In a league of its own: MW3

Early November, while the country was tuning in to Rockstar’s songs, and waiting for Spielberg’s directorial endeavour in an animated project, there was another set of fans impatiently waiting for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. A game that has shattered entertainment records with 6.5 million copies sold, generating about $400 million within Europe on launch day itself. It is a milestone in the Call of Duty Series; a benchmark set in first-person shooter genre that perhaps no other game, apart from one of its own, will be able to achieve in a few years to come.

For COD fans this time of the year is always exciting, when Activision brings out the next in line with amazing graphic content and exciting twists in the gameplay. Last year when Call of Duty: Black Ops was released with the lead character voiced by Sam Worthington (Avatar), I remember, the enthusiasm with which youngsters lined up at Music Planet to get a copy of their own; it had grossed $360 million in 24 hours. But according to Activision (the game’s publisher) COD: Modern Warfare 3’s day-one shipments have been the largest for any game ever. Imagine the following. Even in India the craze has been on for all Call of Duty titles ever since the first one was released way back in 2003. After eight titles, COD still manages to pull such incredible sales figures in the first-person shooting genre. Perhaps, next year we’ll see another one of those and it would still not be enough.

Modern Warfare 3 is a sequel to COD: Modern Warfare 2 released in 2009 with Single-player Campaign, Cooperative and Multiplayer modes. Presumably, the gameplay is same where our protagonists are fighting to stop a madman named Vladimir Makarov who just wants to burn the world down. It continues from where we were left - in the prequel, in Afghanistan - escaping to a safe house in India and then to Sierra Leone. The game takes us through England, France, America and Germany while World War III is underway. The game is violent, brutal and fast paced, not suitable for kids; mature gamers only.

The game has been developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, written by Paul Haggis and includes voices by Idris Alba (Rock n Rolla), Timothy Olyphant (Hitman), and Tobey Maguire (Spiderman). System requirements are quite the same as before, as it can be played on Windows XP, Vista or 7 with Intel Core 2 Duo and 2 GB RAM. Graphic requirements are at 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT and above with DirectX 9.0 and above for sound.

With stunning cinematic direction, adrenaline pumping action and nerve-racking suspense Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is going to be the best first person shooter game of this year. Its non-stop action and smartly developed storyline will keep COD fans entertained for a long time. And, keep them impatiently waiting for another instalment of the much loved Call of Duty series.

Storytelling: An Art beyond time

 [Published in Section II of The Statesman on Mar 15, 2012]

You and I shall pass but our stories shall linger. From yesterday, today and tomorrow, stories come from all time for all ages, keeping us unwearied, untrammelled, unburdened in its magical realm: a realm of make-believe where no matter how desperate things seem there is always a right way to go, a choice that in the end would nourish our hero’s soul. We learn so much from great stories, learning that changes the way we see our world, the way we act or think, the way we are supposed to live. All stories have something to teach if only we pay attention. But it is up to the story teller to keep it interesting while it is entertaining. Strange characters coming to life, fairy tales where wondrous fiction is always enchanting, naturally jogging our minds to think ahead all the while rendering us in awe, dredging out of us positive emotions. In a way good stories have shaped our lives, giving us morals, highlighting virtues, even painting our future, always leaving us with a sense of goodness in our hearts.

Science Fiction detrudes all past notions, trampling them under its long traversed and worn out heels to furnish the conveniences of today’s reality; and yet bringing forth new ideas, new hopes for a better future. Medicine, Communications, Defence, even Space Exploration has been developed because of great ideas imagined by many science fiction writers. Masterpieces once imagined by pioneer story tellers paved the way for a great many inventions. Leaving the past behind, humanity on a whole has to evolve, gradually though, and I believe these incredible feats of human endurance written down will facilitate this change. Real life stories or made up, each has its own unique characteristic that affects us in ways only as different as our perceptions. And however different we may think we are from each other our ultimate essence is the same and through an inner need we share our perceptions subconsciously, moving together into the unknown future.

We are all story tellers at some point. Every now and then we do make up stories, fantastic or fabulist or just plain lies. It is a hard job to imagine characters to life, but in the end it is gratifying to see those characters alive and living up to your expectations, intertwining with the plot, giving it form and ultimately the effect a good story needs. Watching these characters evolve as the story goes by is simply magical, and there are times when a character takes the story to a whole new level eventually changing the outcome of it. A story teller is stoked whenever this happens. Even comic books have an effect, not only on children, when it comes to learning morality. The encounters between good and evil – virtuous Superhero fights malignant villain(s), laying his/her life on the line altruistically – are similar to mythical stories of any or all religions. I’m still inspired when I read a comic book where our hero is fighting for justice.

Who knows what the future holds but what we can be sure of is that stories will render true and right messages, helping us perhaps to evolve into a level that may open new avenues for our souls. All we have to do is retain the art of storytelling without losing our enthusiasm and fervour until that time comes.

Flash of the Titans

[Published in The Statesman's Vintage & Classic Car Rally Magazine, 2012]

Only 21 days to go for the 11^th Auto Expo, or for what I’d like to call, ‘Flash of the Titans’, a splendiferous display organised for the giants in automotive industry to showcase their marvels that render us in awe, and there’s excitement in the air. Already with the advent of the first F1 Indian Grand Prix held in October 2011, Delhiites are primed and ready for Auto Expo 2012, for stirring new designs and concepts to be unveiled.

India being the second largest manufacturer of two-wheelers and seventh largest car manufacturer, this event is like showers of blessings for not only Indian Car and Component makers but also for a few young blooded auto lovers (the boys, as I presume) like me who can dream of soaring in one of the displayed radical machines. Indeed, not a competition, the Auto Expo being a real display of some of the biggest automaker’s supercars, even a glimpse of which can make us feel enthralled. Ferrari, BMW, Lamborghini and many more, will be displaying their latest and unique concepts, literally snatching one’s breath away. Mitsubishi with its new Mirage hatchback, Skoda brings Rapid, Suzuki unveils Regina concept, Nissan, Ford, and Honda, not backing out, bringing new and hybrid cars, some specifically designed for India, not to mention Harley Davidson, Ducati and Yamaha with their incredibly powerful engines roaring within Pragati Maidan, calling on the wild. DC will be there with freshly modified cars; like a Monnet to an art lover is his creation to the boys. It will be truly exhilarating, I’m sure.

And how can I forget Europe’s premium car makers such as Audi, Mercedes and Volvo, with their trademarks displayed: Audi’s A3 Sedan and the S6 Limousine, Mercedes’ M-Class SUV, and the stalwart Volvo S60. Rolls Royce, Maserati, and Porsche will grace their stands, watching mere mortal men attracted to their auras. Another European car maker with incredible power to lure a caboodle of men is the Bugatti, which will make its presence felt this year, marking its territory being a new player in the event. 

Aside from the garish displays, there’s another purpose of Auto Expo 2012. To showcase a cause, along with the safety of passengers, that in future will be beneficial for us: the 11^th expo is focusing on reducing carbon emissions to keep the environment safe; the fuel efficient or hybrid technological innovations definitely attracting the frugal among us. It will help generate new ideas for concepts based on urban and environmental needs, highlighting the areas of improvements, and promoting technological products, components, or vehicles designed keeping in mind the future needs.

      Allotment of space was closed last month itself due to an overwhelming response, which only describes the competitiveness prevalent in the auto industry here; a sure sign of success for Auto Expo 2012. Many major car and two-wheeler manufacturers have established themselves in India based on the simple fact that it is one of the fastest growing automobile markets in the world. Annual car sales are projected to increase manifold in the coming years and the only hindrance to enjoying a smooth ride will be congested Indian roads. Let’s hope this ‘Flash of the Titans’ will help deliver the exigency of this message: the country’s infrastructure needs to be ready for the future.