MW2 cotroversy (spoilers)

[Wrath of Dagon]

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/10/28/lea...-footage-shocks

 

You get to play as a terrorist mowing down civilians in an airport, yay!

[alanschu]

I'm also curious about the context behind it.

 

Funny that the once vilified Grand Theft Auto is now dismissed as being cartoon violence.

[Cl_Flushentityhero]

Well, they've got stones (in case the price bump didn't convince you). I don't know whether they're making a particularly deep statement with it, but it's something new.

[Killian Kalthorne]

I find it... disturbing.

[alanschu]

See, that's what's kind of interesting.

 

Isn't it a good thing we find it disturbing? Especially since videogames are apparently desensitizing us to no ends...

[Wrath of Dagon]

You still find it disturbing, since it's the first time it's done. So are you saying something being disturbing is a reason to put it into a video game?

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Yeah, not playing that level.

[alanschu]

It's hardly the first time a game has gone around killing innocent people. Oh wait, now it's as a "terrorist" so it's different? In the late 90s there was a "great" game called Postal.

 

I'm saying the fact that it's disturbing indicates that perhaps game players a human beings and not desensitized drones that go around on shooting sprees killing innocent people.

[Wrath of Dagon]

It's hardly the first time a game has gone around killing innocent people. Oh wait, now it's as a "terrorist" so it's different? In the late 90s there was a "great" game called Postal.

 

I'm saying the fact that it's disturbing indicates that perhaps game players a human beings and not desensitized drones that go around on shooting sprees killing innocent people.

Postal wasn't a mainstream game by any stretch of the imagination, and the whole point of it was to be as offensive as possible. And I don't think anyone is saying players are like real terrorists, it's just the implications of playing a terrorist in a very realistic setting ripped from today's headlines, but I guess nothing is off limits anymore, I'm really not surprised.

[Deadly_Nightshade]

You get to play as a terrorist mowing down civilians in an airport, yay!

 

Oh noes! Cancel the game and burn it!

But seriously, this doesn't bother me that much.

[alanschu]

Postal wasn't a mainstream game by any stretch of the imagination, and the whole point of it was to be as offensive as possible. And I don't think anyone is saying players are like real terrorists, it's just the implications of playing a terrorist in a very realistic setting ripped from today's headlines, but I guess nothing is off limits anymore, I'm really not surprised.

 

Postal may not be a mainstream game (it still saw dual page ads in PC Gamer though), but Grand Theft Auto 3 certainly was. And the rest of the series. Not to mention games like Manhunt, Bully, etc.

 

 

What implications are you referring to about playing a terrorist in a very realistic setting ripped from today's headlines. Is this the game that's finally gonna truly desensitize us all and make us indifferent about killing other human beings?

 

 

Should things be off limits? And if so, who decides what should be off limits?

[HoonDing]

This game is going to be big in Afghanistan.

[Nepenthe]

It's hardly the first time a game has gone around killing innocent people. Oh wait, now it's as a "terrorist" so it's different? In the late 90s there was a "great" game called Postal.

 

I'm saying the fact that it's disturbing indicates that perhaps game players a human beings and not desensitized drones that go around on shooting sprees killing innocent people.

 

I remember reading a news item back when Munch's Scream was stolen that when armed men invaded the museum, the people inside 'were afraid that they were terrorists'. As if you're going to any deader when you're shot by a terrorist as opposed to by a, say, ex-yugoslav mercenary working on a made-to-measure robbery for organised crime.

 

*facepalm*

 

Terrorists are the boogeymen of the 21st century.

[Syraxis]

You get to play as a terrorist mowing down civilians in an airport, yay!

 

I AM SO OUTRAG-

[Trenitay]

I'm not sure I get what's so different about this video game violence.

[Wrath of Dagon]

What implications are you referring to about playing a terrorist in a very realistic setting ripped from today's headlines. Is this the game that's finally gonna truly desensitize us all and make us indifferent about killing other human beings?

Well, the other games already desensitized gamers enough to where it's now acceptable to play a terrorist, which would be unthinkable a decade ago. No, I don't think it'll turn gamers into terrorists, but it does contribute to indifference to other people's suffering and to moral relativism when re-enacting the real murder of real people is acceptable to play for entertainment.

 

I remember reading a news item back when Munch's Scream was stolen that when armed men invaded the museum, the people inside 'were afraid that they were terrorists'. As if you're going to any deader when you're shot by a terrorist as opposed to by a, say, ex-yugoslav mercenary working on a made-to-measure robbery for organised crime.

I think the point there was if they're just criminals, they don't have any particular reason to kill you if you don't resist, whereas if they're terrorists, they probably are there to kill you. Feel free to use that in you next case.

[Mamoulian War]

Well, the other games already desensitized gamers enough to where it's now acceptable to play a terrorist, which would be unthinkable a decade ago.

 

 

Never heard of Counter-Strike and Command and Conquer Generals?

[Wrath of Dagon]

Yes, but the context is a little different there.

[entrerix]

i could be wrong, but your understanding of the concept of moral relativism seems to be way off. it's been a while since college though so maybe i'm remembering it wrong

[Purkake]

I couldn't care less. It's still just a video game, people.

[Mamoulian War]

I think the point there was if they're just criminals, they don't have any particular reason to kill you if you don't resist...

 

looks like you never met real ex-USSR or ex-yugo mafia... be happy about it... i would say the chance of some of them killing you, me or any other western world inhabitant is about 100x higher than any terrorist killing you or me...

 

 

Yes, but the context is a little different there.

 

Not much, in CS for example you had Airport level, where you could as a terrorist kill innocent hostages...

Edited October 28, 2009 by Mamoulian War

[LostStraw]

Activisions statements on the matter: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/10/28/atv...-warfare-2-flap

 

Players have the option of skipping over the scene. At the beginning of the game, there are two

[Gfted1]

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.

 

 

Wow, I cant believe they're going with an AO rating.

Edited October 28, 2009 by Gfted1

[Deadly_Nightshade]

...and to moral relativism...

 

So?

 

...when re-enacting the real murder of real people is acceptable to play for entertainment.

 

Wait a second, unless I am very much mistaken Modern Warfare 2 is, in fact, a work of fiction and thus this is not a re-enactment of anything.

 

I think the point there was if they're just criminals, they don't have any particular reason to kill you if you don't resist...

 

Nope.

 

Yes, but the context is a little different there.

 

Not really.

 

I couldn't care less. It's still just a video game, people.

 

I agree.

[Gorgon]

I don't get it, the footage shows shooting civilians, yes, but how do we know the player is playing the mission and not just shooting things to admire the rag-dolling, bored because there is no one shooting back...