Gamers unite.

Not only is playing “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” an adventure in itself, waiting in line and getting the game proved to be just as much of an experience.

After getting off work around 11 p.m., I walked over to GameStop in the South Campus Gateway to wait in line for the midnight release of “MW3.” I was accompanied by nearly 1,000 eager gamers at the store, all waiting in line for their copy of the game.

Standing in line, I was able to express my inner nerd. I talked with other people about their favorite “Call of Duty” titles, strategy of “Starcraft 2,” the graphics engine of “Battlefield 3” and my extreme disdain for anything involving zombies — yes, that includes “Call of Duty: Black Ops.”

I was talking to a man who actually told me he had the flu, but could not wait to get “MW3,” so he was braving the sickness. Ten minutes later he was throwing up in the trash can, but he got his game.

More than an hour after the release and nearly two hours of waiting in line, I had my copy of “MW3.” I quickly went to 7/11 and grabbed a couple of Arizona Iced Teas and a bag of Doritos. I was in it for the long haul.

I went home and immediately started the campaign. Most of the people I talked to in line suggested everyone go straight to the multiplayer mode and play the campaign later. Needless to say, I am happy with my decision.

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s” storyline ended with Captain John “Soap” MacTavish pulling a knife from his own chest and throwing it through the eye of Lieutenant General Shepherd. Shepherd had betrayed the mission when he revealed he was working with Vladimir Makarov, an ultranationalist who seized control of Russia. “MW3” opened up with an elaborate rescue and escape effort with Soap, Captain John Price and Russian informant Nikolai.

Without giving too much away, the battle then turned to New York, where the ultranationalists had invaded the city and disabled all methods of communication.

The campaign game play was very much like “MW2’s” gameplay, but the story and the different situations the characters and operatives find themselves in are much more intriguing and elaborate. In one mission, you actually have to break into a Russian-controlled submarine and use its weapons against them. In another mission you are an aide to the Russian president before Makorov himself gets involved.

The campaign is the reason to buy the game, but people stick around for the multiplayer mode. I have only had the chance to play 15 multiplayer matches so I haven’t had the ability to level up fully yet, but early analysis is that it is almost exactly like “MW2.”

Even some of the maps remind me of “MW2” maps.

Personally, I don’t find anything wrong with this. I had a horrible addiction to “MW2” for more than a year, and it is by far my favorite multiplayer game. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That is the mentality Activision took with this release.

Again, I have heard people fault the similarities in “MW2” and “MW3,” much like people fault “Madden” from year to year. I am a firm believer that the engine used for the “MW” games is the best possible for user ease.

Much like standing in line and chatting (read: bragging) about previous games, the online community is the reason “MW2” was successful, and mostly the same reason why “MW3” will be the most popular game on the market for a while.

Grade: B+