Leaked Modern Warfare 2 Footage Shocks
Leaked Modern Warfare 2 Footage Shocks
October 28, 2009
Game play from the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which appears to cast players in the role of a terrorist, has caused a maelstrom on the Internet.
While Activision has been extremely active in trying to get the footage off of the Web, clips still appear on a variety of websites.
Warning: if you were planning to play the game without knowing anything about it, these videos definitely contain spoilers, so watch at your own risk.
CNN’s iReport still has a 3.00 minute plus video up, showing a group of characters, dressed in civilian clothes with body armor over top, emerging from an elevator into an airport and wantonly gunning down a group of (what appears to be) civilians. Another disturbing image shows a non-player character attempting to drag another injured NPC to safety, only to have them both gunned down by the player. The group of terrorists then systematically marches through the building killing and finishing off any people still left in their path.
OnlineGamingEurope has much the same footage, but with a little differing overlap, showing the group of terrorists emerging from the airport and killing people on the tarmac in the shadow of an airplane.
Comparing officially issued screenshots with the leaked footage, along with other visual cues, GameSpot verified, to the best of their knowledge, that the footage is from the actual game. Activision’s full-scale attempts to take down the videos appear to back up GameSpot’s claims.
GameSpot further compared the rampage shown in the video to the killings that took place in Mumbai, India last year. The gaming site speculates that the terrorist mission might be one of an undercover nature for the player, who must contribute or blow his cover.
What’s different about this bubbling controversy is that even some gaming websites are questioning whether or not this takes things too far. OnlineGamingEurope wrote that they found the footage “hard to stomach.” GameSpot added that, “The brutal nature of the airport massacre and the ever-sensitive subject of terrorism might prove a toxic mix, publicity-wise, if the mainstream media decides to pounce on it.” The Escapist asks, “Tell me that this doesn't have "moral outrage" written all over it.”
IndustryGamers was a bit more reflective:
It'd be easy for Infinity Ward to simply have a non-interactive cut scene depicting parts of this terrorist action, but by putting players into the middle of it, it makes the actions much more real and the consequences more tangible; it's hard not to get a lump in your throat as innocents are being shot down in your gunsights.
GP: The context of the footage is still unknown, and while it could even be a dream sequence or flashback, players do man the guns and pull the trigger. What makes the footage so striking is the level of visuals in Modern Warfare 2, as even in blurry online footage the action looks almost real, taking this a level beyond the cartoonish violence of games such as Grand Theft Auto.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in, we saw it too!
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LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:47pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:44pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
So a game gives people a visceral reaction to what is going on, people have a gut level negative reaction to what they are seeing and doing.
A game making players uncomfortable?
I fail to see what they are doing wrong? I mean holy shit? Players, feeling bad about what they are doing? Isn't that exactly what critics have been claiming that gaming prevents? I mean, aren't gamers cold remorseless murders who revel in blood lust?
This game is doing exactly what more games should be doing.
I agree. For once a game is making us THINK about the act of killing. I think it's interesting that people are outraged when a game turns the tables like this. I shall definitely be pre-ordering this game - after all, it seems to me that this is the first game title that's truly for adult gamers.
Ha. Wake me up when I can shoot children. THEN we have a game truly for adults.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
WAKE UP!
Go playing Fallout 1 and 2.
Speak of the devil, this is what whiston and I were just talking about in the shoutbox.
First, I want to point out, I'm not pro-civilian-killing.
I think this is another step video games are taking to get on equal ground with other mediums. Movies (although mostly stylistically) have civilians dying, getting blown up etc. Documentaries show real clips with real people actually being killed; and these are documentaries that show up on the History Channel.
As far as its inclusion in this game, I agree with it. If we want realism attached to our bad guys, as opposed to the James Bond villian who just says he's evil, this is what is necessary. The bad guys need to show some evil if they want to be taken seriously. Just like real life, unfortunately.
Heh, people complain that video games don't accurately portray certain events or circumstances. This seems pretty realistic to me. It could have easily been a cutscene, but I doubt a cutscene would have a similar effect.
Regardless, this game's chances of being released at all are now slim.
Game comes out in ten days.
Game has massive preorders including specil edition xbox's.
This won't slow the train.
"Regardless, this game's chances of being released at all are now slim."
I don't usually quote from videogames, however in this case Gears 2 came to mind:
"Cain't stop the Train Baby!"
Sure this footage is shocking. Sure it's realistic. Sure some people may find it hard to stomach. But I can't watch the SAW films because they physically make me sick, and I'm not calling for them to be banned. Roll on MW2, and roll on 10th Prestige!
Check out my blog - http://serveratcapacity.blogspot.com
The game has around 600 reserves at my local gamestop, and the US Army is going to bring an HMMWV to the parking lot for the release. Chances are, most of the discs are all ready to go, sitting in packaging. There is no way in hell that this game is not getting released. That would force everyone involved to basically eat the production costs, which are fairly high for this game. Not happening.
Trust the US Army to try recruiting at the launch of a game where you shoot civilians.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Actually, my local Gamestop invited them there. And at the time they were being invited, it was still unknown that this would be happening in the game. We'll see if they still show up.
"Regardless, this game's chances of being released at all are now slim."
If you believe that than you don't know how many people were anticipating this game.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
I've already paid for the Limited Edition console bundle on pre-order. If you think a little bit of video on the internet is going to deny me that, you are sorely mistaken.
I'm preordering that today!
Funny how this will create another bad Fox News story, almost guaranteed.
However, even though I am not for killing citizens, movies and books pushed that long time ago. How are video games are different? If video games are so violent, way most games barely pass content you see in PG-13 films? I admit, there are some pretty violent ones like Gears of War or Mad World, but still doesn't beat Saw or The Hills have Eyes.
So, what's the problem? If people want games to be treated like an "adult" medium, then the content has to grow up some. You can't always be a knight in shining armor, vanquishing the evil and saving the good.
Some of the best movies around puts us in the perspective of the bad guy, because from there you feel the greatest emotions. You connect with the character on many levels, then they do something out of left field, that just shakes you up inside. And what medium has the best chances of you actually getting in touch with the bad guy? Video games, because then you actually can play as them. From this spot, you have free reign as a game developer to put across a message you want.
Just a few weeks ago, a lot of the news here was complaining about games not being taken seriously, not being able to handle, or willing to handle, the big topics. Now, when one game developer is releasing a game that deals with quite a big topic, people are in an outrage. Why the double standard? It's "kid stuff" because it doesn't handle serious topics, yet when it tries to people yell back "you can't do this because you're kid stuff!" Screw them, leave it in the game, and release the game as planned.
I think the main issue is that many people still believe, by some fluke of reasoning, that video games are just kid stuff. So, to make a game that puts you in the shoes of a terrorist shooting civilians, even briefly, is looked at as an attack on the sensibilities of our children.
Because, you know, obviously it's just the kids playing these games, what with that M for "recommended for mature audiences" being just so confusing.
Seriously, this is very mature content in a game rated for a mature audience... what's the problem? A movie rated "Restricted" gets no such backlash. What the hell does "Restricted" even mean, per se?
I can't wait to see how the various media outlets jump on this. Conservative outlets will decry how it allows children to shoot civilians (whether true or not). Liberal outlets will be upset that terrorists are depicted as being less than noble, benevolent freedom fighters.
Get your ointment ready, because the facepalms are coming. Big time.
COD4 broke ground on telling a war story in game form that really drives home the horrors of warfare. It seems that the bar might be raised again. Not to open the can of worms, but this is the essence of art- using the medium to illicit an emotional response (horror) to get a point across (war sucks). Here's hoping that is the case.
+1. This would need to be stickied if this were a normal forum.
Games are getting better at telling stories, and will surpass the capabilities of the best movies. It's a matter of when, and that when isn't very far off.
People just need to realize this, and stop comparing the likes of "Call of Duty" to "Sesame St Alphabet Game" simply because they're both 'video games'.
"Liberal outlets will be upset that terrorists are depicted as being less than noble, benevolent freedom fighters."
If you think liberals like terorrists you are a moron. Liberals will be pissed for the same reason conservatives will be pissed.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
If you didn't notice how liberals have been apologists for Islamic terrorism for the last several years, you are a moron. Liberal outlets and icons have been presenting the case how their actions are justified and valid- let alone the fact they are labeled "freedom fighters". And lets not ignore the favorite liberal conspiracy theory about how George W (despite being an idiot) was behind 9-11. Liberalism is in love with counterculture, and you don't get more counterculture than terrorism.
If you didn't notice the difference between Iraqi insurgents and Islamic terrorists for the last several years, you are a moron. Liberal outlets and icons have at most tried to differentiate between the two and note the motives of Iraqi insurgents. Considering that some of those insurgents have since reformed and joined either the Iraqi Police or Military I'd say it's fair to say they're different from Islamic terrorists who are beyond reasoning.
You going to blame liberalism for conspiracy theorists? Does that mean I can blame conservatives for crackpot claims about death panels, or Obama being a Kenyan Muslim?
And do tell me where anyone in the mainstream left called Al Quaeda or the Taliban freedom fighters
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Wow, never though I see the game gaming comanpy having this kind of balls.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Try playing Postal.
Oh that doesn't count Postal's not trying to deal with any of it's provocative behavior seriously it's just trying to get as much cheap shock value as it can.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
"GameSpot further compared the rampage shown in the video to the killings that took place in Mumbai, India last year. The gaming site speculates that the terrorist mission might be one of an undercover nature for the player, who must contribute or blow his cover."
Doubtful. I doubt it's like playing as Sam Fisher. I suspect it's more like Modern Warfare where they were bold enough to put you in the shoes of a guy who was literally being driven through the streets as multiple persons were gunned down, some were shot by firing squad, and you ultimately took a bullet to the face from a Desert Eagle. I think they just got a bit bolder.
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
Then there is the part where some of your teammates are executed.
Then there was the torture scene, followed by a rather sudden execution of the person being tortured.
Then there was the guy shooting himself in the head instead of letting you capture him.
Then there was the british government sanctioned assassination of another character.
Don't forget being nuked (quite literally) and falling to your death after crawling out of a helicopter.
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
Thinking as a game designer, this whole thing could be the opening sequence to the game. They set you in the shoes of a terrorist, you do your thing, and then for every level afterwards you're the good guy soldier chasing that organization.
I don't see the problem. I mean countless games feature players killing other people, but just because the player is forced to see part of the game through the terrorist's eyes, that's somehow going too far?
Firstly, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Secondly, if society has a problem with people killing other people in a videogame, shouldn't society have kinda brought that up, oh I dunno, 30 YEARS AGO?
Ya know what? I'm even less bothered by this today than I probably would have been last week. And I probably wouldn't have been all that bothered by it last week either. True, it's not my genre. Even so, it's got a LARGE "Expression" level if you rate games on the triangle of Expression/Entertainment/Education. Probably a larger value than Entertainment. Not sure how much Education (as in getting more deeper background and feel for actually being the terrorist and the whys behind their acts).
Still, after hearing a Public Official in Pender County NC earlier this week threaten a "racial war" because of a personal/family feud which led to a murder this past weekend, I'm pretty much desensitized to what's occurring in fictional games or even what's happening in the real world overseas and more concerned about what's happening, and being threatened, in my own real world community.
A game that let's you play as a terrorist and commit fictional terroristic acts? Big fat hairy deal.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Woah, who threatened a racial war in Pender now?
http://www.wwaytv3.com/family_believes_victim_shot_over_long_time_dispute/10/2009
The written article has a link to the video and Jimmy Tate clearly implies a threat, actually using the term "racial war".
What's worse, on his part, is the whole story clearly states that this was a personal/family feud and the dispute has being going on for some time now.
While rants and raves about race cards and so on is something to be expected from time to time, this is all the more disgusting in that it came from a Public Official. Even the Racist Al Sharpton and the Rascist Jesse jackson don't quite get that blunt. "No Justice, No Peace" is as close as they come. Too easily interpreted many ways to consider it a threat.
But implying a "racial war", that should be treated as the equivilant to a "bomb threat". And, even if a "bomb threat" is suspected to be fake, authorities take them seriously. And they should Tate's comment too. And, again, coming from a Public Official makes it worse.
I left a comment on the State AG's website since I didn't have an email address to send it. While it may not be legally actionable, even to remove Tate from office, the AG's office should be made aware so they can be put on alert the same as it would if it were a "bomb threat". Whether the danger comes from someone who supports Tate's "bomb threat" comment and decides to commit violence or some other fool decides to pull a "pre-emptive" strike, Pender County and the surrounding communities should be on heightened alert.
Maybe nothing will come of it. Works for me. But I'd rather be on guard that some fool is going to do something stupid than ignore it altogether.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Wow. The stupidity here is just mind-boggling. Thank God it's on the other side of the state. Still, this is absolutely moronic. And the fact that his brother is even suggesting that is a possible outcome is ridiculous.
Across the state from you, maybe.
:: Waves Hi from New Hanover County. ::
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000
Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl
Yes, it is first time in history of video gaming when players are killing civilians.
GTA IV anyone? Kane & Lynch? Hitman? Fable? Oblivion? Fallout? Saints Row?
Yes because GTA4 was the first GTA game where you could kill pedestrians.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
My point was that there are dozens of other games where you can kill civilians...
It's not even the first gta where you can kill civilians at an airport, San Andreas has 3 airports where you can kill civilians. You can't go inside (I think), but still.
The white zone is for the immediate unloading of bullets into passengers only, no parking.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Yes, but in each of those cases it's just you being an ass in a pretend environment. The outcry here is over the context of the murder spree, in that you are (allegedly) a terrorist. Nobody likes terrorists these days (though, if you think about it, can anyone really define what a "terrorist" is?), so setting the player in a terrorist's shoes is considered taboo.
On top of that, the assumption thus far is that the player will somehow be rewarded for such actions. In other games like GTA, killing civilians is simply made possible by the mechanics of the game, and even has a downside in the form of attention from the police. If there's such a trade-off to be had here, mainstream media talking heads haven't seen it yet.
My answer: turn off the TV and go play a game. You'll learn more.
Without looking it up I think a terrorist is one who tries to incite fear or commit violent acts against foes for some type of political gain. So killing people for their cash isn't terrorism, so I see your point.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
I hope the game does not get recalled and censored to have this level taken out.
Apparently you are an undercover CIA agent in the game at this point.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
I do somewhat believe this is taking it too far. What people have left out is that in movies you are not participating you are watching. Here you are participating. I personally believe that since you are participating in this level it is worse. Instead of fighting the terrorist you are the terrorist. No matter which way you put it MW2 is for your enjoyment. I don't find this fun.
Please don't take this the wrong way. I am not saying MW2 is bad(other than no dedicated servers), just I believe this level might be taking it too far. I am posting this here because I believe the people here are mature enough to debate this. I posted this same thing in digg and was greeted by at least 5 f yous.
Maybe they didn't want it to be "fun"? Maybe they wanted people to be uncomfortable.
Yep, people are so uncomfortable with shooting civilians. Just look at how they react to the GTA games owait...
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
If its meant to be like that then I can understand. However as of right now I have a feeling it wasn't thought up to be like that.
Yeah, it's not like they did aything Modern Warfare 1 that was meant not to be fun, but thought-provoking, like say, playing from the POV of a soldier crawling around dying of radiation poisoning....owait
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
While that was thought provoking you were on the side being killed not the side doing the killing. Imagine how much more this level would stand out if you were a civilian trying to escape the terrorists.
And with the gay comment. Really?
And this time round it appears you are an undercover CIA operative forced to shoot cvilians from his own nationality so as not to blow his cover, presumably for the purpose of saving signifcantly more lives down the road.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
You are doing plenty of killing in the first game. You just happen to be killing acceptable groups like brown people and people of Slavic descent.
ITT:KILLING WHITE FOLKS?!?! NOT COOL BRO.
It the game you are killing armed people who are trying to kill you. In this scene you are killing unarmed people.
Which, of course, has never happened in any other game ever. /sarcasm
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Pay a little more attention next time you play through MW1.
Then you need to be a little more general in your objections.
I accidentally killed the farmer once in MW1. I was aiming to hit the ultranationalists, and accidentally shot him in the chest twice.
Last I remember you were never told to shoot civilians as an objective.
Ya know what I find interesting about all this ?
This isn't Six Days In Falluja. This is Modern Warfare 2.
Like many of you above, I am all along side games (and indeed any media) pushing social taboo's, perceived acceptable speech, assumptions and boundries. It's how a society progresses - assumptions are challenged, points of view are questioned, shocking things are said, which are reacted to, and so on. When things calm down we find that people as a whole have evolved by small increments, and walls are gradually broken down.
Things like this are part of that process... Bring an argument/discussion out into the open, perhaps by being shocking or overtly reactionary, challenge the backlash, and somewhere in the middle opinions slowly change as the question gains traction and move voices join the debate.
I find this usually starts with comedy, and moves into the more mainstream dramatic media slowly, via fringe works.
By fringe works I mean books/art/movies/music/games, etc. that are consumed by a minority of people with particular views, and gradually the debate hits a larger and larger audience.
So, to get back to my point, what is significant to me here is that Modern Warfare 2 is very possibly the single most anticipated video game in years. Perhaps even more so than the Halo games or GTA games. MILLIONS of people, young (hopefully not too young) and old, will play this game.
This is not fringe media (as I defined it above). This is right slap bang in the middle of the mainstream.
I feel like for the first time a sensitive, political and currently red-hot subject is being challenged, and possibly challenged in a shocking and controversial way, by someone who's media, they already know, is going to hit ten's of millions of people worldwide.
I have to respect the developers for taking the step, when a safer path was undoubtedly open to them... but whether I (or you) agree or disagree with the content, or the point of view, I have to say it's awesome to see the step being taken by people with such intimidatingly large shoes.
There is no problem here. First of all, I see no indication that the player has to shoot the civilians. Even if that is a requirement, so what? It's a video game. It's not real. You're not really killing anyone and no one is actually dying.
No, the game does not go too far. What would be going too far? Actually killing people. That would be going too far.
Andrew Eisen
Fox News and the Daily Mail are likely to present these games as "awarding points for killing civilians".
We only get those points for "killing the virtual avatars of other people while playing over that thing they call the internet".
Brilliant marketing move on Activision's part
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/6454298/Call-Of-Duty-Modern-W...
Oh my...the MSM fail begins already!
They think the airport is LAX. WTF?!?! Have they ever been to LAX?
"You know what I wish? I wish all the scum of the Earth had one throat and I had my hands about it."
Aside from the comment about the LAX airport, that's actually one of the more neutral articles I've seen by them.
"Go ahead and hate your neighbor, go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, Jack Thompson'll justify it in the end." - nightwng2000
Killing civilians at an airport in a video games is somehow shocking now?
Holy shit you could do that in GTA IV and Saint's Row 2
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Yeah, but here it's seen as something you cannot avoid, i.e. you have no say in the matter. You either kill innocents or get killed yourself, something like that. I don't pretend to know, I haven't played the game (I'm not gonna pre-order it, either. AC2 is comin' out soon!).
"HEY! LISTEN!"
COUNTER STRIKE has been out for a decade and lets people play terrorist.
Yeah but the only people you are supposed to kill in Counter Strike are people who are trying to kill you. Sure you can kill your hostage but the game will punish you for it.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
I can understand why people are upset about this: they have knee-jerk reactions to the word "terrorist". First off, does anyone really know what a terrorist is? Can you differentiate between a terrorist and any other sort of criminal, or do they all cause "terror" in some fashion?
I digress. No one likes terrorists, so pretending to be one seems incredibly taboo. Who would want to pretend to gun down civilians and blow up buildings? Certainly not sane people, and definitely not our children.
But wait... this video game [allegedly] has a segment where you are a terrorist shooting civilians? Well that's just awful! And since video games are clearly only played by 5-year-olds and wierd people, then the only logical conclusion here must be that this game developer is trying to brainwash our kids and turn them into murdering terrorists by awarding points for killing the most civilians! OMG!
Seriously though, why are we talking about this? Statistics from the ESA show that most people who play video games are well above the age recommendation for an M-rated title. If such an M-rated title is willing to push the envelope on a hot-button issue in today's current events, then who cares what's said about it by those who don't yet fully grasp the totality of the medium?
Those who have already cried foul over the content of this game are simply misinformed, as are we all. This game isn't even out yet: what right do we have to nitpick about the controversial or uncomfortable scenes depicted in this game when we have yet to fully experience it? Imagine you took one of the sentences I wrote in this post out of its context and judged me on it alone. For instance, try dumbing down this post to the following:
Subject: Leaked Modern Warfare 2 Footage Shocks
Text: "That's just awful!"
I vote we tell the talking heads to STFU until they've played the game or watched it being played start to bloody finish, and then they can say whatever they like about it. Until then, they have no credibility whatsoever and they should be ashamed to call themselves journalists.
Note: Not played Modern Warfare at all, only only played SC:Double Agent for as long as I could hold the urge to to set light the Wiimote due to the very irritating control system.
How does this differ from Splinter Cell: Double Agent?
I wish the designer of the control system did not hate gamers.
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A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin
I think Chaplain had a good point above... I've often argued that GTA is one of the most moral games out there...
It's all about choice. It drops you in a well realised world, and let's you do what you want. Sure, if you want to kill civillians then you can... but I can do the same in real life if I really want to - it's a choice I make. GTA is the same to me. If I want to I can simply drive around the city, eat food, walk around the park, and initial a monogomous and non-sexual relationship with a girl.
Yes... it's a choice thing :)
Here, there could be extra outrage (not justified in my opinion - I'm merely thinking it through) because this is a linear game, where you are forced to participate in the killing of innocents.
I think that could give the whiners something to hold on to.
For this reason I'm kinda glad that they have made the sequence optional - it's kinda the get ouf of jail free card ya know ?