Modern Warfare 2

[JP]

What a really odd thing to do, I'm really struggling to understand the reason behind this to be honest. It's difficult to comment on as it's completely out of context at the moment but I'm struggling to understand how any sort of context can change the pure pointlessness of it.

This is their response...

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.

Surely this isn't going to change anybody's view on terrorists, I can't imagine that many people would be going into the game thinking that they were taking on terrorists who were only aiming to just worry civilians slightly.

The videos did teach me that

->Open Spoiler<-

terrorists never kill children though which is obviously a positive. Or maybe terrorists do but Infinity Ward were just a little scared to really show "the depth of evil and the cold bloodedness", if you're trying to make a point then make it properly rather than being too scared to say the sort of things that really happen in these situations.

There are a couple of game developers who are trying to push things forwards with narrative but I've seen nothing that Infinity Ward have produced which suggests that they are even close to being able to handle something of this magnitude.

->Open Spoiler<-

I really can't think of a more clumsy way of doing this than this way. Walking through an airport shooting people doesn't give you any understanding as to why terrorism happens and what they are hoping to achieve. It's almost as if it's been devised by a 12 year old.

->Open Spoiler<-

Also, how the hell would a group of heavily armed terrorists like these walk into somewhere as heavily guarded as LAX? Surely Infinity Ward understand that in the real world John McClane would have stapled them all to walls within a minute or two.

I'm really hoping that Activison get bitten on the arse by this, I know it doesn't mean anything but there seems to be people all over the place claiming they won't buy it now. It's all over the media already and although GTA gets a load of bad publicity due to it's cartoon violence I wouldn't be surprised to see this kicking up a right **** storm for them.

As Activsion are currently on the rampage getting sites to take it down, here's another video.

[Jebus]

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

No, I'm looking at it from the perspective of someone who loves videogames and doesn't want yet more bad publicity for the hobby I enjoy, especially when it's aimed at something that doesn't seem needed!

Videogames are not made by children for children

I disagree, the amount of immaturity amongst gamers is horrendous, go on XBOX LIVE and tell me I'm wrong. Games journalism online plagued by "memes" and "in-jokes".

Sorry, but the games industry would love to be taken seriously, but outside of the "hardcore" it's still a "kids hobby" and until people stop acting like spoilt children over every tiny little detail, it will remain that way.

I'm sure you'll disagree, but that's my opinion.

[SmokeMeAKipper]

Having watched the vid now I have to admit it is pretty bad - which is both what IW are aiming for and what they will be roundly condemned for. I don't think they should have done it personally but I'm really interested to see how the wider world reacts to this.

[elaniel]

Hehe, look at GAME, trying to be all "clever " with their email regarding pre-orders:

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Recruits can rest assured that their package is GUARANTEED* for despatch in time for launch.

A delivery partner has been enlisted for courier delivery*. The drop zone is your delivery address. The objective is a launch day of fun..

Ultranationalist forces are converging - our Modern Warfare 2 Accessories below could make the difference between defeat and victory.

We have locked an loaded a FREE upgraded delivery so you don't have to do anything but wait for the fight to come to you!

Give 'em hell...

The Team
GAME.co.uk

[C']

Watched it again, wondering if seeing it a second time when i knew what was coming would redeem it slightly.

Nope. Still seems at best irresponsible and at worst quite reprehensible to me. I'm struggling to understand what they were thinking.

Totally agree with everything that Jebus has said. Similarly I've seen comments that this has purely been done to get a rise out of the media which, in my mind, makes it ten times worse.

[mr_woo]

Watched it again, wondering if seeing it a second time when i knew what was coming would redeem it slightly.

Nope. Still seems at best irresponsible and at worst quite reprehensible to me. I'm struggling to understand what they were thinking.

Totally agree with everything that Jebus has said. Similarly I've seen comments that this has purely been done to get a rise out of the media which, in my mind, makes it ten times worse.

I genuinely don't think it has been done to get a rise out of the media even though of course it will. Sure maybe I'm being a bit naive but I like to think that Infinity Ward are better than that and are doing it on purpose for storytelling reasons and trying to do something different. But then again I wasn't there when they decided to include that scene so **** only knows.

[Jebus]

I think IF this has been done to get a rise, then they truly are foolish. They've nothing to fall back on. They can't claim to be representing a true terrorist attack etc...in an airport...that only has adults in it, no children, babies, pregnant women, disabled people.

I agree with John, they aren't trying to push any boundaries at all and it wouldn't surprise me if the whole youtube thing is one big plant/promotional excercise.

I do wonder though, if the people who don't think it's that bad, will feel the same when experiencing it first hand, on a HDTV with surround sound as opposed to judging it on a dodgy poor quality youtube video.

[prinnysquad]

That mission in COD4 is very harrowing, a really unsettling demonstration of the sickening nature of war, where

->Open Spoiler<-

people are reduced to white blobs that are vapourised in a swift explosion

. It's dislocation meant that it was uncomfortable - it felt less like a game, replicating the footage from recent wars.

This level in MW2 just seems like a really poor idea. I really don't need to experience

->Open Spoiler<-

mowing down innocents to justify the pursuit of terrorists

. If Infinity Ward want to generate more emotional depth to the gamer's actions, then they've been unsubtle by producing such a black and white representation of the situation. Although... I'd be a fool to write off its effect on me before I play it.

[charlesr]

Can everyone clear up their comments with a few spoiler tags please? Although tbh, anyone trying to stay spoiler free should just be staying away from this thread

[Daragon]

People shouldn't have to stay away from threads in order to avoid spoilers - if this were the last Harry Potter book, an unmarked spoiler would result in languishing in the eternal flaming pits of hell, followed by a ban.

MW2 is just as big, if not a bigger reason for excitement than those wretched, blatant rip off stories ever were!

[Family Fry]

->Open Spoiler<-

Still can't believe they said that soap dies in this! quite a big spoiler leak, crazy stuff

Really dunno what the big deal is, still gonna sell 20 million+ copies.
Shocking scene or not, it's not shocking enough if i'm being honest, only thing that has put me off buying this is the shocking RRP.

[EvilBoris]

Still can't believe they said that soap dies in this! quite a big spoiler leak, crazy stuff
Really dunno what the big deal is, still gonna sell 20 million+ copies.
Shocking scene or not, it's not shocking enough if i'm being honest, only thing that has put me off buying this is the shocking RRP.

Surely they wouldn't kill of the most popular character in such a popular franchise?

[Dirty Sanchez]

Surely they wouldn't kill of the most popular character in such a popular franchise?

Cracking quote of a spoiler there!

[Malc]

I'm completely suprised by everyone's reactions to be honest, this sort of thing has been done so many times in films and books and doesn't get this sort of reaction, some films that contain similar events are often hailed as some of the best movies in the industry. I don't believe it's been done to gain publicity, as the reaction has obviously been so negative that if anything it's hurt their game by looking and some peoples posts on here.

We all knew this sort of thing would crop up in our beloved industry somewhen, and I'm suprised a lot of you are so shocked.

[Adam Stone]

Agreed mate...

I would like to say I can see where others are coming from, but i truly can't. Of course anything that involves innocent people dying isn't something that should be praised, but when it comes to fiction - which video games are - there's a line of acceptance. If I saw this actually take place in person to real people, well, i'd be horrified (though, to be honest, i have actually seen things like this but that's not for here....)

Also... It isn't even like this whole thing has been done distastefully... we can speculate all we wish but the official word is to enhance story and I can see how that's achieved. No, i don't need such a scene to tell me how horrible killing innocent people is, but actually executing it certainly doesn't come easily. The reactions expressed here and other forums etc show this scene is achieving exactly what it aimed to.