The debut of the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 looks sure to become the most successful product launch in the history of entertainment, with global first-day sales estimated at $500 million.

Less than 24 hours after launch, first day sales of the controversial and violent new game are set to exceed the previous record set by Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008 by $200 million.

The game is expected to sell more than 3 million copies in the UK alone, with the online retailers Amazon and Play.com both reporting record sales.

Meanwhile, the UK controversy over the game has spread to members of parliament.

Modern Warfare 2: complete news, reviews and comment roundup

First day sales of new video game set to be 40% above previous record, but controversy persists over its use of violence

BACKGROUND

• Violent video games won’t corrupt

• Modern Warfare 2: Brutal and brilliant

• Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 premiere report

• Modern Warfare 2: war is not a game

Times Archive, 1985: Video nasties blamed for violence

Video machines 'leading children to re-enact scenes of violence'

• Four out of ten children 'have seen video nasties'

• Video nasties leave MPs reeling with horror

The game, which features a scene that gives players the option of killing civilians in a terrorist attack on a Russian airport, was attacked in The Times on Saturday by Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leicester East.

“I am absolutely shocked by the level of violence in this game and am particularly concerned about how realistic the game itself looks," said Mr Vaz, a long-time critic of violence in video games, who has in the past led calls for the banning of such games as Bully and Manhunt.

In response to Mr Vaz's criticism, fellow Labour MP Tom Watson on Tuesday set up a Facebook group called Gamers' Voice. The mission statement for the group reads: "Are you sick of UK newspapers and (my fellow) politicians beating up on gaming? So am I. The truth is, UK gamers need their own pressure group. I want to help you start one up."

In less than 24 hours, Gamers' Voice has attracted over 7,000 friends on Facebook, thanks to a vigorous campaign across the micro-blogging site Twitter, led by Mr Watson and his 6,000 followers.

"Politicians just have to accept that video games are part of the cultural landscape of Britain now," Mr Watson told The Times.

"They should be treated in exactly the same way as music and film and television industries, and we should judge a piece of work on its own merits rather than screaming every time a game like this comes out with a bit of nasty content. Parliament has just got to grow up when it comes to video games."

Asked if would buy a copy of Modern Warfare 2 for himself, Mr Watson said: "No. The scene in question turned my stomach and it would deter me from buying the game.

"The point is that we now have a classification system. People should be treated as adults and let them make their own decision about this stuff, just as they do with 18 films or Patricia Cornwell novels."

Mr Vaz responded that leaving it up to the consumer was not good enough. “Whilst I appreciate that this game has been certified for those aged 18 and over, my principal concern is that it will fall into the hands of children. The level of brutality in this video game is such that even the manufacturers have deemed it necessary to insert warnings allowing players to skip scenes.

“The Government must do more to raise awareness of the potential dangers of young children playing violent games – parents must be educated on this issue and packaging must be clear. We must safeguard our children against avoidable dangers.”

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