Modern Warfare 2 Trailer Going too Far?

With the launch of the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 trailer comes controversy as The Christian Science Monitor questions whether the trailer's depiction of a bombed-out White House goes too far (via GamePolitics).

The site mentions that this is the first time "such striking imagery has surfaced since 9/11," but as we all know, that's simply untrue. Fallout 3 is the obvious example that comes to mind, but another, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, depicted the exact same scenario in its campaign. Namely, American troops storming the occupied White House. The posting also cites Grand Theft Auto IV as a back-handed example of games that go too far.

[Gamer6056]

To me American people need to STFU (for those who are complaining)! Why?
We need to get over it and move on. Its like saying Is Capcom going to far shooting black people in Res. Evil 5? It is just a game people. Oh BTW I am from the U.S. and for those who lost loved ones and have been offended than forgive and don't buy this game. Simple as that.

[MAR-TYR-DOM]

We're fine when were fighting and shooting mosques and churches in other countries, but once it happens in our own, we start screaming. Its just a game.

[tdogchristy90]

gamer for starters I find your argument a little harsh. People keep saying that we just need to move on and, 9/11 was 8 years ago. Yes it is good to move on and not let things destroy you forever, but we must never forget. Being a historian I for for a fact that if you don't learn from history you WILL repeat it.

[Gamer6056]

I understand what you mean. What I meant is yeah never forget the day 9/11 happened but don't live by it. Just like ww2 happened. We remember to not repeat it again, but do you see many people complaining bout ww2 games? no.

[gamesR4fun]

its the democratic way a few crackpots call the shots... lets just hope this group doesnt get their way...

n war is real fact is it could happen here especially given the US's war mongering abroad.

[Pika-pie]

Its just a frikken game.. Fiction!! Get over it

[Winter47th]

I think that little boy whom his entire family was surgical striked in an Afghan village would say just about the same thing about the Americans, so no, it ain't going too far, buttercup. Not by an inch.

That "AMERICA! **** YEAH!" mentality should be exchanged for a little currency called reason and common sense.

[ZootHornRollo]

its ok to do this in the middle east but not ok in our own land??

simple minded american much???

[Skizelli]

Reason and common sense? One could have reason and still lack common sense. Where was Japan's common sense the morning of December 7th, 1941? Where was Hitler's common sense when he slaughtered so many Jews? How about Napoleon, Bin Laden, or Omar al-Bashir? You talk like America is the only country with people that lack common sense. It's called humanity. It's in us all.

On a final note, the majority of Americans don't have that "AMERICA, *** YEAH!" mentality you seem to think we all have.

[vegnadragon]

It is a god damn game that you can re spawn after death, take hundreds of bullets and not die and now you can throw knifes to kill people. This stuff does happen in this reality cause it is all make believe.

[playstation123]

not complaining who cares, its fictional. Im not offended its just a game chill

[jmare]

America! Fvck Yeah! Comin' again to save the motherfvckin day, yeah! America! Fvck Yeah! Freedom is the only way, yeah!

[n4f]

omg im black im still shock that they put black in resident evil. //

[DeadlyFire]

I am sick of this pansy crap. I don't care who you are in the virtual world. Destroying stuff is fun and atmosphere of game is no different from movies of today. They take place everywhere destroying everything. Its a little narrow minded to start blaming one or two games for something an entire other industry(Film) does all the same. Get over it. If I want to level Washington, DC in a video game I will do so if the game's physics will allow it. If I want to level NYC to a flat and barren landscape I want to see it possible in a game to destroy everything.

If you ask me I say video games haven't even scratched the surface of what should and could be done. Its all fair game I believe.

@1.13 - RE 5 takes place in Africa 80-90% of the population of Africa is Black. Get over it. Its called factual statistics. You don't see a movie like Blood Diamond set in Africa with hundreds of white people in the background do you?

[Skizelli]

Aww, someone ignored me. :( Sorry if the truth hurts.

[n4f]

come on i am really black
you trying to inform me about my roots is a waist of time(cause i know everything that i should have know)
its was sarcasm

[decimalator]

There have been very good movies about recent wars that treat the subject matter well and nobody asks whether they have gone too far or if they are being insensitive or offensive. But the second that a video game tries to do the same, cue the right wing hypocrits. I feel embarrassed to be an american thanks to people like this guy. He gives americans AND CHRISTIANS a bad name.

Like it or not, video games are just as much art or crap as movies or any other medium. The oft-maligned Grand Theft Auto is no more violent or gratuitous as a lot of blockbuster movies I have seen, yet GTA is targeted by everyone.

It's not video games or movies or music or whatever other big scary medium that is the cause of our collective social problems, it is BAD PARENTING, LACK OF EDUCATION and IDIOTS LIKE YOU.

[jav0918]

Our government and people who react to games like this are a perfect example of why everyone in the world thinks were idiots.. ZzZzZ

[tdogchristy90]

In reguards to the article, it sounds to me they are complaining just because it's America. What if it was some other country or symbol, would you not complain? I myself am an American and Christian and I find it offensive when a group seems to suggest by there words that they only care about the fact that the white house was blown up and wouldn't necessarily cause a fuss if it were say pakistan. It's just hypocritical of you and shows your ignorance.

[Gamer6056]

This is because most Americans here live in our own little world and don't give a f*ck about other countries unless it benefits us. Again I am from the U.S..

[tdogchristy90]

and that's part of our issue, we need to stop being so self involved. It's part of why the world tends to hate us, we need to be more aware of the rest of the world and not our own little bubble.

[kissmeimgreek]

Fallout 3 had a whole destroyed washington DC with war in it. how is this any worse?

[gamesR4fun]

future vs present si/fi vs realism... i dunno could b the biotch never saw the ads for fallout...

[Gish]

Actually there was a fallout 3 add in the DC subway system that freaked people out so they pulled it. I could have told you that that wasn't the prime spot to have that ad... idiots.

[Ssxtreme36]

like we havent seen this sort of distruction in movies, it happens almost ever year. ever seen independence day? i cant believe people are really starting to whine and cry over things like this when it comes to a video game but whenever it happens in a movie no one says anything....

this is f***ing stupid and another way at trying to get attention and traffic off of N4G in order to push your (the authors) agenda at trying to get people to freak out over nothing.

[glennc]

ha ha he said:
Christian Science.
contradiction, no?

[gamesR4fun]

sadly its a pretty popular cult the christan science one that is they got 'centers' in jus about every major city.

[dragonyght]

lol bout times. what toke them so long

[N2NOther]

No. End of thread.

[ZombieAutopsy]

OMFG

[ryano23277]

My problem with it is it happens because the story says so.

Where do you get the chance to stop it.
COD is a linear game and the story will make the White House get taken over. What about the White House got taken over because I wasn't good enough in the campaign, so they took us all out and invaded the U.S.

[Fade_Walker]

I can see where this could be really offensive, but I see it as just a game.

Although, the unfortunate fact is that there is always a chance that something like that could happen

[retrofly]

Your looking at it from the wrong angle, surley the whole point is to "take back" the white house, if your not good enough you will fail.

[retrofly]

Oh f**k off, I wonder how long this reporter searched the internet to find someone complaining about the COD MW2 thread.

Its a fictional story, its called freedom of speech, you know the whole reason your troops are dieing in Afghanistan so people can say what they want.

F**k, sake, this s**t really pisses me off!

[NecrumSlavery]

Well, 9/11 really happened. Of all the wars, why is this one so taboo?

[I am Legend]

SHUT UP !!

[Scotracer]

lol. 'Christian science'.

[KillerPwned]

Jack me in APAC! im in the friggen zone! Thats what ill be saying now when i play this game why? BECAUSE ITS A GAME! Little Johnny here tho is gonna see it and be horrfied tho its gonna corrupt are children. Seriously people need to grow up and find something better to do with there lives nothing ever happens out of this stuff.

I can tell right now this topic "MW2 going to far?" is going to be one of the big topics from now on till little while after the game is realeased. Cant wait to see good old fox news!!!

I personally think that trailer kicked major a$$.

[RedSoakedSponge]

please point me in the direction of the people responsible so i can beat the sh!t out of them. this is just pathetic.

[UNCLEFESTER]

these clowns are an embarrasment to christianity what a bunch of fools

[Bengoshi-San]

Because video-games in essence are a form that allows individuals to control a situation that is fantastical in nature. None of the events that occur in the video game need necessarily be true or based on the truth. That's the beauty of video games.

Can one find offense from a level/map that has you play on U.S. soil? Sure. Is it sensible? No. Because that individual is forgetting that this is a video game.

After all, how many times has an Asian/Muslim country been the locale for a map/level in a video game? Why don't western audiences find that offensive? This is closer to home eh? It's all a video game. Just loosen up and enjoy the ride.

[Gish]

You probably dont even know that they do hate us for it. If everyone in this world had an internet connection and a translator, you would be getting an ear full about them being in muslim countries. You hear a select choice of opinions from Western culture and we are far outnumbered...

[Rowsdower]

just like the one yesterday b*tching about nostalgia, if I can get the address of the folks who are trying to make this a controversy, a got a package of sh*t I'd like to over night them.

[bjornbear]

I see no problem...its cool.

Fallout 3 anyone? DC ruins...seriously this is nothing.
If anything it'll motivate people to fight harder since its bound to bring some nationalism into the game =) i wouldn't like one of my landmarks being taken over by terrorists, so i'd be damn motivated t kill em all!

[likeaboss302]

Actually I think it would be cool to have real political figures in the game. I believe you are allowed to use them because their likeness are considered public. It ads more realism to the game.

To me it would add more tension that my actions could hold someone's "digital" life in the balance.

[kbexp91]

I'm from Australia and if I saw Sydney up in flames and torn by battle, I would give it a second thought, you know why?
It's just a game...
Get your heads out of your ass (who is complaining).

[devilhunterx]

It's all FAIR game baby.

[kevinx1000]

wow, i knew americans were going to whine about it...
(i don't hate all americans!) but you could see this coming.

[BabyDuck666]

No game can go too far. It's a GAME, with the exception of japanese rape, which is an atrocity and not artistic at all.

[llMurcielagoll]

Whoever is writing negative articles about Modern Warfare 2 should do the world a favor and shoot himself.. Looking forward to MW 2!

Come on N4G! please stop approving these articles before it even get posted.

[ExgamerLegends2]

Is the most ignorant immature argument I have ever heard. If someone makes a game where the entire world rapes your mom while you watch you better not get angry. It's just a game. The truth is, some video games do go too far. And this is not just the opinions of Christians. You don't need to act out every morally reprehensible act imaginable to make a good game. I was never planning on buying Mw2 in the first place anyway.

[devilhunterx]

If you bought any war game in your life, then you are a hypocrite.

[EdFry]

Whether it's raping our mothers' or blowing up our capitals it is still OUR choice to play it or ignore it. I don't like Hanna Montana so I avoid those games, I do however enjoy action games that push the boundaries. Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible, also please learn to take responsibility for you OWN actions and don't hate people for Theirs.

BTW I am from the United States and I am more offended that people[especially US citizens] refer to us as Americans(it's like everyone forgets there is that whole place called 'South' America; like they don't exist or like they are responsible for our decisions).

[ExgamerLegends2]

cuz every war game ever invented has gone too far right? Lol, I don't know why I'm surprised. Some gamers do tend to be.... Oh how should I put it.

[jdktech2010]

Did anyone watch 24 last season? The White House was invaded and the President held hostage on a television show.....but that wasn't too much.

A video game obviously makes it more realistic....come on now

[Another One]

you're getting bent out of shape because some psycho group like the Christian Science people are asking if it's going too far? That's like getting upset because the fat kid at the lunch table just downed a twinkie. You knew it would happen eventually.

And the anti-American comments are quite unnecessary.