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The grasp of XBOX Live and the PlayStation Network over the Marine Corps is so powerful, one really could consider the distraction it creates to be terrorism. I am not an exception to this rule, I too enjoy myself some Modern Warfare 2 via XBOX Live. I was there on the midnight release at the Kailua GameStop to pick it up. Keep in mind, though this was an off-base affair, I was not surrounded by the locals of Oahu, but by Marines. At least 80% of the people that showed up–some 300 plus–were Marines.
Despite our manly demeanor, Marines are no strangers to the world of gaming. The typical casual assortment permeates the barracks on long standby days and nights; games like Modern Warfare 2, the latest Madden or some other EA Sports game are all common contestants in the fight for the 360’s disc drive.
I suppose the appeal of Modern Warfare is pretty easy to understand. I enjoyed the first game for the fact that it truly tried to represent Marines in warfare the way we see it. It was unfortunate to find out when I played the sequel that Infinity Ward had decided to portray the Army in their latest venture. However, the gameplay remained ultimately unchanged and the multiplayer had expanded to a level of addiction that can probably only be matched by cocaine or some other illicit drug. No Marine is safe from Modern Warfare 2, from junior enlisted to officers, everyone enjoys getting behind the controller and talking shit to the anonymous 14 year old kid on the other side of the country.
Aside from that, I suppose a wide appeal for Marines of all MOS’ is the ability to get into action without actually getting into action. Getting shot at on the TV is a lot more fun than getting shot at in real life. The addiction of MW2 for Marines is Corps-wide, I assure you. It’s not just the grunts that go at it everyday on the virtual battlefield. Pretty soon, when there’s not anything left to say about Iraq or Afghanistan, the only war stories Marines will have will be from Call of Duty.
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