GTA IV, Mario Kart Wii to hit stores next week
Doug Graham
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: After Hours
Two of this year's biggest video games will be released next week - and they couldn't be more different.
Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto IV will hit stores on Sunday, April 27, and Tuesday, April 29, respectively.
Mario Kart Wii is a family-friendly racing game featuring Mario and his pals, along with his archenemies like Bowser. Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto IV, a continuation of one of the most controversial game series on the market, promises more Scorsese-style storytelling and free-roaming action.
Area stores are gearing up for the releases.
GameStop, located at 2832 N. Broadway, will be open until midnight the night before each title is released. Manager Renae Jessip says that while the store will close at 9 p.m. both nights, doors will open back up at 11 p.m. for people to wait in line and trade in other games.
Jessip says games traded toward the purchase of either Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto IV will be worth 20 percent more than their usual value. Strategy guides and extra Wii Wheels (a plastic steering wheel attachment for the Wii Remote) will also be available.
Jessip says gamers can reserve copies of either game right up until 9 p.m. the night before they release, but quantities of the $90 limited edition, which includes a duffel bag, safe deposit box, CD soundtrack and art book, may be limited.
So far, the store has reserved 20 copies of Mario Kart Wii and 81 copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.
While Hastings, located at 2806 N. Broadway, will not open at midnight for the release of Mario Kart Wii, the store is making the release of Grand Theft Auto IV into a veritable holiday, featuring a car show and various prizes.
Chris Etheridge, manager of Hastings, says his store will be "the coolest place to be" come Monday night. The store will stay open all day until all shoppers have left with their copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.
In addition, customers will be able to buy the week's newest music and movie releases, such as Madonna's "Hard Candy" album and the films "27 Dresses" and "The Golden Compass."
Etheridge says the Hastings corporation wants to make GTA IV's release something special.
"With GTA IV, they want us to make it as big as possible," Etheridge said. "Evidently GTA IV is supposed to be one of the biggest-grossing games of the year."
Etheridge recommends reserving the game ahead of time.
"It's always best if they reserve it so they can make sure they get theirs before anybody else," Etheridge said.
Wal-Mart, which is always open 24 hours, will release the games at midnight, but an employee, who wishes to remain unnamed, says the store has no special plans. Still, the store might be the place to go for those who have not reserved copies.
"We're going to have so many of them, we're not going to run out of anything," the employee said.
Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto IV will hit stores on Sunday, April 27, and Tuesday, April 29, respectively.
Mario Kart Wii is a family-friendly racing game featuring Mario and his pals, along with his archenemies like Bowser. Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto IV, a continuation of one of the most controversial game series on the market, promises more Scorsese-style storytelling and free-roaming action.
Area stores are gearing up for the releases.
GameStop, located at 2832 N. Broadway, will be open until midnight the night before each title is released. Manager Renae Jessip says that while the store will close at 9 p.m. both nights, doors will open back up at 11 p.m. for people to wait in line and trade in other games.
Jessip says games traded toward the purchase of either Mario Kart Wii and Grand Theft Auto IV will be worth 20 percent more than their usual value. Strategy guides and extra Wii Wheels (a plastic steering wheel attachment for the Wii Remote) will also be available.
Jessip says gamers can reserve copies of either game right up until 9 p.m. the night before they release, but quantities of the $90 limited edition, which includes a duffel bag, safe deposit box, CD soundtrack and art book, may be limited.
So far, the store has reserved 20 copies of Mario Kart Wii and 81 copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.
While Hastings, located at 2806 N. Broadway, will not open at midnight for the release of Mario Kart Wii, the store is making the release of Grand Theft Auto IV into a veritable holiday, featuring a car show and various prizes.
Chris Etheridge, manager of Hastings, says his store will be "the coolest place to be" come Monday night. The store will stay open all day until all shoppers have left with their copies of Grand Theft Auto IV.
In addition, customers will be able to buy the week's newest music and movie releases, such as Madonna's "Hard Candy" album and the films "27 Dresses" and "The Golden Compass."
Etheridge says the Hastings corporation wants to make GTA IV's release something special.
"With GTA IV, they want us to make it as big as possible," Etheridge said. "Evidently GTA IV is supposed to be one of the biggest-grossing games of the year."
Etheridge recommends reserving the game ahead of time.
"It's always best if they reserve it so they can make sure they get theirs before anybody else," Etheridge said.
Wal-Mart, which is always open 24 hours, will release the games at midnight, but an employee, who wishes to remain unnamed, says the store has no special plans. Still, the store might be the place to go for those who have not reserved copies.
"We're going to have so many of them, we're not going to run out of anything," the employee said.
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