If the question of people being attracted to violence has yet to be answered for you, the success of Rockstar Games’ newest release, “Grand Theft Auto V”, might just help you make up your mind.

“Grand Theft Auto”, or “GTA”, has been one of the highest selling video game franchises in the history of the industry.

Since 1997, when the first “GTA” was released for PlayStation, it has been a focal point in the argument of those who believe video games have caused an increase in violence in today’s society.

Yet “GTA V”, released on Sept. 17, 2013, is already one of the highest and fastest selling video games of all time. Sales of the game accumulated to more than $800 million on the release day and it became the fastest game to hit $1 billion. It reached that mark in 3 days.

Chief copy editor of The Slate, Zac Davis, and I went to the midnight release of “GTA V” and were very surprised at the turnout.

Roughly 300 people attended the midnight release and the excitement for the game was obvious.

The amount of people that the game is reaching worldwide is becoming more and more staggering. Doug Creutz, market analyst for Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two, announced that based on its sales figures, more than 15 million copies of “GTA V” have already been sold.

Creutz also stated that he expects the game to sell 25 million copies in the first year of release.

Even after all of the hype of the game’s release and the huge sales numbers from the first few days, the most intriguing part to many players was not even released with the single player game.

On Oct. 1, Rockstar released an update to the game that was just as anticipated as the game itself. The online component to “GTA V” was released to the general public.

“Grand Theft Auto Online” is set in the weeks before the single player portion of the game. Everyone who purchases the game will have access to the online component, which is just as expansive as the single player game itself.

In the online game players are able to create their own characters based on several factors that will affect their performance in the game. They will also be able to use their in-game money to upgrade their character’s weapons, vehicles, clothes and much more.

Players will also be able to participate in heists with other online players, compete in several different sporting events and car races and have massive gun battles on the rooftops of Los Santos’ most memorable locations. There are so many options for players to choose from that the replay value for “Grand Theft Auto Online” is through the roof.

It is needless to say that violence in video games is a major driving force in how successful the game is. Will there ever be a change in the sale of violent video games? That is a question that might never be answered.

Whether or not violent video games make people more violent, it has not affected the sale of “Grand Theft Auto V”, and for the foreseeable future it will not change the fact that people are attracted to violence.

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