Video games have become extremely popular and marketable for the younger portion of society.  However, game developers realized that there was a huge market that was not being targeted: adults.

Call of Duty Black Ops’ promotional video was aimed at obtaining a wider variety of gamers for the product.  The video demonstrates a “real life” demonstration of how the game is played.  The song “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones plays in the background (one of the favourite songs, if not THE favourite song of yours truly) to grab the attention of anyone passing by a TV when the commercial was aired.  The song, as popular as it is, was also originally recorded during the time period when the game’s story takes place.

The video shows viewers how exciting and action-packed the game can be.  With rockets and bullets flying everywhere, the developers of this ad clearly want to show you how you feel right in the combat zone.  But, the video shows all sorts of people participating in this battle.  Men and women of all occupations (concierge, food vendor, businesswoman), races and ethnicities apart of this battle.  Treyarch (game developer) is obviously appealing to a wider market of people to sell their game to.  They are also trying to get past the stereotype that only young men play shooter video games.  Heck, they even throw Kobe Bryant in there.  So if it’s cool for him to play it, then it’s cool enough for everyone else, right?

We could also consider the ethics of this ad.  Is it “right” to demonstrate this kind of violence in a “realistic” scenario?  Because even though no kids are used as actors, we all know that they are the target market of this game.  As violent of an advertisement as it is, I think it’s quite ingenious how Treyarch attempts to grab absolutely anyone who hasn’t played a Call of Duty game before by showing them how exciting it can be.