The Massive Poll returns with a twist! Before we begin we must mention that there are small spoilers for Modern Warfare 3 below, if you don’t want to read about a certain event, click here instead.
Right. A video had been posted showing a scene from Modern Warfare 3. The footage has been created to look like it was filmed on a home video camera and shows a mother and child having a day out in London. Moments later a large truck pulls up and explodes, apparently killing the child.
This week, there are three options in our poll and in a none too subtle rip-off of the TV show Argumental, we have two guest speakers who will offer their opposing opinions.
Speaking first on behalf of the ‘It’s Part Of The Story‘ Party it’s Adam, a.k.a. AG2297.
In the clip you, the character, are not blowing them (the child and mother) up yourself, this is from the point of view of what seems to be the father in an attempt to provoke an emotional response. You are not a soldier watching it, or a news crew, this is your family, the character at the time.
This is not done for enjoyment; it is done for the shock factor. This same shock factor was used in the popular Dead Island trailer where the child was bitten by a zombie and thrown out of a window landing on the pavement below, dead. While the argument of it not being “tasteful” is often thrown around, how do you be tasteful about such a situation? Is life tasteful in such tragedies? Should games not be realistic when dealing with such issues and always add “taste” too such tragedies?
In the end, Modern Warfare 3 will be telling a story. In that story there will be much death and in this case a child died. This was not gory or graphic. The bomb went off, the child fell to the ground. Did it have to happen? No. Was the terrorist attack made much more shocking and personal to the player as a result? Yes.
This scene can be shocking and you could even call the act sick, but the fact is that these things happen and in fiction (whether a movie, book or game) real life events are often mimicked to engage the reader, viewer or player and this is no different.
On the opposing team we have a second guest speaking on behalf of the ‘Blatant Tabloid Scandal‘ party, it’s that devilishly handsome chap called Tuffcub.
After the headlines following ‘No Russians’ you would think Activision and Infinity Ward would be scrutinising every part of the story to make sure that it is justified, it is required to move the plot along and is something that they can defend. I’m sure they probably did that, and then asked themselves how they can get even more headlines than last year. What’s going to get those red tops in a frenzy? I know, let’s slaughter a child.
When was the last time you had a child blown up for you entertainment? It rarely happens in films or in television programs as – strangely enough – most people do not like watching children die. When it does occur (for example in Heavy Rain or the film The Mist) it is handled sensitively and usually off screen.
Admittedly we do not know the story preceding the clip but as the person (presumably the father) holding the camera also seems to be dead it’s safe to assume this is not the viewpoint of a major character.
The child’s death is not shocking because they blew a kid up, it’s shocking as it’s in the game with sole purpose of generating headline news across the world and shifting a few more copies of Modern Warfare 3. There was no need for this to be a family, the sequence could have had the same impact (possibly more) if they had blown the truck up amidst the crowds of tourists on Oxford Street.
To put it simply, Infinity Ward decided to kill a child in their game, to sell more games.
Strong words from both sides, how will you be voting? Will it be Team Adam or Team Tuffcub? Voting closes at midnight on Sunday, results will be published next week.
Gamoc
It’s part if the story AND it’s tabloid baiting. I’m fine with it being there, kids are killed ‘for entertainment’ in films and books all the time. It’s to get a point across, to demonstrate evil, or how wrong something is. If you’re saying it shouldn’t be allowed in Modern Warfare 3 then you are the one attempting to limit the medium.
Leilajay
Team Adam. It is just fiction and the game is rated 18.
colmshan1990
To everybody saying the game is rated 18:
1) That’s not Activision’s call. That’s the ratings board.
2) This is tabloid bating.
3) Have you ever played Call of Duty online? If you think they’re all (or even the majority of players) over 18, you’re delusional.
C_S15
1)Acti and IW can certainly aim for a certain rating. If they were going for a 15 I imagine they’d take some things out seeing as they’ll know the criteria for what each rating needs.
2) No, doubt it.
3) And this is Acti/IW’s fault how? If parents buy it for their kids that’s their fault, not Acti/IW’s.
colmshan1990
It removes your justification.
That’s why it’s relevant.
And of course it’s tabloid baiting.
It may be a part of the story, but it’s hardly necessary. There are a million other effective ways to show a terrorist attack.
They know the reaction they’ll get, and they took it.
The thing I don’t understand is that a Call of Duty game doesn’t actually need headlines to sell.
We all remember No Russian, but didn’t Black Ops outsell Modern Warfare 2? Without the cheap headline grabbing?
C_S15
I fail to see how it removes justification? It’s a chilling scene that should only be seen by people that can handle it mentally. But the ratings board doesn’t rate based on mental comprehension. If game sellers sell games to people underage, or the kid’s parents buy the game for them, it is NOT IW’s fault in the slightest.
Sure, it’s not neccessary, if you want the story to have less of an impact. And sure, they’ve could have done it another way, but what is exactly wrong with this way? Great, you think a child shouldn’t be killed; that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen and that we should shy away from it happening.
And it outsold MW2 because it’s CoD. People like CoD. Well, most of them do.
colmshan1990
I didn’t say COD was bad.
The fact is, the justification it’s only going to be seen by over 18s is just plain wrong, for whatever reason.
It’s quite obvious Activision and Infinity Ward know underaged kids ARE going to see it. It’s also plain to see that they just don’t care.
As for a story having more of an impact? No. Not a chance.
Never forget, the human brain is far more capable of conjuring your horrible fears than any entertainment medium.
If you want to see a way to tastefully show that a child has been a victim of an atrocity, see Schindler’s List. The girl in the red dress.
Or even imagine the horror of seeing the terrorist attack scene AFTER the attack, and seeing a broken, burnt doll on the ground, with blood spattered on it.
That is a truly horrifying image, without actually showing much if anything. You wouldn’t even need to show a body to feel that impact.
C_S15
Nor did I. Nor did I say you did.
So should we censor every over 18 movie because the kids /might/ see it? Once again, IW can make a game for whatever age rating they like with whatever scenes they do or do not want providing they fit within the age range they want. They are not making a 8+ year old shooter for kids. It is a mature game for the over 18’s. IF people do not stick to that age range that is their OWN fault.
Why wouldn’t it effect the story? Do you feel no natural emotional attachment to that child? I may not know the child but it’s obvious she’s a small girl who shouldn’t be killed by terrorists. What more do you need? She’s an innocent victim along with everyone else that dies in terrorist attacks in the game and in real life.
And Schindler’s List isn’t a worldwide action-flick about terrorist attacks. It’s a drama and I would hope that considering it sets out to make you feel more emotion, that it would do so. I never said it was the best way of showing death, but it’s certainly an effective one.
3shirts
So your argument is that the developers know under 18’s will play it and even though that is illegal, they should make it safe for under 18’s?
That would mean it gets rated at 12 or 15 and what are we left with? All devs take this ‘responsible’ attitude and we have no games for adults. Brilliant.
colmshan1990
Rated at 15 and what are we left with?
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the best example of the genre I can find.
Sad Panda
The game is rated 18 so they don’t intend kids to see it or play it, if they did it would star Mario and Sonic and involve rescuing princesses and fluffy bunnies. It doesn’t and it isn’t. If little Jimmy sees this then whoever bought it for little Jimmy is to blame.
The people who make slasher films don’t hold back despite there being a high probability young kids will see the movie. There is no difference between adult rated movies or games. If Directors of Devs held back then you’re left with Angry Birds and Pippa Funnel 42.
I still think that it’s a publicity stunt.
3shirts
Sorry to sound like big Jessie Fence-sitter but I think both points are valid.
I agree that elements like this, which are common in films, exist to evoke an emotional response in order to give the viewer a more engaging experience. That said, the fact that this has come out so directly and so close to the release of the game is just too much like a controlled controversy-generator.
Convenient that it is too late to change the game but early enough to grab a few headlines in the days before release.
plumblossom23
So it is acceptable to watch adults die for entertainment’s sake but not kids?
Seriously?
If you want to play war games don’t expect it to be as sweet and pretty as Viva Pinata