There was violence at GTA IV Launch day

According to gamespot it seems that Grand Theft Auto IV went on sale in stores around the world at 12:01 a.m. yesterday, and already reports of criminal midnight launch madness are starting to filter in.

BBC News is reporting on a pair of incidents, with news of a stabbing outside a Gamestation in Croydon and a mugging by another game store in Lancashire.

According to the news service, a 23-year-old man was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant as he passed a line outside the Gamestation. The victim was treated for several stab wounds and has since been released. The attacker, who police said appeared to be waiting in the line of about 50 to 100 people, was not apprehended.

In the mugging, an 18-year-old was robbed of his copy of the game and beaten as he walked home from the store with a friend. The victim was taken to the hospital with a broken jaw and a broken nose. Police are asking for witnesses in both cases to step forward.

Up to 100 people witnessed the knife attack outside the Gamestation store in Croydon, ahead of Monday's midnight release of Grand Theft Auto IV. Police said the 23-year-old victim was walking past the queue when he was stabbed several times by a hooded man who appeared to be waiting in line. The victim was treated in hospital and has since been allowed home.

After the attack at about 2300 BST in George Street the victim did not call the emergency services but police were informed by a member of the public. He was found not far from the store and taken to hospital where he was treated for several stab wounds.

'Many' witnesses

Det Insp Liz Baker urged anyone who was in the queue to contact them. She said: "We are looking at CCTV from the area and believe there were in the region of 50 to 100 people in the queue.

"We are sure many of them will have seen what happened." The suspect is described as being a light skinned black man aged about 21, 6ft 5ins tall, of medium build wearing a light grey hooded top.

Grand Theft Auto IV went on sale at midnight at selected shops in the UK. It was expected to break records for the fastest-selling game of all time .