Regardless of whether the game flopped or not (although it would have needed a big budget to flop), I can see what the real problem is.
GTA III ad -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmBQYxRrngQ&feature=channel
It uses some of the controversy to sell the game, but it also shows lots of gameplay, albeit with the dynamic angles that are more for the trailers than actual gameplay.
Vice City ad -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnW6_sAhwdE
Almost nothing but gameplay.
San Andreas ad -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNgZICe9nHY
Still almost nothing but gameplay.
GTA IV ad -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVZ8b75w6vM
Guess what?
Chinatown Wars ad -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSCv64dFuLw
A bunch of still drawings are not gameplay. And what little gameplay is shown is given these fractured screens that seem artsy, but also make it hard to see the gameplay. And what gameplay there is looks all from the top down, not a full environment you can explore.
That is now what people who bought GTA in the tens of millions, instead of a few million, have come to expect of the series. They aren't going to buy it just because it has GTA in the name. It's not the userbase's fault. It's Rockstar (although Leeds instead of North) for thinking they could get all artsy with the look of the series and not having as much action and mayhem.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs
