Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the eighth installment of the popular first-person shooter.

Modern Warfare 3 (MW3), the eighth in the Call of Duty series, made an astonishing $400 million in sales in the first 24 hours after it launched on November 8, 2011. Furthermore, Activision recently announced that the first-person shooter game became the fastest entertainment product to hit $1 billion in global sales. Hitting that target in 16 days, MW3 edged out the Hollywood film Avatar, which previously accomplished the same feat in 17 days. Activision’s press release drew other parallels between Call of Duty and movie franchises. First, it pointed out the decline in box office revenue last year, although recent data from the NPD group shows video game sales down 8% from 2010 (and yet app sales are skyrocketing…1.2 billion apps downloaded worldwide in the last week of 2011. What?!?!?). Then, it drew parallels between the Call of Duty game series and movie franchises like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the Lord of the Rings. Even though Activision’s press release was short and to the point, in between the lines was a message to Hollywood: video games are coming to claim the top spot on all of entertainment’s leaderboards.

Consider the recent global projections from PricewaterhouseCoopers about the entertainment industry. The film industry made $84 billion in 2010. Thanks to 3D, Blu-ray, and broadband streaming to  electronic devices, the firm projects that the movie industry will grow 6.1% annually to $113 billion in 2015. In that same window of time, video games, which made $56 billion in 2010, are expected to see 8.2% annual growth to $82 billion. This means that the video game industry is growing at a faster rate and will eventually catch up to film, if nothing else stays the same (like Hollywood being able to draw people in as TV’s become more sophisticated).

But it’s difficult to tell if these projections take into account three important factors. The first is that video games are a sector actively embracing innovation much more than the film industry has in recent years, 3D being the lone exception. The second is that innovations, such as Facebook’s API, social gaming, and tablets like the iPad, have created entirely new segments for video game development, but in contrast, the film industry can only use these platforms as delivery devices for the same content, not brand new content just for those platforms (with the exception of web series, which are not contenders for significant revenue). With technological advances and digital innovation on a streak, odds are in the next five years avenues for new game markets will open up to a much larger degree than they will for film. Finally, everyone is thinking about games from businesses using gamification strategies in advertising to educations exploring serious games for revitalizing dry subjects locked in antiquated teaching methods. Games are becoming a bigger part of everybody’s lives.

Image from The Economist based on PricewaterhouseCoopers data

So in light of these trends, it makes sense why Activision would put movie franchises in its crosshairs. Collectively, the Call of Duty games have brought in over $4 billion since 2003. Compare that to the biggest movie franchise, Harry Potter, which holds a worldwide gross of $7.7 billion, followed by James Bond at $5.1 billion, and Star Wars at $4.4 billion. Now in light of the fact MW3 is still selling and Activision has already stated that another Call of Duty game is coming in 2012 (and the domain name for Black Ops 2 was recently acquired), the franchise will likely surpass these franchises in a few years. Now we all know that Harry Potter and Star Wars are more than just movies, as they include a much larger scope of products such as books, toys, and yes, video games. So the question is: can the Call of Duty franchise realistically expand beyond the video game format?

For better or for worse, Activision is trying to answer that question by pushing the limits of what a game franchise can be. Let’s start with its new service Call of Duty Elite, which delivers a steady stream of 20 batches of downloadable content over the next 9 months (it also recently got a free iOS app with stat analysis). Launched at the same time as MW3, the service has 6 million subscribers, with 1 million of those paying the annual $50 fee to be premium players. While downloadable content for games is something that online platforms like Steam have been doing for years, the rate at which it is coming out for MW3 is almost like a weekly TV show. Speaking of which, an original show of some kind is in the works with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett’s production company dumbdumb to be delivered to the Elite monthly subscriber base. Also, in fairly predictable fashion, you can get your hands on a slew of MW3 accessories, like keyboards and mice, headphones, “gaming glasses”, and even an MW3 iPhone case. Then, and this is a bit bizarre, Jeep launched an official MW3 version of their popular vehicle. And what about a film? Well, rumors have been kicked around for a few years, but nothing has ever been set in stone. If you want a sense of what a Call of Duty movie might look like though, check out the trailer for the upcoming Act of Valor, which shows real Navy SEALS using actual tactics in hypothetical missions.

The future of the Call of Duty franchise looks very bright (image courtesy of Ubergizmo).

What’s amazing is that as big as the Call of Duty franchise is, it is still the little brother to other game franchises, like Nintendo’s Mario, which dominates them all with 31 video games selling over one million copies since 1995 and a collective total of over 260 million of the core games sold. Then there’s Pokémon which has had a strong market beyond the video games from collective card game and TV series. Other game franchises on par with Call of Duty include Grand Theft Auto, The Sims, and Madden NFL. And none of these game franchises are ready to stop, especially in light of the recent motion sensing technology like Kinect, the market-disrupting second screen of the Wii U, and other innovations to come in the next generation of game consoles that will continue to add new spins on game formulas that work. And what about the most recent addition, Angry Birds, with its pillows, iPhone cases, board games, and now a movie is in the works.

With the overwhelming popularity of first-person shooters, it would be all too easy to label MW3 as a ‘cash cow’. Though the metacritic user score of 3.2 reflects player criticisms that MW3 isn’t that big of a step from last year’s Black Ops, arguments fall flat in the face of record-breaking numbers, much in the same way that it does when people pan Avatar. What is clear is that the age of video games is far from over. Now that a video game has advanced to the top of the fastest-to-$1-billion chart, the ball is in the film industry’s court to find out how elite MW3 really and whether it can pwn like FPS Doug (courtesy PurePwnage):

[Media: Call of Duty, Economist, PurePwnage, Ubergizme, YouTube]

[Sources: Activision, Economist, PwC, Reuters]

Robots + Guns = Millions in Video Game Sales

Every year E3, the epic video game conference, consumes Los Angeles in a fiery ball of geeky glory, and from those ashes rise some truly impressive trailers. Japan’s Software Inc. pulled out all the visual tricks in the book to show off their upcoming title, Armored Core V, part thirty six billion in an ongoing series about mechanical warfare. Catch the trailer below and watch the enormous warring robots perform feats of battle so awesome they make thirteen year old boys poop their pants. These robots don’t just carry guns…they are guns.

Though the graphics of Armored Core V are mouth-wateringly gorgeous, the world of the game is very bleak. Surging human populations led to food and energy scarcity causing nations to be toppled and replaced by mega-corporations and their armies of mercenaries with customized armored robot vehicles. Yeesh. I’m not sure what’s more eye-opening: the dystopian future this world presents, or the fact that video games now have the budgets necessary to create graphics of this stunning caliber.

The world of video games has gotten richer and more visually stunning with every passing year. Now is a time when motion capture and computer generated images allow developers to show virtual human faces so realistic that reading their expressions is an integral part of their game. Those same engines of design let teams like Software create absurd robotic vehicles that somehow manage to look like they could belong in the real world. Cut-scenes like those seen in this trailer can cost millions to produce for a full length game, and they speak to the money and dedication that now fill the video game industry. Currently in closed beta testing, Armored Core V will be coming to Japan in October, and the rest of the world in 2012. Apocalyp-tastic!

From the opening titles of the trailer you know that this isn’t going to be a happy game. Post-apocalyptic scenarios are rarely fully of laughing loving people, but as the robots drop from the sky and shoot each other with aplomb, one thing becomes clear. This is an unhappy world because technology allows these mechanical warriors to dominate and destroy those around them. It’s a robot-fueled war, and while it looks amazing as a game, it strikes a little too close to reality.

Every few weeks we cover another real world robot that is phenomenal in its capabilities, and that just so happens to be fated for military applications. While some, like the Talon robots used to defuse bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq, save lives, many more aid US forces in killing their enemies. From armed flying drones to treaded bots with guns strapped onto them, these machines are only growing more complex and capable. They’ve already started to move human pilots out of the heat of battle, and may replace them completely. The same could be true for foot soldiers some day as well.

With that in mind, the premise of Armored Core seems less ridiculous and more merely pessimistic. Will we have skyscraper-sized mechas that mercenaries ride around inside and use to do battle? I’m going out on a very short limb here and saying ‘no’. Advanced military robots in the hands of private corporations, however? That seems fairly likely, to some degree or another. As we continue to leverage technology in war, we should keep in mind that the same machines we use to great advantage over enemy combatants have no inherent preference in who they serve. Not to be too melodramatic, but those who live by the giant military robot may die by the giant military robot. If that happens, I doubt it will look as awesome and fun as Armored Core V.

[image and video credits: Software Inc]
[source: Software]

Flying a quad-copter with your iPhone not cool enough? Try dog-fighting other drones using augmented reality.

Just in time for the E3 Expo, Parrot has released new augmented reality video games for its awesome AR Drone. Able to put any geek into a fit, the flying quad-copter is piloted using an iPhone App and two onboard cameras. I got to play with one of these things at CES this year, and it was more fun than I think I deserved. Now, Parrot has unveiled three augmented reality games which overlap digital graphics with the live video feed from the drone. You play the games the same way you normally fly the drone – through iPhone apps. Check out a trailer for the AR Drone games, along with footage of all three in the videos below.

As awesome as the AR Drone may be, the three games debuted aren’t mind-blowing in their scope. Free Flight let’s you fly around, Drone Gate lets you battle a virtual swarm of badies, and Flying Ace lets you dogfight other AR Drones. All pretty standard video game fare. But you can’t forget that you’re playing these games with a real-life flying machine. We’ve shown you augmented reality video games before (including some from Nintendo). We’ve shown you some amazing quad-copters. Parrot’s AR Drone is both amazing technologies rolled into one. You can’t get any geekier or cooler than that.

If the videos leave you aching for your own system, you’ll have to wait. It won’t go on sale in the US until Septemeber (MSRP = $300, not bad). Availability and pricing for other regions will be announced in the next few weeks. As for the games, Free Flight is available now for download on iTunes, the others are coming soon. It’s hard to say whether or not the AR Drone will be a one of a kind novelty, or if it will spark a trend in drone-based gaming. Certainly augmented reality has the potential to revitalize everything from marketing to education. It will be interesting to see if Parrot’s pricing and first generation games are able to attract enough attention to keep the project going. I certainly hope that’s the case. As far as I’m concerned, September can’t come soon enough. …I wonder if I can classify the AR Drone as a business expense.

[screen capture and video credits: Parrot]
[source: Parrot]

The Tactile Gaming Vest uses solenoids and vibrating motors to let you feel bullet impacts or knife slashes. It doesn't sound pleasant, but trust us, gamers will love it.

If enormous flat screen TVs and surround sound aren’t enough to satisfy your hunger for immersive gaming then maybe you need to be shot. Virtually, that is. Saurabh Palan from the Haptics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania has developed the Tactile Gaming Vest (TGV) a device that lets you feel the impact of bullets, and the slashing sensation of knives as you play action packed video games. The TGV is mounted with solenoids that strike you (for bullets) and vibrating motors (for the knife slashing sensation) that respond to cues from the game and let you feel what your character feels on the screen. Palan hopes to give users a “4-D” experience, with tactile feedback providing the extra dimension of immersion. The TGV debuted at the recent 2010 Haptics Symposium to much fanfare and positive reviews. While this device is still in the early prototype phase, haptic vests may one day be adapted to provide real sensations for military training, movies, and yes, amazing video games.

The TGV isn’t the first vest with physical feedback. In fact, you can go online now and order one from TN Games for $140. That system, however, uses compressed air, making its response slower and less precise than the TGV. Most other haptic vests have relied on just one kind of feedback. Palan has incorporated both impacts and vibrations, and plans on including more. The original TGV prototype (which was tested at UPenn in September ’09) also contained heating elements to give wearers the sensation of blood flowing from a wound. That part of the system had to be removed because of its need for high electric current. According to Palan’s website, they also considered adding in features to simulate punches, kicks, ambient temperature, artillery explosions. Sounds like a full military or disaster relief simulator in the making.

Earlier models of the TGV included heating elements to simulate blood flow. Hopefully later versions will contain a wide range of stimuli to provide a complete virtual experience.

For now, the TGV is most notable for how it points the way to a full-body haptic experience. Combine many different modes of feedback and you’ll be able to approximate a much wider range of sensations. We already have the necessary technology to do haptics today. All it takes is solenoids, eccentric motors, peltier (heating) elements, good programming, and a lot of creativity. Palan seems to have each of those in spades. Hopefully he, or one of the many other haptics researchers, will continue to develop feedback suits until they’re good for more than just a great round of Halo.

[image credits: Saurabh Palan]
[source: iRoboticist (Palan's personal website)]

ARhrrr...zombies are invading your nVidia phone!

For those of you new to AR technology, a camera records your environment while a computer mixes this image with pre-recorded 3D designs and then displays them in real-time on your screen. The result is an illusion that you are looking into a hybrid world. Another company, Total Immersion, created interactive baseball and pokemon cards, not to mention a tour of the new Star Trek movie’s starship Enterprise.

SCAD, however, has upped the ante by leaping head-first into the realm of video games. This is where the technology can really thrive. Third-party developers, a dedicated consumer base, and sympathetic technologies could push AR as the next big thing. Several devices, such as the PSP, nintendo DSi, and the iPhone are capable of supporting the technology and are already popular enough to carry the AR video game revolution. That being said, I’m not sure how dependent ARhrr is on the nVidia phone and its new Tegra processor.

The game itself looks fun, if a little shallow. From the safety of your nVidia, you can explore your AR city world, hunting zombies and shooting them by tapping the screen. Save some humans, watch out for zombies throwing stuff at you — pretty standard FPS fare. A real innovation comes with the use of skittles (yes, the real-life candy) as markers on the map for bombs. This is something I might have imagined as a child. It’s a cool twist to the game, and I hope other AR game developers pick up on this synergistic mix of product-placement and AR game-play possibility.

It’s been less than a year since AR really started becoming a noted phenomenon. Now we have a video game. As the progression continues, AR is posed to become a wide-spread industry standard for entertainment and advertising. It’s hard to know, however, if AR will make that leap, or fade into yet another fad. Personally, I hope that augmented reality becomes more realistic, more accessible, and a valuable tool for all kinds of art and communications developers. In the end, it would be great for AR to become something more than just another way for video games to rot our braaaaaaaaiiinnnsss.