The leaked footage of terrorists attacking civilians in an airport in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has touched on a sensitive nerve around the world, despite Activision's response to the outrage.
According to Kotaku , one group in Australia is demanding the game be re-rated. As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Council on Children and the Media wants to see a higher rating than the currently held MA 15+, even though that's as high as a rating can go in the land down under. ACCM president Jane Roberts complains that if the game releases with this rating, it would be made available to kids under the age of 15 but maybe she forgets that if the game can't be given an MA 15+, it won't be given a rating at all and hence, won't be sold. Basically, she's asking for the game to be banned in Australia. Said Roberts:
"We understand that it's a game but…we're not far off when you look at the images that you could actually put it on a Channel Nine news report and you'd think maybe that is real. The consequences of terrorism are just abhorrent in our community and yet here we are with a product that's meant to be passed off as a leisure time activity, actually promoting what most world leaders speak out publicly against."
Unfortunately for Roberts – and fortunately for Activision and Infinity Ward – it appears such demands are falling on deaf ears. The Australian Classification Board has already responded and simply said they "could not review its own decisions." Of course, this won't stop the oncoming tide of resentment and concern over the game, but it'll likely do wonders for game sales.
Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Again i say, its just a publicity stunt by Activision.
Last edited by AshT on 10/30/2009 10:37:21 AM
I feel Sorry for Australia, Why don't they just incorporate a new rating (MA 17+), would solve alot of headaches. If this doesn't pass a game like Heavy Rain would never stand a chance.
Last edited by BlackBriar on 10/30/2009 6:19:39 PM
Nothing will stop MW2! Nothing I tell you!
A thought that just struck me. Video game makers may have to ultimately deal with something that they probably don't want to.
Ratings agencies are more than likely always going to be harder on them than movies, and the general public will always have a lingering thought that games are for kids, which will guide the agencies in their thinking about how hard to be on games.
It doesn't matter how old or mature the average gamer is according to the demographics, certain things don't seem to want to change. So perhaps, the industry needs to accept that and move forwards without continually running into the same brick walls?
I can agree with that point. Now while I understand that gaming has come a long way, the one constant fact remains the same.
Children play video games. My case in point would be to even see how many posters on this site alone under 17 will be playing COD MW2.
For the uneducated, events that unfold in MW2 will immeadiately draw a red flag.
I believe gaming developers need procede slower then movie studios when it comes to introducing adult themes into any title. And yes, to the gamer, game developers have moved slow. But not slow enough.
Why? It's all about the rating system, and how it doesn't work.
I honestly believe that the video game industry has a whole would benefit immensely from a complete restructer of the ratings system.
For example —
– Why was a title such as Sacred 2 with little to no swearing, blood that could be turned off, and story that was low on adult themes recieve an "M" rating, while Uncharted 2 was more adult oriented in every regard and yet was given a "T" rating? Please.
Any non-gamer can pick the inconsistencies there, and all it does is spoon feed the media with ammunition. I believe that until the rating system is repaired (yes, it's broken), games with events like the one that is depicted in MW2 will do more harm then good.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 10/30/2009 11:25:06 AM
@Max
Great point about the ratings. You are completely correct sir. Personally I think the movie ratings system in the US is broken beyond repair also, but that's not the issue here. Game ratings do need to reflect the actual content, and be consistent.
I wish that it were otherwise, but until society in general wakes up to the fact that just live movies there are games for kids, games for grown ups and games that fall somewhere in between…until that awareness happens, people will continue to imagine 5 year olds playing MW2 or GTA4. It sucks, but that's what many less informed people will think, and that will continue to guide politicians and ratings boards.
If you guys want to know just how messed up the movie rating system is watch the movie called "This film is not yet rated". It's a documentary that dug DEEP into how films are rated a few years ago. A very good watch, but don't let the kids in the room. Netflix should have it still.
Indeed Highlander, indeed.
Well she kinda endorsed the game graphically by saying: "we're not far off when you look at the images that you could actually put it on a Channel Nine news report and you'd think maybe that is real."
Sounds more visually impressive than Uncharted 2.
But really, there has been nothing in the build up to this game's release that suggests that it's aimed for children. Its an adult game dealing with adult content, let the adults decide what they can or cannot play. This Roberts one sounds like a control freak telling grown men (and women) that they're not allowed to watch or play this game. I'd hate to grow up in her house.
I got a thumbs down for that post? I think Jane Roberts is a member of the site and is trying to take over here…adults aren't allowed opinions it seems.
Last edited by frostface on 10/30/2009 10:48:58 AM
Eh, you have some guys that just spam the thumbs down. It has kinda lost relevance now.
Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 10/30/2009 11:14:12 AM
No thumbs down from me…
Have you seen Uncharted 2 running on a standard def TV? The footage in the TV commercials looks photo-realistic on a standard TV, it's actually odd how realistic it looks. My wife and I were watching TV on our older TV yesterday and the Uncharted 2 commercial played. I've played the game through nearly 3 times now, and yet on that older TV, the leap onto the train in particular looks like a real stunt performer jumping onto and clambering up the side of a train.
MW2 might go further on photo realism , but in terms of character movement and all the incidental facial and body animations I think Uncharted 2 has set a very high mark for bringing realistic movement to an in-game character.
LMAO The more you keep worrying about thumbs down, the more you get it. Just ignore it, jeez!
on a side note, holloween theme uncharted 2 this weekend along with double the money online.
hahahahahahahahahahahaha…. git de fu**. Another bibliatch who needs to complain about something. World leaders don't speak out against terrorists, they are the terrorists. She needs to go get laid and shut the fuuuk.
Last edited by LowKey on 10/30/2009 10:46:43 AM
I needed a good chuckle and you gave it to me.
Some people seem to be so stupid that they can't wrap their heads round the fact that normal healthy people can abhored by something in real life but not find it aborent in a video game because it is a work of fiction. Similarly with movies.
I am glad to see that she is being ignored.
hey lets face it the more awesomely realistic games get the more people there will be speaking out against said realism. i say to these media whores go watch a movie this is the entertainment business and there are 2 things that will thrive in this environment as long as it exists, sex and violence. maybe she should hook up with the guy that protested the GTA's so much, i feel very sorry for their children what restricted lives they would have.
The realism is part of the problem. A photo-realistic war game will attract attention from the media. It'll do this because it's possible that in the course of the game, or due to the way the player uses the game, it may portray events that are outrageous to some. That portrayal will be photo-realistic (or close) and may get posted to You Tube – 5 minutes later the same video will be seen by some reporter or politician with an axe to grind and you know the rest…
That realism in games is one of the things I personally think we could tone down. Perhaps we need to go with a more artistic style, whether that's cell shading, cartoony, exaggerated characters, bright colors, etc… Whatever it is, something makes it visually clear that this is a game would be beneficial in combating the stupidity of the mass media and politicians in general because it would make it harder for them to claim that the game realistically portrayed anything or was a 'murder simulator'.
Then again, when you're taking bullet after bullet and duck down behind a box for a minute or two of waiting for your health to recover before once again taking on a gauntlet of enemies with ammo clips that are inexhaustible if it's not clear you're playing a game, you need to be committed.
realism is hardly a problem in my opinion especially with the way things are from a technological standpoint, i cant be the only 1 hearing rumors about 3d tv coming soon, and you know things are only going to progress as companies continue to advance past our 1080p and such. my question is how real is too real though? will we let things get to the point of that horrible film "Gamer"? i embrace the technology personally just as long as it stays intangible i would never want to control a living person that would be weird and gross.
I don't think that anything will replace the 720p/1080i/1080p standard for consumer TV within the next 15-20 years. IMHO 3D TV is a gimmick.
Madworld is one game that comes to mind in your argument.
Even though you literally use your Wii remote to throw guys around, decapitate, drive spikes through them, etc, etc, no one had a problem with it. And why?
Madworld has a comic-book style. Black and White with some red for blood. And because the whole thing looks cartoony, no one had a problem with the extreme violence in it.
Highlander, you are right on the money with this one. The more realistic the portrayal of sex and violence, the more controversy is going to be stirred up. It's a sad fact, but because of all these uninformed, completely oblivious politicians and parents, violence and sex in games may soon go the way of cartoon or comic book style just to cater to those few children with bad parents who don't monitor what they play.
It's such a shame that we live in a society where the minority get greater say over the majority. And they call this democracy?
The Aussies down under better get political cuz they just get walked on down there. Guns are BANNED and soon your games will be too.
Take away the ability for the citizens to protect themselves. Then it becomes easy to take away the rest of their freedoms.
Canada is not much better since the gun registry took effect several years ago. We can't even carry guns whether they're registered or not.
As an Aussie, I'm glad we don't have guns available for the public. It's just too easy to take a life with those things.
Bowling for Columbine always comes to mind. Look at the death-by-gunshot statistics throughout the world.
You know, there are other ways to protect yourself other than with a gun. Police are great, advanced lock systems for your house and car are available, or just be smart and avoid the dangerous areas.
Guns cause trouble, they are not the solution to trouble.
Now, in regard to games in Australia, I am so glad to see all your sympathy and support on the matter. But video games continue to be seen as a child's toy, hence the enormous sales of the Wii.
I believe it will take years before video games will be accepted as adult entertainment as well, alongside film and magazines. But everyone is still in the mindframe that it is for kids and that being interactive art makes it dangerous to portray certain violent or sexual things in real life.
Here's hoping we see a gamer in politics in about 10 years from now.
I respect your feeling on guns but what Jawk said is true. Take a look at your violence statistics. They have actually gone up without guns. Im not saying they make us more civilized but they do make us fear assaulting one another. As an American guns have always been part of our culture and please don't take this the wrong way but a man that can bear a weapon and defend himself and his family is a FREE man. In contrast a slave is denied access to that protection (Im not calling anyone without a weapon a slave).
Columbine would have been cut in an instant if teachers and other adults had firearms. However, those guys knew they had targets that couldn't fight back.
You guys are being forced censorship upon you as far as gaming. If one man is doing it that pisses me off for you guys even more. From what I understand and have heard you have some sweet people down there. I just think these guys are taking advantage of it.
You outlaw guns, only outlaws have guns. Taking guns away from law abiding citizens does nothing to make people safer. I too respect your opinion but all the facts about banning guns to make people safer are against your arguement. police are great but theres only so many to go around. IÂ can't tell you how many times guns have saved the lives of people being attacked. What i can tell you is just how good of a deterent they can be. Just the other day I was reading a news story about a woman in the seburbs She was raped by an intruder. The attacker got away. Two weeks went by. in the mean time she barrowed a 12Guage from her friend. The attacker came back to rape her again. She waited gun ready as he was breaking through the basement door. He got in and well, the woman wasn't raped again and won't have to worry about him coming back.Â
Guns are dangerous but so is a knife or a car. If handled properly and by responsible people they can and are used for good. Also Governments in history who turned oppressive have often taken the guns away from their people as a first step towards tyranny. "it's for your own safety" they said. I encourage you to look at the numbers. Contast the rate of violance in places with stricter guns laws with those who have more relaxed laws. Guarantee the places or states with sticter laws have higher rates of violent crimes and will run counter to everything Michael Moore has said. The man is a liar and a hypocrite. Â
Wage is correct about Columbine. Another example. Verginia Tech. Had some of the teachers and staff been trained and allowed to carry, that nutter Korean kid who murdered 30+ of his fellow students wouldn't have killed that many. Some one would have died but he would have, could have been shot him well before he claimed 30 lives. Â
In regards to games, it's just where it starts. Thank God here in the states content like games, movies and media in generel are all protected by the first amendment. Censorship here is still a cause for concern but it makes it that much harder for them to implement.  Â
Last edited by Jawknee on 10/31/2009 11:38:15 AM
I can't agree. There's no need for anyone to have a gun if they don't need one for their jobs. Columbine is also a more complex issue than you're making it, imo, and has a lot to do with the way gun culture is ingrained into US life-rightly or wrongly.
I fail to see how shootings become less likely if everyone has access to guns. Most violent crimes that end in an attempt on someone's lifeare between people who kno each other, mainly family matters and are crimes of [passion as the French would say. They don't have malice aforethought so consequences either immediate(the other person being possibly armed too) or more long terms(death penalties, life in jail) don't enter the perp's head. Duns being there just makes a death more likely and escalation of situations more likely.
If I kept a gun in the house in case of a burglar it makes the burglars more likely to carry guns in the first place-again more likely that there's going to be a shooting and with shootings nwanted and unwarranted killings. Moreover it's just as likely to be that whoever burgles the house, whether I'm there or not, might gind the gun themselves and turn in on me or on others-and no matter how it's lovked away both this and the awful prospect of a kid coming across the gun gets more likely.
We have to rememver, also, that the mass killings of a Columbine make up only a tiny percentage of guncrime in any country-you look at hoe and why most gun crime happens and change things accordingly from there rather than react on a showcase, emotive one off-as hard as that may seem. Thje way I see it though is that if there weren't freely avaiable guns it wouldn't even have crossed the minds of those doing the shooting at Columbine. Would a teacher being harmed have mattered that much anyway? Mostly when these things happen the killers usually turn on themselves in the end and are beyond reason anyway so just preventing guns flowing like water seems a good idea to me.
Whatever, I know US opinion on guns is very different to that of wesern Europeans nd the like but, really, the right to opwn a gun is no form of extra freedom if most of your society agrees that you shouldn't have them anyway-most of the UK still agrees that our police shouldn't be roputinely armed ffs! In that respect I dn't see how the majority acting against something can be an infringement on peoples rights. Whee would we draw the line on the "right" to bear arms anyway? Assiming that it refers to the indivigual rather than independent states just what arms would we allow? Best, imho, to have an ultimate and disallow guns except those kept exteremely securely at shooting clubs and with those who really hace a reason for them-the miliatary, farmers with vermin issues etc.
Whether we agree or not I'm sure you'll at least admit it's not a black and white issue at all and at the very least needs a lot more study and tinkering worldwide before any kind of balance can be reached. Personally, though, I like to keep my guns in my games and not where they can do what they're made for in the real world.
look, personally I found it hard to understand a lot of what you were saying, but I think I get the jist of it, but as an American and part of the NRA, i thing guns are no more dangerous then knives, yet you dont see a ban against knives do you? The reason I say this is because the qoute remains true to this day, guns dont kill people, people with guns kill people. Your probably thinking this as very cliche, but its very true, the gun is the best invention man has ever created, it protects us from so many opponets and enemies, imagine what war would be like, we would still be using swords, the reason I brought up knives as a comparison is the fact you cant hear a knife kill a man, can you? No, that alone makes the knife more dangerous then the gun, we also wouldnt be able to control population of our wildlife, living in Indiana, Im an avid hunter of many years, a couple years ago, there was no cap. on how many deer we could kill do to the boom in population and they were killing plant life, so open season came into affect, we wouldnt have been able to take Indiana's forest life back to its normal state without the use of guns. So guns do a lot more then kill people, there very importatnt to everyday life. So dont question what was a very important inclusion to our constitution that has brought us a lot of prosperity and has allowed us to grow.
Last edited by JMO_INDY on 11/2/2009 7:55:41 PM
Of course, this won't stop the oncoming tide of resentment and concern over the game, but it'll likely do wonders for game sales.
how many more wonders concerning sales can this game be given? its unfair that a game like this will sell so much but a game like the original uncharted or RFOM only sold a fraction of what this game will.
Honestly,who DIDNT see this coming? God Of War 3 will probably suffer the same fate.
Midget, have you seen how disgustingly violent and grotesque "Dante's Inferno" is?
Q!
"i am home"
It's always "for the children". This reminds me of the idiots who ban peanut butter from schools because on kid is allergic. In this day and age, the idea of self responsibilty and accountabilty has gone out the window. Some material is rated Mature? Ban it from everyone for the children.
Doesn't suprise me. Aussie is known to heavly regulate games and other types of media.
yeah, poor Yahtzee. He needs to move.
LOL, "For the children" is my favorite excuse for people to bitch. Not that protecting kids innocence isn't important, but these games aren't meant for kids. But despite that kids learn about WAR at a verrry early age. In Canada WW1 and WW2 is shoved down our throats as early as grade 4. And Canadas severe importance to both wars. Vimmy Ridge one of the bloodiest battles, and the Beaches of Nomandy are what teachers make stand out the most. So a War game that deals with terrorists is peanuts considering what kids learn in school about WAR. Don't kids learn about terrorism in school now to? So this game that deals with terrorism in non issue. besides it would be teaching kids how to deal with terrorists properly wouldn't it?
The reason I drink lots of beer and buy video games is "because of the children"! I want to support the makers of those things so THEIR kids have shoes, food and shelter!
well some kid in my schools alergic to peanut butter… but hes so alergic that if theres peanut butter on the same floor as him he gets an alergic reaction he had to go to the hospital last year
You have no idea how tempted I am to move from Australia to Britain just so I have access to media and content otherwise banned here.
Then his parents need make proper arrangements for their kid. Taking peanut butter away from everybody is irrational.
"The consequences of terrorism are just abhorrent in our community and yet here we are with a product that's meant to be passed off as a leisure time activity, actually promoting what most world leaders speak out publicly against"
Really? I wasn't aware that Modern Warfare 2 pits the player as a terrorist. And here I thought the whole time I would be fighting terrorists in the game.
i think that you are the terrorists for one mission in which u gun down ppl in an airport. although, i may have completely misunderstood all of the articles of read on it 😛
SPOILER***
you're an agent who goes undercover as a terrorist and it's your choice to kill or not also.
If Australia banned Natural Born Killers, then I'm fine with them banning MW2.
Then again, I don't live there so I care that much less.
So basically, she's that buzzkill faggit no-one likes.
I feel pity for Australian MW2 fans!
you would not think we live in an age where there is an age limit feature on consoles if parents don't want there kids to see it why don't they set it with a password of their choice and stfu and grow up
Because in the minds of statists the parents aren't capable of taking care of their children. The state should decided what content they see, what food they eat, what kind of car they'll drive etc.
The statist knows best. If they think MW2 is too violent for kids then everyone must suffer. Perfect example, the statists in the California legislature attempted to outlaw home schooling. Why? Because they believe the children are better off being taught by them and not their stupid knuckle dragging parents.
Last edited by Jawknee on 10/30/2009 3:11:05 PM
damn conservatives cant take a joke
Who are these "conservatives" and what joke would that be that they cant take?
@Jawknee i'm just as confused as you are on that one wtf silver