"Grand Theft Auto IV" blew away videogame and Hollywood records as its creators reported on Wednesday that it raked in an unprecedented $500-million in its opening week.

Take-Two Interactive said approximately six million copies of "GTA IV" have sold worldwide, with more than half of those games snatched up within 24 hours of the game hitting store shelves on 29 April.

"Grand Theft Auto IV's first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment," said Take-Two chairperson Strauss Zelnick.

"We believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date."

"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" took in $196-million in its first week to seize the Hollywood crown for top-grossing film opening, according to Box Office Mojo.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter expects "GTA IV" to be the second best-selling videogame ever behind its predecessor "GTA: San Andreas," which has sold 23 million copies.

"I'm sure 'GTA IV' beats Hollywood movie opening weeks," Pachter told AFP.

"But it depends how one looks at it. I'm sure more people saw 'Ironman' than played 'Grand Theft Auto' in the past week but fewer dollars changed hands."

The 'Ironman' film based on the Marvel Comics character opened in theatres on Friday.

The "GTA" franchise is the work of Take-Two's Rockstar Games studio and is an epicentre for outrage over violence in videogames because players triumph with acts such as carjacking, thuggery, prostitution and murder.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) stamped a "Mature" label on "GTA IV" banning US retailers from selling the game to anyone less than 17 years old.

Take-Two hopes the superstar launch of "GTA IV" will give it leverage in takeover talks with the world's largest videogame maker, Electronic Arts, which is trying to buy the New York City-based firm.

Take-Two rejected a $2-billion offer from EA and delayed talk of negotiation until after the release of "GTA IV."

AFP