It looks like Grand Theft Auto fans will have to scratch their itchy trigger fingers a while longer. As part of its third-quarter report today, Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive revealed that the hotly anticipated sequel has been delayed--by one week.

　　"Developed by world-class designers Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 2 and is expected to be in stores in North America on October 26, 2004 and in Europe on October 29, 2004," read the report. Take-Two also offered a brief explanation for the delay. "The title's launch date was moved to allow additional time for final testing of the game, which exceeds the size, depth and scope of traditional videogames," read the report. Ironically, a similar scenario unfolded in 2002 when Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was also delayed one week.

　　The delay will be seven days of agony for gamers who've been awaiting the game. It also brings it within two weeks of Halo 2's November 9 ship date; a simultaneous release of the two games could potentially cause schizophrenia in multiple-console owners.

　　However, Game Boy Advance owners got some good news, as Take-Two reconfirmed that Grand Theft Auto Advance will indeed ship next month. "Rockstar also plans to release an extension of the Grand Theft Auto franchise for the Game Boy Advance in late October," read the report.

　　[UPDATE] The company also revealed that Grand Theft Auto Advance, like its console cousins, will be rated M for Mature. "It has a M rating. There are a few other Game Boy Advance titles that have M ratings," Take-Two CEO Rich Roedel said during the Take-Two earnings call. The game will join a handful of M-rated GBA games, including Mortal Kombat Advance, Wolfenstein 3D, Serious Sam Advance, Dual Blades, and another Rockstar release, Max Payne.