By NINA CRISCUOLO
A highly anticipated video game is now available in stores, but not without a shadow of controversy. Some believe "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" is crossing a line no other video game has touched.
Scenes at an airport with terrorists gunning down citizens are stirring controversy over the video game. Players are offered the option of becoming an undercover agent dressed as a terrorist in an airport.
"It's a scene where they kill civilians and it's a scene you can skip but that's where it's getting all the buzz because the lawmakers and the people that want to ban games are having a field day with it," says Tim Manes, a Hastings employee in Pittsburg, Kansas.
Some of the first to play the game in the 4-States says the choice is not clear.
Another feature sparking some controversy with the game are scenes taking place on U.S. soil, including at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
"When you start the game you just get this little message that says there's a scene that's graphic - you can choose to skip it or not, but you don't really know so some scenes are more graphic to some people than other scenes so you don't really know what you're getting yourself into," says Sean Gilbert.
Sgt. 1st Class David Brock is an instructor for Pittsburg State University ROTC program and father.
He calls himself anti-"Call of Duty" after his deployment to Iraq.
"Just the noises - just certain noises still bother you," says Sgt. Brock. "Now I'm sure a lot of people that have been to Iraq and Afghanistan, the loud noises and explosions are just something we don't want to hear. I don't care what anyone says, shooting at people and getting shot at is very overrated."
Over 10,000 stores opened at midnight for the highly anticipated game. During Hastings midnight release of the game in Pittsburg nearly 40 copies were sold, proving that controversy is boosting popularity.
"Controversy always drives sales for everything - 'Grand Theft Auto', 'Call of Duty', 'Gears of War,'" says Manes. "Every game that has controversy - we will sell 20 to 30 more copies than we normally would."
