good luck and godspeed! An employee writes to us today about what he calls "some disturbing marching orders from corporate" that basically say that your pre-order doesn't guarantee your copy won't be sold to the next walk-in customer. In fact, "we are being told to specifically disregard our reservation customers, who have payed a deposit on this game in exchange for a guarantee of availability, for walk-in customers."

As you read, remember this is business, it's nothing personal. The alleged "marching orders" are after this.

Blockbuster Video Gunning For GameStop?

"We are committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores — hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms — including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," said Rod Murray, vice-president, games merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

Sega Superstars Tennis Double Faults At Retail, Now Just $19.99

Last Day For GameStop GTA IV SE Preorders

A helpful GameStop employee has informed us that today is indeed the last day to preorder the special ultra hyper awesome limited collector's edition of Grand Theft Auto IV at EBGameStop stores across the country. Do you understand what this means? As we speak the extra bits they've thrown in to the SE bundle are fading away like a McFly family picture. Those of us on the East Coast, that you have approximately one hour to get to the closest store with a 9PM closing and put your money down, or you'll be stuck with just the game, without a spiffy lockbox to secure it. I contacted several of my local stores who have confirmed the fact, so you might want to hop on that.

Oh, and Dan from Perimeter says you should bring in your trade-ins to put towards the price of the game. I'm pretty sure Dan is a robot. Me? I preordered the regular edition, though I'm not completely ruling out mugging someone in a swag-induced panic come launch night.

Order Command & Conquer, Get Bobblehead

Analyst: Game Sales Have Peaked, We're All Doomed

Maybe we're not doomed, but the financial future of retailer GameStop may be less rosy, less "recession proof" if analyst Robert Higginbotham of Goldman Sachs is right. He wrote in an investor note—which I'm so pissed that I missed—that after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV and Wii Fit, "the remainder of the year lacks any big releases, and comparisons get tougher throughout the year as we lap titles such as Halo 3 and Guitar Hero III."

It may be hard to match the already stellar beginning of the year, with nearly a billion U.S. dollars in software sales last month, but the second half isn't without some respectable hits. Metal Gear Solid 4, Gears of War 2, LittleBigPlanet, Halo Wars, Resident Evil 5 and maybe even a Nintendo published game or two are sure to stoke spending. But will it be enough as the economy sinks closer to Armageddon levels? I'm going to start using my left kidney less. Just in case.

Goldman says video-game sales have peaked [Marketwatch]

From the Best of Craigslist in Raleigh, N.C., here's an ode to true love that, to non-gamers sounds about like Survivor's "The Search is Over." But this should melt the heart of any girl who has taken controller in hand and crusaded against unrelenting hordes of enemies, wondering if there ever was a boy out there who considered her just as worthy of the fight.

"Oh GameStop Girl, how you make my heart meter skip a beat. If you were being held captive in a mountain fortress by a ruthless mutant mafia gangboss and I had to fight my way through 16 levels of fire-breathing undead ninjas with swords the size of small ponies, I would find a way, even if, after every level, a small man continued to taunt me by saying that you were in another castle. EVEN IF."

GameStop Girl, I want to kill robotic zombie terrorists with you - m4w [Best of Craigslist]

GameStop President Steve Morgan Resigns

After 7 productive years with GameStop, Steve Morgan has made the decision to reapply his energy and drive outside out GameStop Steve will officially be leaving the company on May 2nd 2008. Steve has stated from the very first day we discussed his position with our merged company that his goal was to head up a company as a CEO. After two and half very successful years as our President he now feels that the time is right to pursue his objective.

EBGames Try For Teh GTAIV Funnies