Modern Warfare 2 accused of promoting terrorism

[GooberMan]

[yniilater]

ill tell ya what i think all those people that are against this game grow up. im 15 years old and i dont think any game influences me i play need for speed and it dont make me want to drift down streets at 150km/hr. i also play gta and it dont make we want to slaughter every person i see in real life and neither dose call of duty its a great game one of the best by far, the game has a great story and i dont think the level where you a terroist will effect me or the other 99.9999% of gamers out there ill probably enjoy itther are many games that have terrorism in it and i cant even remmeber the story behind it so it didnt fase me at all even if its rated (r) im still buying it no matter what so grow up and have some fun its a video game it gets you to experiance all different types of objectives that you wouldnt do in real life and religion has nothing to do with it just "get real and grow up" if you think the game is wrong and shouldnt be sold dont buy it duhhh are ya that stuped just dont buy it for your kids if u dont like the game. if your not going to ever play it dont complain... and dont ever go to an airport because u might see some 10 yr old terrorist running around... grow up seriously...

[Gamesta]

[Qbert]

^I disagree, I usually feel bad in games killing innocents no matter what. I guess I take it seriously. Even in Assassin's Creed I get a small feeling of guilt when I kill a civilian (unless it's one that follows me around and asks me for money. Hearing the same NPC voice 1000 times would drive anyone crazy). And in GTA IV I usually feel bad killing them too, unless they started me. For instance when I jack a car, I never kill the owner unless I have too. Not that that makes me some angel, just that I think it is realistic. GTA IV was VERY realistic to me in many ways.
_________________

[GooberMan]

Hey Gamesta, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Nathan Drake.
_________________

[Infested Jibbs]

[Benc82]

[didzy02]

Just doing some research and well…. In my opinion it looks like MW2 (Modern Warfare 2) might not get through the classification board of Australia. After MW2 has been acused of promoting terrorisum. a lobby group who are requesting the OFLC review its rating decision.

The group, dubbed the ACCM (Australian Council on Children and the Media), has cited the game promotes terrorism and is still accessible to children despite its current MA15+ rating. Which mean that if this game is review by the ACCM, the current MA15+ rating may be rasied to an R18, which is bad news for Australian gamers.

“Spoiler Alert”

Some aspects of MW2 puts you undercover as part of a terrorist organization, Resulting in a mission within the game where you try to take hold of an airport to further infiltrate the terrorist group. So here is what I believe will be an “ISSUE” for the classification board.

When you try and take over the airport the terrorists are shooting innocent people. At this point the game gives you an option to shot them or not shot them. Resulting in different outcomes, obviously Infinitaty Ward (MW2 Game Developer) is looking to offer a non linear game play here….Whatever!!!

My concern is that this will inherently warrant an R rating classification, and might hit a little to close to home for the tight collared amongst us. Unfortunately we all know Australia doesn’t have an R18 classification. (THANKS TO MICHALE ATKINSON!!!) So I am a little nervous about the release of this game. Please note I am not suggesting this game will be banned, yet denied classification and result in a cut version of the game. But as an Australian gamer. Haven’t we been disappointed enough over the years? And most recently with the decision to ban Left For Dead 2? I am concerned that the recent action of the classification board will deem this game to violent.

I am going to be watching this very closely over the next week, but if history has taught us anything, terrorist themes depicted in a video game, have attracted an R rating classification. And if this is the case with MW2 then fans of the game LOOK OUT!!!
I am sure if this game dose not pass the classification board then it will still be released with the rejected content removed, or the content decreased to pass a MA15+ classification.

BUT!!!!!

As an Australian having traveled the world and experiencing the Video Game culture that other countries have to offer, I will be extremely disappointed if this is the result. Thanks to the actions of Michael Atkinson not only will the fun and excitement that video games give us be diminished, but the chance to interact globally with other gamers will be effected. Not only have we been pacient in relation to this matter, but we have been subjected to substandard and overpriced internet access for to long. We have been subjected to being berated as childish, and not to mention our media of choice i.e.: “Video Games” is the only form of media which has still not been recognized as a serious art form. All these matters aside. An R18 Classification for this form of entertainment has been overlooked for to long.

For a long time now there has been a call for “Video Games” to be referred to as “Interactive Entertainment” I for one have a problem with this description of what a “Video Game” should be called. And it may be one reason why “Video Games” have yet to achieve an R18 classification. The word “Game” refers to a childish act, and has no reference to any form of entertainment that an Adult would partake in. However if changed the word that many believe will give “Games” more substance “Interactive” that will also prove difficult to pitch as a legidiment form of entertainment, with no stereotypical stigmas attached. “Interactive” suggests the user interacts with what is happening on screen with some kind of action, and theses actions will transfer into real life depictions of what happens within the “Game.” However it dose raise a good argument. My argument is … If I watch a DVD with adult content IE: R18. Or any other kind of DVD for that matter. Then am I participating in a form of interactive multimedia? In fact watching a DVD in it’s purity is exactly what a “Video Game” is. In a “Video Game” I use my controller in an interactive way to achieve some form of entertainment, Then in it’s purity isn’t watching a DVD the same?

Let me explain. I have to select what I want to watch, deciding how I want to be entertained, I have to put the DVD in the DVD player and select to play the movie by using a remote control, not that dis-similar to using a” Video Game” controller is it?
So here’s the thing. I can make the decision to have a DVD show me media of a R18 content. However I am unable to access almost exactly the same content using my “Video Game” consol. And watch the same content displayed in a “Video Game” environment.

For to long now classification for Video Games in Australia has been substandard, not only dose this effect my experience as a gamer but it also is a direct intent to restrict the content I wish to access. Recent Studies done by Bond University indicate that a majority of people whom they interviewed wanted an R18 rating to be introduced, and many psychologists back this study and condemn the position of Michael Atkinson.

Electronic Frontiers Australia is running a campaign to have the R18+ classification for games introduced in Australia, and
if you would like to contact Michael Atkinson’s office in relation to this campaign his details are below.

Michael Atkinson
Croydon Electorate Office:
488 Port Rd, Welland SA 5077
Tel: 8346 2462
Email: croydon@parliament.sa.gov.au

For now lets hope MW2 passes classification, and doesn’t result in another game being troughed onto the boiling pot of what is fast becoming a source of frustration and disappointment in the Australian gaming community.

Ryan Denne
Gamertag (didzy02)

[Gamesta]

[MikeZombie777]

You do realise that trying to define art means you're missing the entire point of it? Art is whatever you want it to be.

Art is entirely subjective.

[Qbert]