By now, that very controversial airport/terrorist scene in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has generated a ton of debate and backlash and not surprisingly, everyone seems to have their own opinion on the matter.
It's always interesting to hear how another developer views the situation, though. Quantic Dream co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere spoke to MTV about the situation and after reading his reply, we should've seen it coming. After all, Quantic Dream is going to deliver one of the more adult-oriented, dramatic experiences in gaming history with Heavy Rain and in the past, Quantic members have said they see no distinction between games and movies. Well, they recognize the obvious differences and limitations, of course, but in terms of content, they simply believe that if it can't be controversial in a movie, it can't be controversial in a game. Said de Fondaumiere:
"My take on it is very simple. I don’t see any reason why video games should be treated differently than movies, for instance. I think that we should leave game creators free of expressing their vision as they see fit. I think the guys at Infinity Ward had something very precise in mind when they did this scene. The real danger for me is, when you put out such a scene out of context. I can take any movie and take a sequence and make up a story and it will look like something that’s amoral or that crosses the line. This is most of the time what happens in video games [in the media]."
If we consider gaming to be an art form in the entertainment industry, then it's always difficult to condemn a piece of art because you find the content questionable. At the same time, many of us do believe that there is such a thing as inappropriate and unnecessary content, which is the reason why many are upset over that scene in MW2. Where do you come out on the issue? And please, no explosions of arguments in the Comments below.
Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I can't say I found the airport scene in anyway offensive, at least no more or less than I would in a movie. I did think that the scene made not much sense in this game though as it just didn't seem to fit into the story.
Wha? That scene alone is pretty much what MADE the story. If that part didn't happen the whole game wouldn't have happened.
hello? really?
****SPOILER****
ur an american spy, helping the russians. they knew about you, and sent the message back to america by offing tht character at the end of the scene. hence why Russia invaded America, that body was left at the airport, and police seen it was an american body. how did that not have to do with the story? it definately set the game up as legendary said!
****end spoiler****
i only repeated what happened in the game to try and make it more clear! i know following two stories is hard, but they tied in because of that scene!
I get what you're saying Wolfeh and Bigrailer, it's hard for me to explain what I meant by it not fitting into the game without giving too much of the game away to anyone who hasn't played it yet.
I still agree with FrostFace, however, without playing the game myself. I mean, Russia invading American because of the discovery of an American spy? Still sounds kind of disconnected.
Russia has found many of our spies.. finding one wouldn't cause an invasion… plus they don't have the logistical ability to invade the US IRL… but it's a game and so you take some liberties… most of these guys have little insight into the way these things really happen
lol ok listen.
***SPOILER***
in the game you are an American spy in the scene and join up with the terrorists. these terrorists take you with them on a onslaught of an airport in Russia. just in that one scene i would say well over 200 people died including police, at your hands! the terrorists shoot you the american spy at the end of the scene becus they r onto you. the police in Russia find your dead body at the getaway scene. Russia assumes its at Americas expense that all those people died. that is why Russia invades America.
This american spy they found helped and aided in the death of many at a Russian airport. my first expanation didnt really tell who or what kind of spy you play!
*** end spoiler***
play the game itll all make more sense. not only is it tough to explain it all in short, but i hate being a spoiler! play the game!
its a video game Cuiel, there is no reason to be literal.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 11/15/2009 10:17:27 PM
Got to agree, but unfortunately even though games have gone mainstream of late, critics and the media still don't consider it any kind of art form at all.
To me, I didn't find anything too outrageous really. When playing the level it felt entirely like a game to me, as it's meant to, it's just a video game. I mean in the end also, the other terrorists really did most of the shooting. In that area your slow and can't do as much (except during the swat team battle) so really it's hardly at all like people have made it out to be.
I love this scene because it is offensive. Its horrible to see through the terrorists eyes as he kills innocent people who want nothing more than to get back home to their families. In america we dont take this stuff as seriously as we should because we have never had a major attack on our own soil.
I was talking to my mom about this scene earlier this morning and she said something like "Its a video game. Its no different than reading the same thing in a book or watching it in a movie. So what if the player is pressing the buttons and making it happen? If thats what it takes to get the point across to the idiots in this country then so be it."
"In America we dont take this stuff as seriously as we should because we have never had a major attack on our own soil."
Have you ever heard of 9/11?
You kids and your drugs….
…yes…we don't take it seriously..we've only been at war for the past, what, 8 years now over it?
over it?
you mean over the oil.
its quite obvious 911 was just used as a excuse for the US to go marching in and take over so they can drive the price of oil through the fu**ing roof.
before the war petrol here use to be roughly 89 cents per liter now its on average 1.30 dollars per liter.
thanks GB, thanks to you im spending 140 bucks + on petrol per week.
You kids and your petrol.
Never understood the oil argument for the war. I have heard that we went to war so we could get Iraq's oil. If that was the case, why do we pay so much for oil? Now ___________ says we went to war because we wanted the price to go through the rough! Whhhhhhaaaaa??? There is no end to conspiracy theories.
And as far as the "idiots in this country" getting the point? Somehow I don't see Obama, Pelosi, or Reed playing MWII, but if they did, your mom thinks this would make them understand what exactly?
Hmmmm, let me set the scene… After a long playing session, an exhausted Obama wipes a single salty tear from is eye, sets down his DualShock controller. Picks up the red phone… it hot dials to 10 stories under the Pentagon. A sleepy voice on the other end picks up the phone… "Mr President? It is 3 o'clock in the morning, how can I help you sir?"
"You can start, General, by pulling out of Iraq, and Afghanistan, POST HASTE, this sh*t is whack, and I understand that now." Obama, gently sets the phone down, stands up, lights a cigarette, strolls to the bay window of the White House Master Bedroom. He leans against the wall, peering out through the foggy beginning of a new day. "Thank you Infinity Ward, thank you."
Michelle rolls over in bed, aims her focus on the most powerful man in the world, and chooses her words carefully…"GET CHO ASS TO BED!"
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/14/2009 1:12:21 AM
to get control of the crude oil do you have any idea how much its worth?
its so expensive because crude oil can be separated to create like 9 essential substances we use every day, 1 i know off would be petrol and kerosene.
crude oil can be separated to create allot of different things us humans use every day thats why its so valuable almost like gold.
i remember in year 10 in science we separated crude oil into 9 diferent states and burned them off cant remember what they are and i think there are more than 9 different things that can be made out of it.
point being the US government KNEW 911 was going to happen watch 911 the documentary its scary.
THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND SAT THERE AND LET IT HAPPEN JUST SO THEY HAVE A EXCUSE TO GO IN AND CAPTURE THE OIL.
dont forget the government does not give a sh*t about you, the second they get a chance to screw you over and make some money they will jump at the opportunity.
i know your saying why would they just let it happen? why would they sacrifice so many people?
well simple as i said the country who owns the most oil is in great power oil is the new gold!
some would go as far to say george W bush did contracts with israli high up people for oil contracts but im not so sure about that.
point being they had so much evidence, they had recorded phone calls, the evidence was bashing their head in.
they knew 100% it was as clear as day what was going to happen on 911 and they sat back and let it come raining in just so they have a excuse to go in and collect that oil
9/11, while terrible, is by no means a huge attack. We dont have any foreign presence on our soil and never have.
Wait NoSmokingBandit, Red Dawn never really happened???
Some would say Terrorist cells in our country would constitute a foreign presence. Not to mention, we have a huge illegal immigrant presense from our Mexico friends.
Oh, and to ____________, LOL, I have no words for you, well, ok, here are a few. =0) Conspiracy theories are fun. I can fold a 20 dollar bill in a way that you can see the two towers burning, and on the other side, you can see the Pentagon burning. Google it, it is freaky. But I doubt the designers of the 20 dollar bill knew that 9/11 was going to happen. Yes, Obama was never born an American Citizen, there was more than 1 gunman that killed JFK, government covers up that UFOs exist, we have Bigfoot up here in the northwest, and we never really landed on the moon. Like I said, I love conspiracy theories, but that is all they are, theories. I know a lot of strange stuff that happened around 9/11 that make you scratch your head, but in the end, most theories can be debunked.
I will watch that 911 documentary since you mentioned it. Just remember, a conspiracy of the magnatude that you are claiming would be so huge, and would have to involve hundreds if not thousands of people to pull it off (without a mistake mind you), and to this day, not one of them has spoken out, has regrets, wants to come clean. Not one has ever got drunk and spilled the beans, had pillow talk with a prostitute and divulged it, went to confession, or on their death bed wanted to admit to what they had done.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/14/2009 11:22:00 AM
Oh please no name. Find something original. War for oil. It's so pathetic that people still believe this nonsense especially since America GOT ZERO in the form of oil contracts from Iraq.
We went to Iraq for many reasons. Mistakes were made but oil has nothing to do with it. Get informed.
Myworstnightmar
you are my new favorite person. You speak the truth.
NoSmokingbandit, 9/11 was the horrible and you shouldn't minimize it.
Last edited by Jawknee on 11/14/2009 12:02:58 PM
Some people here need to join the Tinfoil Hat Brigade 🙂
Doesn't take a conspiracy theory to explain why Rumsfield is shaking hands with Saddam in this video, after the massacre of Dujail. He is quoted as to saying that this is America's best friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r42oejmpkgw
He obviously isn't shaking hands over the global spread of democracy, nor for the end of WMD's, nor for the protection of the holy land and our "good friends" in Israel. Please…
Did US intelligence know about 9/11 happening? It has been no secret that we did have documents of the plans of the attack years in advance. Does it mean they conspired in it or let it happen? Not necessarily. Does 9/11, one of the worst (if not worst) attacks on US soil when close to 3,000 innocent lives were horrifically killed, justify the invasion of at least two countries, where hundreds of thousands, if not millions at this point, of innocent lives have been horrifically killed. I'm sure there a lot of cowboys here, who would defiantly say "yes". Thing is, they aren't the people doing the dying, nor are they the ones doing the fighting. Otherwise, they would be much more quiet on this subject.
140 bucks on gas a week? Stop driving a gas guzzler, move closer to work/school/family, carpool, public transportation… I could offer up more suggestions if you need it. What you need to do is stop blaming everyone else for your problems. Yeah, Bush screwed some stuff up, but you act like he woke up every morning for 8 years and said, "How can I make ___________'s life suck even worse?"
Jack Baure's been killing innocents on prime time for years "for the greater good." What's the problem?
Obama will shut down CTU for sure.
Exactly, the scene is shocking, but it is central to the game. MW2 is a mature game for mature gamers so what's the issue?
the world is turning to sh*t i swear to god were all turning into panzies.
another prime example NRL.
back in the day it use to be a brutal sport people use to get the crap smacked out of them it was a brilliant mans game.
now they have cracked down with so many rules its destroyed the game, it drives me insane just let the game flow for fu**s sake.
use to be a mans sport now its turned into a game for sissy boys.
i wish it went back to the old days, more like american football and less like AFL.
watching gridiron makes my bones shatter its brilliant watching some of the hits.
I am not turning to shit!
I usually expel it!
Q!
"i am home"
the world is turning to a bunch of panzies and im sick of it, im seriously ashamed to be a part of todays society.
the catholic church as corrupted and become far to much a part of society.
why have we become so weak?
back in the day if we believed something we fought till death, now we bend over and let the corporations walk all over us.
people have become gutless someone screws them over, they just sit there and take it.
no im sorry, you screw me over you better run bi*** because you bet your ass im going to be coming for ya!
No name your an unhappy person it seems. Almost every post I've read by you on this site has been very negative. Cheer up. Life goes on.
@ Ben I seem to remember you reporting that mw2 was banned in Australia (If I remember correctly, you may have just done an article on it being protested IDR) but my roommate has an Aussie on his friends list that plays with him regularly.
ON TOPIC
You know they did have the option to skip the offensive content. Which I must say is a rather clever backslide out of responsibility by Infinity Wards' legal department. I just wish they were as good to the consumers as treyarch was. I'LL SAY IT TREYARCH SHOULD HAVE MADE THE MODERN WARFARE GAMES! there proceed with the hate and thumbs down.
Yeah, that was an article about how an Australian group wanted the ratings board to re-rate Modern Warfare 2 after learning about that airport scene. But the game already had the highest rating available; if they didn't rate it at all, it would effectively be banned because retailers wouldn't sell it.
But the ratings board refused to re-rate, so it's perfectly legal.
Personally, I thought too much was made of the sequence in question when I played it for myself. If there hadn't been so much talk about it beforehand, I wouldn't really have paid any more attention to it than I did the other parts.
That being said, as huge a fan I am of the intelligent people working at Quantic Dream, I'm still not a fan of the 'We shouldn't make a distinction between film and video games' argument. Literature and film are very different, and should be treated like so, just as films and video games should be treated differently.
The obvious difference between literature and film is visual stimuli. And the difference between film and video games is interaction.
I can watch the horrible torture in 'Schindler's List' and 'The Passion', and take something positive away from it. But if stories like that are made interactive from the side of the Nazis and Romans, that's obviously going too far. Because there is a difference in the mediums.
Yes, speaking of "The Passion of the Christ", it is one thing to watch Jesus get tortured by the Romans, but it would be an entirely different thing all together if i were playing a video game where I was the Roman whipping Jesus with a cat o' nine tails.
There has to be a line drawn somewhere. Although, I think the consumer should be the ones to draw the line as i don't believe in censorship.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/14/2009 3:29:32 AM
Agreed.
Who doesn't want to be a terrorist?
Become a terrorist in a video game and blow stuff up is something you can't do in real life.
So yea, who doesn't?
GTA series, a pedestrian slaughter paradise, pro gang, pro drugs, pro prostitution, and pro theft game. God of War 3, disembowelment and decapitation mayhem. Resident Evil 5, although zombies but nonetheless, a target practice of black people. Max Payne, painkiller overdosing session. Now, please give me a good reason why we should make an exception for COD:MW2? Where exactly is that line? Double standards anyone?
As George Carlin once said, "Take a f***ing chance, will ya? What are you gonna do, play with your prick for another 30 years? What, are you gonna read _PEOPLE_ magazine and eat at Wendy's till the end of time? Take a f***ing chance".
First of all, this is a story so why should there be any controversy in the first place?
Second, is there anything bad that will make kids who played this scene go terrorist?
It's the new Al Qaeda recruitment tool. I hear they hand this game out to kids in Iraq for research.
Who ever came up with the name Al Qaeda should be ashamed. Don't they know the letter U always comes after the letter Q? Must have gone through the U.S. school system.
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/14/2009 3:21:56 AM
wow, all the thumbs down! I can only assume you are giving me a thumbs down because you support Al Qaeda, or the US School system. Either way, you lose…
Last edited by MyWorstNightmar on 11/18/2009 6:05:29 PM
it's only a video game stop crying if u are a little kid and cant handle it just go play little big planet ,i will not become a terrorist just because i kill ppl on a video game.
Take care of the global warming or find a cure for the cancer and stop the bullshit.
Nah, no one's saying you'll become terrorist. You'll just continue to exist as d*ckhead that you already are. So, go ahead and knock yourself out.
i can understand why its upsetting, but films create things that are ten times worse, vantage point is a prime example (sick film btw) and yet no one is too fussd. if you find it objectionable, skip it, dont watch it. you have the choice.
I cannot understand why this happens everytime something a little blood starts flying in an unproper area. THIS IS A VIDEO GAME not real life!!! yeah yeah kids will go out and try to copy this puppet show well, guess what don't blame kids blame thier parents because they screwed up. Some people are to much of a goodie too shoes they should relize the world isn't like the ones in pop songs.
little goody two shoes, little goody TWO shoes!
What people need to do is fu**ing grow up. Its a video game, you kill AI nothing else but AI. Who ever complains about this is either a bibal basher or some old bastard.
Maybe the AI will become sentient and complain about it 😉
Half life 2 doesnt have any airport scenes!