UNITED KINGDOM: Record breaking video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" has it's premiere in London
Record ID:
218904
UNITED KINGDOM: Record breaking video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" has it's premiere in London
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Record breaking video game "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" has it's premiere in London
- Date: 13th November 2009
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 9, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF LEICESTER SQUARE'S VUE CINEMA CLOSE UP OF 'CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2' POSTER ROLLING OUT CAMOUFLAGE CARPET FANS AT BARRIER PAN FROM CARPET TO FANS AT BARRIER WIDE OF CARPET "SOLDIERS" ARRIVING IN JEEP SOLDIER ALONG CARPET VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AT POSTS ALONG CAMOUFLAGE CARPET VARIOUS OF KEVIN MCKIDD TALKING TO MEDIA (2 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) KEVIN MCKIDD, ACTOR, SAYING: "It is quite weird because you expect it-- it feels like a movie premiere but these games now are so advanced and so, you know, atmospheric it feels like you actually in a movie and I think that's the point of this in a way because these games have really taken it to that level now, there's a real-- it's almost as if these things have blended." ANDREW BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ACTIVISION UK, TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) ANDREW BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ACTIVISION UK, SAYING: "Yeah I think this is the first time, but this is fantastic and we're really excited to be here and to have that same glamour and glitz that you see with the movie industry " PAN FROM CAMOUFLAGE CARPET TO GAME POSTER (SOUNDBITE) ANDREW BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ACTIVISION UK, SAYING: "I think it's survived the recession a lot better than many industries. I think everything is affected but this, as a game, represents a huge amount of value because you get to play for many many hours, people are online for a long time, so money for value wise it's actually very good. If you buy a DVD which could be great entertainment you tend to watch it once or twice, with a game you tend play it for a very long time so people actually do spend more on games in times of recession actually because they get better value."
- Embargoed: 28th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA1S8TYX03RIB7FBW09B1UCX6M2
- Story Text: It looks like a West End movie premiere, it sounds like a West End movie premiere, but it's not a West End movie premiere. The biggest and most anticipated game launch of the year got underway in London on Monday (November 5), starting with a movie-style gala event - the first Leicester Square has seen for a video game.
In keeping with it's Hollywood blockbuster approach to entertainment, Activision Blizzard Inc's hugely anticipated "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" features characters voiced by professional actors including Bill Murray, Kevin McKidd of "Grey's Anatomy" and HBO's "Rome," Rapper-turned-actor 50 Cent, and Barry Pepper of "Saving Private Ryan."
Standing on the camouflaged carpet at the premiere, Kevin McKidd, who voices the central character of Captain "Soap" McTavish, told Reuters Television that the divide between cinema and gaming was shrinking.
"It is quite weird because you expect it-- it feels like a movie premiere but these games now are so advanced and so, you know, atmospheric it feels like you actually in a movie and I think that's the point of this in a way because these games have really taken it to that level now, there's a real-- it's almost as if these things have blended," he explained.
Taking place 5 years in the future, "Modern Warfare 2" follows an elite military task force around the globe in their mission to track down a ruthless terrorist threatening world peace.
While the plot might not sound like the most original story ever presented to gaming and action fans, "Modern Warfare 2" is already being touted as one of the most technically and visually impressive video games ever produced.
The premiere came hours ahead of a global launch in which thousands of retailers around the world opened at midnight especially to sell the game.
Almost two and half million pre-orders were placed in the U.S alone - Activision's highest ever.
"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" already beaten last year's UK pre-sales of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, by 50 percent - and it looks set to smash that game's global total as well.
Analysts have predicted "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" will move five million units on the first day of sale and up to eight million in it's first week, forecasting between 10 - 12 million sales worldwide by the end of December.
Multiplayer options that enable gamers to link up on the internet for extended playing time and options.
UK Managing Director of Activision, Andrew Brown, said that gaming industry's relative resistance to the credit crunch was due to products like "Modern Warfare" that offer extra play options online.
"I think it's survived the recession a lot better than many industries. I think everything is affected but this, as a game, represents a huge amount of value because you get to play for many many hours, people are online for a long time, so money for value wise it's actually very good. If you buy a DVD which could be great entertainment you tend to watch it once or twice, with a game you tend play it for a very long time so people actually do spend more on games in times of recession actually because they get better value," he said.
The lead up to the launch has not been without controversy: like it's predecessors in the "Call of Duty" series, "Modern Warfare 2" (which has an age restriction rating of 18 years old) contains explicit, "intense violence."
In particular, one scene in which the player - as an undercover CIA operative posing as a terrorist - can participate in the slaughter of civilians at an airport sparked outrage with British Labour MP Keith Vaz, who called for the game to be banned.
Vaz was opposed by fellow Labour party member, MP Tom Watson who argued that the gaming industry should be fully supported and encouraged.
The game offers players the option to skip the stage if they are "easily offended" - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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