First up apologies for the absolutely awful video that follows after the break, seeing as that it’s the PS3 version of the game I can safely assume it’s not a pirated copy but rather just some reviewer who is breaking the embargo on releasing footage.
Secondly this video gives away the entire first chapter of the game so don’t click through if you don’t want to read more about it, unfortunately there is no more to this story if you don’t continue but you can read about all our other MW2 stories by clicking here.
If you can then watch the video before reading further.
I found the video incredibly disturbing to watch to be honest, I can’t imagine that these anti-game lobbyists are going to take this one lying down and if ever we have a major terrorist attack in a public transit point I can imagine this scene is going to be played out over and over again.
It’s the perfect terrorist spot and it’s not like something like this has never happened before but what makes me really uncomfortable is that you are a bad guy.
It’s not a maybe bad guy situation either, you are pure bad… Osama Bin Laden, Hitler type bad. I mean you mow down countless unarmed civilians, obliterate wounded people and then trample over their lifeless corpses.
For sanity’s sake I hope Infinity Ward has built in some achievements/trophies for finishing the level without killing a civilian, though I doubt that is going to protect them from the mainstream media backlash that is going to be coming.
I can see this game being banned from a lot of countries over this scene.
Do I personally think they have gone to far? No, the fact that it is raising concerns, making me feel things and shocking me means they are doing a good job of making a game more than a game…
Source: Gameriot
Last Updated: October 28, 2009
StevenMcD
October 28, 2009 at 08:27
slight correction. Don’t you mean Osama Bin Laden? You typed Obama Bin Laden…..
ewie
October 28, 2009 at 08:39
For some Americans are terrorists as well, just depend
how you look at it.
Like they say History is written by the victors :devil:
LazySAGamer
October 28, 2009 at 08:42
Oops thanks for picking that up… completely accidental typo, Obama rocks while I would like to throw rocks at Osama
Hey
November 16, 2009 at 03:05
Fuck off steven mcd
SH
October 28, 2009 at 08:41
Jeez, that is quite disturbing. I mean we’ve had lots of disturbing moments in videogames before, but this is just too far.
I honestly don’t see how the people who OK’d the idea thought it would be a good plan.
I seriously doubt I will pick up MW2 after watching that…
janrik
October 28, 2009 at 09:02
Awesome stuff. I love it.
Dark
October 28, 2009 at 09:11
Although quite disturbing it may be a master stroke forcing one to play in the position of one of these B*****DS. Setting the tone and feel for the rest of the game. We will just have to wait and see. I vote MW2 as the most controversial game of the last decade LOL
Fred
October 28, 2009 at 09:15
Murder simulator ?
Cleric
October 28, 2009 at 09:22
I think it’s awesome, fresh and different. Really lets you know that the SP is gonna be something special.
SauRoN
October 28, 2009 at 09:33
Lazy you are being lazy.
It’s “too” 🙂
Ruslan
October 28, 2009 at 09:45
If Jack Bauer can do it then so can Infinity Ward. 😉
Dark
October 28, 2009 at 09:47
Actually come to think of it Prototype was just as bad perhaps worse 🙂
Fred
October 28, 2009 at 09:48
Damn , why do these early videos always have such crappy quality??
koldFU5iON
October 28, 2009 at 10:04
I’m not quite sure what everyone is so worried about, we see this in tons of movies all the time, and infinity ward have always been able to really immerse the player make them really feel apart of the game.
I think the point of this scene is to give you the story from both sides and attack your human nature, to make you really hate what you’re doing so that when you go back you now really want to attack these guys.
I’m willing to bet that somewhere in the story the reason for this mindless killing is because their people were probably treated the same. there’s a story to both sides and now you get to experience it.
I doubt this will be banned, if it is only because of short sightedness.
“If you don’t know what you’re fighting for then why are you fighting”
LazySAGamer
October 28, 2009 at 10:35
I have to disagree, you can know what you are fighting for by being an involved 3rd party to the massacre. Or you could be on of the civilians yourself.
MW2 is making you act out the part of being a murderer, that’s risky ground I say
Dark
October 28, 2009 at 10:46
Yea exactly they forcing you to feel how KAK it is and how morally disturbing it is so you can go kick some reall but and get emotionally connected to the game. Well thats how I see it anyways. It is indeed a bold step.
But Lazy what was the difference with Prototype Alex Mercer could be compared with a terrorist he killed many civilians?
LazySAGamer
October 28, 2009 at 10:52
Like I said though, it’s not that I disagree I just think it’s risky.
You raise a valid point with Prototype but I feel the difference is the realism involved. Alex was a mutant we could easily pretend it wasn’t real even if it was immersive. However I am going to look at every elevator twice now whenever I am at the airport. It really hits home.
Dark
October 28, 2009 at 11:12
Well thats a good thing because Terrorism can happen anywhere. 2010 is going to put us on the map as a nation and we as a country need to be vigilant. Any terrorism is shocking and perhaps this will give us that feeling of how shocking it really is. Thats one of the issues with censorship why hide it? Is hiding something of this nature going to shield us? Nope unfortunately not and yea Alex was just an example and I understand Alex vs COD there is a realism difference but the act is exactly the same excepet that the player hides behind a bit of fantasy/sci fi.
SauRoN
October 28, 2009 at 10:20
Who even says it’s a genuine gameplay video?
We are discussing a pre-released breach of contract, super low quality video here. For all we know it’s a POV cut-scene that just looks like gameplay (unlikely, but possible).
I’m with KoldFusion, how do you know what you are fighting for, without evidence?
How do you know someone is evil, without seeing said evil?
ShoCKeR ZA
October 28, 2009 at 11:30
If only those people were zombies then I would say it’s ok 😎
Fred
October 28, 2009 at 11:33
Ok , now I get it , you don’t have to shoot the civs if you dont want to. It is your choice.
Nick de Bruyne
October 28, 2009 at 11:41
Ok, I just gave that video a watch and that is seriously hardcore. The realism is what makes it the worst. I have seen so much videogame violence in my life that it just never bothers me, but that was actually a little disturbing.
I like what IW are getting at, but doing it this way is a touch rough, even for long time gamers like us. I can see this getting a lot of shit.
PillsburyDeeBoy
October 28, 2009 at 11:43
Okay, I haven’t watched it… because I want to experience it for myself… but what I can say is there is no such thing as “too far” if it is indicative of what “really happens”. So by that I mean if it’s a war simulator simulating what has happened or is prone to happening in war, then do it.
Saving Private Ryan took some things “too far” but I’ll be damned if those people on Normandy didn’t shit themselves at the carnage they saw around them.
Guantanamo Beach? Auschwitz? Is this gameplay any worse than what happens/happened there?
Nick de Bruyne
October 28, 2009 at 11:57
I’m not one to complain about this sort of thing, and maybe its also that the high contrast from the crappy cam video makes it look a little more realistic but it was quite scary, mostly because of how casual it was being done.
And there is such a thing as too far, I don’t know if this is it but it definitely does exist.
janrik
October 28, 2009 at 12:01
+1. Agree 100%. If you do not like it… do not play it. Simple as that.
Ruslan
October 28, 2009 at 12:26
Managed to stream the full video during lunch. Its gruesome but yet this kind of terrorism has happened. Like Janrik says, if you dont like it dont play it. Same with news on TV about all the gruesome terrorist attacks in the Middle East.. people just swap channels or ignore it. This game just puts it straight in your face as to what really terrorism is. Kudos to IW for having the balls to show what is happening out there to the crowd who live in lala land.
easy
October 28, 2009 at 13:39
you stepping on dodgey ground there.
to my knowledge there is no game out there that has given the player the option the partake in digital mass exterminations of Auschwitz, nor any other occurrences of mass genocide. so your comparisons are tenuous at best, and insulting at worst.
the thing that most people forget is that any media or medium whereby a message (ie. content) is conveyed, the creators have a responsibility which needs to be thought through thoroughly. and in this case, i feel that iw have over stepped the bounds and ignored their associated responsibilities. this goes for all creators of public or freely available content.
so the blatant murder of easily recognisable civilians is out of line imo, not for me though, but rather the ‘millions’ of teenagers that WILL be playing this game.
whats fine for you does not by any stretch of the imagination mean its fine for everyone else.
Ruslan
October 28, 2009 at 14:51
18 rating and nobody is forcing anybody to play. Period.
easy
October 28, 2009 at 15:10
lol! so you telling me kids wont play a game because some one put a rating on it? 😆
its this kind of ambivalence that exacerbates most issues in the world.
just stick your head back into the sand and pretend like nothing is actually happening.
:getlost:
Ruslan
October 28, 2009 at 15:23
Its stupid parents who allow their kids to play such kind of games.
Its liberals like you who whine about everything and anything that doesnt even have nothing to do with you. You dont like it dont play it. I guess this last sentence isnt getting into your thick skull?
easy
October 28, 2009 at 15:39
me liberal! sweet, now thats a first :biggrin:
and if it makes you feel better, i am dumb as shit and make up 99% of the crap i spew.
thank you for bringing it to my attention.
you win, the conservatives wins, be happy.
Partytjie frikkedel
October 28, 2009 at 12:33
Brutal. Think this is going to slip out of the Aussies hands now?
imajin
October 28, 2009 at 12:58
stupid people running away. just play dead damnit :ninja:
Dark
October 28, 2009 at 13:24
Apparently the way you all percieve the scene to be is out of context. Read here. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/shocking-mw2-footage-leaked
SlippyMadFrog
October 28, 2009 at 13:48
Interesting…
It's a niiice!
October 28, 2009 at 15:01
1:33 is disturbing when you see the reflection of the dude playing in the lcd.
Nick de Bruyne
October 28, 2009 at 15:27
While I still find this pretty hectic, it does do a good job of opening your eyes. I still feel though, that for a more casual gamer, who hears all the hype about Modern Warfare, to start the game up and be put into this scenario will not go down well with a lot of people.
Ruslan
October 28, 2009 at 15:48
@easy – oh bummer, so we are in the same club then? Why cant I find a liberal when I want one… :whistle:
Anything like this will make the game even more sought after but IW has a reason to include such a disturbing reality… anybody recall the torture opening scene of CoD 5 WaW? 12 more days for the game to arrive.
D4rkl1ng
October 28, 2009 at 15:57
What’s the chance that Activision actually “leaked” this video just to see what kind of response there will be from the public? :ninja:
david
October 28, 2009 at 22:53
finally! a game where i can kill americans.
LazySAGamer
October 28, 2009 at 23:26
Surely most of the characters in GTA are also American? 😉
Nick de Bruyne
October 29, 2009 at 01:09
lol no silly, its America, they are all spanish
Felicity
November 2, 2009 at 20:42
So……..hard….not to …….watch leaked footage…”gasp”…on Youtube……know its a spoiler……”pant”…….”groan”…..closed window, just in time. sigh….will have to wait……”moan”…….
idk
November 13, 2009 at 22:46
more awesomeness? wow