Modern Warfare 2

No Russian... That is all!

-Erik-

I honestly don't see how this is any different from GTA which has been around for years, yet everyones making a fuss out of it.

But it's a completely optional level. Before the game even loads for the first time it says some levels may be disturbing and if you wish it will warn you and let you skip if it you don't want to play it. Once again it's the press getting their panties in a twist over nothing new.

People imitating those simulated events are the real sickos. Their behavior is not a result of the violent videogames, it's the result of bad upbringing, poor education and no moral understanding.

Games are getting grittier, they're actually imitating real life, so what is sicker? Games or reality?

I've killed thousands of people in all my years, virtual of course, but never have I felt the urge to do that for real. On the contrary I will avoid conflict.

To my knowledge such a thing has luckily never been done in a game, because seriously that's crossing the line. Kids are not to be treated that way, virtual or not. Developers wouldn't even dare to try to go there.

But killing, as long as you're confronted with your actions and you understand why you're fighting, like say in a war shooter like Modern Warfare 2 can be a very harrowing experience, if done well. It's important to give the player a moral understanding of why they're doing what they're doing. Games are definitely going into that direction, as graphics have matured, and it's not all 'kill that monster' or 'shoot that spider' anymore.

I think murder is wrong even in a video game.

I make an exception for storm troopers. They're just clones, anyway

Don't forget that the media have an awful lot of influence as well, basically saying to the masses: don't buy this game, because it's evil. I still remember the shitstorm on an American news station because of a so-called nude sex scene in Mass Effect, where in reality you saw practically nothing. And they forgot to mention that the love scene (more appropriate) was the culmination of true development between two characters and natural dialogue. So it made a lot of sense. All they saw was: sex in a videogame (that is aimed at adults), so it must be evil and violent.

Check out this insane broadcast. Hypocrites.

The media likes to pin videogames at the cross every chance they get.

And - as was ever thus - that will make a lot of people buy it. All publicity is good publicity...

But it's awful.

True D. In fact sick people can be influenced by far less violent things like a line in a John Lennon song or a passage from a JD Salinger book.

Ah.

Ouch.

You can turn off that mission if it's too emotional to you, there are warnings. But really, when I think of it.

It's easy to judge people (I haven't played the game yet, but a friend of mine promised me to let me do that if I come visit her) and then again you're put in a situation where you have to TAKE THE POINT OF VIEW. Do you remember the idea behind Battlestar Galactica, when in second season humans are making suicide bombings during the Cylon occupation? That's where we kinda are. When you have to CONSCIOUSLY murder civilians, it changes a point of view. It's a provocation, but it's also thought-provoking. If civilians are expendable (how scary does it sound in the first place?), then what mind does it demand to kill them? How do you feel? You're put in that situation and? How would you behave? But you HAVE to? What is war then?

I find this level idea fascinating for people who are intelligent and sensitive.

That's interesting.

I guess it's fun. All humans have basic animal instincts of survival, no matter if most "modern", "civilized" western society inhabitants won't admit it, part of which are satisfied with such fun points of unwinding the subconscious and it's pretty normal i think, the whole niches and fetishes of all kinds people have. But when you step the line and actually think of bringing them upon others in the real life or even worse, when you actually do them, then you're pretty much fucked up.