Leicester Square to host MW2 launch

By Robert Purchese Published 21 October, 2009

UK celebs to smile for the camera.

Activision will take over Leicester Square on Monday 9th November to launch what could be the biggest game ever, Modern Warfare 2.

The ODEON cinema will host a screening of the game compered by "a celebrity fan". Could this be the return of Ian Wright, Ricky Hatton, Pat Cash and Nell McAndrew - "The Pastel Pack"?

Then, at midnight, the doors to HMV Trocadero will swing open and sales will begin. A secret VIP party in an underground bunker will also begin, starring "one of the UK's biggest male artists of 2009". Is it Dizzee Rascal? Michael Buble? Leon from last year's X-Factor?

Modern Warfare 2 goes on sale worldwide on Tuesday 10th November. That gives the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 game nearly a whole week to amass top-notch figures. Not long now.

Don't forget that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for Wii and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Moblized for DS launch on the same day. They're obviously different.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • el_pollo_diablo #1 2 years ago

    Oh dear.

  • Sir_TimAlot #2 2 years ago

    Celebrity CUNTS!

    edit - sorry guys i think i may have overdone it with the use of the word.....celebrity
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/09 @ 16:51

  • mr_chimp #3 2 years ago

    Wouldn't be surprised if Chris Moyles ends up having something to do with this - he's constantly talking about CoD on his show.

  • deadduckz #4 2 years ago

    what waste of cash a party, If I was ther id get the game and head home to play it, hoping i didnt get mugged

  • kangarootoo #5 2 years ago

    I am utterly baffled that anyone would want to go to these things. There are better parties out there, and better things to do with your time.

  • XdarXideX #6 2 years ago

    What extra £10? Didn't you know? Only stupid retailers are selling it for £50 and above.

  • Lebowski #7 2 years ago

    This will be our Woodstock.

  • kangarootoo #8 2 years ago

    @XdarXideX

    An increase in RRP will always get passed on. There will still be a discount, but the end price will be higher than it would otherwise have been.

  • dr_faulk #9 2 years ago

    This doesn't beat Dublin's Halo 3 release party with... RICHARD DEAN ANDERSON!!!! =O

    "Wow! He must do one of the voices in Halo 3!"
    "No."
    "... What?"
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/09 @ 16:57

  • beastmaster #10 2 years ago

    /switches off lights at party
    /activites NV goggles
    /finds Nell McAndrew
    /stealth do....

  • etherfiend #11 2 years ago

    Quoted from DomJoly's Twitter this morning:

    "@domjoly: How excited am I- guess who is launching Modern Warfare, the follow up to Call of Duty 4? Go on....guess......"
    about 8 hours ago from web

  • bodypopper #12 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    Ever since Sony decided to give people giant tellies at the launch of the PS3, people seem more and more inclined to make an effort to go to these things. Just in case, y'know...

  • Peew971 #13 2 years ago

    Isn't HMV the most expensive retailer out there for games?

  • Quickstick4 #14 2 years ago

    @Leewom no its not delayed....but i doubt anyone will buy it for PC, I was but am seriously disgruntled over no Dedicated servers, and before im jumped on; I have a 360 and own COD4 for both 360 and PC, only reason I get the CODs on PC is for the Dedivated server/comunity side - its nice to play with the same people again and again and get to know them before adding them as freinds...so to spealk

  • Bazfrag #15 2 years ago

    They can host the party in my garden and bring the entire Playboy mansion for all i care. No sale Exploitavision.

  • Gurrah #16 2 years ago

    That is the tip of the dedicated-server-iceberg. I know it has no direct link to the PC fiasco which made me cancel my pre-oder, but that is exactly what is wrong with Activision/Infinity Ward or a lot of the big publishers for that matter - they'd rather shove piles of money down greedy, so called celebrities' throats, than listen to the people that made them, the gamers, and show them a bit of gratitude for sticking with the COD-franchise - up until now.

  • Absolvus #17 2 years ago

    grab up pack of rotten eggs and show them what you think of nade spam and lack of dedicated servers... ...

  • persus-9 #18 2 years ago

    Well I'll be going, I won't buy the game because it's a £15 buy for me, so I should be picking it up in 2011 or so. I'll go to the launch for a couple of reasons, firstly I figure at a launch this big there might be free stuff or really good discounts and secondly I'll at the very least I'll be able to stare into the dark heart of the seriously hardcore mainstream. I mean just imagine the sort of person who with no hint of irony will go stand in the middle of London at midnight November just to witness the launch of the most mainstream videogame ever made. It'll be something like "Fear and loathing in Leicester Square: a bleak journey to the heart of videogame fandom"

  • Magellum #19 2 years ago

    So how many fools do we expect to blindly fork out the extra dosh for the overpriced game from an overpriced retailer then on the first day?

    Wait that was rhetorical. It will be a lot of fools. Alongside Z-list "celebrities".

  • giant_frying_pan #20 2 years ago

    Is the Square a dedicated host?

  • tachometer #21 2 years ago

    Any fans of Vernon Kaye & Rio Ferdinand should probably make this a date

  • J_C_X #22 2 years ago

    I didn't like COD4. Why did everyone else like it???

  • Razorus #23 2 years ago

    This "Call of Duty" game sounds interesting. Might research it if it's really that big a deal that you need a celebrity party!

  • Wolverfrog #24 2 years ago

    Oh dear God...it's a video game! And here I was thinking the Halo 3 launch was over the top.

  • AphoticCosmos #25 2 years ago

    Fuck you very much, Activision.

  • Masterless #26 2 years ago

    How about we turn up for a proper non-digital protest? Who is gonna make the placards?

  • kangarootoo #27 2 years ago

    @bodypopper

    "Ever since Sony decided to give people giant tellies at the launch of the PS3, people seem more and more inclined to make an effort to go to these things. Just in case, y'know..."


    Ahhhhhh. That would indeed be a good reason to go :)

    I thought it was just standing around, looking at celebs in the distance.

  • kangarootoo #28 2 years ago

    "Anyone up for a protest march? we know where they will be , would be the perfect way to get some media interest in how they are screwing with us gamers."

    No it wouldn't.

    Don't get me wrong, I think the price hike is bad. But they aren't "screwing" anyone. If you don't like the price, don't buy the product. Its that simple.

    Seriously, a protest march because a luxury non-essential item costs more than you would like it to cost? Such a protest march would just confirm in the eyes of "everyone else" what a bunch of spoilt reality-free brats we gamers really are.

  • Fab4 #29 2 years ago

    I dont think its the price he's complaining about, more the fact that Activision/IW no longer support dedicated servers for the PC version.

  • kangarootoo #30 2 years ago

    @Fab4

    I still don't think it is something that is worthy of a protest. The idea of a protest about non-dedicated servers suggets it is somethign we are entitled to. Quite simply (and obviously... surely), we are not. Activision can do whatever they like in that regard, and we can choose not to buy it if we don't like the deal.

    Its like holding a protest because McDonalds stop selling banana milkshake. If you don't like strawberry, don't buy strawberry, and go do your milkshake shopping elsewhere.

    If people actually protested over this sort of thing, the rest of the general public would tell them to bugger off home and find something genuinely important to complain about.

    Of all the things to protest about in this world, we are talking about non-dedicated servers for a video game...... I defy anybody to read that, think about it for 10 seconds, and then tell me they still think its a cause worthy of anybody's attention.

  • Fab4 #31 2 years ago

    Oh get off your high horse. Its not as if he was suggesting to handcuff himself to the podium of the UN chambers, smearing the blood of disgruntled PC gamers over his face and shouting 'Death to Kotick!'. He jokingly suggested to protest a Z-list celebrity bash aimed to promote a computer game. If you cant see the relationship, then more fool you.

  • kangarootoo #32 2 years ago

    @Fab4

    Well I guess when it comes to jokes, I need them to be funny for me to spot them in a crowd.

    I just find all this MW outrage a bit childish to be honest. If people don't like the deal, don't buy the game. Its only a f*cking game, its not air or food. Its not like someone has cut off your water supply. Somebody made a game, and has set things up (price, or servers, or whatever) in a way that some poeple don't like. That is it.
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/09 @ 12:34

  • phild128 #33 2 years ago

    i can't really understand why people r so upset about the price. I got waw in june for £30 and have played in for 6 days in total. That to me is value for money, i'm also quite sure that i will play mw2 for loger than that.

  • rhinoxious #34 2 years ago

    Personally, I find it heartening just how much they struggle to apply the bland brush of consumer product promotion to something as excellently nebulous as a videogame.

  • phild128 #35 2 years ago

    i can't really understand why people r so upset about the price. I got waw in june for £30 and have played in for 6 days in total. That to me is value for money, i'm also quite sure that i will play mw2 for longer than that.
    Edited by 4 at 22/10/09 @ 13:25

  • riz23 #36 2 years ago

    A screening of the game? Wow, sounds riveting.

  • kangarootoo #37 2 years ago

    @MilkybKid1985

    For me, the devil is in the detail. I don't disagree in principal with anything you say about how small changes make a difference, or how apathy will eventually result in tyranny.

    I get all of that, believe me. But in this case some perspective is desperately needed.

    And briefly on the following note;
    "yes that was the one i was on about, thanks to fab4 for pointing this out, shame on kangarootoo for jumping to conclusions"

    I don't think it really matters. In my eyes, both protests would be equally feeble.


    There are many injustices in the world, many of which might well deserve a banner waving protest, or the writing of stern letters, or a gathering of like minded people to forma plan of action.

    THIS is NOT one of those instances.

    We are talking about the pricing and server setup of a VIDEO GAME. And they told you well in advance, both about the price, and about the non-dedicated server busines. You have a choice as a customer, that hasn't been taken away from you (despite everyone acting like their human rights have been disposed of). You can absolutely exercise those rights, and NOT BUY THE GAME.

    And if you really worry that the reason for your no-purchase decision will be lost in the mists, you can write Activision a concise and polite email telling them exactly why you won't be buying their game. Christ, if everyone annoyed at this did that simple thing, it MIGHT actually make a difference.

    Please, please, please explain to me what a placard waving protest outside a launch party would achieve that a politely worded email of "I won't be buying because XYZ" would not (other than affording everyone the chance to vent some teenage angst)?

    Edit: and please don't say "it will highlight the issue in the general media", because honestly... the rest of the world has proper problems to concern themselves with and doesn't give a fart in a strong wind that the price of a video game went up £10.
    Edited by 2 at 22/10/09 @ 13:59

  • kangarootoo #38 2 years ago

    @MilkybKid1985

    "Is it even possible for someone whos not a teenager to vent teenage angst?"

    Wow. Well, I suppose an immature adult could vent teenage angst. Well done for pointing that one out. Not sure it is to your benefit though.


    "Placade waving protests cannot be ignored as easily as all the people visiting will see it, including any press and any celebs. Email can be selected, delete hit and gone forever."

    WHY would Activion want to delete and ignore your email? It is giving them very useful free market research, so that if they see a drop in expected sales, they have a fair idea (and in the case of the individual writer, an exact idea) why it took place. Why would they not want that information?

    You see, this is childishness I am talking about. There is an assumption that Activion are going to just as petulant about all this as the grumpy kids/kidults wandering about in the street with a placade. The assumption is that Activion would just stick their fingers in their ears and sing "lalalaaaa" instead of actually conducting business.


    Sending that email makes you look a serious customer who is interested in Activion making better products. Waving a grumpy banner saying "down with games that cost money" just makes you look like a fantasist who has forgotten that there are real problems in the world that actually cause harm.

    Edit: ooh, I forgot again thats its not about money, its about dedicated servers. Well good luck with that "down with non-dedicated servers" banner. Seriously, if someone outside the party asked you what you protesting about,and you told them, just imagine the look they would give you.
    Edited by 2 at 22/10/09 @ 14:57

  • phild128 #39 2 years ago

    has anyone been to the cinema lately. 7 fuckin quid it cost me. Who wants to set up camp outside there nearest odeon with big signs. They'll have to drop the price then.

  • jefranklin18 #40 2 years ago

    I feel nauseous... a bunch of has beens and never will bes turning up at an "event" as if it was something major. Those people will only be there to get themselves in front of whatever news agencies Activision have convinced to turn up, expect Big Brother/X Factor rejects to make up most of the "celebs".

    As for protesting, it will be an utter waste of time. There will be no significant media coverage, and what little there is will be carefully ushered by Activision's employed security staff to hide any protestors from view.

    If it's that big a deal, vote with your wallet and don't buy it all. Every copy sold, whether full price or discount is money to Activision. Whether people can stick to their principles is a different matter though...

  • phild128 #41 2 years ago

    has anyone been to the cinema lately. 7 fuckin quid it cost me. Who wants to set up camp outside there nearest odeon with big signs. They'll have to drop the price then.

  • Fab4 #42 2 years ago

    "Waving a grumpy banner saying "down with games that cost money" just makes you look like a fantasist who has forgotten that there are real problems in the world that actually cause harm."

    Yeah, there was a law passed a while ago that states you can only be outraged about a finite number of things at any one time. It also had a caveat that said outrage must be pertaining to things that actually cause harm. I'm surprised everyone didnt get the memo.

    You remind me of the Billy Connolly sketch about having a fixed amount of room in your brain for thoughts/trivia. You are hard afraid anyone tells you the capital of Botswana in case you forget how to walk.

  • kangarootoo #43 2 years ago

    @Fab4

    "Yeah, there was a law passed a while ago that states you can only be outraged about a finite number of things at any one time"

    Was that part of the same bill that included a law on having a sense of perspective, along with a semblane of dignity? Its not about whether you get annoyed by something, it is what you do in response to that annoyance that defines you.

    If you write an adult email, people will assume you are an adult. If you stamp your feet and fling your ice-cream on the floor, people will assume you are a child. Horses for courses, effective and proportianal response, you know the sort of thing (or perhaps not).

    What excatly would peple think of gamers as a whole, if they saw a handful of party poopers stamping around in Lecs Square waving banners about the need for dedicated servers?

    What. Would. They. Think?



    Well done on the Billy Connoly reference though. On the basis that you felt the need to drop the subject matter and instead attack me with someone else's joke, I can safely assume I have convinced you that a protest is not the right course of action ;)
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/09 @ 15:44

  • Fab4 #44 2 years ago

    I feel sorry for you that you felt attacked by such a fantastical concept. I merely stated that you reminded me of that sketch. This concept that only certain protests, concerning high ethical questions, are the only valid ones, and if you do somehow waste your time in frivolity you somehow lessen/remove your concern about more serious issues.....'you cant protest about the price of a stamp, think of the starving children in Ballyhackamore!!'.

    As for convincing me not to protest. I had no intention of protesting in the first place. I can just see why some people would want to...its called empathy.

  • kangarootoo #45 2 years ago

    @Fab4

    I've said all along, I understand the issues people have with this. I said right in my very first post that I thought the price hike was bad. But I have also said all along that it is the RESPONSE that is important.


    I absolutely empathise with those who think the lack of dedicated servers will negatively affect their game.

    I do not empathise with those that think it is a massive deal (nothing in video games is a massive deal).

    I do not empathise with those who think a physical protest is a reasonable (or even an effective) response.


    To use your example, if you thought the price of a stamp was too high, waving a banner outside Royal Mail's head office would not be the way to display your annoyance.


    Anyway, its all got a bit more heated than I expected. Sorry about that. Maybe I'll have a protest in my kitchen about my conduct (complete with small flag on the end of a wooden spoon).

  • penhalion #46 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    You should treat this as talking to deaf, dumb and blind people. No matter how sensible your argument, it's not going to be heard or acted upon.

    For my part I have said for a while now, that I will simply not be buying MW2. I'm voting with my wallet because I strongly believe that to do otherwise would be to condone the nonsense that is Activisions gaming policies. I know I'm in a miniscule minority but, at least I end the day with my principals intact. As a result I get to call muppet on a lot of people who complain but, ultimately simply go out and endorse the very thing they are complaining about.

  • metalangel #47 2 years ago

    kangarootoo has just realized all the time he could have spent protesting for the worthwhile causes in this world was instead wasted saying 'while your silly protest would not affect me, I must still convince you not to do it because I don't agree with it'. :D

  • YourMessageHere #48 2 years ago

    I would respect anyone who showed up at a game launch party and did something to publicly embarrass Activision. If I were in London and cared more than slightly about MW2, I'd be extremely tempted. I know the general public are not fussed, even though they ought to be, since it's part of a much larger general business attitude of removing accountability and fucking over consumers for short-term gain; any stunt would not be for their benefit directly. I know there are more important things to do, but things that are important to an individual are unquestionably important, even if the validity of the importance is questionable.

    I see no reason whatsoever why Activision would ever bother reading or taking any notice of emails saying "I think your pricing policy and standpoint on dedicated servers is sheer lunacy" - or indeed the converse. They'd have to pay people to do that and set up some sort of feedback reporting system, and that money would be totally wasted because they'd ignore it just as easily as they are ignoring the 120,000 signatures on the pro-dedicated servers petition. It's much harder to ignore a physical presence, especially when in the public eye at the time.

    Launch parties must cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds. They serve no purpose at all other than advertising to a demographic that already knows about the product and is emphatically not the sort of person that goes "oh, if Celebrity X is endorsing this product then I must instantly purchase it". They are, in fact, a symbol of everything that is wrong with the media industry as a whole. Add to this the fact that Activision seem intent on being as consumer-unfriendly as possible in pursuit of the short term quick buck, and I'd say some unfriendly consumers is exactly what they deserve. Any media attention directed at them would be much improved by egg-throwing, streaking, megaphone ranting, throwing of drinks into the faces of Activision executives, etc.

    ...or alternatively you can sit around like a lump watching social entropy accelerate unchecked around you. I dare say the knowledge that it might be slowed if you actually took some action, or became more socially active on general principles, could easily be faded out by drunken oblivion or something.

    EDIT: accelerate has only one L, you fool.
    Edited by 1 at 22/10/09 @ 21:51

  • kangarootoo #49 2 years ago

    @metalangel

    I find it hard to break a habit :)

  • Les #50 2 years ago

    "They are, in fact, a symbol of everything that is wrong with the media industry as a whole."

    They are a symbol of gaming's inferiority complex. They're aimed at getting recognition from the mainstream press and to impress shareholders.

    I agree with kangarootoo that the best thing to do is to vote with the wallet and not get the damn thing if you think it's too expensive or lacking essential features. To disrupt a press event because you think a company is charging too much for a luxury product is a bit immature IMHO.