"Shocking" Modern Warfare 2 to be Raised in U.K. Parliament

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Oh for fucks sake... Mr. Vaz, kindly fall in a well and die. Seriously. I'm sick of these politicians who have never even picked up a controller in their lives criticizing games based on hearsay and conjecture. I'm by no means a fan of Call of Duty but this is just idiotic.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

I hate my Government, I really, really do.

Well, just that guy.

 

[CakeDragon]

Oh come on, seriously now? Oh, and taking innocent civilians and turning them into bloodthirsty zombies on the kill definitely isn't violent, right? *sigh*.

 

[El Poncho]

There is a Twitter and Facebook group ,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8342589.stm (website gives links to the group)

That goes against it

 

[GuerrillaClock]

The issue will be dead within a week, as usual. Vaz has pulled this trick before, and it failed then as well.

No doubt Activision are rubbing their grubby little hands at yet more publicity.

 

[jackanderson]

I hope the Australia bug isn't flying in here. That'd be hell. Still, I'll be buying this tomorrow and I will play it non stop til Christmas. Fuck you Government telling me what I can and can't play!

 

[beddo]

I hate my Government, I really, really do.

Are you more shocked by this or the fact that from this week any public body or quango including but not limited to; Transport for London and the Royal Mail can break into your house and seize your assets without a court order or even involvement from the police?

[link]http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6892830.ece[/link]

 

[KaiRai]

Surely this will be like GTA?

Not gameplay wise, but contorversy wise. I predict that people will kick up a stink, but the game will be released, played, then blamed for a murder at some point.

If they ban this, they can expect the next Guy Fawkes on Parliment.
Also, fuck them, because I'm at the Sainsbury's 5 mins from my house tomorrow at 7am, getting my copy of MW2.

 

[beddo]

I think the issue that is bringing the controversy is the setting; in an airport. I have to say from the videos it doesn't seem like a very powerful scene. I would have expected something more striking like having to shoot one hostage in a much more tense situation.

 

[Disaster Button]

I hate my Government, I really, really do.

Are you more shocked by this or the fact that from this week any public body or quango including but not limited to; Transport for London and the Royal Mail can break into your house and seize your assets without a court order or even involvement from the police?

[link]http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6892830.ece[/link]

That's just dumb. It's only done to make Transporters feel like they have any kind of power or usage in the world. Which they don't.

 

[beddo]

In fairness to Keith Vaz he is only objecting to what he believes to be weak controls of content distribution; that there are not sufficient measures to keep the game from those who are under 18. However, in the video on the BBC website I think you can hear him shout from the back that the game should not be sold at all. Remember this is the man who supported Geert Wilders being barred entry to the UK but had not even seen the film which was the focus of that decision. See him in action:

[link]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37rUwhGr2n8[/link] - Watch for the classic face of the host, Kirsty when he says he hasn't watched the film. (about 2 mins 10 in)

It should be noted that in argument with him another minister, Tom Watson notes that the content is not dissimilar to films and books and that Keith Vaz is in league with the likes of the Daily Mail to create moral panic over video games. See the video of the debate here:

[link]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8342589.stm[/link]

 

[Casual Shinji]

http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/resources/2008/03/keithvaz.jpg

This, ladies and gentleman, is the awe inspiring force of nature intending to bring down MW2.

I don't think it's going to happen.

He looks like he needs his nappy changed.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Yet, they don't object to hyper-realistic war movies. Or the whole 'grindhouse' genre, for that matter. What exactly is it that makes games so different?

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

I haven't even got my copy yet! Don't ban it!

 

[welchcore]

my nephew is 13 and will have this game bought for him the day it is released. he has almost no knowledge of the first and second world war and the sacrifices made by this and other countries and probably couldn't point to russia on a map. He doesn't even know what a spitfire is.

That he can run around like a moron online practicing his racism skills and generally excelling at being a big mouthed know nothing twat while all the time receiving praise from peers and game based rewards is just plain strange in an era of the unprecedented decline of moral standards in youth.

The argument that it's got an 18 certificate is irrelevant unless parents are actually gonna be prosecuted for supplying their children with unsuitable material.

I know it sounds a bit nannyish but do you really want your young kids to play a game with content like GTA or MW2. MW wasn't so bad apart from the online attitudes of many of its users and the general nature of warfare, but why would Activision jump on the unnecessary violent scenes bandwagon when any online play shows just how many kids use this game.


the fact that these scenes probably will add nothing to the overall experience of playing the game and are there purely to create controversy like this and distract from the price hike has been widely overlooked. That activision would do this when they know the game is going to be used by so many under 18's is irresponsible and frankly shamefull.

 

[Dyp100]

I better get my fucking game tomorow, my friend got it today and if I don't have it I'm going to find this man and kill him.

 

[Echolocating]

Yet, they don't object to hyper-realistic war movies. Or the whole 'grindhouse' genre, for that matter. What exactly is it that makes games so different?

They're foreign to the old men who run the country. They can understand books, music, and even movies, but not video games so it makes it an easy target to waste tax payer money on while they avoid real issues. When the next generation of politicians take over, we won't see these issues again; they'll be replaced by even more absurd things.

 

[Amnestic]

my nephew is 13 and will have this game bought for him the day it is released. he has almost no knowledge of the first and second world war and the sacrifices made by this and other countries and probably couldn't point to russia on a map. He doesn't even know what a spitfire is.

Blame that on poor education? I knew what a spitfire was at age 6 and I'm only 19.

That he can run around like a moron online practicing his racism skills and generally excelling at being a big mouthed know nothing twat while all the time receiving praise from peers and game based rewards is just plain strange in an era of the unprecedented decline of moral standards in youth.

Again, why haven't you or his parents educated your nephew about such things? It's quite clear - to me at least - that this material is fine assuming a) the child is mature enough to handle it and b) the parents have done the necessary educating of both themselves and the kid.

The argument that it's got an 18 certificate is irrelevant unless parents are actually gonna be prosecuted for supplying their children with unsuitable material.

So...what, you want your brother or sister thrown in jail?

I know it sounds a bit nannyish but do you really want your young kids to play a game with content like GTA or MW2. MW wasn't so bad apart from the online attitudes of many of its users and the general nature of warfare, but why would Activision jump on the unnecessary violent scenes bandwagon when any online play shows just how many kids use this game.

Who can say until I have kids of my own? I was brought up on all manner of video game - from the most ridiculous to the most 'realistic' we had at the time and I turned out fine.

the fact that these scenes probably will add nothing to the overall experience of playing the game

'Fact'? Good sir I take issue with that statement. Furthermore, (to use an example Funk brings up regularly) the Nuke scene in Modern Warfare which gave control to the player shows just exactly how much it can change the experience to be put in the driving seat of such things in comparison to a cutscene.

and are there purely to create controversy like this and distract from the price hike has been widely overlooked. That activision would do this when they know the game is going to be used by so many under 18's is irresponsible and frankly shamefull.

If you don't notice the price hike that's your own stupid fault - it's not as if it hasn't been well publicised before the controversy, or that it will be somehow hidden on the box and pretend to be a lower price than it actually is.

Anyone could glance around MW2 and see other games not being released at the same price and question as to why. Anyone at all.

 

[TheScottishFella]

I hope the world is happy people should learn this one lesson IT'S A FUCKING VIDEO GAME it's not tring to support real life see this is why politics and games should never mix the politics always whine at the game however in the end it is all pointless arguments he says it looks realistic ok yes graphics have been updated graphically better: yes Realistic: FUCK NO we still have a long way before you can see clear pictures of ourselves in video games. These games are aimed at adults which politics seem to not comprehend and if they bring the "kids" issue it's up to parents to decide wheter the kid should get the game or not they know what there kid should be playing or not playing not the government. See politics NEVER WORK.

 

[willsham45]

its pritty much out he cannot do anything now

Also i dont really need a reason for not buying it is already tented my the PC deductions
But still there are some people in the world who should just die and most of these people are in goverment and other have too much power