MW2 Airport level leaked - play as terrorist killing civilians?

speedboatchase

Prepare for a huge mainstream media s***storm coming our way... It is actually fairly shocking though I have to admit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBfqsXxI0pk

http://www.cnet.com.au/modern-warfare-2-makes-players-crowd-killing-terrorists-339299266.htm?omnRef=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.ie%2Fnews%2Fsearch%3Faq%3Df%26um%3D1%26cf%3Dall%26ned%3Den_ie%26hl%3Den%26q%3Dcall%2Bof%2Bduty%2Bcivilians

Modern Warfare 2 makes players crowd-killing terrorists?
By Ty Pendlebury on 28 October 2009

GameSpot has reported that the new game Modern Warfare 2 features a section of gameplay which casts players as terrorists gunning down civilians inside an airport.

The story links to footage supposedly leaked from the game in which it appears the player is one of several armed gunmen shooting at crowds as they attempt to go through airport security. The "player" is even shown shooting an unarmed person as they try to drag one of the wounded away.

The footage was posted on several sites but it appears the game's publisher Activision has pulled them down, which only lends to its authenticity. No context for the scene is known, but the scene's gritty realism appears to be a marked contrast to the cartoonish violence of games such as Grand Theft Auto IV.

Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to the popular Call of Duty 4 and has been given an MA15+ rating in Australia. It's due for release on 10 November 2009.

Steffano2002

Well, let's hope they get loads of hassle for this now! I'm delighted! I'm starting to believe in Karma!

Morlar

I don't have access to youtube at the moment but could that not be a cutscene ? I don't really see the big deal either way, CS-S has had millions of people playing as arab/George michael looking terrorists for decades now, also killing hostages from time to time.

Steffano2002

Morlar wrote: »

I don't have access to youtube at the moment but could that not be a cutscene ? I don't really see the big deal either way, CS-S has had millions of people playing as arab/George michael looking terrorists for decades now, also killing hostages from time to time.

It's not a cut-scene. It's in-game footage. The young French fellow who managed to get CoD6 (already?) is filming his TV Screen. First part of the game shows him as a terrorist killing innocent civilians... In this day and age, it's very risky to do this! But then again, there's no such thing as bad publicity...

speedboatchase

It's not just that though, the playthrough shows the player killing a civilian who is trying to drag another to safety, granted the whole clip is taken out of context but either way it's fairly disturbing

Hande hoche!

It would be fairly cool if the were missions where you got to play as the bad guys. Always loved playing spetsnaz in COD4.

Dcully

They seem to be doing everything they can to make friends dont they :rolleyes:
What a stupid move, extremely distastefull.

Otacon

Why do I get the feeling this will be a cutscene, but viewed through the eyes of one of the terrorists, similar to the start of COD4, where you play

the leader that gets executed

?

My €0.02

smooch71

The video's gone down.

I'd say you're right Otacon. Good thinking

Mr Freeze

Otacon wrote: »

Why do I get the feeling this will be a cutscene, but viewed through the eyes of one of the terrorists, similar to the start of COD4, where you play

the leader that gets executed

?

My €0.02

I'd say you are correct.

Sounds like a cool intro.

kaimera

Otacon wrote: »

Why do I get the feeling this will be a cutscene, but viewed through the eyes of one of the terrorists, similar to the start of COD4, where you play

the leader that gets executed

?

My €0.02

Cos in the clip he wasn't just shooting the civies - iirc he shot some of the metal detectors as well afterwards - seemed like the player was in control.

Open to correction tho.

dazftw

I saw the video earlier this morning.. its like a movie watching it! Its pretty vicious!

Kinetic^

Please do not post multiple threads on the exact same topic across different forums.

Podge2k7

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2009/10/28/modern-warfare-2-leaked-level-makes-light-of-terrorist-atrocities-115875-21780083/

Click the link above to view the video, its almost 9 minutes long.



Heres the article that followed:

Watch the video and you’ll see players making their way through an airport before opening fire. It appears you have no one to shoot at other than unarmed people walking around the terminal. If the clip is indeed on the money, it’s a huge move for the games developers Infinity Ward and crosses a line which will doubtless invoke the ire of the media and anti-games commentators. Making light of terrorist atrocities such as the Mumbai attacks takes gaming to new lows which will doubtless cause many to eschew Modern Warfare 2 completely.
We’re awaiting news as to whether this is an official outtake. With Modern Warfare 2 just weeks from the shelves and already rated, it’s unlikely the offending level will be removed either.

smooch71

Podge2k7 wrote: »

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2009/10/28/modern-warfare-2-leaked-level-makes-light-of-terrorist-atrocities-115875-21780083/

Click the link above to view the video, its almost 9 minutes long.



Heres the article that followed:

It's pretty heavy stuff. I'd be very surprised if that's in the final release of the game. Couldn't see that getting past the censors

smooch71

Steffano2002 wrote: »

Well, let's hope they get loads of hassle for this now! I'm delighted! I'm starting to believe in Karma!

Ah change the record will you?

Steffano2002

smooch71 wrote: »

Ah change the record will you?

NEVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!

Cookie_Monster

I don't get it...

You can shoot innocent people and bystanders in GTA... is it just cos you have a towel on your head that this becomes an issue in COD?

flugel

havent seen the clip but is it really a big deal? its a frickin computer game after all. think people should have better things to get worked up about

ironictoaster

The only people people who will get worked up about it is the Aussies, they censor everything! The video was taken there, anyone else have a link to it?

Menengroth™

now it sounds like a game i'm tempted to play.

ironictoaster

Saw the video there. It's so reminiscent of Hitman 2, going around killing everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6pM_MS9_Ss

Podge2k7

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I don't get it...

You can shoot innocent people and bystanders in GTA... is it just cos you have a towel on your head that this becomes an issue in COD?

This genuinely made me laugh!:D

johnny_adidas

i would say looking at the video that u dont take control of the player fully until u begin fighting the swat/ police. its looks very on rails until that point (the jam on the screen when u get shot looks pathetic btw)

the first time i saw them opening up into the crowd, i was slightly taken aback. it could offend a lot of people and when the media get a hold of this clip, i can see it being banned in certain countries. for me GTA (which had a lot of opponents itself) is still fairly cartoony and no misson actually forces you to wipe out a crowd of unarmed civilians (that i can think of) whereas this is quite graphic and could easily be compared to a real life event

its all fun and games until some kid decides to wipe out an airport cos his parents took his controller away

The Munky

I have to say its all in bad taste.... but I still can't wait :D:D:D:D:D:D

DarkJager

Why do we care? Its an ADULT game, which means its allowed to have shocking scenes like that. Its most likely a lead in to the story, and what better way to fuel your hatred for the enemy than making you carry out their actions at the start of the game. This whole thing about terrorists being a dodgy area - since the other 99% of the game has you murdering hundreds of the ****ers its not really glamorising terrorism is it?

I'd prefer a game grabbing me by the balls at the very beginning with a sequence like that than the usual "kid" friendly intros. Its an adult story after all.

ragg

vids gone down, anyother links?

Quint

flugel wrote: »

havent seen the clip but is it really a big deal? its a frickin computer game after all. think people should have better things to get worked up about

Exactly, it's a game!
The press will make a big deal about it, they haven't copped on that some games are 18's and not for kids. Remember the blowjob patch for GTA? The americans thought society would end

LD 50

Its really not a big deal for me, and I'm still gonna buy it. Of course the press is gonna make a big deal out of it, but IW aren't going to take it out, its obviously a big part of the story. And if IW were worried about any backlash, Activision would have had it taken out.

I'm interested to see what IW/fourzerotwo/Activision say though

DarkJager

Did anyone notice at the end of the video that the terrorist is killed before the getaway van drives away??? What a perfect moment of instant gratification for the murder spree in the airport, the ****er doesn't get out alive .


Looks like an awesome piece of story telling, and most likely is setting up the arc of the rest of the game. The mission the guy selects is about a third of the way through the mission list. I recall watching a video of the "Favela" level, and the start of that involves your player in a car pursuing 2 guys in a white van.

smooch71

ragg wrote: »

vids gone down, anyother links?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2009/10/28/modern-warfare-2-leaked-level-makes-light-of-terrorist-atrocities-115875-21780083/

This one still works.

Not great quality though.

smooch71

I've read somewhere (sorry, can't remember what site) that

this is actually the opening level and you're given the option to skip it if you want

Asmodean

Sure it's only a game. Big hype over nothing as usual. Wouldn't be surprised if it was leaked on purpose to kick up a media storm. Love people exclaiming how 'disturbing' it is when in the normal campaign you're blowing peoples heads off and stabbing them in the face with knives. Just because they're arabs its grand I suppose and no-one seems to care then.

Rb

Looks excellent!

Hercule

Just waiting till i see the yellow +5s turning up and the heavy metal levelling up noise

you killed 123/200 civilians you get a bronze star - kill 140 to get a silver star!

another deliberarte media ****storm from the pople that brought you such gems as -

"VAC will stop cheaters"

and

"IWnet stops the community bifuscate"

id love if it got banned in strict countries like Germany/Australia -ala left4dead2

Asmodean

Just waiting till i see the yellow +5s turning up and the heavy metal levelling up noise

Mmmm virtual crack that is.

BlitzKrieg

video here: http://modernwarfare2forums.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&p=8530#p8514 (in french though)

I think the controversy is that you are a CIA agent doing it while undercover not a terrorist. So that is where the backlash is really going to be strong.


Also some talk about it from those who havnt seen it now spread the rumour that its american civilians being gunned down by a CIA agent undercover with the russian terrorists. You can see the horror in that. (its not american civilians though they are russian. But you are a CIA agent)

Also its quite gruesome in parts (shooting injured people crawling away)

Overall I welcome the notion of addressing atrocities in video games, its a step up in my opinion on the issues game's can address. Its particulary important with games like COD and medal of honour where there has been a hefty bit of jingoism with how wonderful the army is etc by how its presented.

But on the counter to that, I do think how this one has been done is dancing a very fine line of the absurd with how over the top it is (walking through an airport just gunning 100's down...) and makes me question why its there.

yimrsg

It could be part of the additional mode in the game (which I have forgotten) where you play one off set pieces which did not fit in with the campaign mode. If it is actually part of the campaign then it gives the player first hand insight into his opposition. I don't believe it's all on rails as at certain points the player moved towards the front of the group but it could well be on rails at the start due to the reticence of the player to shoot/participate due to initial shock.

Either way other games have done shooting innocent bystanders and mass killings, it's only internet chinese whispers perpetuated by IW who want to preserve details from the game and have not set the record straight before the games come out.

I actually think IW should be commended as it is novel to portray the "villain" of the piece and give another perspective for the player to experience. No doubt some may consider it deliberate controversy but how often have games glossed over the initial attack from an agressor not immersing the player totally.

kaimera

from IGN

Publisher Activision has spoken out about the video, not only confirming its legitimacy to IGN, but also saying players are warned beforehand about the level's upcoming violent sequences.

"The leaked footage was taken from a copy of game that was obtained illegally and is not representative of the overall gameplay experience in Modern Warfare 2," an Activision spokesperson told IGN.

"Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 features a deep and gripping storyline in which players face off against a terrorist threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse," the spokesperson added. "The game includes a plot involving a mission carried out by a Russian villain who wants to trigger a global war. In order to defeat him, the player infiltrates his inner circle. The scene is designed to evoke the atrocities of terrorism."

Right now, Activision is saying players may choose "not to engage in the gameplay." That could mean choosing not to fire your weapon or the possibility of an "opt-out" from the level entirely. We won't know until we play for ourselves.

"At the beginning of the game, players encounter a mandatory "checkpoint" in which they are warned that an upcoming segment may contain disturbing elements and they can choose not to engage in the gameplay that involves this scene," Activision says. "Consistent with its content, the game has been given an "M" for Mature by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. The rating is prominently displayed on the front and back of the packaging, as well as in all advertising."

Steffano2002

Activision wrote:

"At the beginning of the game, players encounter a mandatory "checkpoint" in which they are warned that an upcoming segment may contain disturbing elements and they can choose not to engage in the gameplay that involves this scene"

They saw the sh!t-storm coming anyway!

Hercule

they saw it coming as much as they saw the pc community ****storm coming tbh - they released a quick patch-up media response proclaiming that the problem doesnt exist (as they did 2 weeks ago with dedi servers)

their argument is that u CAN skip it or not partake in the civvy killing

you can ignore the hot coffee mod in San Andreas, you can not kill people in manhunt, heck you can even try to play left 4 dead without hitting any zombies - doesnt mean that violence/age restricted stuff "isnt there"

I look forward to the release of this game whereby more little "up yours" gems are unleashed on the CoD community - as I wont be buying it I will enjoy reading the backlash when the console version has letterboxing or something god-awful like that whereby Actiblizzard/IW cut corners

Blazer

M rating? That's it screwed then in Australia.:D
Mate is over there and he was telling me L4D2 was banned and Valve had to do a much toned down version to get the 15+ rating (highest rating they have over there at the moment).
Must get him to post up a youtube link so I can see it

ReacherCreature

Hercule wrote: »

their argument is that u CAN skip it or not partake in the civvy killing

Pretty good idea I think. Maybe it'll affect the storyline, if you do choose to kill or not.

If you're a terrorist I could see you getting killed by a character in the game or a police member.

Would be an interesting level but personally I wouldn't be for it.

BlitzKrieg

ReacherCreature wrote: »

Pretty good idea I think. Maybe it'll affect the storyline, if you do choose to kill or not.

I doubt it, they explained it works via a checkpoint system. Looking at the level in question from the videos, they'd probably skip the initial terminal section and have the player assume control at the point it moves into normal action outside of the terminal (does kiilling russian security officers armed with weapons affect people on the same scale? probably not).

If you're a terrorist I could see you getting killed by a character in the game or a police member.

THats the kicker though, You are not a terrorist, you are an undercover CIA agent, that is where the controversey is going to primarily route itself. While its no lie that the CIA have been associated with atrocities and slaughters before (bay of pigs) its not something that has been addressed directly in video games before and the games like Medal of Honour and Call of Duty has honoured the role of the soldier. MW2 is taking a very big controversial step in the other direction with this.

And regardless

you die at the end of the level anyway cause the terrorist leader shoots you as you are boarding the get away van

Repeat viewings make me think that the issue is out of context. If the atrocity and the CIA's role in it plays a major role in events throughout the game I can understand its inclusion, but within the level itself, the killing makes little sense seeing as the big plot element seems to be instead

the cia agent being found out and killed

so the killing is rather irrelevent.

I've already said in an earlier post that the act itself is more absurd then horrifying, When you consider terrorist actions around the world, walking through an airport gunning people down is more akin to a high school shooting (and yes the fact this is a video game makes this all the more curious) then to any real terrorist actions. I cant think of any examples of a cell entering a public area and just gunning people down. I would have expected maybe a bombing plot or a hostage situation that is scripted (which might have worked better as a level, patrolling the area, checking the hostages while the scripted characters interrogate or make demands, repell a breach operation and/or making a run to the escape vehicle with your ill gotten goods)

ReacherCreature

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

THats the kicker though, You are not a terrorist, you are an undercover CIA agent, that is where the controversey is going to primarily route itself. While its no lie that the CIA have been associated with atrocities and slaughters before (bay of pigs) its not something that has been addressed directly in video games before and the games like Medal of Honour and Call of Duty has honoured the role of the soldier. MW2 is taking a very big controversial step in the other direction with this.

Oh okay. I didn't see all the video as the link I was watching was terrible; I couldn't even make out the assault rifle he was using until I seen him reload. Despite the content of the level, you've to hand it to IW for going down a relatively unknown path, I've never seen this happen in games before and the ordinary average joe won't have known about the CIA's past. It's educational, in a dark sense.

And regardless

you die at the end of the level anyway cause the terrorist leader shoots you as you are boarding the get away van

Again I hadn't seen all the video. My argument's now baseless!

I've already said in an earlier post that the act itself is more absurd then horrifying, When you consider terrorist actions around the world, walking through an airport gunning people down is more akin to a high school shooting (and yes the fact this is a video game makes this all the more curious) then to any real terrorist actions.

Again, kudos to Infinity Ward, they're shedding light on previously 'untalkable' topics I think.

I cant think of any examples of a cell entering a public area and just gunning people down. I would have expected maybe a bombing plot or a hostage situation that is scripted

Same. When looking at the first few seconds, it was shocking seeing open killing killing like this whereas previous terrorist attacks happened by means of IED's, car bombs, suicide attacks etc.

DarkJager

After reading that Activision statement, I literally can't wait until its released. **** the "moral guardians" and their opinions, a story isn't a good story unless it provokes your mind in some way.

Doomofman

I'll be making sure to get this on the first day its out in case it actually ends up getting pulled after all the moral ****s get their pitchforks out... It honestly looks like one of the coolest levels in any game ever...

CokaColumbo

"Cartoonish violence of GTA"?!

GTA4 is one hell of a realistic game and the way in which civilians are killed is sometimes breathtaking in its realism.

corkproducers

ReacherCreature wrote: »

Pretty good idea I think. Maybe it'll affect the storyline, if you do choose to kill or not.

If you're a terrorist I could see you getting killed by a character in the game or a police member.

Would be an interesting level but personally I wouldn't be for it.

It doesnt affect the storyline in the way decisions in GTA IV do,
but it is the biggest turning point in the storyline.

If you would like to be blown away by the story and suprised, i advise you do not read the spoiler....

It sparks off a war between the US and Russia,
the Russians manage to get through the US defense systems,
and take out radar or similar comms.

Think of Red Dawn but more urban, running through an American suburb, with hundreds of Russian soldiers paratrooping from the skies, and tanks driving on the road. This will be game of the year, it seems to escalate exponentially.

LD 50

Shooting unarmed civilians? That'll be the easiest level ever.

FoamyMushroom

LD 50 wrote: »

Shooting unarmed civilians? That'll be the easiest level ever.

Actually that level is a pain in the lower back...