Modern Warfare 2 could pull in more than $500 million, making it the most successful entertainment release ever.
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Modern Warfare 2: Will it make sales history?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 could demolish video-game and box-office records when it launches Tuesday.
By Chris Gaylord | 11.09.09
It is just a matter of hours before the highly anticipated and controversial “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ officially hits store shelves. (We say “officially” because some stores are already selling this highly coveted video game. More on that in a bit.)
How big is this release? Let’s count the ways.
• The antiterrorism-themed game will likely be the most successful video game of the year, at least among devoted gamers. “New Super Mario Bros. Wii” may pull in more sales this holiday season, thanks to children and their nostalgic parents. But among many hardcore and even mild video-game fans, the Mature-rated Modern Warfare 2 is a must-buy title.
• Analysts expect the game’s publisher, Activision, to pull in “at least half a billion dollars on the game in the first week,” reports the AP. “It could easily rake in more than last year’s record $155 million opening weekend for ‘The Dark Knight,’ ” the highest-grossing opening weekend in box-office history.
That comparison may not be entirely fair. The game costs at least $60, whereas the rising prices of movie tickets aren’t quiet there yet. So, “The Dark Knight” needed to pull in about six-times more fans to earn each million-dollar benchmark.
The biggest video game launch goes to last year’s “Grand Theft Auto 4,” which pulled in more than $500 million by selling 6 million copies in its first week. That made GTA4 the “top entertainment launch ever.” Some analysts think Modern Warfare 2 could be even bigger.
• More than 10,000 US stores will open at midnight for special launch events. They include most of the 4,300 GameStop stores across the country and many Best Buy locations. GameStop also reports that pre-orders hit an all-time high. The hype even sparked bidding wars between stores, with Amazon and WalMart each offering free $20 gift certificates if shoppers pre-order the game through them.
• To compete for a piece of that pie, several smaller video game retailers are breaking embargoes by selling the game today. This pushed many GameStop locations to follow suit. “This past weekend, GameStop made the decision to break street date and sell reserved copies of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in select markets where other retailers had broken street date,” said GameStop VP Chris Olivera. “Our decision followed many conversations with Activision and was an effort to protect our customer base.”
However, Activision says that in those “many conversation,” the publisher never condoned breaking the street date. “Activision has not given any retailer permission to sell ‘Modern Warfare 2′ prior to the Nov. 10 street date,” the company said.
Check back here Tuesday for a Modern Warfare review roundup.
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3. Klatu | 11.09.09
Already preordered, picking up at midinght. Cannaot wait. I actually took the next two days off work fo the occasion! Definatley will break sales records, and has already broken the Gamestop pre-order record.
6. pride0341 | 11.09.09
girlfriend’s going to be mad…took a week off, to get a much needed modern warfare 2 vacation..see you all soon
7. L_BOOGIE88 | 11.09.09
I Pre-Orderd Two Copies!! One For Me And One For My Bro’s Birthday! Picking It Up Tonight!! Will Break Records!!! Semper-Fi, See You on-Line!
9. Mike | 11.09.09
Can you say crashing servers and much disapointment for everyone? I really hope not…. prepurchased and counting down the hours
10. mcnice | 11.09.09
pre ordered 3. Taking tomorrow off to play, picking up at mightnight tonight…. getting get a little crazy
11. Night | 11.09.09
It looks quite awesome, but I’ll be skipping MW2 as a PC gamer. P2P only with no dedicated servers, no kicks/bans, no game recording, no more than 9v9, and no mods. That may be acceptable if you’re on a locked down console, but not on PC.
I’m sure the sales figures will be another nail in the coffin for the ‘PC gaming is dead’ crowd, while they neglect genres that do poorly on console.
13. IK II ID ID | 11.09.09
Got the game! will be playing in a few hours, buddy that works at walmart HOOKED it UP!! this game will for sure smash all records. It might even be the only thing I have ever been excited for!…. Besides the saved by the bell reunion
16. Ben10 | 11.09.09
the game is going to ruin my life, i am going to play this game for the most consecutive hour ever in the history of gameing
18. USMCsam88 | 11.09.09
just got the game 6 hours early from a local retailer near work. i’m definitely gonna be playing this for the next two days.. guess im gonna fail my midterms this week lol but as far as my marine buddies tell me campaign is better but not that great n perks dnt matter no more cuz guns r too strong we’ll see
19. unreal | 11.09.09
What a bunch of losers…
The most popular games and movies involve the worst characteristics of the human race. Says something about the species.
Not only a virtual fight, but a virtual fight with virtual weapons. About the only thing more nancy-boy would be to talk about it on the internet, as if it’s some sort of significant thing.
20. Nathan | 11.09.09
Have this game more than 5 days ago downloaded from torrent, but need a cd key so have wait any way.
21. lala | 11.10.09
just got the game waited in line for only an hour but i feel bad for the people in the huge line behind me, playing now this is the greatest game ever!!!!
23. avenue talent agency detroit | 11.10.09
Wow I stood in line over an hour. They passed out numbers mines was 188. Its all good I have been playing for the past 3 hrs and its great. Hope 2 c u gamers on there. What was funny was that it was people in line with gray hair who said it wasn’t 4 there kids. Wow that’s pretty cool bcuz gaming is 4 all and those that don’t like it read a book but for me. C me online hit me up if u want 2 play is my brockavenue on 360 take care n may the gaming b with u
25. eugene | 11.10.09
just got the game last night. best game ever.. and the graphics are the best!!
27. Dennis Kerr | 11.10.09
Hmm… in keeping with the theme, injure no man and be a blessing to all mankind, why didn’t you hyperlink the mario bros game, when comparing it to a game of war and injury?
28. MW2 | 11.10.09
This game will no doubt make sales records. With the all-time Gamestop pre-order record, you know you’ve got a good game. But this game is not going to be good on PC… I will get it for PS3.
29. real | 11.11.09
“What a bunch of losers…
The most popular games and movies involve the worst characteristics of the human race. Says something about the species.
Not only a virtual fight, but a virtual fight with virtual weapons. About the only thing more nancy-boy would be to talk about it on the internet, as if it’s some sort of significant thing.”
And yet …. here you are … talking about it on the internet, bringing significance to it.
It’s a VIDEO GAME dude, lighten up, just something to distract us for a few hours from the fact we’re all dying. The only real loser here is you.
That said, the game is pretty solid, single player is short but good and the multilayer is decent although they changed some things that already worked well for no other reason I can see than just to change them.
Still a really good game though.
30. fullpit93 | 11.11.09
Modern Warfare2 is intense, i got on xbox live today 22/25 of my friends that was online own it, its a really intense….its going to sell FAST!
31. Dead_Man | 11.12.09
MW2: Luckly I played a friends prior to picking up my games. This game sucks. Easy to beat, on-line gave no challenges- along with major lag. I returned mine. I suggest you do the same.
33. peetee | 11.12.09
WE LOVE FREE PLAY! especially if we are talking Modern Warfare 2 
But be careful now, it seems Microsoft had tighten their belt and
have recently banned 1 million xbox live players for using a pirated copy of Modern Warfare 2
so much for the “free-play”: http://bit.ly/one-million-players-banned-on-playing-modern-warfare-2
34. Steve Karsten | 11.12.09
I bought it the day it came out and beat it in about 7 hours and was knocked off my rocker at its intensity and polish. May be about the most fun I’ve ever had playing a video game!! God Bless Infinity Ward and Activision.
35. millie2silly | 11.18.09
WOOOOOOOO MODERN WARFARE 2!!!! its fun just to say it, best game out untill its sequal.
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1. EL MARA | 11.09.09
IS THE BEST GAME IN THE WORDL