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Leaked Modern Warfare 2 Footage Causes Outrage

Posted by Soulskill on from the if-this-bothers-you-avoid-the-dexter-game dept.

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."

6 of 543 comments (clear)

  1. Heads Up and Activision Statement by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Informative
    This stuff seems to be going down faster than it's getting replicated--indicating it probably is real footage. As the submitter, there were a number of sites I was able to reach this morning that had a lot more footage and has apparently been taken down. From CNN's iReport to China's 56.com and youku.com video hosting sites.

    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.
    1. Re:Heads Up and Activision Statement by quantumplacet · · Score: 4, Informative

      it appears to be both. from the video, it looks like you are a CIA operative undercover in a terrorist cell, and you join in with them on a terrorist operation. unclear whether you HAVE to kill the civilians with them, or just CAN.

  2. Re:anonymous by kylemonger · · Score: 5, Informative

    Death Race got there first.

  3. Re:Probably intentional. by Brian+Gordon · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  4. Re:Probably intentional. by commodore64_love · · Score: 4, Informative

    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
  5. Re:Probably intentional. by gullevek · · Score: 4, Informative

    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