Responding to Call of Duty: Critical Essays on the Game Franchise

Call of Duty is the most culturally significant video game franchise of the 21st century. Since the first game was released for PC in 2003, the franchise has sold over 250 million copies and been complemented by merchandise ranging from toys and comic books to a special edition Jeep Wrangler. The top players can even compete for millions in prize money in tournaments sanctioned by the Call of Duty World League.While the gaming community has reported on and debated over each development, there has not been much formal scholarship on Call of Duty games. This collection fills that void by examining the ideologically charged campaign mode of major franchise releases, with a special focus on militarism, realism, and gender. After reading this book, you will never just play Call of Duty again.