SPOILERS BEGIN HERE~!
You probably already know this, but Modern Warfare 2 has been banned in Russia because of that controversial level, No Russian. In the mission, you, an American soldier in the employ of the CIA, team up with a Russian terrorist who shoots up a fictional Russian airport. At the end of the mission, the Russian terrorist double-crosses you, shooting you and leaving you at the scene of the terrorist attack. This serves as a springboard for the rest of the game, wherein Russia uses the (what they think is) American attack as a pretext for war.
SPOILERS ARE PRETTY MUCH OVER~!
As a response to the level, Russia has recalled all copies all the game. (Here’s the original Russian source.) Infinity Ward has responded by editing the game, the edited version being expected to go on sale within the month (provided the Russian authorities even allow this version).
We’ve talked about the game a little, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the level in question.
It’s very hard to defend the level. In fact, I do wonder who at Infinity Ward thought it’d be a good idea to include such a level. And that Activision gave the level the OK! Did no one anticipate the controversy that would erupt?
I understand people will want to defend the level, and the game, and Infinity Ward (no one’s defending Activision~!), because it’s “your team” that’s being attacked. “Leave video games alone!” And for the record (get it?), I really don’t think any of us here at CrunchGear believe there’s a link between video game violence and real life violence. All of us have played violent video games, from Doom all the way on up, and we’re a bunch of harmless nerds. I wouldn’t know how to fire a gun, or carjack a minivan, or punch someone in the chest and rip out their heart if my life depended on it. Gaming is just a fun thing done to pass the time. No more, no less.
But to hide behind those excuses when it comes to examining No Russian is absurd. You realize that you’re running around an airport in a simulated terror attack, right? That’s different than you playing the role of, say, the Allied forces in WWII, shooting conscripted Wehrmacht soldiers. That’s two armies going at it; a terror attack isn’t even in the same ballpark.
Let’s put it this way: if an Iranian video game developer released a game that put you in the role of a suicide bomber, and had you roll into a mall in the middle of suburban New Jersey, shoot it up, then blow yourself up in the middle of the food court, you don’t think there’d be people in the media freaking out? I can guarantee that Drudge, Hannity, Rush, Beck & Co. would be up in arms over that. And once they’re up in arms, other news outlets would pick it up (because that’s how news works in the country), then we’d be dealing with a truly national story: should we ban the video game that glorifies terrorism, and shows America at its most vulnerable?
So why is Russia any different? Why can’t Russian gamers (and, more importantly, Russian politicians) be angry over the level? They have every right to.
Again, I’m not saying that by playing the level, all of a sudden America’s youth is going to be training how to attack a Russian airport, it’s just the the depiction of of violence is so over-the-top and so unnecessary that you wonder why it was approved in the first place.
So I officially don’t care for the level. I did enjoy the game—it’s a well-done FPS, yes—but don’t think I don’t recognize that I’m getting my kicks playing virtual soldier.
There’s a larger point you can make here, too: what does it say about our society and culture that one of the highest grossing entertainment releases of the year amounts to virtually shooting up airports filled with helpless victims, or where we entertain ourselves by virtually shooting our friends in the face with AK-47s? I’m guilty of this, too, of course, but it’s something to think about.
I agreed with everything until the last paragraph. The point is, we DID NOT buy this video game solely for the Airport scene. I didn’t even really know about it until I played it.. and was disappointed and shocked about it. Even still, its not the reason I bought the game. Its not the reason many gamers bought the game, I’m sure. MW1 was freaking awesome. MW2 HAD to be good. Like Halo – Halo 2 – Halo 3. Did I need to buy Halo 2 or 3? No. Did I buy it because I enjoyed the first so much I wanted to see where the story went in the second and third games? Absolutely.
If you wanted to find other offenders, look at the GTA series amongst others in that genre.
I felt odd playing that level, and quickly realized it was the one mentioned when first loading the game.
I thought it was important to the game, as it sets up America’s ‘by any means necessary’ mentality towards terrorists. Have we sent Americans to embed themselves with those we are fighting? Absolutely. Have they committed crimes such as those depicted in ‘no Russian’, probably (hopefully) not. This is; however, a game and it is almost required for it to take it’s story over the top. ‘No Russian’ does what I think it was meant to.
The GTA series (another favorite of mine) gives you the ability to set up the exact same scenario whenever you like. Killing civilians is almost second nature in GTA, and very rarely has it been labeled “terrorism”. Where does the line blur from criminal act to terrorist?
Anyway, I completed the mission without shooting a single civilian. Nowhere does it say “YOU MUST SHOOT EVERYONE DEAD”.
I think they probably did it intentionally, to try to do the same thing that, say, GTA has done time and time again. Horribly offend people and by doing so build buzz and sell a crap load of games.
Seriously, why isn’t there some kind of freak out every time there is a new GTA? I basically stopped playing video games so I haven’t picked up MW2, but there is not a chance in hell that mission is worse than GTA. I mean seriously, whats the difference? And I am willing to bet more hours have been played in GTA flying around in the attack helo terrorizing an entire city (one that is strikingly similar to NYC mind you) than playing the missions.
Stop being such overly sensitive idiots and realize, whether you like it or not, terrorism has become a part of our society. Why should video game writers shy away from it? And if they set it up properly they can elicit REAL Emotion from the gamer, even provoke the gamer to think about what just happened. Something games have never been able to do.
I don’t see what the big deal is… Even if I did play the game it probably wouldn’t bother me much more than saying, “well that was kind of fucked up”. Fake people are fake people whether you call them innocent or not is pretty transparent to me.
Jim
Agreed. Videogames are an art form, and by so, they are supposed to make us have emotions. Maybe Delean didnt realized that, when asking if anyone didnt anticipated the controversy, but the point of “No Russian” is to cause controversy. Of course they anticipated. They wanted it. The point is to make us thing about it and discuss it. And this is not diferent at all of GTA. My reaction was exactly like that: “that was fucked up”. And that made me feel human, and I am thankful for MW2 for that.
There is NO scientific evidence linking the playing of video games with violent acts. None. In fact, a recent statistical analysis of anti-social behavior published in the respected and peer-reviewed Journal of Pediatrics concludes that treatment of “Childhood depression, delinquent peer association, and parental use of psychological abuse may be particularly fruitful avenues for future prevention or intervention efforts.” In other words, anti-social behavior is a result of psychological damage, arising far before engaging with video games. Most teenagers are fully aware that video games are fantasy, apparently a more intelligent analysis than politicians, right wing religious freaks, and their parents. These Russian politicians are idiots, given their country is rife with organized crime, women sold into prostitution, and corrupt generals selling nuclear material to terrorists. Let’s get real here.
I think the warning at the beginning of the game should have clarified what this level entailed. While important to the overall story, the length and brutality were not. I was not personally offended by it…it’s just a game and I treat it as nothing more. I can see that some would be, and if they choose to edit the level in certain areas, that’s fine, as long as the story is retained…that is, that a character still does this act, but the player has no control. Unfortunately this is what CoD does, put you in the role, rather than watch everything from the outside.
I told you all so.
Told us all so what? I think Russia is a little upset that they were the target in this. If it was set in an american airport on american soil with american civilians then i think more people would be a little more upset about the level. Aside from that I can understand that they probably would of banned it anyway for the level. I can see that the level was intended to jumpstart the story into why we are at war. I believe the reason you are included in the scenario is to generate a feeling of hate toward Makarov, to show the player how wrong it feels to do something like that and to see how ugly terrorists can be. In this case it works…even I hesitated a little when getting to the level. In the end I see it as a game and only a game. It’s black and white. Reality and Fiction. It may not be right but this isn’t the only thing in regards to this matter that has been introduced to us. Other than that I do understand how some people can be concerned about what has been introduced to our gaming society. I can see why Russia is offeneded and I even understand why people say the level should not be in the game, but the fact is is that the level is in there and it has all the appropriate ratings and warnings needed to show that IF did know what was going to happen. They knew they were playing with a bomb when constructing this level and even included a way to diffuse it if you chose to. You have the option to play the level or not play the level. If you are not 17+ I do not think you should play this game. Thats all there is to it. Russia has many laws that differ from the U.S. but from what i understand im in the U.S. and according to our laws everything is in check. I think it would be a different story in the U.S. if the option to skip the level was not there and if the rating was dropped to Teen. We probably would not of gone as far as russia but it would be a bigger topic in our society right now. Other than that you can kill civilians in many other games besided just MW2. Our society is evolving… this is just another step we will have to all take together. I have nothing against you Concerned Parent and I can understand why you are upset about the issue in everyones hands but from what i can see this is no different from other games that have dawned on us from the past as mentioned in a few of the other posts. It as simple as not buying or buying it and choosing to not play the level.
One last note… There are alot of “I can see” and “I can understand” in my post because im trying to be as respectful to the others that don’t agree with my thoughts. This is simply a way to be passive in the post to prevent everything from being my way or the highway.
From what I understand, all you “tell” us is pseudo-trolling drivel. I don’t see what point you’re trying to prove.
What bothers me is the fact that if this was a movie or a book no one would care. It’s only when intense issues are put into video games that anyone seems to notice or care. People are sensitive to certain issues I get it, but what are they worried about? As it has been mentioned in other posts GTA has you doing far more and it’s the sole point of the game! This was a chapter in a book. In my opinion a very good book. I never had MW1 and picked up MW2 because everyone moved to MW1 from Resistance 2 and being that MW2 was coming out soon I felt I would wait till later to pick up MW1 at a discount. The game is excellent and I will say I enjoyed this chapter the same way I enjoyed every GTA game I have ever played. Someday a game will be made that has you crashing a plane into the world trade centers. Maybe not for 20 years but it will happen. We play games where we fight nameless faceless nazi’s and don’t think twice about it, but when it’s something that hits a little closer to home we suddenly have a problem with it. So in my opinion it’s either all ok or not ok at all. This is a stupid debate really because if we decide that something is off the table it will just open up a domino effect. Soon Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will get banned because people are always speeding and running from the law. We all know the content of these games long before we buy them. Like everything else be it a movie, book, what ever. If you don’t like it you don’t have to play it. Once we start deciding what content is “appropriate” we begin heading towards the direction of where China is. Where anything deemed inappropriate is squashed and if people try to change it they are squashed as well. But hey thats just my 2 cents.
Adam Sessler had a pretty good say on it during his Soap Box bit.
yea, i agree with you on some parts…but its just a video game.. i mean its nice and all .. atleast we do the crime in the game, thats why most people play to break rules in games rather than in the streets. but any way, its just a mission, look at ALL the other games, especially GTA! you kill thousands of innocent people and no one complains.. why complain on this level?..
Has anyone else here finished the game? Have you actually played ALL the levels? Have you seen what other forms of terrorist act are performed? And by whom? And how they were manipulated into occurring?
If it didn’t occur to any of you that there was anything else in the game other than the airport scene that was “controversial”, then I agree… it was a waste of IW’s time to put the scene in.
I seen the level may not be a big deal but if your from Russia its really messed up i support Russian government banning the game. you think its just a game and its ok its virtual no harm ask some people that arent fom usa and see whats their opinion on it u will have a different answer if this wild of been on us soil
The only problem I see with it is that in the games storyline the reaction from the Russian government is completely unrealistic. Russia launch a full-on attack on US soil because they found a dead body of a US soldier at the airport, killed by his apparent ‘friends’ with a single shot to the head.
So the Russian terrorists are cold-blooded motiveless psychopaths, and the Russian authorities are stupid and violent. Personally I don’t see that as a reason to ban it, but I’m sure if the shoe was on the other foot, and US terrorists were doing the killing and the US gov was portrayed as so stupid and violent – I’m sure it wouldn’t be sold in the US. I prefer no censorship, but I think this game was obviously going to run close to the wind with the inclusion of that level.
Was there outrage in 1977 when a blockbuster movie glorified the big-screen portrayal of renegade terrorists blowing up a government facility, and in the process killing thousands of innocent employees (janitors, welders, technicians, etc)? No, Star Wars is universally accepted and we all cheered when the Death Star bit the dust and the religious fanatics won.
Seriously guys, I played this level and when I started I though wow… this is a change from any games I’ve played before. That was all, I finished the campaign and played MP like nothing happened, im an australian and I still belive its just a game, nothing more. If russia has too big an ego to see that then let them ban it, they are only depriving russians of a great game.
just thinking… why no “No british” .. or “No American” … ? too offensive? XD
LOL!! Thats funny, but not sure if you know this or not he says “Remember… no Russian” because they don’t want to let any of the russian civilians hear any Russian during the attack to further the speculation that it was an American attack.
it should be “No english” in both cases. But I agree with you, it would be the same.
I think all of you are missing the point here.
GTA is not worse because in GTA you can kill civilians and cause mass chaos BECAUSE YOU MAKE A CHOICE TO DO IT. You can kill innocents because YOU decide to do it.
In this game THE MISSION is to kill innocents. Whether you do it or not, it is the OBJECTIVE of the mission.
In other words,
GTA would be like killing someone with a golf club in a store (an object not intended to kill, but it can be used for that purpose if you wish so)
And MW2 would be shooting a blindfolded prisoner against a wall: the violent action is expected AND encouraged
You don’t have to kill a single person. I completed the mission only having shot at the SWAT (or Russian equivalent) who shot at me.
It really is all up to you.
russia is probably pissed due to the fact that it has people who are from russia killing other russians just to start a war and not to mention its in a airport also the media are imbeciles and they remind me of parasites or bugs in general feeding off of the smallest thing possible but in some ways there different becuase they do it for money and they do it becuase they can for example look at mass effect and how the media portrayed that or gta hot coffee it displays sexual acts so does alot of movies and the show nip/tuck and the person who wrote this article is a kissass he seems like agreeing with others and not writing the truth
last this game has alot to do with terrorism i mean why doesnt the media attack that and the airport stuff i mean you can do so much with this game that its baffling the press could have a field day
-people are just jealous of one another
fin
Just finished the entire game.
My problem with the scene is that it made the game totally unbelievable to me. Let me explain – part of what I loved about the first CODMW was that, while of course a bit over the top, you could imagine everything happening.
This scene just totally blew that for me in this game. So while all in all CODMW2’s gameplay was amazing it’s basic premise lost quite a bit.
It’s biggest sin is bad storytelling.
How was that unrealistic?
Very simple – you are a American soldier doing deep cover CIA who knowingly takes part in a mission where the guy he is to get close to is going to kill hundreds of people and are told they must speak english and use American weapons. Obviously a set up, obviously America is the one being set up, and I don’t care how deep your cover is or what the original mission was the bad guys would have bullets in their backs.
But as soon as you even aimed at one your cover would be blown, you would be killed anyway, and the story would still progress the same…
It helped build a dramatic plot to the story that otherwise would have been impossible. It’s a video game. A VIDEO GAME. After shooting down the russian civvies i stood over the wounded ones and capped them in the head. You guys can argue all you want, no side is going to suade the other haha.
PUSSIES. Man up and lets go kill some russian civs!
I enjoyed that level that was such a stress release. I think I will play it over and over
i think it’s ok to include this level, if you’re shockingly appalled at the sight of this terrorist act, then it’s a good thing, it means you’re aware how terrible terrorism can be and this scenario clearly depicts the fear and whatever is going through these people’s minds when caught in this kind of situation. However, if this scene does not affect you, now that’s even more alarming to me.