Preliminary numbers news now: gaming mega-retailer GameStop shared some Grand Theft Auto IV sales data with N'Gai over at Newsweek, who in turn breaks it down relative to the install base for each platform. Of course, these numbers only account for GameStop sales and, as Sony's Peter Dille points out, "GameStop probably does a little bit better with the early adopter crowd." That would be the same early adopter crowd who may know about GTA IV's 360-exclusive DLC.

Another limiting factor: these numbers don't account for console sales for the month of April, so any GTA-infused boost may skew the numbers further. But don't let those sobering facts stop you from enjoying our fancy chartification of GameStop's data. Note: Despite selling nearly twice as many copies, GTA IV performed better (at GameStop) on a per-console basis on the PS3 than it did on the Xbox 360.

	# CONSOLES SOLD	% TOTAL CONSOLES	% GTA IV GAMESTOP SALES
Xbox 360	9.9m	70.7%	64%
PlayStation 3	4.1m	29.3%	36%

We know that a vast majority of the gaming media consumers out there have a fairly negative outlook when it comes to pre-orders for popular titles (did anyone really have a hard time finding Halo 3 last September?), but that's not why we're writing about the recent pre-order listings on Amazon and Gamestop for the next (Barlog-less) installment in the well-received God of War franchise. What we find intriguing is the March 2 release date listed on both websites -- three quarters earlier than the last rumored launch window for the title. Is this wishful thinking from these two gaming retailers, or could the further adventures of everyone's favorite ashy Spartan hit shelves much sooner than expected?

Given the nearly unquantifiable level of anticipation building up to the midnight unveiling of Rockstar's opus, it seemed prudent to roll up to the local Broken Arrow, OK Gamestop well in advance of the game's release. All of the preparation went for naught, however, as the store kept its doors open all night as enthusiasts congregated inside, joked in the secret language that only we nerds can appreciate, and not-so-quietly chatted about the game they would very soon be playing.

The brave souls who soldiered through the vast queue at the Gamestop in downtown Huntington, W. Va. were put through a rigorous gauntlet of trials and tribulations before being rewarded with Rockstar's blockbuster shoot em' up -- including, but not limited to a freak, unseasonal cold front; a somewhat humorous (but unfortunately brief and unphotographed) drive-by water balloon strike; and alarming in-line discussions of bomb recipes and Sedan-mounted automatic weaponry.

However, the most disturbing sight seen at the launch is pictured above -- a tragic crime scene, just a few feet away from the store's registers. These two poor fellows were just mere moments from claiming their respective copies of the much anticipated title, leaving behind a puzzling forensic tableau. Hastily driving from the event with copies of Grand Theft Auto IV in hand, we were left with these pertinent questions:

• What kind of altercation could have lead to this unfortunate double homicide?
• What modifications were made to the pictured Nerf guns that imbued them with lethal force?
• What sort of Crime Scene Investigation squad leaves behind the murder weapons in such a public place?
• Most importantly, why did Gamestop remain open following this horrible act of violence?

Gamestop recently released a mega-PDF of every store (in the States) opening at midnight for the Grand Theft Auto IV launch. We're pretty sure there's still plenty of time to get that pre-order in at Gamestop before April 29 occurs in your respective time zone.

As always, customers shouldn't plan on showing up at the launch without a pre-order and expect a copy to be waiting like at other retailers. It's surprising to still find customers at every major midnight launch disappointed when the Gamestop clerk tells the people without a pre-order to take a walk. When will people learn that Gamestop has rules?!

Since announcing plans to bring Yakuza 2 stateside last September, Sega has been noticeably quiet concerning the sequel, which was first released in Japan in 2006 and will be making its European debut later this year. However, while Sega may be mum, online retailers Gamestop and Gamefly have given us reason to keep our imaginary ties to the Japanese mafia intact, with both listing Yakuza 2 for release this September.

As Siliconera points out, Gamestop's listing of the game at the criminally affordable price of $29.99 gives weight to suspicions that Yakuza 2 will not be getting the original's celebrity treatment, though if this means that the game could include the original Japanese voice overs, so much the better.

Remember when that little game nobody paid any attention to called Super Smash Bros. Brawl came out ... it was last month, remember? Well, GameStop helped promote the indie title by holding a tournament to support the game's fanbase and raise awareness. According to GameStop, the tournament had over 75,000 players and, following a couple semi-final rounds across the country, culminated last weekend in San Jose with Lee Martin of Houma, Lousiana, emerging victorious.

Martin (pictured above, he's the skinny one) walked away with a 37" LCD-TV, the entire Nintendo Wii software library, a Wii console, selected accessories and $5,000 in cash. Martin brawled against 60 other opponents at the store, district and regional levels on his way to winning the championship. No word yet which fat man pictured Martin got to take home as a trophy for winning.

Though Amazon already spoiled the Metal Gear Solid 4 Standard Edition box-art surprise three days ago, Konami just sent us the North American Limited Edition packaging featuring the grizzled visage of our favorite mulleted (and now mustachioed!) sneaker, Solid Snake and his arch-nemesis Liquid Ocelot. We've also got final pricing here: Standard Edition will go for an unsurprising $60 while the Limited Edition – packing two "making of" documentaries and the Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots soundtrack – for $85.

But, what's this? That Limited Edition will be even more limited in North America, available exclusively at everyone's favorite (read: no one's favorite) game retailer: GameStop. Maybe, if you're really lucky, you'll get to purchase one of their "Limited Edition" pre-opened shelf copies, with free hand grease and hard-to-remove sticker.

[Warning: PDF "Read" link]

Gamers tired of being pushed around by game retail behemoth Gamestop can check out a potential ray of hope at this week's International Franchise Expo in Washington, D.C. There, game retailer Gamer Doc will be showing off new store prototypes that "will change the way the video game store is interpreted," according to a press release.

Strong words for a franchise that only has three outlets nationwide in development thus far [Updated with corrected wording on 4/11], but Gamer Doc seems eager to show off its new, FHA-designed stores, which it says will make customers "feel like they're walking into a video game, not a video game store." The three themed designs have been created to replicate "a first-person shooter battle zone, ... a futuristic "Borg Spaceship," [and] a carefree, cartoon-character atmosphere." Great news for anyone who's ever dreamed of buying video games from the Borg, we suppose ...

While we're a little skeptical that gimmicky store themes are really enough to drive a wedge into Gamestop's 5,000+ store dominance, we definitely support anyone trying to bring real competition to the game retail space. Godspeed, Gamer Doc.

GameStop has revealed that merchandise from only four publishers made up more than half of its 2007 new product sales. GI.biz reports out of the 40 publishers and manufacturers with goods sold at Gamestop, the top new product sale figures came from Nintendo (21%), Sony (17%), Microsoft (16%) and Electronic Arts (11%).

Those statistics are only for new products; GameStop admits that its used market creates "significantly higher" profits for the company. The company generated $7 billion in sales last year and continues to expand at a rapid rate. Remember, every time you buy a used game from GameStop some Mom & Pop shop dies ... Oh, who are we kidding, they're already dead. All hail the GameStop overlords!

Not content with its sprawling store base across America, games retailer GameStop has continued its invasion expansion into Europe with the purchase of 49 stores in Norway, reports GamesIndustry.biz. The ubiquitous chain completed the transaction by ensnaring all of the outstanding share capital of "Free Record Shop," a business which, even to the layman's ear, doesn't sound terribly profitable. The acquired stores will now bear GameStop's brand and presumably start charging for their goods.

Starting tomorrow, game retail giant Gamestop begins its Grand Theft Auto IV promotional push. Commensurate with the excitement surrounding the title, it's going all out, holding a national text-to-win contest (think American Idol) which will land four winners in New York City at the April 28th GTA IV launch event where they'll have a chance to win up to $10,000 each. They also get $250 in pocket cash and "two gift bags filled with games from GameStop and Rockstar Games" – some consolation if they manage to pick one of the $100 envelopes instead of the $10,000 ones.

If you want to see a marketing exec dodge sales questions over and over, check out GameDaily BIZ's interview with Joseph Heilner, director of marketing at Gamestop, about the promotion. If you just want a chance to win, we'll save you the trouble of going to Gametop's site and tell you exactly how to enter: just text a single digit from '1' to '5' to GSGTA4 – the number you select corresponds to your guess as to where Niko Bellic hid his lock box. Alright, let's make a deal: if any of us win, we'll all split it, okay?

Gibson seems to be poking its straw into any hole it can find these days, trying to desperately suck up some of that gooey Guitar Hero money before it's all gone. On Monday, the guitar maker filed a federal lawsuit against major retailers that sell Guitar Hero games, including GameStop, Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Amazon, and Toys "R" Us, seeking to prohibit sales of the games. In a statement released Thursday, the company claimed it took "this action reluctantly, but is required to protect its intellectual property."

Though Gibson has yet to file suit against Guitar Hero owner Activision, the guitar company has made a legal claim alleging that the games (when played with the guitar controllers) violate Gibson's patent for a type of virtual music performance. Subsequently, Activision filed a preemptive lawsuit against Gibson last week, and then publicly dismissed Gibson's patent infringement claim. Most recently, Gibson targeted Guitar Hero creator and former developer Harmonix, its daddy's daddy Viacom and Rock Band co-publisher Electronic Arts for allegedly violating the same patent ... Yeah, our head's spinning too.

[Via Engadget]

GameStop's last fiscal year ended Feb. 2 and the company continues to master its retail space with $7.09 billion in sales. GameDaily reports the company saw a 33% increase in sales over last year and the company's net earnings blasted off with an 82% increase to $288.3 million. The company saw a 50% increase in operating earnings and continued its expansion with 586 new stores in the last fiscal year.

GameStop CEO R. Richard Fontaine says that 2007 was "impressive" and the "expanding demographic profile of the video game player has moved this business into the mainstream of entertainment." He believes the company's used games model and strong '08 video game lineup will propel the company through this year. Despite the slumping US economy, Fontaine expects 575 to 600 new stores to open this fiscal year in the States -- people need something to do when they can't afford to go out anymore.