With the clamour and controversy that used to be associated with the spiciest of Hollywood blockbusters, last Tuesday I saw the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest in a video game franchise that has, through its slick portrayal of casual violence, enraptured and enraged the public in roughly equal measure. The latest edition shows little appetite for compromise, and no wonder. The newcomer in Rockstar Games’ 11-year-old series needs to live up to the brand’s reputation for being the meanest, fastest, noisiest show in town.

Then there are those sales figures to consider: GTA IV is projected to pull in $400m in its first week alone, the kind of return that would speak loud and proud in the movie world.