The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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  • Dan Linehan

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November 10, 2009

Gamers eagerly answer the 'Call'

Hundreds turn out for release of 'Modern Warfare 2

By Dan Linehan

MANKATO — "Modern Warfare 2," the engrossing, ultra-violent sixth video game in the popular Call of Duty franchise, may be the highest-grossing entertainment launch ever when sales are tallied.

Even the National Guard showed up at a GameStop pre-release gathering with humvees and night vision goggles.

“Tonight is strictly for the game,” said U.S. Army Master Sgt. John Moore, one of 14 representatives of the armed forces.

They did, however, have sign-up sheets available upon request to learn more about joining the military.

One soldier asked a crowd if they wanted to "play Call of Duty for real."

“It kind of puts the game in perspective for real life,” said Minnesota Army National Guard Sgt. Lawrence Eustice, a recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer.

If predictions hold, "Modern Warfare 2" may become the biggest entertainment launch ever, surpassing 2008 release "Grand Theft Auto IV’s" first-week sales of $500 million.

Also last year, “The Dark Knight” set an opening-weekend box office record of $155 million.

The dollar-per-dollar comparison with movies is a bit unfair, though, as the $60 price tag makes it about six times as expensive as a movie ticket.

Most of GameStop’s 4,300 stores were planning midnight openings, and the company says "Modern Warfare 2" pre-orders have hit an all-time high.

Both of Mankato’s GameStops held pre-release parties Monday night ahead of midnight sales.

If the gatherings are any indications, the game skews to a particular demographic. Of the 70 or so people in line at the Raintree Road store by 9:30 p.m., only one was female.

“I’m buying it for my dad,” says 16-year-old Tina Ankarlo of Fairmont.

She insists she’ll play it, too, but her knowledge is less than encyclopedic.

“It’s a war game,” she says.

By midnight there are easily more than 150 people in line. The store processes the final customer at about 2:15 a.m.

"Modern Warfare 2" continues its predecessor’s storyline and is expected to share its combination of realistic graphics and gripping narrative, told from the point of view of American and British counter-terrorism commandos.

It’s already generated some controversy based on leaked photos that depict the player opening fire on civilians.

Despite the finely crafted single-player mode, many players will spend most of their time playing against each other in online combat.

Riley Wokasch, a 19-year-old from Fairmont, says he’ll start playing online. He and a friend, 20-year-old Andrew Fellersen, estimate they have played for about 1,100 hours between them and racked up about 60,000 kills online.

"Modern Warfare 2" is rated “M” for mature and is sold for PCs, Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

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