'Grand Theft Auto 4' set to entertain and inflame

Previous GTA games have been a lightning rod for criticism by politicians. 2008 Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said in 2005 that the series was demeaning to women.

The negative publicity has not stopped GTA from becoming one of the most successful game franchises ever, having sold 70 million copies worldwide and spawning legions of imitators.

The game may also determine the fate of Take-Two, which is resisting a $2 billion takeover offer from rival Electronic Arts Inc. If sales are stronger than the already lofty expectations, it could force EA to pay more.

A dystopian coming-to-America story, "Grand Theft Auto 4" revolves around an Eastern European immigrant who ends up running illicit errands for local mob bosses.

Yet the game is not without moral consequence. Players face tough choices regarding who lives or dies and whether ambition is more important than friendship, decisions that affect the outcome of the story.

"Grand Theft Auto 3," debuted in 2001 and was seen as a new beginning for the franchise because it defined a new genre of "open world" games that gave players unprecedented freedom. Two unnumbered games in the series have launched since, each with lots of sales, and lots of controversy.

"'Grand Theft Auto' really speaks to a new age of gaming. It's a type of gaming that is culturally relevant," said Geoff Keighley, host of Spike TV's GameTrailers TV show.