Battle lines drawn as blockbuster 'Call of Duty' goes on sale

Australian gamers Tuesday were among the world's first to get their hands on the latest instalment of "Call of Duty", as publisher Activision sought to boost the blockbuster franchise amid concerns about consumer fatigue. Activision Publishing is confident the newest title will continue to be its standard-bearer, and has brought in studio Sledgehammer Games and Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey to reload the franchise, which first launched in 2003. "Three years ago we made some big decisions to invest in a three-year development cycle and to enlist Sledgehammer Games to be the first new lead studio for 'Call of Duty' in a decade," Activision's chief executive Eric Hirshberg said in a statement. EB Games, which is launching "Call of Duty" in Australia, said the latest instalment was already the year's biggest pre-selling title.