Modern Warfare 2's Controversial Opening

One of the first missions of Infinity Ward's upcoming shooter, Modern Warfare 2 plays out as a very controversial, if disturbing sequence of events. Without saying too much about the mission, they certainly topped the nuclear explosion sequence in the first game with this one.

You'll just have to see it for yourself.

[iseven]

Modern Warfare 2 can basically be considered "games as art", I think. It challenges the audience and provokes emotions.

[StillGray]

The person who wrote that is the smartest person alive.

[swiftshot93]

If you finished CoD4, then you'll know that was art too. Th ending was really emotional...

Edit: @ below

Okami had a great art STYLE (as in graphics), but it did nothing emotional for me. The player experienced everything in CoD4, you experienced the nuclear bomb, you watched your comrade die in front of you as you were playing, thats why COD4 was art. You were in control at all times during the emotional moments.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

Try playing Okami if you want "art".

As for COD4 and MW2, they may do more "emotional" stuff than most FPS but it is far from "emotional art" or a tragedy that most RPGs usually include in a storyline.

Edit: @ Above
I think the term "art" is being flung around too loosly here. I would call it good writing or scripting. Again, for an FPS. One can argue that other games like Killzone also had just as many or more emotional parts. The only reason I am arguing is because I beleive there are countless more games that have better "art" than COD4, including games in the FPS genre. Now I go back to working on graduate school admissions.

[JsonHenry]

I don't understand this whole "emotion" thing. Video games are FAKE. How could anyone get emotionally evolved with one? Maybe I am just weird, but I don't get it. :(

[Timesplitter14]

I speak french. If you guys want to know, here's a summary of what they're saying :

- The war is now on a global scale
- It's because of some guy named Makarov who is the sum of all evil and kills little kitten
- You're a "good" soldier, and you infiltrated his group as a terrorist.
- So you're basically killing all those civilians to get near Makarov and assassinate him

[mistajeff]

@Timesplitter

Very interesting. And it really looks like you don't actually HAVE TO kill any civilians in this level, it seems to be up to the discretion of the player.

[Name Last Name]

I shouldn't have seen that video, I wont get be surprised by mw2 with all these spoilers LOL but i can't help it :)

[Lotard3]

@1.4 Movies are fake as well, and plenty of people react emotionally to them, that's the point in seeing them after all. Well, unless the movie is something just for entertainment's sake like the Transformers movies.

[NoBias]

That was crazy! And definitely an emotional means of showing/telling that.

I can understand why people could be upset but this is no different than actors playing this scene out in a motion picture. If the American audience points fingers at IW for this in anger and hate, they'd be nothing but a bunch of hypocrites (I'm American btw). It's just that we're getting this delivered to us on a different medium (our gaming platforms at home), instead of being in a theater with a couple hundred people (where for some reason it's more acceptable).

This is when the M rating REALLY comes into play. If kids below the age grab this game and the parents actually see the gameplay and become angry, they can only blame themselves.

From Uncharted 2 to Modern Warfare 2 - 2009 is definitely pushing the art of story telling in games. I can only imagine what we'll see in the coming years.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

I think there is quite a bit of difference between this and a movie. I am not personally offended by this but I know people will be. The major factor (Based on what I saw) was that you are playing as one of the terrorists. You have no choice but to play as a terrorist and shoot innocent people (maybe you don't have to shoot, but you get the gist). In a movie you are witnessing an event more than likely.

I see what they are trying to do. It is similar to the opening of COD4 where you are the person heading to his death in a car. While this is probably equally disturbing, you are not playing the character or the terrorist, you are a witness in first person. This kind of takes it to a new level which may and probably will upset people. (including stupid parents that buy the game not knowing the content for their middle school kid because they give them whatever they want to keep the happy or quiet) That is a whole different topic though.

I could write a paper about this, GTA blah blah blah...

We'll see how the main stream media acts when they get a hold of this. Should be entertaining.

PS. Doesn't surprise me that Activision removed the video.

[duplissi]

i does indeed provoke emotions albiet ones that i do not like so for the sake of my conscience im not gonna play it. i do applaud IW for having the balls to do it and i do trust its done properly and with taste in the context of the story, and if it isnt ill be disapointed.

i have disagree with the statement that this is no different than a scene in a movie- videogames are an interactive medium, and one that seeks to suck you in, immerse you in ways movies cant- games have the ability to hit you hard and affect you more.

[mal_tez92]

Just like Grand Theft Auto...

[cyberwaffles]

i think i like the nuclear explosion more.

[Noctis Aftermath]

lol, it's wrong cause you play as the cia agent? well where is the abuse towards the real cia agents who do sh1t similar to this? they don't kill people in a game they kill people in real life.

[NoBias]

"i have disagree with the statement that this is no different than a scene in a movie- videogames are an interactive medium, and one that seeks to suck you in, immerse you in ways movies cant- games have the ability to hit you hard and affect you more."

That seriously all just comes down to opinion. Others could argue the same thing for movies, television, music and even books & literature. What affects YOU more doesn't mean it's the same for EVERYONE else in the entire world.

Hopefully you realize how ridiculous that sounds... Come on...

[LostCypher11]

I had no Emotional Feelings during my play through on COD:MW. A game like Mass effect tho. now that stirred up a ton of emotion while playing it

[mistajeff]

I don't see this as artsy, but more of a cheap tactic for an emotional response.

But, admittedly, they seem to finally be using their multiple perspective structure to the advantage of the narrative. Cheap as it may be, it DOES provoke an emotional response, as opposed to 4, which didn't do much for me at all.

[Serial_EDX]

Then I guess

*spoiler for Shadow of the colossus* *edit for gamingisnotacrime*

The "Death" of the horse in SotC was a cheap tactic as well?

*end spoiler*

I mean really, if CoD4 story was cheap then every game that has ever tried it was cheap. I mean that nuclear bomb when it went off actually had my eyes completely wide open during the entire scene. Not to mention the Ending of the game.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

You support my comment well. SotC is a great example.

[Serial_EDX]

In my book SotC and ICO are true Art experiences, CoD has a very well written story so I just consider it art for that. But other then the story its just a game. XD

[mistajeff]

I didn't say COD4 was cheap, I said it didn't provoke much of an emotional response from me. That's only MY reaction to 4, anyway. I'll admit that it stirred things up for me when
***COD4 spoiler***
price slid soap the gun, but I really didn't care about the characters, so even remembering that Price had this long-standing grudge against Zakahev(sp?) and he hands off his chance to take him down to Soap, I just didn't care all that much.
***end spoiler***

Again, that's ME. I'm glad that other people were more invested in it than I was.. it's good for gaming as a medium. I DO think this opening is cheap in that they're actively trying to conjure up images of current events that will hit closer to home for some than others, but at the same time, I'm glad they're actively trying to stir up more of an emotional response than they have been in past games, and it's nice to see them using their traditional multiple-perspective structure to that end. Basically, my feelings are mixed on it, and I won't know for sure how I feel unless I play through the whole campaign. Maybe when I do, I'll consider this opening to be the most genius thing ever created in video game narrative. Who knows?

As for SotC, I can't comment because I haven't finished the game. Don't worry though, I've had that part spoiled for me before thanks to commenters who DON'T put spoiler warnings.. and also articles on major news sites that don't put spoiler warnings either.

[gamingisnotacrime]

That is a huge spoiler, at least be more specific and say you are about to spoil one of the greatest games made, i thought you were going to spoil CoD 4

Be more careful next time

[DonCorneo]

cod4 is more of an action movie. it needs to blow stuff up. independence day had the same thing.

[ForROME]

Well games have always been crapped on, in a museum put what you want naked sex violence, in movies put what you want just has to have the correct rating g pg pg 13 r, r 17, x etc

When it comes to games, Nope has to be approved or its toast, its bull$hit, I plan on taking this issue on in some blogs etc going forward

[Dampsack]

Good luck with that man.

[osamabinladen]

this i like, buy the game we need support

[Natsu X FairyTail]

LOL osama you're a Fool for that one.

[Noctis Aftermath]

lmfao

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

...you tricky duck.

: )

Where the heck are you, anyway?

[ForTheFallen]

saying 9/11 was an inside job gets you put in the "open" zone...AKA free speech zone.

[kraze07]

Too fncking funny, lol

[Natsu X FairyTail]

Everything is Controversial nowadays wtf!

that's a hella good Opening sequence. Make that ish Look like a Movie Sequence or something.

that's whats up

[randomwiz]

its a cool opening. If this is really controversial, what about GTA? GTA is more realistic than this. In GTA, you could steal a car and get chased by the cops, just like in real life. If you tried to do what happened in MW2, you be dead in an instant.

When I came back from my vacation to Japan in 1996, I took a picture of the airplane I came on from the US customs area, and all of a sudden, because of the flash, I was surrounded by big people with guns, and they destroyed my film :(

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

...the LAST-GEN LOOKS of 'Modern Warfare 2' i mean!!! ;-D

This is 2009 not 2007??? ;-D

[59]

O man look at those reload animations & medium/low res textures, Its like they are taking straight from cod4!..O wait...

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Some things are more important than graphics...

...tools.

Shadow of the Colossus is a better game than Uncharted 2.

Look at the graphics on that!

EDIT: Thanks for the input. Yes, it does come down to personal preference. I was just trying to prove a point. Very few games in history can even touch Uncharted 2. :) I was just stating one I thought the most people would agree with. Then again, I could have said Ocarina of Time...even though I'm not a huge fan.

*gets large, blunt objects thrown at head by every gamer on the site*

[Pumbli]

LeonSKennedy4Life - That really comes down to personal opinion, I've finished both games and I can say I like Uncharted 2 more then I like Shadow of The Colossus. SoTC is a great game, one of the best games ever even, but Uncharted offers more variety and pretty often that's what people look for in game.

[osamabinladen]

i wrote the the script of this one,
enjoy

[InLaLaLand]

Lol bubbles up.

[Bits-N-Kibbles]

I can believe I laughed at that. It is your perfect moment to post that.

[StarScream4Ever]

This just make the PC boycotting harder... Can't resist temptation.... XP

[p0Wer]

Just pirate it!

[dragonelite]

Wow im glad iw wants to tell there stories and wont cut crap out.

Im just afraid the media will blow this way out of proportions

[Dampsack]

Damn right they will. "Good" publicity though.

[QQcrybaby]

So we get to play as terrorists shooting innocents in an airport. No thanks. Now I'm glad they ruined the PC multiplayer.

[dkgshiz]

this is no more bad then what hollywood craps out for movies. The current generation of horror movies are so violent and disgusting your almost shocked they dont get banned. They never do though. This is just pixels anyways. Nothing to cry about. ITS JUST A GAME! Its going to be funny how many people are going to be talking about this scene. Expect it to be on the news Nov. 10th.

[QQcrybaby]

Oh I'm not crying at all. I just personally would never want to play as a terrorist. Others can do whatever they want.

[AssassinHD]

You are not technically a terrorist. You are an undercover operative who has to kill a few innocents to get closer to your mark.

[Logiistics]

This is different.. But there was a video about this posted earlier.

[Dellis]

This is all a tactic to get MEDIA ATTENTION

they are trying to be Rockstar....

[ape007]

says Mr one bubble

[Carbon]

I Can't wait to see how many stupid kids decide to try pulling this one off after learning how to do it on COD2MW.

[Rowsdower]

and horrifying

day one purchase

[ape007]

JOKE

day -10 buy,I Live in ksa,everything get waaay early in here

oh man,im dying to get my hands on mw2

Im just imagining....."get the game,go home,open it,smell the disk,the artbook and then play it"

faints

[StillGray]

The game is juxtaposing the role of playing a bad guy with that of a good guy, and showing us that while there isn't much difference in the gameplay, the difference is in the experience of being in that role.
It's a largely eye-opening experience.

[Croash]

QQcrybaby: "So we get to play as terrorists shooting innocents in an airport. No thanks. Now I'm glad they ruined the PC multiplayer."

Nope :o

Good thing I'm french, I understood the whole thing.

*spoiler alert* if you don't know the real plot and don't want to spoil it.

So we were an infiltrated American, acting like a bad guy, teaming up with the main ennemy (Makarov)and 2 other guys, shooting people blah blah blah. And at the end, one of the 2 guys (the other being dead) says that this massacre sent them (Americans?) a message, but Makarov says "I don't call this a message", then he shoots us and adds "This is a message. This American thought he fooled us. When they'll find the body, Russia will start a war."

I think it's an interesting way to start Modern Warfare 2, so yeah the massacre is kind of horrible, and we die in the end, I wonder who will be the main character then, and what's the real plot.

Okay well anyway Modern Warfare 2 will be released soon, so bleh whatever. Bye :o

[QQcrybaby]

Wait, why did you say "nope" to my comment. That was clearly terrorism.

Thank you for the translation though.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

Thanks for the translation!!!

:)

Bubbles!

[Dampsack]

Whoa! In my entire 30 years of gaming that was the most hard core, emotional, and brutally violent segment of gameplay I have ever witnessed. That's one step away from playing as a vested suicide bomber. My jaw was dropped and I had to stop watching as I would rather be shocked by playing this myself and without spoilers. Damn I'm at a loss for words. I hope the rest of the game is able to evoke such strong emotional responses like this scene does. Just brilliant.

There will be a lot of public outrage by certain groups over this undoubtedly soon to be very controversial opening. But as always, any publicity is good publicity. Where's Jack Thompson when the public needs him? Drowning his sorrows with some cooking wine, nestled into his newspaper blanket on some park bench no doubt. This was his ticket to stardom. haha. Boycott?...Pfft, what boycott? Leave that for the PC guys to continue whining about. Man, I cant wait to play this. Nice work I.W.

[Violentine]

i love it

[StankyChicken]

That was brutal. I cant wait to play this game.

[Croash]

I said "Nope" to your comment because you said "we get to play as terrorists".

So I thought I'd translate so that you (and others) can understand what the hell was actually going on :o
And you're welcome ^^

[InLaLaLand]

Uncharted 2 slapped the monkey crap out of this game with 'DRAKE BOTTOM' and 'DRAKES ELBOW'.

[grantps3]

this game is not art.

the stories were sometimes emotional because they were based on real events and knowing that somebody actualy had to live this, but now that they are doing MW i dont care because its fake.

the story isnt very good in MW. you dont get attached to your charecter or any other around you.

if you want art go play uncharted 2

[HDgamer]

So many flaws with your argument. What is art? You really can't say what is and what isn't art since there is no clear definition for art. Now in your opinion it's not art but in my opinion it is. It's a fact that no one can tell others what is or isn't art.

[AK46]

This is no way going to be in the final game. They hit a nerve with a lot of gamers, including me. Yeah! yeah! yeah! it's only a video game though, yes, and we all realize it is. It's the context of what there portraying it. Yep! you play as an terrorist, you go kill innocent people(digital characters)What kinda message is that? whats the point of killing the innocent. Just knowing people around the world actually live in fear because of terrorism, and this game just adds salt their wounds.

I love living in democratic world, love the freedom of speech and all, but this is pushing it a bit. The terror that you see in that vid happens in real life, and to see people say, oh that's awesome day one for me, cool gotta get that, etc, make's me wanna puke. What is this world coming too, next thing you know well be killing babies in video games. What does this particular level makes you so excited?

[name]

What about RE5? Considering the history of imperialism and genocide africa has, surely that would strike a nerve with you as well.

[HDgamer]

Nah he's an hypocrite, Genocide of africa portrayed in RE5 means nothing to him. But playing as a terrorist in a game is some how crossing the line? Never mind the movies that we see every day that are much more horrible than what is being shown here. Let's forget about that freedom of speech should be violated because someone feels uncomfortable about it. If I want my rights violated I would live outside the USA.

[crillyconlig]

im not usally one to care, but that turns my stomach for some reason

[EdFry]

then you have a week stomach? No?

But on the topic of art, I don't think so.

Key words 'I' and 'Think'

Course I was never really digging the Mona Lisa either.

[name]

In this mission it doesn't seem like you actually have to kill any of the civilians in the game, but I think you do have to fight with the police/swat whoever it is you fight near the end of the level. But I think the civilian stuff you just have to watch.

[ottoman_239]

LOL shoots the player at the end.

[The_Devil_Hunter]

D@MN talk about crashing a party..

[StillGray]

Media's gonna have a field day with this.

[HDgamer]

Buying this day one. Don't care if it's controversial, this is what video games are supposed to be like. The real story telling, the itty gritty no kiddy sh!t

[StillGray]

Likewise. Infinity Ward is being really ballsy by including this sort of content and I'm interested in seeing where they go with the whole narrative.

[REALZILLA]

Well it is safe to say that Australia and Germany won't see this game.

That is a scene with much power. It almost makes you wince in disbleif. Reminds me of a fatal car reck. You dread the worst, but you can't look away.

[oldsnayke]

Watching the new intro makes me want to go and do this at a real air-port. Seriously, I think I'm going to buy a gun permit and get me a ****in' M4 carbine and light up the local air port with some buddies.

[givemelbpbetakeys]

that fooks is wrong with you really

[outlawlife]

if you aren't mature enough to recognize why this is perfectly okay then you shouldn't be playing

i see nothing wrong with it

[hatchimatchi]

it's called shock tactics

anyone who is calling this art is a moron.

it's a gimmick as far as i'm concerned.

the call of duty series blooooooooows

[DarkTower805]

Agreed. It's about as artful if resemblences of someone's family was used as victims in a SAW game.

Usually I'm all for video game "freedom of expression", but IW are just morons that this time around are using any gimmick to get media exposure and to sell games.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

"Death" is a gimmick to you guys now?

What do you WANT them to include in the story? Honestly...what could POSSIBLY evoke more emotion than THIS in a modern warfare story?

What are you two thinking?

[JeffGUNZ]

They are not thinking. I don't know how you can say IW are morons, when they produce the best FPS this generation. This game is going to be amazing. There is always those handful of tools that think it's "cool" to hate what is popular.

[GAMER505]

I never thought that you would be killing innocent people like that in a call of duty game...i know its just a game and all but that was a bit unnerving like I was very shocked at how violent that was

[artgamer]

Of course it just happened to be, 'Leave Your Kids at Home Day' at the airport.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

You can't possibly imagine what the media would do to Infinity Ward and Activision if you were killing American children.

Seriously.

Try to imagine it.

Even Rockstar wouldn't attempt that, man.

Also...

...freakin' hilarious comment. : ) Bubbles.

[Curtiss]

It would still be a video game, geez... nothing wrong with that, right? :P

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

People are clawing for their lives...

...running away from these seemingly "soulless monsters".

A husband sees his wife brutally murdered in front of him. This woman, who is all good things of this Earth to him, is gone. He clings to her lifeless body, searching for any sign of comfort...praying that the same men who just took her life would find him soon enough.

Bullets ricochet off of signs and bodies. You have seconds to think about every person you've ever met...every mistake you've ever made...and wrap your mind around the fact that...

You. Are. Going. To. Die.

I don't see how anyone can play this and not get emotionally strung out. It's just...wow. I didn't expect this. I knew IW was creating a beast, but this is just crazy...

We all need a shot of reality every once in awhile.

[THE_GLOW]

No too sure if this a great move, especially for you state side guys. I'm from the London and where i live terrorism can affect your daily life, however, suicide bombers didnt spring to mind when i saw the vid.

Columbine did though. IW seem to have lost their minds as this scene will possibly get their game band in a few countries.

You americans are known for that stuff where i'm from and a couple of my mates all said the same thing "what about the gun loving kids in the states shooting up the schools"?

This game will have major controversy as soon as the media get wind, tbh, rightly so because it will trigger some horrible memories for a lot of families.

Cant really respect where they're going with this one

[young7yang]

non of you have ever seen death or war and this something you love...

amazing how you find something like this entertaining....

i will not buy this game because it has simply crossed the red lin...

zombies and enemies of war are one thing but shooting people down in the airport for entertainment value is a bit F&*^Ked up...

ill stick to resistance and killzone 2

again im am alone in this but i will not by such a game.. i could not even finish the video.. and anyone who does support this kind of game and buys it simply because they think its cool... i hope you never end up in situation where your being shot at because if you think about it it must be fun to kill the innocent..

its the first time in gaming history that iv seen such a game.. and im sorry its not art

if you want games for art play Shadow of the collossus, ico, panzer dragoon saga,god of war 1-2, yakuza 123 and kenzen.....

i hope activition suffers for such a game...

bad moral move

[XiaoSet]

Amazingly accurate.

[young7yang]

i mean come on... iv been playing games for 20 yrs...

i own dreamcast, sega saturn, ps2 and ps3

and the most vicious game i own is dead space ( which i love)...

but this game.. i will not buy out of pure principle and anyone who does buy this game after watching that scene is really f*&^ked up

bad move for games...

[XiaoSet]

Stop.
Movies do the same thing, and you seem to only get upset about the video game? That's pathetic.

People need to grow up and realise it's just a VIDEO GAME.
If you don't like what you see, don't buy it, but stop whining and crying.

[young7yang]

the game is not cool....

were is the creativity....

its just satisfies the urge to kill..

it shows the animal side of our nature...

im sure im the only one who see's this game in a negative way

[3rik]

Not because I want to kill helpless civilians, but IW is pushing what is conventional and comfortable with games. It is a horrible thing, but not nearly as bad a as a nuke going off in the middle of a city filled with innocent people. War is hell, war doesn't care who dies. The only reason this is a big deal is because it is American civilians dying.

I can't believe I didn't think of this for my "Things I want in games to mess with peoples comfort levels" (working title) list.
Others include
-Gay sex scene (I'm counting on you Mass Effect 2! You gave us lesbian so let's see some gay love)
-Rape in game (either cut scene or playable [being the victim would be interesting])
-Death of children (Just do it. It annoys me that the children can't die in games like Fallout 3 [I once used the MIRV on a kid to see what would happen and he was fine]. It removes the realism and immersion)

Bad things that the media will hate, but it will push the boundaries of our comfort, something important in any art medium

[THE_GLOW]

Wow.

Whats worrying is that your serious.

And yeah, if you want it more because of this, you are indeed sick, but then it sounds like a lot of people have the same illness as you do.

[kraze07]

I wasn't going to buy this game until I saw this video. I originally planned on getting it on PC until all the announcements and the fans being shafted, but after seeing this I'll definitely be getting this for the PS3.