I have a theory:

The reason the gaming sites are ranking GTAIV so high is partly because the game is very good. Partly because AAA titles normally get a boost. But I feel one of the underlying reasons is because there is a turning point ahead in the videogame world, and GTA IV is really the last chance the 'old' gaming regime has.

Ever since the DS and Wii the front of games has been changing. A 'New' type of game is here. Of course not over night, but definately quick. Games like 'My Pony and I' are now million sellers and games like Unreal Tournament are struggling to make a big enough dent in the market to warrant more Unreals

Sure, you still get big classic games like Halo, but more and more people are turning from these games to 'other' games. Wii Fit, Brain Training. Games, which by all means aren't 'games' themselves, but are a new hybrid which attracts more people.

GTA is a HUGE franchise. One of the big 'old' game names, like Halo, Unreal, Killzone, even Smash Bros. GTA IV is it! Old school gamers(I am one myself) KNOW that GTA is probably the end. Of course new adult games, old games will come out and hit the scene but if GTA isn't going to be a MASSIVE and I mean MASSIVE sucess, which shows the world, and more importantly executives of gaming companies that these 'type' of games still merit sucess, then all is lost. And so everyone, whether purposely(gamespot) or maybe not willing(ign) rank GTA a perfect 10, because if a perfect 10 hardcore adult game won't be something like WiiFit....then my friends, nothing will.

and we will all be sitting around combing Ponies with virtual brushes....

"If its not a wii game its past gen"

Enough, Im tired of this.

Personally, I think it's because most game reviewers are oversized children bent on praising anything juvenile, but your reasoning sounds a lot more polite.

BTW, welcome to the board.

Well COD 4 wouldn't have sold 8 million units & AC wouldn't have sold 7 million if suddenly the old regime was dying

HELL POKEMON still sells loads & the gameplay hasn't changed much

{sigh} I give up!

i give up too. i'm tired of this.

>GTA IV is really the last chance the 'old' gaming regime has.

Well, KZ2, MGS4, GeoW2, GT5, GoW3, FFXIII... you better all give up now. BOt has spoken and called you "old dying regime"

It's not that I'm saying old is bad! I'm still predomiately an old gamer my self. What I'm saying is that I think this release is very very crucial to the future of gaming.

Like I said, old or hardcore games are great because WE as true gamers understand them. But the world isn't being run by us anymore, it's a bunch of people who think adding numbers together are games(as if highschool wasn't a big enough game).

I'm just pointing out that if GTAIV with a near perfect score does moderately well, then I think all the big game executives who thrilled off us in the past, will shift away from games like GTA. Probably not cold turkey, but slowly and surely. Hell, remember the people who made Titan quest? They went out of business yet Arcade Games who make loads of cooking games are living it up!

You can see it in the numbers! If GTA isn't going to completely KILL, the very foundation of hardcore and adult games is probably going to take a hit....

more and more people are NOT turning away from core games at all.
its just nintendo saw a new market for cheap and cheerful casual type of games, so obviously games like my pet pony and my pet goat will sell very well especially amoungst kids

having said that, if somehow all the shift goes towards family friendly gaming you could see more and more developers doing cheep and cheerful games if thats where all the money is at (would be a disaster if u ask me)

Tell me more about these "new adult games."   

I see current "non-games" as a great way for turning non-gamers into hardcore gamers (as an end product) - normally, it'll be a small percentage, but still.