The age of violence began ages ago. For decades, politicians and parent groups have warned citizens that games were violent, death was too real, and blood was too frequent. But the new CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 blows anything violent in the past out of the water, along with dozens of civilians that the video game player is able to kill without warning or guilt..

The game has been breaking records for sales, along with registering high interest among gamers. $325 million later, the 17+ rated game has raised worldwide eyebrows about its lack of taste, especially the the vivid massacre scene at an airport in which the player can opt to mow down the lives of innocent civilians..

It's a small comfort to note that the game allows you to opt out of the controversial scene.. But tempt a child's eyes with something that says "do not enter," and you know the typical results without having to even perform a statistical survey..

The game opens up with a training level in the Middle East. You shoot enemies. At the end of that round, you're able to see how many civilians you accidentally killed. Next up, you're a soldier.. A few levels later, the player joins Russians terrorists and kills civilians at a Russian airport. The game goes on..The beat goes on..

The NEW YORK TIMES may have put it best: "Modern Warfare 2 thrusts the player into confronting death much more brutally"

The video game has become popular over the past week for its grand display of graphics, realistic portrayal of warfare, and controversy. The buyers have to be over 17 in the United States.. but store cashiers easily can see hoardes of children dragging their parents into the store to purchase the game for them..

Gamers are defending CALL OF DUTY, however. They explain that the game will mess with the five senses, put players in somewhat chilling events, but won't make a killer out of kids.

However, others have called attention to the theme of the game..Josh Gillin wrote "Besides hoping the CIA wouldn't truly empower an agent to slaughter hundreds of foreign nationals, I couldn't help but feel the entire narrative structure of MW2 strayed from the formula that made the original's single-player campaign a success. Previously, you fought only armed combatants on various battlefields, and despite a few darker undertones illustrating how and why governments would carry out illegal assassinations and interrogations, the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare promoted the theme that you were doing the right things for the right reasons, even if they seemed wrong. Not so much, this go-'round"

However, a Yahoo! video game reviewer announced online that his weekend is booked and for friends not to call. He's playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 .. Ben Patterson reports the truth about the opt out civilians scene: "Playing as an undercover Army Ranger embedded with the terrorists, you don't have to participate in the bloodshed if you don't want to, but you do have to watch—whether you like it or not—as the screaming, unarmed innocents beg for their lives, attempt to limp or crawl to safety, or crumble to the floor in a pool of blood"

And that's entertainment, 21st century style. Who says people want an escape from reality?

Unless we are quickly forgetting the differences between the reality and fiction.. Vivid massacre style..

BRYAN SMOLOCK HORROR REPORT SATURDAY 11:14 AM 11/14/2009