I've long since come to feel like it's Call of Duty, not shopping centers, that marks the kick-off to the holiday season. The franchise is decidedly punctual, launching a new premium title annually for the last 20 years. It's a system that would seem unsustainable, and yet Activision — with the power of more than a dozen studios under their umbrella — manages to pull it off.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the latest entry to release and the first direct sequel for the series, seems like another successful annual launch on the surface. The game has come under heavy criticism and has been the subject of a review bomb by players who believe they're being charged full AAA pricing for what is perceived to be a DLC or expansion to Modern Warfare 2.
