UPDATE: Russia has not banned Modern Warfare 2

Comments

• This is ONLY a game. Let's face it, it could be much worse. It could be Germans trying to kick of WW3, for the third time. Posted by Simon White, UK
• Good for Russia. Why can't people here stand up and demand the same. I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO WATCH AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN VIOLENT DELIBERATE MULTI-KILLINGS IN SURROUND SOUND ETC ETC - CHILDREN WILL BE PLAYING IT - MANY ENCOURAGED BY THEIR PARENTS - WE DONT ALL LIVE IN "NICE" "EDUCATED" HOMES - AND you know what happens if you drive too long and shut your eyes at night and see the road - that is what will happen to many, many children - they will be walking around seeing targets and people to be shot and to have blood pour out of them and to scream and have their cries for help ignored - and one day many of us will pay for this sense of detachment from regarding others - me and my children - or you or your children perhaps - as people who have a right to live, etc, etc. And alternatively - think of how scared and depressed some young children will be when, instead of going to bed with Noddy stories and caring for people in their heads, all they have is that killing as a bedtime story - I HATE the world sometimes for what it does to others. One day, like smoking and peodophiles - I think people will look back on us having no restraining laws on adults letting their children see such thing - and think we lived in the dark ages. Posted by Sarah, Wales
• Wooot Absolute Censorship :D - that great lovechild of ignorance, arrogance and autocracy - should we burn the games at the stake for doing their thing? Just like the Dark Ages ^_^ Posted by Vincent, Somerset
• I like to jump. Posted by CelticMan, UK
• Love this game so much, multiplayer is amazing, so much fun. That's what it's all about isn't it? Having a laugh with your mates and enjoying the game. Why do so many people hate this game? That's why games are age classified, so only responsible adults can access them. Horror movies are way more gory and disturbing than video games, but they never seem to get as much media attention as videogames. Posted by Gordon, scotland
• Russia IS the aggressor. They shouldn't make big deal of the game Posted by Don, UK
• Sarah from Wales, you are extremely deluded. This is not 1950, most good parents will be stopping their kids from playing this, and it is NOT THE JOB OF VIDEO GAME DEVELOPERS TO BE YOUR CHILDS ROLE MODELS, crap parent lead to crap kids, not video games, heavy metal or hip hop.
  It is a level setting up an adult story, with a 18 certificate. What more do you want? You appear to be a complete and utter moron, with little semblence of how the MAJORITY of people act, rationally and sensibly.
  
  Great game by the way, with a real geopolitical subtext. Wont spoil it but there are some great plot twists in the game. Posted by Brian, UK
• if you dont like the violence it. dont buy the game (buy a copy of viva pinata instead). its not rocket science.... or maybe it is for some of you!
  
  as for kids playing the game, it does have an 18 rated certificate. if you let your kids play, what kind of responsible parents do you think you are?!
  
  Posted by sd, UK
• This is rediculous, how dare they accuse this title of aiding the plotting of terrorist attacks, people are so freightened by terrorism there starting to see it in there soup.
  This game is not the problem, gamers in general are not the problem, terrible people with terrible ideals are the problem.
  
  Posted by James Mckniff, UK
• Well I have been to Russia and can confirm that things like this happen in every airport, all of the time. Why just last week I was caught up in a horrible massacre at some Russian airport. I think it's about time that someone bought this senseless violence to forefront of popular attention.
  Perhaps a Bob Geldof concert to help them through these dark times?
  
  I for one will be letting my 4 year old daughter play this so she will be prepared for visiting Russia and know what to do when the inevitable terrorists show up disgruntled about bagel prices and start shooting everyone up.
  
  Yours,
  
  Horny Arsefarmer (Randy Bumgardiner's brother) Posted by max power, Burkina Faso
• I don't think that's entirely true Brian UK.
  Unfortunatley, kids from all kinds of backgrounds.. including well those from a balanced environment with caring sensible parents are heavely influenced by the music, gaming etc etc cultures. Parenting is a relatively small factor when considering the full scope of influence on a developing mind (unless it's absolute parenting).
  The problem with games and all other kinds of media is that they subtly desensitise people to ideas which are primarily abhorent, IE. Taking part in a massacre of hundreds of people. Whichever way you look at it it's helping to normalise this kind of act in peoples minds. This kind of thing is prevalent in contemporary media. In no way am I suggesting that all (or God willing any) people who play this mission will be inspired into horrific deeds.
  
  I do, however agree with your point to an extent. I just think that the issue is less clear cut than you infer.
  
  Posted by Gnat, UK
• Wow really, I am staggered that children are playing this game. The first time i took it online I was suprised at the fact a young boy was playing on my team (and subsequently hurting my hearing).
  
  To say the parents are not to blame as children will play this game is half untrue. Yes some Parents are definately to blame, this game has a huge BBFC 18 certificate on the front, not the old small ELSPA one hidden on the back, and it's not like this game is pocket money priced. It is around 50 punds to buy at RRP, yes it was cheaper to begin with. However we have to face the fact that if children scraped together the money to buy this game then there is one point of failure that leaves the parents firefighting thereafter, the retailer who sold this game to a child. Now i worked for five years in a video store, I know how hard it is to ask people for ID but I had the 10,000 pound fine over my head, I asked every time i was unsure, even if it was 90% sure, I would ask.
  
  Get a grip, if you are afraid of your children playing this game then follow these steps, get involved with them, talk to them about their gaming habits, monitor their play, this includes online. Take the console out of the bedroom and into the front room where you can monitor it, and if your TV program is on, record it or tell your children "My hosue, my TV my rules" and if they don't listen...discipline.
  
  Yeh it may not seem the easiest of jobs, but if you dont do it, and are still worried about your children playing these games, then at least in your own household you can control it. (Kids will always have access to things they shouldnt at the fabled 'friends house'. in fact i remember watching predator 2 when i was 10) Posted by wbbigdave, united kingdom
• Well, I asked my son (age 9) if his friends at school knew about the game. Yes he said, and some are playing it.
  Welcome to the real world.
  In this world an age rating doesn't stand for much. Kids will watch it and play it. The very same age that psychologists tell us are influenced by what they see.
  Should it be banned? This is so difficult to answer. It's not the game at fault really but the parents. Posted by Chris, South Wales
• SO if infinity ward had made a level where you fly to the UK with Polonium in a brief case, organise a meet with a dissident kgb agent then pour the radioactive element into his glass of water during a meal, then that would have been ok then? Russia is offended? lol. They've done worse in Georgia and Chechnya. It's only a game. What next? ban Stargate for its portrayal of the Russians? NCIS? Any program that shows Russia as a badboy? Posted by Deadly, UK
• I quote Sarah in Wales:
  " you know what happens if you drive too long and shut your eyes at night and see the road "
  
  What a great moral compass you are for all of us, we arent allowed to play video games but you can drive while tired enough to virtually fall asleep.
  
  Please, ladies and gentlemen applaud this fool.
  
  Censorship is for China and other oppressive regimes. You dont like the game then dont let your kids play it and dont buy it ok. It doesnt really matter, in the face of 1 million nay-sayers 10 million gamers laugh.
  
  Have a good life, and stay out of mine. Posted by Chris, UK
• I'm sympathetic with Sarah from Wales here - I mean seriously no one really knows the long term effect of this type of entertainment on young minds. There should be some serious impartial psychological studies done. I used to dream about Galaxians in my sleep when I was a child ( because I had the bad habit of playing it about 5 hours a day for a while ) - this was pretty harmless I guess, but nevertheless I didn't really want to dream about those little spaceships dropping out of the sky at my rocket ship - however it was a very abstract graphical experience - not a HYPERREAL bloodshed.
  
  For sure its a scary thought thinking about kids walking around seeing crosshairs on everything and thinknig about blowing it away - what an ugly idea. In the end of the day because society CANNOT rely on parental responsibility I can see the need for stricter governmental control.
  
  Chris, yeah welcome to the real world
  
  p.s. to those who use humour to avoid using their brains for thinking - grow up Posted by Jamie, Scotland
• I assume Russia thinks that the 2million plus people that where on Xbox live playing this are all going to be terriosts... Posted by KirisuteRanza, UK
• It's a game...
  
  seems to be parents who cant control their kids and need something to blame for their crappy parenting.
  
  The game is rated 18, please do not complain if kids are playing this and are under 18, blame the parents. It's as simple as that.
  
  The game is great and adds a new world of realism to games.
  
  After completing the game I have no desire to shoot anybody. Posted by Annon, UK
• russia is keen. its a game, get over it. Posted by trever mcdonald, LONDON!
• How is this any different in portayal than say a film, or 24 for example? Posted by James, UK
• That is one big ass chip on Russia's soldier. Its a game - mature up or go home. Posted by Joe, Latvia
• Guess it's time to ban a lot of movies too, the same Movies that Jamie and Sarah have already requested the 'government' come and remove from their houses. Lets hope we don't meet aliens in the next few years, Jamie would have a go at attacking them even if they were peaceful (of course his 'government' would not to let him out of his house that day - so maybe the aliens will be okay :) ) Perhaps the aliens could beam up all the libraries - all those very dangerous words and stories in the books really make me worry ;)
  
  If your children walk around seeing crosshairs on everything, I'm sure you'll agree the government SHOULD take you and your children into care.
  
  OMG I nearly forgot about the news - quick, write to the local communist at number 10 and get it banned! (and no, the communist line isn't to dis Russia, they learned it didn't work - though it seems some people forget to quickly!) Posted by Steve Time, England
• Whoa there pickle Posted by Jeff, Sanity Land
• "Russia IS the aggressor" - pot kettle black, goes for the british and americans Posted by iraqi, afghanistan
• This is not about morality, this is about a county's pride and not about setting a good example. It has nothing to do with the game in its self. It is about a mode of play within the game that puts the Russians in a bad light. If it was about setting a good example how come no one has objected to hundreds of zombies being slain in games like left for dead or the resident evil series. (Killing is killing be it zombie, russian or drow elf)
  
  No doubt the Russians will allow the sale of the revised version with the level removed. Posted by Nathan, England
• Sarah from wales is a retard.
  
  That is all. Posted by Thomas Wolverton, UK
• Games don't make psychopath terrorists.
  Emotions and politics do. Posted by Kam, England, Birmingham
• Gamers are so defensive! - I have no problem with over 18s playing over 18 games - I do it myself - its good fun. This is about children playing such games or being exposed to such games, which lets face it will happen because there are a lot of crap parents out there, many of who are serious GAMERS themselves. There is a desensitization going on which crap parents aren't even aware of it. I played Rainbow 6 for a while - I met a bunch of gamers online who were of all ages, I played with addicted gamers who were childminding at the time ( well their kids were just watching them blow stuff away) . Lets face it , there are a bunch of crap gamer parents who expose their children to their addiction. My issue is about parenting and exposure to hardcore uber violent media and its effect on children.
  
  I'll go even further - games are like drugs - would you think its ok for young kids to shoot up herion ( or watch their parents doing the same) ? Posted by Jamie, Scotland
• Well done Russia. The game should be banned everywhere, it's mindless juvenile trash. Posted by Alex, England
• Maybe I am using broad strokes, but we have become a blame shifting culture. Its teenage chav mums and absentee fathers that are fucking up todays youth, as well as every 12 year old knowing their "human rights" but no one dares say that for fear of being called a fascist (most overused and misunderstood word ever!)
  I think we have become a society that is less than perfect, but blaming video games and pop culture as opposed to the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, acceptable morality, teenage pregnancies, Celeb whore culture or 12 years of namby pamby "criminals are victims too" socialist ballocks.
  
  If you are outraged, there is a simple solution, dont buy it. Dont talk about and act like it never existed. You will live longer. Or you could get a life, get a PS3 and try the game out for yourself and see. I dont know what people expect a war game to look like, people die in wars, we should all know that becase the UK fucked off and got involved in 2 without our sayso and we see reports of troops dieing every day.
  
  
  
  
  Posted by Brian, UK
• "This game should be banned everywhere"
  
  Yeh thats democracy in action there, "we dont like it, so we want to ban it for everyone else"
  
  Id be more worried about you sanctimonious twats shooting people up way more than someone who played MW2. You sound like anti-abortion protestors.
  
  What a prick Posted by Brian , UK
• This game is too hyped up and.....now Russia are banning it! Great, that's just more publicity for the game and more cash for the developers. I ain't brought the game but I played Waw. As I remember the Russian's were happy killing german nazi's, now its happening to them.
  
  When you got a game this big and hyped up, you obviously going by screwed by everyone. Posted by Kam, England, Birmingham
• It does pretty much keep coming down to the fact that its an 18 certificate game, if their parents buy the game for them theyre condoning "potential mind warp" if their kids save up and buy it themselves from an unsavoury retailer (ooOoOOh unsavouryyyyyy) then they should probably wonder what that new game is theyre playing that lets them sho0t people in the face.. and remove it from their possession.. has anybody tried this?!?
  People are warped games or no games.. if someone lobs a grenade into an airport while wearing a call of duty t-shirt then yeah, everyone will say "the gaaaaame did iiiiit!!!" but if this person never played call of duty games then they would most definitely find another way of causing harm.. maybe they would use facebo0k to find a couple called 'Jack & Jill' then push them down a hill to break their crowns, because the nursery rhymes made them do it.. sickos are sickos.. they just take what they want from influences like everyone does.. I watched all sorts of violent films when i was a kid, at home, at friends houses, not one of me or my friends went out and killed someone, tried to ghostbust anyone, whip anyone, or become an alien and/or zombie to devour a brain..
  Also did Russia miss the plot of the game.. that 'horrific' level in modern warfare 2 was meant to make out that America had done something so horrific that Russia had to act.. it doesnt demonise them if you use your brain.
  AND it allows you to "plot terrorist attacks" does it?!?!?!?!? WHEN??? WHEN?!??!?!? I've played the whole thing through and I remember this one level where you have no choice but to walk non stop through the level and cho0se whether or not to sho0t people.. it drops you right in there... no planning.. you don't see any plotting whatsoever.. you walk, you sho0t, you do another level.. like a game. politicians are as bad as newspapers, they dont do any real research EVER, they make me so angry I want to sho0t up an airpo.... erm.. I want to write an angry letter :D
  
  (btw that Sarah from wales is cuckoo) Posted by warren, England
• One question: is it ok to shoot women and children in a video game? Forget all this censorship rubbish, and putting government in quotation marks, and providing advice on how to be a parent. Just a simple yes or no. Is it ok to shoot women and children in a video game? No long winded arguments about movies being just as bad (you don't control the action in movies by the way), or aliens, or personal attacks on people, just a simple yes or no. Is it ok to shoot women and children in a video game? I love WW2, but that scene is just horrible.
  And anyone who plays xbox live during half term will know what a crock that 18 certificate actually is. Posted by bored of violence, uk
• There are no children in the game, nor is it a WW2 game..
  also you don't have to shoot the women.. thats up to the player. says more about the person if they choose to shoot women.. also i'm smart enough to know I'M SHOOTING WHAT IS PRETTY MUCH AN ANIMATION. people are SO STUPID.
  yet again the "18 certificate is a crock" no the 18 certificate is the law... the parents break the law not activision and infinity ward..
  idiot Posted by warren, England
• i would like to see how the US would have reacted if the Russians or other cultures produced a game where US Kids grab shotguns and shoot everyone in their classrooms... Which has happened, multiple times to be honest..
  
  There are limits to entertainment, and YES, Modern Warfare was fun, i finished it on 2 days, but still this particular scene was unecessery and the game would have been just as good without it. Posted by codesennin, Greece
• That level is awesome! Kill all russians ! Posted by Randy Bumgardiner, russia
• Thank god for people like Jamie - it's scary living in a world with all those with their heads in the sand. You are over 18, sane, wouldn't hurt a fly and love the game - great, keep on playing it. But if little children and susceptible teenagers are filling their heads with it day and night - and many will be - well, what about your rights then versus there's and the rest of the world (abuse a child's body - you'll be in prison even putting a joke picture up about it these days. Fill there minds with killing so real you feel you are there - yeah, and like I said, I think seeing the road with your eyes shut after driving is a good analogy for those of you so well-adjusted you haven't a clue what I mean - I think it is imporotand and something terible we are overlooking in our urge to do whatever WE adults want - oh well, iwhat is the use - talking about it to some of you is like suggesting or trying to take alcohol of an alcoholic! Posted by SARAH THE RETARD FROM WALES!, Wales
• The game is rated age 17+ and stores in Canada check for ID. If you are buying the game that is rated 17+ for your kid, or are unaware of what he does when he leaves the house and goes to a friends house/etc...then that is bad parenting, and not the video game developer's fault.
  
  I don't see what the big deal is. It's a game. Deal with it. Posted by Socius, Canada
• I like games same as most of you here but personal attacks on people with different viewpoints are pathetic, so give Sarah a break ...what's she's saying is, what about the hundreds of thousands of youngsters now and in the future whose parents don't give a damn or whatever, and play it infinitum, and live in that world in their heads when walking about amongst you and me..... we can all blame who we like - but wow, that has got to be a scary thought! Posted by Josh, UK
• i over here as parent with little ones scared today by the crocodile in peter pan! dont like to think of it but agree its sad that from now on somewhere there will be little children at night alone with their fears and such horrors worse than any story replaying over and over in their mind Posted by P.J., us
• Well to all these people who say this game needs banning because of the inherant violence contained within, compromising their children's brains and forcing them to walk around seeing targets on everything, I say fair play, we'll humour you.
  
  Tomorrow you will be required to turn in your Radio receivers, your Television, your computer, any consoles, all books, newspapers and magazines, you will no longer be allowed to use a motor or indeed self propelled vehicle, nor travel on public transport.
  
  If you wish I can provide links of children who have been witness to horrific events as a result of using one or more of these technologies, who you would not deny still probably have nightmares and panic attacks as a result of this, do you really want YOUR children suffering like that? Thinking about things today, we better keep them in when it rains too seeing as poor people have died in floods, and we all remember the pictures from the Tsunami in 2006. Children are probably still having nightmares about that...
  
  Of course next we need to address the huge number of children having nightmares about being molested by their family members since this is all that's in the news these days, so we will also be taking your children away from you and placing them in secure padded cells where they can come to no harm whatsoever.
  
  There is then the additional problem shown by Russian research of the problems associated with sensory depravation, but we can lessen the effects on the child and society by making sure they are never released before they inevitably pass away.
  
  Of course, alternatively you could try what the public have been telling you for years, be a responsible, adult, caring communicative parent, but woah, that might be hard and take some time, so on balance I'm with you, hand in your tech and lock up your kids now (but not with you so you can molest them obviously)! Posted by Mini, UK
• It never ceases to amaze me how the uneducated hysterical masses seem to believe that it's such a small step between picking up a game controller and picking up an assault rifle. When I was a young impressionable child my friends and I used to have play wars, we'd all have toy guns and run around the neighbourhood pretending to shoot each other. This was considerably more immersive than a video game, yet not once have any of us taken this imaginary leap and gone on a killing spree.
  
  People complain that having realistic violence in games leads to desensitization. I disagree, if you remove the brutal effects of shooting someone from a game all you are doing is distancing the player from the reality of the situation. Do you want your kids thinking that if they shoot someone all that will happen is they’ll just fall over? Obviously it would be better if they were not playing this type of game, but given the choice between ignorance and nightmares which would you honestly rather?
  
  As for the scene in question, every complaint I have seen about it so far has completely removed it from it’s context. The game doesn’t present the scene with a context of “hey kids, do this and you’ll be the coolest kid in your class”, it presents it with a context of “we know what we are asking you to do, and you will lose part of your soul doing it, but it must be done to help prevent it from happening again”.
  
  As for banning the scene or the game, whatever happened to freedom of expression? Sure, some people are going to find it distasteful, but who the hell do you think you are dictating choices for other people? “I don’t like it so it must be gotten rid of” is the same mindset that racists follow, both are a product of ignorance.
  
  Once, just once I wish people would engage their brains before opening their mouths and voicing their half baked opinions forged from fear and misunderstanding. Posted by Chris, UK
• Quoting codesennin, Greece: "i would like to see how the US would have reacted if the Russians or other cultures produced a game where US Kids grab shotguns and shoot everyone in their classrooms... Which has happened, multiple times to be honest.."
  
  Just in case you miss that, in the game the US army actually throws a nuclear bomb from a russian submarine over the White House just to have carte blanche... Also... In the terrorist scene the USA have one man in the terrorist team that do NOTHING (like shooting the terrorists in the elevator) to avoid the massacre. Is it so good for the US? Posted by Oni, Italy
• First of all I would like to categorically state that video games have been proven a number of times in independent scientific tests to cause no ill effect whatsoever on the people playing them, even children (I can't site references here as this was a subject studied while I was at University, if you need some google it). Studies on such things have been carried out regularly over the past 15 years, so if you're going to spout so called educated opinions on the subject please do some research first.
  
  Secondly, if games influence our children's minds so much why do we only vilify the violent games/games with adult content. What about games that encourage laziness, or a deluded sense of fantasy, surely, under the logic that some people here are showing, these would encourage similar traits in the people playing them. And before people spout the realism card, I've been playing "simulation" games since I was very young, one in particular that springs to mind is Grandprix 2 on the PC (I would have been about 13). This was the first occasion in which I'd experienced a driving game with damage, which in turn lead to me causing mass pile-ups. I can categorically state that I have no intention of doing such things in REAL LIFE!! Needless to say I (and my brothers and friends) have been playing games/watching movies/listening to music of an adult nature (rated 15 +) since I was quite young, I think I was 8 when I first saw Aliens, and I regard myself as a very well balanced individual.
  
  If people stopped to apply logic to some of the absurdities they're spouting about this then surely, given the extent to which games like this are played around the world, we would be inundated with thousands (possibly millions) of children turning into homicidal maniacs!! Posted by Rob, England
• It's not about the parents or children in Russia, it's about the CONTENT OF THE LEVEL "No Russian". I'm not Russian nor have I been to Russia and I'm greatly offended by the level, and I even wanted to sue the company because of it, before I found out about the patch which removes the level entirely. If you actually read the article and understood why Russia is upset, then you would know that they're angry because of the massacre of innocent Russian people by a terrorist group. The level DOES portray Russia as an aggressor and DOES show utter disrespect for other cultures. Russia probably thought that America viewed other cultures as inferior or something of the like, and themselves as superior. I'm completely on Russia's side in this. Posted by Ryan, USA
• Fat People are Harder to Kidnap Posted by Sanzee, America, Biatch
• i'm well under the age limit of the game and to be honest the level dosn't effect my life. I didn't dream about it or have nightmares and i certianly didn't want to kill every thing in sight after playing it. This level is key to advancing the storyline because not many other things would realisticly send a contry to war apart from a genoside commited on innocent civilians with an american body being the only lead to go on. Adults have a right to choose what there child plays and if they think there child is responsible then its there choice. I even found it a symbol of there trust with it being my first 18 rated game. Posted by --blank--, Hell- I think..............