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Games Like 'Grand Theft Auto IV' Aren't A Threat To Hollywood

Hollywood executives need not worry about the half-billion-dollar gorilla that has been absorbing a lot of video game players' time. "Grand Theft Auto IV," which sold 6 million copies in its first week, is no threat to the movie industry, according to gaming experts.

Before the latest edition of Rockstar Games' interactive crime drama was released last week, members of the gaming and film industries, as well as the press, pondered whether "GTA" was going to hurt the release of the "Iron Man" movie. Games of "GTA" magnitude don't typically hit stores at the same time as the first big movie of the summer.

"GTA" netted $500 million in its first week of worldwide release. "Iron Man" netted an impressive $101 million, better than expected. So maybe gaming's biggest and baddest aren't a threat?

Video game developer Kellee Santiago of That Game Company doesn't think anyone was considering not seeing "Iron Man" so they could play Rockstar's game. "Is it seriously something any one of us thought about?" she asked. "It seems much more plausible to say, 'Can't wait to see "Iron Man" and then come home to "GTA"!' What's the conflict?"

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