Nobody wants to see terrorists strike in Las Vegas -- except maybe eager video game players.

Since the Thanksgiving week release of "Rainbow Six: Vegas," gamers have been snapping up the XBOX 360 game so they can do their part to save Sin City from a large-scale terrorist attack.

Players direct a team of commandos dispatched to Las Vegas after terrorists overtake several Strip casinos, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Models of the city's most-famous landmarks such as the MGM Grand, Bellagio and the Fremont Street Experience, were included, but all the action takes place in fictional casinos such as the underwater-themed Calypso and the Stratosphere-inspired Vertigo.

Last summer, local officials worried the game would send the wrong message about their city.

"It could be harmful economically, and it may be something that's not entitled to free speech" protection, said Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who asked the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to check for any trademark infringements.

The authority found none, and Goodman's comments created a short-lived stir in the video game community.

Goodman said through a spokeswoman that he wouldn't comment on the game's release because he hadn't seen it yet.

Sheriff Bill Young, however, repeated his worries about the game.

"I think it's very unfortunate that Las Vegas is the backdrop for things like this," he said. "It's a little too much reality."

The game has been a hot seller on Amazon.com, where it's the fourth best-selling XBOX 360 game. Versions for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable are due out early next year.

"Some people would say any publicity is good publicity," Young said. "I would be one of those who disagrees."

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