What Are These People Lining Up For at Midnight?

The prospect of World War III was the hot topic up for discussion in Timonium Tuesday night. But don’t be alarmed.

The conversation about global conflict circulating through a 70-person line waiting outside of , the popular video game retailer, was among eager fans awaiting the midnight release for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

The series has become incredibly popular with online gaming enthusiast—so much so that fans of the series were willing to pick up the game at midnight. It's projected to be the best-selling game of the year, reports the Financial Post, adding to the game's multi-billion dollar franchise.

Haven't heard of it? It's likely that you will this week, reports Metro. The London tabloid posted the five most controversial scenes from the video game, which may cause a stir among some. The game is rated M, for mature.

This year, fans were so eager to get home and play the game that the parking lot became a battlefield in and of itself, Patch observed. 

But not everyone is a fan of the series, reports TechDigest, which questions whether the game is attempting to profit from post-9/11 terrorism fears.

The series itself is no stranger to controversy. 

In Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 2, which precedes the third installment, a level called "No Russian" tasks the user to act as a terrorist and kill innocenet bystanders at an airport. (In truth, the user doesn't have to fire his gun, however, the player is still subject to mass murder.) 

The game ends (spoiler alert) with the prospect of World War III. 

But let's open it up to discussion. 

How do you feel about games like Modern Warfare 3? Is there a line where entertainment violence becomes too violent? Is it just a well-made game? Do you think it crosses a line in its depictions of war? Is it unpatriotic? Did you buy the game at midnight? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS!

Midnight releases are common at the Timonium Gamestop location. Patch covered  during its midnight release a year ago.