Well, it was never likely to last long but the calm before the storm has finally broken with the mayor of New York City venting against Rockstar’s latest offering, GTA IV.

The trailer for the game was released last week, not showing much of the storyline but displaying very clearly where the game is meant to be set.

Some of the most famous skyscrapers in the Big Apple, such as Empire State, Chrysler and Flatiron, are easily recognisable, and the iconic Brooklyn Bridge is also there.

Previous GTA games have also been based on real cities – Vice City depicting Miami, and San Andreas copying LA, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

While the prospect on running amok in NY may please gamers, the mayor was not so happy.

In a statement, the mayor Michael Bloomberg said, “The mayor does not support any videogame where you earn points for injuring or killing police officers”.

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly went on to comment, “It’s despicable to glamorise violence in games like these, regardless of how far-fetched the setting may be”.

>> Link - Official Site/RockStar GTA IV