Modern Warfare 2 breaks sales record

The much anticipated follow up to the popular Call of Duty series of video games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, smashed sales records in North America and the United Kingdom on the first day of its release.
The first-person shooter was released worldwide by Activision Blizzard Inc. on Nov. 10 and the company believes it sold 4.7 million copies in the first 24 hours the game was on store shelves, compiling sales of $310 million.
The previous record was set last year by Grand Theft Auto IV which also sold $310 million in its first day, but that figure included worldwide sales; only sales numbers for the United Kingdom and North America have been tallied thus far for Modern Warfare 2.
Many retailers had midnight openings in anticipation of the game. Anxious gamers lined up for hours in the cold to be among the first to own it, some of whom came dressed in full military uniform to show their enthusiasm.
The sales record is not restricted just to videogames, but extends to all forms of entertainment. Modern Warfare 2 beat the sales figures posted by the Harry Potter books and the opening weekend of The Dark Knight.
The game itself, rated M for mature, is living up to all the hype. Bloggers and online forums are full of players praising the game for its realistic graphics and intense storyline. The game takes place four years after the original Modern Warfare and starts off with an airport terrorist attack by Russian nationalists. The player then finds themself tossed around the globe, battling in such environments as Rio de Janeiro, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, as well as one scene where Russian tanks are rolling down the streets of Washington, DC.
The level of communication between you and your team has been improved over previous editions of Call of Duty. Instead of the usual pre-programmed banter between teammates that occurs throughout the game, Modern Warfare 2 features teammates that actually call out specific locations on the map where they see enemies and other useful, in-game information.
The game also features a special cooperative player component known as SpecOps.
According to Mark Bozon, game reviewer for popular gaming site ign.com, "You may have thought you were buying Modern Warfare 2 simply for the competitive multiplayer or single-player campaign alone, but mark my words; you will be pulled in by SpecOps, and when it's all said and done, you'll be begging for more".
There is only one complaint that seems to be a consensus from those who have had a chance to play the game - the relatively short single-player campaign. Many people have claimed they beat the game in less than five hours on a medium difficutly, which will be disappointing to those who are purchasing the game for the single-player mode alone.
That being said, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is still a great game, especially for those who plan to experience all that it has to offer, from SpecOps to the online community. For anyone who enjoyed the orginal Modern Warfare, this game will not disappoint.
The game retails for approximately $60 and is avaliable for Windows-based computers, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3. All-Time Sales
As of June 1, 2009, the Call of Duty franchise had sold about 35 million units, although that number is now likely above 40 million. Here is a list of some other top-selling video game franchises of all time.

1. Mario (210 million)
2. Pokemon (193 million)
3. Tetris (125 million)
4. The Sims (100 million)
5. Need for Speed (100 million)
6. Final Fantasy (85 million)
7. Madden NFL (75 million)
8. Grand Theft Auto (70 million)
9. FIFA (65 million)
10. The Legend of Zelda (57 million)