How did Call of Duty: Black Ops demonstrate the commercial importance of electronic games?

Call of Duty: Black Ops demonstrated the commercial significance of electronic games by achieving record-breaking financial success upon its release in November 2010. By grossing $360 million in global sales on its first day, the title became the largest entertainment opening of that year.12

Statistics regarding such high-profile releases are frequently cited to illustrate the substantial growth and cultural importance of computer and video games as a dominant entertainment medium. This commercial impact is further highlighted by the fact that, by the early 21st century, global sales for the gaming industry—including hardware and accessories—had roughly doubled from the $30 billion reported in 2002, significantly outpacing the box office receipts of the American movie industry.1