Brighton goes bonkers for GTA IV

By Robert Purchese Published 29 April, 2008

Hundreds litter the street.

Hundreds of money-wielding shoppers lined the streets of Brighton last night to bag their long-awaited copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.

Those retailers opening their doors for the eager fans were two GAME stores and one Gamestation - each within a hundred yards of each other, bizarrely.

All three were mainly dishing out pre-ordered copies, and Gamestation produced the most impressive queue of the evening. Still, GAME had a passer-by who looked like a "demented cowboy" according some rather merry shoppers, so that's something.

Gamestation was the most forthcoming, and let us traipse into its shop, chat to its manager, and take pictures of single father Simon, 31, buying the first copy of the game. Well, copies; he bagged two on Xbox 360 and one on PS3.

How chuffed was he to get his hands on the game? "Oh, very," said Simon, fanning his copies out for the camera, "I've been waiting a long time for this."

Gamestation said it had more Xbox 360 pre-orders than PS3, but wouldn't be drawn on specifics. It wouldn't talk to us at all this morning. We think our pictures caused a bit of trouble.

1

The Gamestation queue. With help from Subway and KFC.

GAME on Western Road bucked ours and its predictions by selling more PS3 copies, despite having 170 Xbox 360 and 120 PS3 pre-orders available last night. Ian, who answered the phone this morning, wasn't allowed to give numbers, but said the PS3 had it "by a nose".

"We imagined that it would be 360," he added. "And after it has all fallen out and panned out it probably will be, by an edge."

GAME wouldn't let us in, but we managed to capture possibly the happiest shopper of the night.

GAME in Churchill Square had three security guards to monitor only 40 shoppers last night, and they folded their arms at us and were very sorry but you are not allowed to ask questions or take pictures.

Still, they managed to not tell us that more 360 copies had been pre-ordered, and this morning revealed that the Microsoft platform was still in the lead. By a lot? "Yeah; double," said our non-specific phone answerer.

But what did the rabble have to offer? We split them into two groups: the GAME gang and the Gamestation bunch.

happyman

Happy Man taking it all in his stride.

The GAME gang was excited "because [GTA] is always class", and surmised that it would be "game of the year". They laughed when we suggested Wii Fit might give it a run for its money; "I don't mind Nintendo," admitted one, "I'm just into hardcore gaming."

What about games making you violent, GAME gang? "Rubbish. Go and watch a horror film; same thing, isn't it?"

And what does the Gamestation bunch say to those who claim games make you violent? "Ridiculous. I say play those games; most people who say that have never actually picked up a controller."

But parents play a role in this, don't they? "They should know better," declared one. "Depends on the kids," suggested another. "If the parents are buying it for a 17 year-old kid then that's fair enough. But you're not going to want to be buying that sort of stuff for your 10 or 12 year-old".

Finally, we thought we would find out why people had chosen one version over another if they owned both consoles. One fellow picked the PS3 "because the PlayStation pad is just designed for that game, always has been". But what about rumble support? "Oh." His friends laughed.

Almost everyone we talked to had the next day, or even week off work to play Grand Theft Auto IV. Most were off home to pop it on and play it until they dropped.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (42) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • superdelphinus #1 4 years ago

    Lolling at the liberal sprinkling of links to pictures in this article coupled with the inference of trouble caused by them!!

  • robertster #2 4 years ago

    This is all a bit parochial isn't it? Talking about Churchill Square and Western Road?
    Edited by robertster at 29/04/08 @ 11:59

  • AcidSnake #3 4 years ago

    "Oh." His friends laughed.
    So did I!

  • superdelphinus #4 4 years ago

    In fact i think they should put links to these pictures in hundreds of articles

  • neilch #5 4 years ago

    I love Churchill Square and Western Road!!!

  • gingerlink #6 4 years ago

    Rumble support. Pwned

  • r3n #7 4 years ago

    meh, i queued at the Durham Gamestation for all of 10 minutes to get my unreserved 360 copy, whilst there was a 100m long queue around the corner for a local games shop. some people are just a bit blind

  • anomagnus #8 4 years ago

    wanted to go to midnight opening here in cork, but was dying of the cold, and slept on!!

    why launch it on a tuesday, WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?????????????

    I hope i can get a copy before the weekend

  • Brogan #9 4 years ago

    Was in game in Chelmsford at 9 and the were telling people ringing in that they had by the time they got there they would have sold out of the 360 but still had ps3.


    Off topic. well done to the staff in the shop who were asking all the mothers buying a copy if the person they were buying for was under 18, still sold it to them but did warn them that they may want to rethink as it is fairly strong which really is the most they can do.

  • DrR0b3rts #10 4 years ago

    I'm awaiting "Cleethorpes goes crazy...", "Mansfield goes manic...", "Aylesbury goes apeshit..."

  • Blackthorned #11 4 years ago

    Game's stores always smell funny - I thought it must be the carpets but didn't they change to wood floors?

  • robertster #12 4 years ago

    Here's some more Brighton GTA news

  • zedzee #13 4 years ago

    In my humble opinion, I think the GTA series is doing the industry proud and putting its name out there, reaching corners of news reels that have not been accessible before. I believe all major news channels had a slot on it last night, including Sky News and BBC News, which is fantastic.

    GTA does put the games industry on the mainstream entertainment map yet continues to satisfy 'hardcore gamers', or at least, it's one of such games. Others perhaps, arguably, being Halo and the upcoming LBP; will see. GTA, however, has done it pretty well and despite the fact some may say "it's done it for the wrong reasons" (violence, immigration, crime), I say it's reflecting life - a particular type of lifestyle, anyway. So, as long as it's kept out of under-age children's hands, I'm very much in support of its effort, despite the fact that I personally don't think it's my cup of tea.

    The important thing is games are getting more mainstream, in terms of being known to many people that didn't know about them before and also they continue to innovate and go in different directions that other industries, like films, can't.

    All the news channels mentioned last night that the games industry is "rivalling" or "bigger than" Hollywood. And that's a good thing for all gamers and those on the periphery, who might be tempted in the not so distant future.

    And I don't mean by things like Nintendo's Revolution (I'm sorry, but I just can't bring myself to call it by its commercial name). I don't know what they're doing. It's different, yes, but it's also frightening, because what's Nintendo going to do for its nexgen console? Is it going to be another Revolution type? Is it going to go back to its roots and try and beat Microsoft and Sony with a console that will blast both their budgets? Where is all that going to leave their newly acquired audience? how many more times will that new audience have to buy the remotes and sensitive pads? And if it's backwards compatible, how will Nintendo make a profit? Won't the same type of console be boringly repetitive...Oh, I forgot, I WAS talking about Nintendo, wasn't I?!

    Still, good on RockStar and congratulations on GTA-IV. Let the millions be raked in!!!

  • DrR0b3rts #14 4 years ago

    Hilarious comments on that Argus link: "Well rather than play Moronic games all night I would rather jump all over My Girlfiend".

  • spookyzombie #15 4 years ago

    How much did everyone pay out of interest from the stores that were open at midnight?

  • agparrot #16 4 years ago

    glol at comments in robersters link from ^

    "A 100 people queing all Monday night. Dont these people have jobs to go to the next day - just goes to show what a state the coutry is in when computer games come before work. All on the old 'jam roll' I suppose and saved their 'dole' money up to buy it."

    Quality.

  • superdelphinus #17 4 years ago

    I hate it when these people post comments like that but can't even spell basic words like 'country'. what the feck. try reading a book or two or go to school you thick cvbnts

  • robertster #18 4 years ago

    The readers of the Argus who post on their site are wonderfully retarded. Never fails to make me laugh.

  • hula hoops #19 4 years ago

    "A 100 people queing all Monday night. Dont these people have jobs to go to the next day - just goes to show what a state the coutry is in when computer games come before work. All on the old 'jam roll' I suppose and saved their 'dole' money up to buy it."

    Or they may have booked days off to do something they like once in 3 years?


  • Trigga_Tybalt #20 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 15:43:01 23-02-2012

  • MilkYMoO #21 4 years ago

    I must the only 360 and ps3 owner on the planet who wont be buying gta 4. The gta 4 craze is unbelievable.

  • EvilSpaceMonkey #22 4 years ago

    But what about rumble support? "Oh." His friends laughed.

    So, hang on... my DualShock 3 doesn't work with GTAIV, or is Eurogamer just doing a cheap shot? :D Anyway the game rocks on either console. Nuff said.
    Edited by EvilSpaceMonkey at 29/04/08 @ 13:11

  • PlugMonkey #23 4 years ago

    "I don't mind Nintendo," admitted one, "I'm just into hardcore gaming."

    Oh, yeah. GTA is teh HARDCORE!!

    Definitely not even remotely mainstream that one...

  • chrisjm #24 4 years ago

    'Hilarious comments on that Argus link: "Well rather than play Moronic games all night I would rather jump all over My Girlfiend". '

    hope he has the footpump handy then
    Edited by chrisjm at 29/04/08 @ 14:12

  • WillTheSecond #25 4 years ago

    "This is all a bit parochial isn't it? Talking about Churchill Square and Western Road?"
    Well, Eurogamer's offices are in Brighton... besides, don't we all live in Brighton?

    Okay, maybe just me...

  • JediMasterMalik #26 4 years ago

    Considering how well the PS3 version is apparently selling, Rockstar would be stupid to not have some big DLC coming on it.

  • robertster #27 4 years ago

    Hey, I don't mind the Brighton stuff, I live there as well, but I'm not sure everyone else gets as much out of it.

  • superdelphinus #28 4 years ago

    it's very very gay i here

  • kangarootoo #29 4 years ago

    I think I am alone on the planet.

    I am into GTA, and I shall at some point play GTA:IV 'cos its no doubt very good indeed. But I don't own a copy currently and won't buy a copy anytime in the next week.

    I'm in no particular hurry, I have other things to do. Its not like I only have 4 days before all of the air gets sucked from the atmosphere, meaning its too late to play GTA because I'm dead. Where does this sense of self imposed urgency come from?

    Mass hysteria is what it is.

  • monkie_king #30 4 years ago

    superdelphinus: "it's very very gay i here".

    I don't understand. You're there because it's very very gay? Or it's very very gay because you're there?

  • monkie_king #31 4 years ago

    kangarootoo: I'm the same generally, but multiplayer has changed things a bit. I didn't start COD4 online until it had been out for 3 months, by which time everybody knew the levels inside out and was a complete levelled-up ninja.

    Since GTA4's multiplayer is so much about knowing the map, I'm feeling a similar sense of urgency to get hold of it before too long. That said, it's going to be hitting the 2nd-hand bins hard in a month or so, if you can wait.

  • kangarootoo #32 4 years ago

    "That said, it's going to be hitting the 2nd-hand bins hard in a month or so, if you can wait."

    I probably can't wait quite that long ;)

  • Jmek #33 4 years ago

    I used to live just round the corner from Gmestation, in oriental place. Ahh the memories......

  • Xerx3s #34 4 years ago

    I don't get it, why on earth would people buy one copy on each machine. It's the same fucking game.

  • Xerx3s #35 4 years ago

    "I must the only 360 and ps3 owner on the planet who wont be buying gta 4. The gta 4 craze is unbelievable. "

    No, you are not the last sane person on the planet. There are others out there.

  • nic_forsyth #36 4 years ago

    Queuing up for a game to get that "first play" is one thing, but there's no need to resort to throwing litter on the street just because you're bored. Honestly, you people, this country.

  • Nikanoru #37 4 years ago

    "I don't mind Nintendo," admitted one, "I'm just into hardcore gaming."


    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA



    Kid was probably still grabbing shit out of their diapers when real "hardcore" gamers were playing hardcore games on the NES. If there's any game that's casual, it's GTA. Every regular chump plays it, even the ones that don't usually play other games. Just because it allows them to live out their thug fantasies, feel all tough like a gangstah, and doesn't actually require any effort to just mess around in. Yeah no totally not mainstream there.

  • JediMasterMalik #38 4 years ago

    Popular = casual? Since when?

  • Brogan #39 4 years ago

    Yeah, i didn't get the one either malik.

  • Nikanoru #40 4 years ago

    You lot know exactly what I'm talking about. It's an easy pick up and play game for everyone. Like I said, even people who usually don't bother with games play it. It's completely in the mainstream.

  • miss-information #41 4 years ago

    Reading that has actually made me homesick for Brighton and England :(

  • Zuiyo #42 4 years ago

    "Mass hysteria is what it is."

    But it's for a good cause!