Ben-DutkaIf you couldn't guess, the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops will be a very big deal.
So big, in fact, that one of the biggest bands in heavy metal history will be on hand to celebrate the game's release. Metallica has teamed up with Activision to headline the Black Ops launch event on November 4 at Santa Monica Airport's Hangar 8. So tomorrow, the blowout event will boast a performance by the Grammy-Award winning band, which will honor the six branches of the Armed Forces and raise $1 million for the Call of Duty Endowment. The latter is a non-profit, public benefit corporation founded by Activision Blizzard that assists veterans with the transition from battle to civilian life; i.e., helps them establish jobs and careers.
Said Robert Kotick, Activision Blizzard CEO:
"We are honored to have Metallica partner with us to pay tribute to the brave servicemen and women who have risked their lives at war only to return home to find their biggest challenge is searching for a job. Today, the unemployment rate for veterans is 21% higher than the rate for all Americans, with veterans' unemployment topping 500,000. We believe that the business community can and should do more. Through The Call of Duty Endowment, we are committed to raising millions of dollars for job assistance and training programs for veterans and raising public awareness for this serious issue."
If you really don't know who Metallica is, you can check the press release for a brief bio. Let's just say that since forming up in 1981, the band has gone on to sell more than 100 million albums worldwide, garnering tens of millions of fans in the process. They have several multi-platinum albums to their credit, including 1983's "Kill 'Em All" (3 times over), 1986's "Master of Puppets" (6 times over), and 1991's Metallica (The Black Album, which went 15 times over). To have these guys basically "open" for Black Ops is…well, as we just said, a big deal.
Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Black Ops
Man I forgot about that song. *smacks self on head* That would be a good one. I'm pretty sure Lars can still bust the drums out on that one. He might pass out afterward, but it would be totally worth it. 😛
Well this better than, someone asking you if have been rehabilitated. Thats what I got from a guy that interviewed me when I got home from Southeast Asia.
Come on, who doesn't know Metallica? You know, the guys who closed down Napster? Those guys.
You mean the guys who sued Cover Girl? or Fernandes Guitars? or Victoria's Secret? or Harmonix, Red Octane, and Activision? Or their own fans? I even think the one about the E and F chords is true.
They've gone downhill since Load came out in my opinion. Used to love listening to those guys. I really liked the S&M album though. Even if Lars did lie at the end about doing another one.
Lol. I was like yeah! and then I was aww! But I totally know what you mean about doing another. Haha.
ok, now this is seriously overkill!
i wish for once antivision would not advertise anything, im sick of opening my eyes and seeing COD adds, this time last year i could not turn on the TV, open a curtain, walk down the street, turn on the radio without seeing or hearing a COD add!
oh, how i cant wait for that to start all over again………….
Good thing I'm not on the US (or UK). We have zero advertisement on games from where i am. That's why PSXE's the only info i get on games to be released. Heck, no ads on XBOX360, PS3 or Wii even!
Bliss 🙂
wow, you lucky!
i remember last year, normally there is no advertisement on the sides of busses and buss stops because the RTA says it distracts drivers.
but for some reason they ignored that and every bus, bus stop, every object with a flat face had a MW2 banner on it.
imagine all those poor trees they cut down for it.
🙁
They haven't made a great album in their last 19 of trying, but I still can't help but kind of love Metallica. All their eighties albums and the Black Album were, and remain, such amazing records that even though I really don't listen to metal anymore, those albums still resonate with me when I give them a listen.
Just throwing this out there.
The current annual funding for the CODE (Call of Duty Endowment) is actually just over 1 million. In other words, this event is the ONLY fundraising CODE does annually for it's fund. Additionally, the fund does not have it's own employees. It has a couple of members on it's Board of Directors who make a little extra money for being on the board, and their job is to decide which organization to give the money to. Said board members, are high ranking CEO's.
Typically, they give about 100k or so at a time to various organizations who support unemployed veterans.
Here's the kicker… with a $1 million budget, they've funded a little over 800k to various organizations. In other words, those board members (typically 10-20 members) are being paid the additional 200k for their services.
What that means is this… the CODE gives minimal funds (100k and even 1 million is NOTHING) to organizations who ARE worthwhile, but also pads the pockets of their CEO's a little better. So they achieve a couple things…
1) Provide funding, enough to support, approximately 200 able bodied veterans. (Fewer if disabled)
2) They get mad advertising on their CODE site and media for Call of Duty and Activision/Blizzard at a tiny cost of 1 million, 20% of which goes back in the pockets of their CEO's. Essentially, they get a lot of media hype and recognition that would normally cost far more than 1 million to generate!!
3) Advertise on their site overwhelming stats like the fact that over 500k veterans need help, huge enemployment rates, and all the various organizations that make a huge difference making it seem like they're a major part of it. (In reality, they cover less than 1% of the cost to actually help all of them) They proclaim they give 1 million very loudly, and then say there are over 500k people to help… but 1 million will only help 300-ish able bodied people find work… (and with it actually only being $800k, they help even fewer)
So… yeah… I mean, you can argue any bit helps… but I think it's a shame that in reality, supporting those veterans is only the secondary goal here…
Not going to lie (excuse the name) but, I didn't understand that. are you basically saying that the 20% profit that will be made will be going to the CEO's? (200k). if im completely wrong, just ignore me, im not a business man.