Night goggles with a game - invitation to mischief?

With the recent news of Activision and Infinity Ward pushing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition to stores this holiday season (which includes fully functional Night Vision Goggles) everyone's been going all willy nilly over the fact. One columnist, however, sees things differently. Rob Watson, a games writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer (via philly.com), has gone on record to slap the wrist of Infinity Ward and call a "shame on you" for their irresponsible actions.

[Gorgon]

I agree.

[dragunrising]

I also agree, however I don't think the goggles are anywhere near good enough for mischief makers. They are more of a novelty item. If you want good night vision goggles, expect to pay in the hundreds of dollars.

Overall, not worth it. The Collectors edition seems much more reasonable. Tin case, art book, Call of Duty 1 download voucher, etc are better incentives than cheap "toy" night vision goggles.

[Prototype]

"Yet, it is also like giving away a free race car with Gran Tourismo or Forza - someone is going to cause a highway wreck. In Modern Warfare 2's case, I shudder (just a bit) to think of someone, who may have a hard time with reality anyway, donning these goggles for real mischief or even worse."

Tourismo?

Anyways if people buy them so what, where does it say on the package you must go out and do something and wear them; this day and age people will find any excuse to not take responsibility for their actions. Can't wait to see the lawsuits following this games release

[va_bank]

Agree a 100%.

"Rob Watson, a games writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer" is an idiot if he thinks he's getting a functional pair of nightvision googles. Send me $5 and 15 proof of purchase labels from your corn flakes and I'll send you a pair of special glasses that can see through clothes.

[Bubble Buddy]

I can already imagine a South Park episode with Cartman + COD: MW2 + Night Vision Goggles.

[farsided]

I agree with this guy too...Obviously there won't be a mass of Splinter Cell-esque murders as a result of this product, but I wouldn't be surprised if some news did pop up about mischief making involving these goggles, and as always, it would reflect poorly on the games industry.

It's not just the goggles, it's the combination of them with a violent game (lol, not that there's anything wrong with violent games, i love em!) that would just encourage some kids a bit too much.

Also, unfortunately there's a ton of spoiled kids out there, and their parents would be more than willing to buy this for them.

The guy makes a good point, not to hate on games, but to call for a little bit of responsibility (that many parents lack in buying 9 year olds mature rated games) in our industry if we want to continue to earn respect from our non-gaming peers who are obviously much more quick to judge us.

[Nelson M]

They are a Gullible Breed

[ogwilson]

This isn't even exclusive to the Xbox 360...

[-MD-]

Rofl!

[Stryfeno2]

You have to forgive Nelson M he can't read.

[Nelson M]

The PS3 Boys wont Buy This Crap
Just the Gullible BoTs
Get it
Thy Silly Little BoTs

[caffman]

droids don't buy games!

[Serjikal_Strike]

Just look at the price tag...do you really think theres gonna be that many youngsters forking over $150 or more for this?

If a person wants night vision goggles, they can easily go buy them at the local army surplus store for under $100..
dont blame infinity ward for giving kids bad ideas

[ogwilson]

Exactly. People act like Infinity Ward is the first to provide cheap night vision goggles (although, if thinking about the value of everything else that comes in this package, it is indeed much cheaper). But this still isn't anything new.

[SIX]

I think the biggest problem is that by packing it with a game, it's almost like exposing it to the mainstream. It would be the same as say packing a Dennis the menace game with a sling shot. Personally, I chalk it up to parenting. They should be aware of what there kids are playing/buying. For me, because I'm an adult I'm gonna buy it and look a boobies.

[xeon121]

what total garbage, if some nut case wanted to dawn night vision googles and go on a nefarious rampage do you think they would wait till they got a freebie from a fps?

" it is also like giving away a free race car with Gran Tourismo or Forza - someone is going to cause a highway wreck. In Modern Warfare 2's case, I shudder (just a bit) to think of someone, who may have a hard time with reality anyway, donning these goggles for real mischief or even worse."

Seriously??? honestly?? retard thats all im saying

[Solans Scott]

I had a sneaking suspicion that people were going to overreact about the whole night vision goggle bundle

[KillerPwned]

Yeeeep saw that coming

[Sir Ken_Kutaragi]

I will be staying in at Nights from now on!!! ;-D

+ The Metal Box one looks good(like the KillZone 2 one i got), but i will still get it off eBay 2nd hand next year. I want MAG more(if out this year) ;-P

[caffman]

so you are losing out. But I forget, you are a droid and, as I said above, droids don't buy games

[jmare]

This guy (the author) is a complete moron. If he really thinks that people are waiting for the cheap ass NVGs, then I pity him. We might as well outlaw alchol, tobacco, firearms, sex, pens, bubble wrap, power tools, hello kitty stickers and anything else that could be used for mischeif. Also, those NVGs are going to work like sh!t. And since they appear to be a single lens variety, most people won't be able to use them effectively because those types of NVGs severly reduce depth perception.

[Bimmer3]

I agree. In fact I'm willing to bet they aren't even real NVGs. It probably is just a hole you look through with some green LEDs on the end that shine at whatever you're looking at, kinda like taping a flashlight with a green lens to your forehead. That way you look through your little tube and see everything in green, but it's not true night vision.

I fly for the Army, so we use real NVGs all the time, and there's a lot more going on in there then some might think. Each pair costs THOUSANDS of dollars, and I'm not exaggerating.

Honestly, think about it people. IW isn't going to waste money giving people real NVGs that cost more than the game itself. They made a tube with a green flashlight and a head strap. Kids will love it. It's a cool toy. But that's all it is, a toy.

[NotSoSilentBob]

I find it funny that Activision is the one complaining about Sonys high price on the machine while they go and double the price for something that isn't even needed.

[Wolf873]

but then again, its your choice to dish out $150 on it. However, as cool those goggles seem, I at least won't be getting them because of the price tag of course. The author does have a point about people using it for mischievous activities, but it can't be blamed solely on the Activision: it's the individual's responsibility too to use them properly.

[ExPresident]

Its up to the purchaser to use them responsibly. This guy is basically saying people can't be trusted with them because they could be used for mischevious reasons. Thats like blaming the gun when someone shoots someone. Its not the guns fault it was used improperly, its the person using it, and not all people are reckless or irresponsible with their stuff.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

People are going to be messing around and committing "mischevious" things at night with them.

Hell, if I had a pair of nightvision goggles that even remotely worked, I know I would use them to play man hunt at night, or even paintball.

[JayX666]

I'd don my jet black tactical gear, climb on top of a near building in the centre of town, take a paintbal gun and snipe all the drunkards coming out of the pubs/clubs

[DarKnight1]

Ill be using them down at the beach and to play capture the flag at night or paintball as suggested above.

[Kushan]

The kind of person that's going to cause mischief with these goggles is the kind of person that's going to cause mischeif without them anyway - they'll just find a different way to do it. What exactly are they going to do, anyway, aside from jumping out and scaring people at night?

[dredgewalker]

Meh im just gonna use this for airsoft when i play nightgames. The only thing that bothers me is the depth perception issue, cause i dont wanna trip and fall flat on my face while sneaking.

[ZombieNinjaPanda]

Don't think they will really help you in airsoft, unless you're gonna play in like those small areas like in tournament paintballing.

[dredgewalker]

Well im hoping that they would work ok cause i play in a small woodland area. And ....uhmmm i would look cool wearing those along with my bdu hehe.

[AhemZasan]

Here's a tip. Get the NVGs and let one of your opponents use them. Then you can sit back and dominate as they fall all over the place trying to figure out how to walk on uneven ground and step over sticks and logs. Depth perception is virtually non-existent, at least with the military NVG's I've used. Maybe these $50 NVG's are better.

[dredgewalker]

@Ahemzasan
lol you might be right on that hehe....but i have to buy a dozen prestige editions for the opposing team to use them.

[jpod]

people do things at night without night vision goggles already.

[morgle]

I can't wait to turn all the lights off and jump out of the cupboard and scare my girlfriend on a daily basis!! its never going to get old!

[Kushan]

What about when she leaves you?

[farsided]

don't worry he'll still be able to use them to sneak into her house looooong after they'd broken up. Plus, with them on he'd be immune to pepper spray!!!

[ShadesMoolah]

Isn't this (in a roundabout way) his point. People (young gamers who the product is aimed at) are going to cause mischief - like switching off all the lights in the house, wearing these cheap ass goggles, tripping over the cat or dog and then taking a nasty tumble down the stairs and hurting themselves?

Maybe we'll see the headline here on N4G - 'gamer dies in horrific MW2 NVG accident'.

[morgle]

christ?! can't no one have any fun anymore,

I'm 28 and can think of tons of things to do with cheap arse goggles during xmas partys and stuff. you lot don't get them if it causes problems the rest of us who want a few days of fun during thier misrible lives will go out and enjoy them for a few hours.....

[DeviateFish]

I disagree with this guy. They are cheap night vision goggles. Less than cheap. In the market of night vision goggles they don't even register. The amount of mischief that can be achieved is very limited. Surely someone will cause mischief, but not any more mischief than can already be achieved with common household items.

[Tyetan]

Eye Clops Night Vision goggles, you can buy them at toy's r us or walmart right now. So, where is this mischief that the guy is talking about?

[Ninjamonkey82]

Just stfu this makes it i dont have to jump into bed at night i can see whats under there before :/. So please stfu you moron.

[dredgewalker]

Oh god i had the thought of when 360 and ps3 prestige editions get released the fanboys will start arguing which night vision goggles see better in the night.......

[skatezero246]

lol I never thought of that .... but the sad thing is your prob. right

[skatezero246]

lol if that is the case then parents are not doing their job, it's going to have a mature rating and not many young adults are going to use cheap night vision googles to cause mischief

[dredgewalker]

Im still hoping that these would work well because at least going to be the first special edition item that i can actually use rather keep on my closet like those figurines and art book.

[Memo-Xen x3100]

Kids WILL go crazy for thease though, they'll become a collectors item of sorts aswell adventually. I will pass, I don't spend a whole lot of time not sleeping in a pitch black environment.