Modern Warfare 2

[Adam Stone]

I meant on a general scale matey, films, internet, life, etc :-)

On the grand scale of things it doesn't seem to step far beyond what we've all no doubt seen before. From what i could see, there wasn't any children within that scene, which was obviously a very conscious decision. Remember that screenshot from Fable 1 with a sword stabbed into a child's head? Not nice...

I think this scene is trying to evoke exactly these types of emotions within the player. We've been shooting germans and whatnot for years, but what makes their lives any different? If you look at it black and white, soldiers in the war were still citizens, many who didn't truly appreciate what they were going into. A life is a life - whatever the circumstance - and yet we've been bashing innocent skulls in with baseball bats on GTA, choosing to kill our own wives on Fable amongst countless other things. Not to mention the films we choose to watch for our own personal enjoyment etc... I'm not saying I think what this opening scene is allowing is right, however i'm also not going to declare it as controversial. Life's already too complicated! :-)

[Jebus]

We've been shooting germans and whatnot for years, but what makes their lives any different? If you look at it black and white, soldiers in the war were still citizens, many who didn't truly appreciate what they were going into.

I'm not sure I agree there mate. Soldiers are signed up for a job where they know that they have a chance of being killed in action. Their lives are of course, no different, but they know the risks. I don't buy that they don't know what they are getting themselves into at all.

People in an airport, just going about their daily business, they aren't at risk, or at least they shouldn't be.

You also mention CHOICE, you can choose to avoid killing innocent people in most games, in this game, whether you fire a shot or not,

->Open Spoiler<-

hundreds of innocent people are gonna get mowed down, screaming, crawling and clinging to life.

Irrespective of if you choose to deem it controversial, we all know what kinda of ****storm will engulf this game when the media catch on to this section. The industry does not need more games being blamed on murders etc, more "murder simulators" etc.

[Robster]

Soldiers are signed up for a job where they know that they have a chance of being killed in action. Their lives are of course, no different, but they know the risks. I don't buy that they don't know what they are getting themselves into at all.

I think what Adam means is the during the 2nd world war civillians were drafted for the cause and did not choose the army as their career path.

[Adam Stone]

Jebus, I agree mate in modern terms but not so in the past. During World War 1, and to a lesser extent World War 2, many of the people fighting were falsely influenced by misleading propaganda etc and had no idea what to expect... some were even forced to join... and yet we've still happily shot them in games because they were wearing a suit.

edit: Ha, beaten to it.

[Jebus]

You're right, the media will have a field day with this - but then again they do for anything that will spark interest or fear or worry or whatnot within the public's mind about games.

I guess that until we've all played it we won't know the answer, but I find myself wondering if this part of the game is *essential* to the game, or if they could have avoided any of this by not having this part IN the game!

[mr_woo]

Irrespective of if you choose to deem it controversial, we all know what kinda of ****storm will engulf this game when the media catch on to this section. The industry does not need more games being blamed on murders etc, more "murder simulators" etc.

But then developers should not be afraid to take chances in doing new things which may or may not court controversy. That won't do much for games either if everyone's afraid to take chances due to what other people may think. I'm not saying this will all of a sudden move storytelling in games forward by some large degree or anything but it's at least a chance IW are taking in trying to get an emotional response from the player when they didn't even have to bother trying and still sell millions of copies. I applaud them for that and if people find it offensive and distasteful then good, that's EXACTLY what it's supposed to do.

[Jebus]

As I said, is Uncharted 2 controversial...in any way whatsoever? Yet it's still a 10/10 game for a lot of people.

I don't see this as "taking a chance" at all, for the record. There are other ways of getting an emotional response, just like they managed in Modern Warfare, with that last scene, incredibly emotional! They didn't need to mow down civilians in that scene did they?

[spagmasterswift]

If this scene makes players feel awkward and uncomfortable, and even not wanting to play, then surely that's a good thing?

I'd say that was a bad thing personally. But I take your point.

[mr_woo]

As I said, is Uncharted 2 controversial...in any way whatsoever? Yet it's still a 10/10 game for a lot of people.

I don't see this as "taking a chance" at all, for the record. There are other ways of getting an emotional response, just like they managed in Modern Warfare, with that last scene, incredibly emotional! They didn't need to mow down civilians in that scene did they?

Well we'll have to agree to disagree really. However I have read about people complaining about Uncharted though! Something about Nathan Drakes personality and tone of the game being light and then him going on to kill lots of people hence being a sociopath (brilliant game though, multiplayer's awesome)

[spagmasterswift]

Well we'll have to agree to disagree really. However I have read about people complaining about Uncharted though! Something about Nathan Drakes personality and tone of the game being light and then him going on to kill lots of people hence being a sociopath (brilliant game though, multiplayer's awesome)

Not to mention how he manages to destroy pretty much everything of any cultural worth that he comes into contact with in his quest for profit...he is a lovable character tho!

[Matt]

I'm trying to remain spoiler free on this, but have the general gist.

Is this optional, or do you have to do it? As in can the player go through the scene without interacting in that specific way? Because if so, I guess it's no worse than GTA where the player doesn't have to mow everyone down in a car, but can choose too if they wish. Still incredibly bad taste, and yes, it is media baiting and very sad of IW to do that.

[neoboy259]

For some reason my interest in this game has just gone right up!

[Flabio]

Something about Nathan Drakes personality and tone of the game being light and then him going on to kill lots of people hence being a sociopath

This ones an Uncharted 2 spoiler,

->Open Spoiler<-

the bad guy in Uncharted 2 calls Drake out on this.

[Malc]

I normally search around for any info on a game before it's released. But i've avoided reading any information about this controversial part of the game. Despite what ever it may be, I'm still going to put my pre-order down and have faith that Infinity Ward know what they are doing.

[Wools]

Nope, please explain.

In Call of Duty 4 there’s a scene where the player takes control of an AC-130 Plane.

The plane itself is a normal military grade plane but it's distinguished by its weaponry. It has 2 massive cannons placed on the side of the plane that can be fired when the plane banks, when it does, the controller of those 2 cannons can see miles and can literally tear the enemy to pieces.

As the range is so long, the images are in heat, like night vision goggles, so the player has little else to see apart from these white and black marks running about. Your navigator sitting beside you gives you details about enemy positioning and congratulates you on clean kills and moments where you’ve blown something up.

Many people who’ve played that section have all spoke of a cold detachment from the proceedings, making you feel quite hollow when you do make a kill. There’s no visceral thrill from a quick fire fight, no reload no reaction from what the player is doing. There’s just white dots falling over, a commander confirming each and every kill and the enemy you are pointing a gun at has no chance of fighting back...

Quite apt then that Infinity Ward are giving the player another chance to take part in War from another perspective where likewise, the enemy has no chance of fighting back. It’s just this time they’re an enemy from another person’s perspective. It’s not decent, it’s not great to take part in and that’s even more of a reason I’m compelled to take notice in what Infinity Ward are making. I mean this when I say it, it really is groundbreaking and I’m looking forward to see if the finished game can give this scene a structure and a involving reason for someone to play it.

Cos what the gaming industry needed is MORE controversy, more media saying "videogames are bad" and more murders/etc blamed on the industry.

It's not brave of them to include this, for my money it's bloody stupid. Does Uncharted 2 do anything controversial? No. Is it a worse game for that? No!

Good games should not need to court controversy.

You’re looking at this from the perspective of a scribe from The Daily Mail.

Videogames are not made by children for children, we’re at the crest of a new wave of Developers who want to try to push what this medium can offer and throw back the notion that a game can’t delve into what Film and Books do on a regular basis.

I’m not saying Infinity Ward can pull it off but judging from their body of work, I think they can and I can’t wait to experience this.