Surprise

Call of Duty has been one of the most popular game franchises among gamers these last couple of years. It would seem that almost every other year, a new edition to the game series comes out. Most recent in their franchise is Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 which takes place in a dim yet near future, 2025 to be exact. This past week the newest trailer for the game was released, and in this new trailer titled "Surprise" game enthusiast were shown, once again, that in everyone there is a soldier waiting to emerge. "There's a Soldier in all of Us" has been the franchises most recent motto, one that can be applied to everyone, thus opening the market up to more customers. This idea that there is a soldier in all of us, however, would not seem appealing to the common person unless we were shown that everyone can be a part of the game. Marketers wanted to appeal to everyone, and what better way to do this than by having famous celebrities, from both the internet and Hollywood, make a cameo during a live version of the game. The first Call of Duty: Black Ops game that came out in late 2010 was the first in the game series to feature real people being a part of the game. I remember when this trailer was originally released, my brother was supper excited about the game because it featured one of his greatest basketball idols, Kobe Bryant. My brother being the big Lakers fan that he is, wanted anything that had to do with the team or with the players. Therefore he wanted the game, even if it had nothing to do with the team or the players. By simply making a cameo in the game, marketers are attracting a bigger market to sell to. The most recent edition of the game also features many known celebrities, the main being Robert Downey Jr. Who is particularly popular among young boys and girls because of his popular role Iron Man. Therefore by having him appear in the trailer for this new game those that follow him will also want to be a part of the fun like he was. The music, the actors, the action sequence of the game makes it an even more enticing adventure that people want to be a part of. War has become the new game for children and adults alike, inflicting pain on others, even killing your virtual opponent, has become the next best thing in entertainment. These types of games, even though they are categorized M for mature, are popular among children because violence is all they are taught to like. Movies, television shows, games, and even music all exhibit some sort of violence that children believe is acceptable. Seeing this new trailer only makes me wonder how much longer can marketers push the envelope until they realize that this violence is being taken beyond the game and into the playgrounds and schools. Children are being taught that violence is fun, that war is fun when it really isn't. These types of games are shaping a new generation of army enthusiast who will be more willing to enlist and go into the actual battlefield.