As lines were starting to form for “Grand Theft Auto IV,” Blockbuster was making its own gaming announcements.

The video rental chain said it would soon increase its game offerings across 4,100 of its U.S. stores. According to Gamespot, Blockbuster stores will soon sell hardware, software and accessories for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS. They will also add to the rental selection, with additional titles as well as copies.

As part of the ploy to get you in the door, the company announced a $500 bundle of joy that includes a 40GB PS3, an HDMI cable, “Spider-Man 3” on Blu-ray, a Blu-ray DVD remote, a “Transformers” game, and 12 weeks of free Blu-ray or game rentals.

Currently, there’s no word on whether that extra love will extend to the rental chain’s online offerings.

Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer

Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.