Founded in 1998, the Rockstar Games label has always been a rebel in the gaming realm. Inspired by record companies, the division of Take-Two interactive has built a reputation on style, glamour and elusiveness with the press. Rockstar's titles are known for high production values, a sharp attention to detail and controversial content, and no game series embodies this more than Grand Theft Auto.

Ten years after Rockstar Games was founded, we have Grand Theft Auto IV. While technically the ninth installment in the series and not the fourth, there's no doubting that this is the next big step up for the popular open-world criminal mayhem simulator. Its release is not only significant in the gaming sphere, but in the entertainment industry in general.

We take a closer look at Grand Theft Auto IV and the game's phenomenal success.

Welcome to America!
According to the NPD, Grand Theft Auto IV occupied two of the top three slots for the month of April. The game was easily the best selling game on the PS3 and the Xbox 360 during that period. All in all, the NPD says that Grand Theft Auto IV sold 2.85 million units during the April.

The numbers get even more impressive, however, when looking on a global scale. Grand Theft Auto IV crushed the first day sales record in the U.K., with 609,000 units and broke the million unit mark in that country not soon afterwards. In total, Rockstar North's latest magnum opus shattered not just game records, but entertainment industry records with total first day sales of 3.6 million units, equal to $310 million global sales, and first week sales of roughly 6 million units, with a take greater than $500 million.

"We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two, in a release. "Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well. Grand Theft Auto IV's first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto IV franchise to a new level."