GTA 4 poised to dominate Xbox Live

By Kemp Powers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Players of the popular "Grand Theft Auto" video game series have always reveled in its unique blend of beatings, shootings and vehicular mayhem.

With "Grand Theft Auto 4," they are taking the carnage online, which may dethrone first-person shooters like "Halo 3" and "Call of Duty 4" from the top ranks of the popular Xbox Live service.

Only a few non-shooter games have ever sat at the top of the list of most-played games on the service, which debuted in 2002 and is viewed by many gamers as primarily the domain of shooter enthusiasts.

"Grand Theft Auto 4" went on sale Tuesday for the Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3. Critics have raved about the online multiplayer options in the game, calling it surprisingly robust for a series that has until now been exclusively a solo experience.

Up to 16 players can participate in 15 different online game types, ranging from cooperative play to cops-and-robbers team matches to free-for-alls.

"The multiplayer in this game is so well implemented that I can't imagine anyone owning a copy without trying to play it on Xbox Live," said Aaron Greenberg, the director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live.

"GTA is unique because it appeals to such a large audience. It will likely be the best-selling game launched all year and we expect it will drive a lot of new members to Xbox Live."

Greenberg says he wouldn't be surprised to see the game take the top spot on Live, something that would be rare but not without precedent.