When I’m not hanging out at public meetings, hitching rides on parade floats or blogging about the goings on here in Wenatchee, I enjoy practicing my favorite mode of escapism by powering on my RROD-free XBox 360 and playing video games.

Last night I happened to be awake around midnight so I dropped by Hastings to pick up a copy of what is sure to be the biggest-selling video game of all time (for now, of course) “Grand Theft Auto IV.”

In September 2007 when “Halo 3″ was released I wrote about its local midnight release and all the Harry Potter-esque hoopla surrounding it for The World. How much hype was there surrounding “Halo 3?” Enough for the game to make about $170 million in its first day of sales.

Some analysts predict “Grand Theft Auto IV will sell 9 million copies its first week and top more than $300 million in its first week of sales. Those are some staggering numbers for any type of entertainment product, let alone a video game. The game is getting stellar reviews in case you’re curious.

Don’t believe all those video game Web site reviews? Then read this New York Times review, which calls the game “a simultaneously adoring and insightful take on modern America.”

Since I was at Hastings’ midnight release for “Halo 3,” and there were at least 250 people there by my count that night, I expected a similar crowd for the “GTA IV” release at Hastings Monday.

Well, I was wrong.

The photo above was taken Monday night right before the game went on sale and there were considerably fewer people waiting to get their virtual crime spree on at midnight for “GTA IV” than there were space marine wannabes waiting to frag aliens when “Halo 3″ came out. I counted about 40 people in line at Hastngs for “GTA IV.”

Regardless of the lack of a large turnout at Hastings this morning, I am guessing the game will sell well and I am looking forward to escaping into the virtual world of Liberty City (which is where the games takes place) after many a long days filled with covering public meetings and other interesting assignments.

Oh, before I forget, there is a great roundup of “GTA IV” news and notes over at Todd Bishop’s excellent tech blog. You can check it out here if you want more of the “GTA IV” story.