Call of Duty Convention Promotes Modern Warfare 3
Marisa Miller, Kanye West to Appear
Video game shooter fans are currently gathering in Playa Vista, California to celebrate the uber-popular Call of Duty franchise. The convention, which has been dubbed "Call of Duty XP," is being held by the game's developer, Activision Blizzard Inc.
So, why hold such an event? Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg says it's all about giving something back to the franchise's many die-hard fans. "It's really in response to the strength of the 'Call of Duty' franchise and the passion of our fans," Hirshberg said. "We have fans who play our game every day — more than they go on Facebook — and enough fans in multiplayer every day to fill the 80 largest sports stadiums in the world."
It's expected that about 7,000 people will come together at the Howard Hughes 12-acre Playa Vista compound, the site where the business magnate and aviator designed the famous "Spruce Goose" H4 Hercules aircraft.
The party will revolve around Activision Blizzard's unveiling of Call of Duty 3, which is due this fall. At $150 each, tickets for the event are by no means cheap, but proceeds will be going to the Call of Duty Endowment, which assists the kinds of veterans often portrayed in Call of Duty games.
Besides toying around with CoD3, attendees will also get the chance to drive a Jeep (presumably because Chrysler is sponsoring the event), blast away at one another on two different Call of Duty: Modern Warfare-style paintball courses, and meet some of the developers and voice actors behind the game itself.
Oh, and Activision Blizzard says the event will also be catered by Burger Town, the fictitious fast food joint seen in the games.
If that isn't enough, the game's makers are also bringing in supermodel Marisa Miller to host streaming videos of the event for those that can't make it. Although Miller said she's familiar with the franchise -- her dad and husband are apparently big fans -- it doesn't appear that the supermodel will be found on Xbox Live any day soon.
"My husband is really intense about it. He's really good. I'm just the type of player who likes to sit behind the wall with my sniper rifle and pick people off that way," Miller said.
According to reports, Kanye West will also perform.
Overall, an action-packed weekend for teenaged boys and the young at heart.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 debuts November 8.
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