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Leaked Modern Warfare 2 Footage Causes Outrage
eldavojohn writes "Game Politics makes note of criticism over leaked footage from the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 release. (Spoiler warning.) Footage shows the player engaged in killing civilians with terrorists (relevant video begins at about 1:50, second source in case of DMCA). Several game sites are asking if this is taking things too far. Probably just advertising at work, but the footage is indeed controversial — the question remains whether or not it is out of context."
For an official statement, G4TV quotes Activision (when asked about the footage being in the game) as saying:
Yes it is. 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.
Sure to raise controversy, sure to garner eyeballs and sure to sell copies it looks like. Just the right amount of controversy I guess.
My work here is dung.
Death Race got there first.
hmm... I'm pretty sure I've killed 5 or 6 times more civilians than that in just the first 2 hours of playing Prototype. And once you've leveled up enough to pick up a bus you can just hold it sideways and literally "mow" down the sidewalks full of people. Like cutting grass, screaming, blood-soaked grass.
Most Indians are vegeterians because, as you mentioned, due to their religious beliefs in Hinduism. But Middle Easterners are not vegeterian, as they eat meat. They just don't eat pork because it is against the religious beliefs of Islam. like Judaism.
Did you watch the video? It's a squad walking around a shopping mall slaughtering everything that moves. A crowd of people just standing around, someone trying to pull a friend to safety, screaming bystanders trying to run away..
Anyway TFA says that the scene depicts some evil russian squad, not the "good guys". You're supposed to be horrified at the carnage and then want to stop them, which is apparently the objective of the single player campaign.
Didja watch the video? You play some sort of paramilitary guy that walks into an airport with his squad and just starts shooting people who appear to be waiting for a plane.
I'm not sure how that fits in to what you were saying.
Having said all that, I've had a great time running over old ladies in a stolen garbage truck in GTAIII.
-Peter
I'm confused.
This (from TFA and Activision):
Does not equal this (from TFS):
Which one is it (or is it both somehow)? This sounds like a bunch of uproar over a cutscene nobody understands the context of.
It seems pretty simple: You play as a terrorist for one mission, and then the next mission you play as a counter terrorist.
I saw this leaked video even before there was much commentary or controversy on it, and this point was still exceedingly clear. You seem to be trying to imply that Infinity Ward is pulling a fast one, when they clearly are not.
I wouldn't care if the game had the player go-around killing kittens and little girls in pink dresses.
The key is not to suppress free expression, but instead simply vote with your dollar or euro (don't buy the game).
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
We don't allow real Irony here, this is Slashdot.
Who is John Cabal?
Better choose Carmaggedon where the killing of pedestrians was sort of necessary to boost your time.
And man that was fun.
"Freiheit ist immer auch die Freiheit des Andersdenkenden" - Rosa Luxemburg, 1871 - 1919