Ben-DutkaSTORY SPOILERS AHEAD!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
A few days ago, a reader sent us a link to leaked footage from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 single-player campaign. It was admittedly disturbing, as terrorists flood into an airport and begin gunning down civilians in cold blood but we wanted to stay away from the controversy…well, at least until the publisher had a chance to respond.
All footage we had seen up until that point had put the player in the shoes of the US or the British but in this video, we saw the action from the terrorist standpoint, which of course caused an uproar. The Associated Press soon picked up the story and Activision UK did confirm that the footage was accurate, although they did emphasize the fact that this sequence was optional and the game showed a warning to the player before moving forward. But that wasn't good enough, so Activision came forward with an official reply :
"The leaked footage was taken from a copy of game that was obtained illegally and is not representative of the overall gameplay experience in Modern Warfare 2. Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 features a deep and gripping storyline in which players face off against a terrorist threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. The game includes a plot involving a mission carried out by a Russian villain who wants to trigger a global war. In order to defeat him, the player infiltrates his inner circle. The scene is designed to evoke the atrocities of terrorism.
At the beginning of the game, players encounter a mandatory 'checkpoint' in which they are warned that an upcoming segment may contain disturbing elements, and they can choose not to engage in the gameplay that involves this scene."
Activision also reminds everyone that Modern Warfare 2 has a very prominent "M" rating on the box, which may seem trivial to gamers, but it's a good point to make as some people still think this is 1985. Once again, we see nothing that's half as disturbing as what we can find in the rated-R film world, but it still sparks a massive backlash. Granted, the terrorist angle is a sensitive one but if it was actually sensitive, we wouldn't have seen what we saw on TV on 9/11. We can always see the reality, but the fictional representations are taboo.
Well, anyway, just a final note: if the Comments section explodes into a political war, I'm gonna end things. Like, really fast.
Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Couldn't agree more. I wish more parents actually took the time to examine the games they are buying their kids. If anything, might make for a more enjoyable online gaming experience for the older crowd who can't stand listening to pre-pubescent blather.
Personally, I was disturbed by the video, but I do plan on maintaining my pre-order.
lol this is no worse than "VTech Massacre" or the game about the columbine
omg teh dam conservatives cant let people live their lives how they want to leave the game alone
Is this really something to worry about. Your are killing people all through this game, doesn't bother me that some of them don't have guns.
I hope noone gets offended cause that sure is not my intention, but I think you americans has become a tad too hysterical about anything related to terrorism. I mean, sure, you guys got the 9/11 and we didn't, but heck, there's been bombs all over europe too, without us going totally mental.
And before you bombard me with your thumbs down, at least think about it:
If this game was about killing people in ANY other setting than under a terrorism parole, NONE would have reacted. Replace "terrorist" with "doctor psychopath", "corrupt cop kill at will", "space race eat your baby for lunch", "politician starve his citizens to death while licking a candybar" or whatever – no matter how sick, twisted, realistic or unrealistic it is, most go "bah it's just a game".
Well if kids are getting the game then the parents and stores are at fault for getting and selling it . Maybe they should ask for I.D like for cig's and beer. If they sell to underage kids fine the SH%# out of them,and fine the parents.
i know for a fact gamestop cards at least the one in my town. my buddy and i both got carded today for dragon age, and MW2!
lol@this game
Saw the video yesterday and I must say it was pretty weird… I didn't know what to think, you watched injured civilians crawl around just to get shot down again.
GTAIV didn't have Niko killing heaps of innocent people as part of the story.
But I don't care either way 😉
and we have all this to thank George bush for.
thank you MR bush.
now the public is demanding the OFLC re looks at the game, and banns it.
I SWEAR TO GOD IF THIS GETS BANNED IM GOING ON A MURDERESS RAMPAGE!!!!!
so you'd become product to the headlines!
best just lay low for awhile, and not say much more!
they have to find me first.
just have to ask, why are people so fussy and sensitive over video games?
i mean how many documentary have been made about 911, hell there was even one i watched that showed the US GOV KNEW it was going to happen.
they had traced calls indicating what was going to happen.
they knew and let it happen.
why?
OIL!
they needed a excuse to rip those countries apart, now they got one.
i mean the hills have eyes is one fu**ing SICK! movie, that shows innocent civilians captured and tortured.
thats ok for a movie.
kidnapping people, tying them to a chair and melting there eyeballs with a turbo torch is ok for a movie.
but having a few people shot in a video game, o NO NO NO YOU CANT HAVE THAT!!!!!!!
WTF?
im sick of video games being the scapegoat.
everything bad in the world is caused by video games.
you know the crusades were caused by video games too 😉