Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

[Agent_Wong]

Wow that is a disturbing chapter to a game. I've seen strange things in movies and such but that's probably one of the most unbelievable things I've seen in a game. I was kind of wanting to get this game but I'm not so sure now.

[Vector]

People are already comparing this shit to Manhunt and Grand Theft Auto, but it's not a valid comparison. Spoiler:

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GTA never encourages you to kill innocent people, the players do that on their own. Manhunt rationalized the killings by making your victims 'bad' people. These people in the video are not bad people, they're innocent civilians, and the objective is to kill them so as to not blow your cover(or so I assume). It's highly unlikely and very farfetched, made for entertainment and shock value, but the thought of something like this happening is what's scary. It makes me really nauseous.

IGN has picked up on the story.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/103/1039381p1.html

Spoiler:

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A leaked video from France surfaced on the internet this morning showing what appears to be the opening single-player campaign mission for Modern Warfare 2. In it, the players apparently assume the role of a terrorist, and are seen entering an airport through an elevator with the rest of your squad members.

The team enters near the baggage check area where about 20 civilians are standing before being gunned down ruthlessly by your squadmates. The rest of the level takes the team through the airport shooting civilians lying on the ground and running away in fear. The graphic depictions in this sequence are some of the most violent-looking and realistic scenes we've seen in a video game. This could cause controversy from the mainstream media for obvious reasons.

[Beanovsky Durst]

http://www.liveleak.com/item?a=view&...364_1256689255

That's the video. I know it's just a game, but...good fucking God...I feel nauseous after watching that. It's one thing to
Spoiler:

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shoot two or three people, but they continue to walk through the terminal, GUNNING down EVERY single INNOCENT person? This is...almost too much. This isn't like GTA4 where killing is an option. The main character here is undercover CIA, MURDERING innocent people because that's his orders. To stay undercover, he's committing mass murder. It's the OBJECTIVE in the mission. This is, like...wow. I'm flabbergasted. This is going to be a huge story.

HOW in the hell did this get past the ESRB!?

Damn, this is quite a big deal for videogames. I guess this is the first time that a videogame Spoiler:

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encourages shooting @ innocent people. It's more about moral than anything else, we have seen movies were terrorists shoot people and stuff alike, but from that to actually OBLIGATE you to kill innocents is a shocker, especially with how the world has become more sensitive to terrorism issues. I'm ok with it as I know this is FICTION, however I want to see how is this justified... Now I understand why the last trailer was called "Infamy"

CR29, forget about ESRB... How is this getting released on Australia and the uncut version of L4D2 don't?!?!

[I_Am_Nemesis]

wow this is interesting, the only thing that comes close to this is onescenario in fallout 3 but even that is meant to be a simulation

[Mesker]

Spoiler:

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Well i don't think you are forced to shoot those people, maybe you can just walk past them if you don't want to shoot them. But personally i don't know why the big fuss about shooting people in a video game. It's a fucking video game, not real life.

[Sonicboy 101]

Spoiler:

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I don't see how it's such a big deal. It's a game, not real life. It's not meant to encourage you to do anything like that outside of the game.
Over-reactions much?

Yeah, what Mesker said.

[Stu]

Spoiler:

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Well i don't think you are forced to shoot those people, maybe you can just walk past them if you don't want to shoot them. But personally i don't know why the big fuss about shooting people in a video game. It's a fucking video game, not real life.

Yeah you're right. You'll just have to excuse those with an ounce of moral fibre in their body that might disagree with images of innocent civilians being killed.

We can all acknowledge it's "just" a game, but it's still an eye opener as soon as the gunfire starts.

[[STARS]TyranT]

It's unpleasant I agree, but first thing first - Activision have already confirmed it's a SKIPPABLE section of the game, a warning comes up prior to the scene beginning and warns of extreme violence that could be disturbing to many, and offers the player the choice of skipping it completely.

I personally don't have a problem, Infinity Ward are telling a realistic terrorism story and I hate to say it but this shit goes on in the world. Innocents get gunned down, it's tragic but it happens. It's not gloryfying violence to me, instead it just highlights how far some of these people go and the extremes they deal.

It's tough going, but by christ it's rated 18, it's not meant to be a childs experience. If you don't like what you see, don't part with the cash to play the game, simple.

Sadly the british tabloids have gone off at it too:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2009/10/28/modern-warfare-2-leaked-level-makes-light-of-terrorist-atrocities-115875-21780083/

[Stu]

Bit of a gross over-reaction on your part considering no one has over-reacted on here particularly?

[Beanovsky Durst]

It's unpleasant I agree, but first thing first - Activision have already confirmed it's a SKIPPABLE section of the game, a warning comes up prior to the scene beginning and warns of extreme violence that could be disturbing to many, and offers the player the choice of skipping it completely.

I personally don't have a problem, Infinity Ward are telling a realistic terrorism story and I hate to say it but this shit goes on in the world. Innocents get gunned down, it's tragic but it happens. It's not gloryfying violence to me, instead it just highlights how far some of these people go and the extremes they deal.

It's tough going, but by christ it's rated 18, it's not meant to be a childs experience. If you don't like what you see, don't part with the cash to play the game, simple.

Sadly the british tabloids have gone off at it too:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21780083/

I agree with all that was stated here. I don't see a big deal, but many people will. As I've said this is pure FICTION is not like Spoiler:

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I'm grabbing a gun and killing people for real.

[[STARS]TyranT]

Bit of a gross over-reaction on your part considering no one has over-reacted on here particularly?

Perhaps, but then i've been following the Eurogamer riot that's been going on that thread and guess my opinion stemmed from there

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/shocking-mw2-footage-leaked/comments

Have a read if you want some entertainment.

[Stu]

Christ. Fuck Eurogamer haha, i can already imagine why you'd have formed such an opinion though haha

[Vector]

No shit it's a videogame, but nothing like this has ever been seen in a Hollywood movie, let alone a video game which are held to a higher standard(Hot Coffee ring a bell?) and can get away with MUCH less. That's why this is going to be a big deal. Even if this scene did happen in a movie, it would get some attention because it is THAT graphic and controversial.

It's comparable to seeing a rape scene in a movie. Yes it's a movie, and it's fake, but SEEING it makes you uncomfortable, and THINKING about it makes you feel nauseous.

In a game, it can have even more of an effect because you are directly involved. Basically, in this scenario, you are playing as a terrorist, gunning down innocent civilians in what can be considered many people's worst nightmare. Terrorism is a real thing, and while something like this happening is unlikely(how the hell did they get into an airport with LMG's?), it's still scary to SEE it happen and THINK about it being real. I understand not taking video games too seriously, but this isn't about video games...it's about morality. If you can't see something a tad bit wrong with this, you really are a sadly desensitized human being.

[[STARS]TyranT]

It's comparable to seeing a rape scene in a movie. Yes it's a movie, and it's fake, but SEEING it makes you uncomfortable, and THINKING about it makes you feel nauseous.

Isn't it doing its job then surely? Not glorifying such a horrible act?

It's pushing a moral choice, but at the end of day it's all optional. But, I seem to remember a terrorist in Die Hard 2 deliberately crashing a plane with 200+ innocent passengers, I seem to remember in Rambo IV we get to see the slaughter of an entire village with heavy automatic weapons and flame throwers. Even children get killed in that very same sequence.

And of course i'm a sensative human being for fuck sake, but in a post 9/11 world where we saw 3000+ people die (though indirectly) on the news, seeing virtual characters getting shot really doesn't provoke the same level of reaction. I did admit it's unpleasant and tough going - but that's the point of whole sequence, I certainly didn't feel it was gratuitous.

[Vector]

People on other sites are citing quotes from Infinity Ward but not providing links, so take this with a grain of salt:

"The scene establishes the depth of evil and the cold bloodedness of a rogue Russian villain and his unit. By establishing that evil, it adds to the urgency of the player’s mission to stop them.

Players have the option of skipping over the scene. At the beginning of the game, there are two ‘checkpoints’ where the player is advised that some people may find an upcoming segment disturbing. These checkpoints can’t be disabled.

Modern Warfare 2 is a fantasy action game designed for intense, realistic game play that mirrors real life conflicts, much like epic, action movies. It is appropriately rated 18 for violent scenes, which means it is intended for those who are 18 and older.”