Grand Theft Auto Poised To Steal One Day Online Sales Record

Grand Theft Auto has debuted to rave reviews as legions of gamers cruise the virtual streets looking for trouble. Controversial issues aside, GTA IV is likely to beat Halo III's one day sales record of ... wait for this spectacular number ... $170,000,000.

For those who think gaming is mostly the province of pimply faced teens on couches across America you might want to note that gaming's explosive revenue growth over the past years put it in line with online advertising and motion picture industry as a massive source of entertainment revenue. In Asia gaming is far more significant than search (I think 400% of seach) in terms of revenue production, and there are not many signs this trend will reverse anytime soon. In fact as companies refine their revenue models to include the secondary markets, micropayments, and mobile capabilities look for gaming to be a key business force for many years to come.

Just be careful as you sharpen up those driving, murdering, and plundering skills. The virtual worlds tolerate a lot more dysfunction than the real one, and as Mike Arrington recently noted on Charlie Rose people may face increasing challenges successfully navigating both these worlds.