[quote] TV agony aunt Jennifer Trent-Hughes said that the airport section made her cry.
“I felt sick to my stomach and I was frightened,” she said. “People are screaming, there’s blood splattering all over the screen. It is absolutely awful. I sat there with my son, who’s 15, and he was like [covers eyes].” [/quote]

Why is her 15 year old son in the same room while its being played?

I whole-heartedly agree JS, talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Regardless of who condemns this game, be it religious groups, parental groups etc etc, this is an ADULT GAME. The only reason there's an arguement here is because parents are buying this game for kids under the age rating. That's their choice. Activision have said on numerous occasions that MW2 is aimed at the 18+ demographic, which is backed up by the BBFC rating. Get over it.

Again, I would like to applaud Activision and Infinity Ward for broaching such a risky topic and yet making it fit into the game, not just doing it for some press attention. The reaction Ms Trent-Hughes had is exactly what we should all feel when we see it. But there wasn't outrage against the news channels for showing coverage of the Mumbai attrocity last year.

It's all relative people.

Rant over

who gives a shit

JS lol i thought the same thing.

Lets be honest your not gonna show your kids some hardcore porn so why would you show them a game which has the same restrictions in theory. I played GTA since it was out and i was 15 when it first came out, but that does not mean i drive ont he pavement and expect to get away with running people over.

This whole gaming and violance argument is a joke, we see war and terrorism on the news every day and guess what its real, and has much more of an influance then a game with a fictional story.

Religion has a much more detrimental effect on sociaty then games. Cos thats what they are games!!!!

The thing is, movies are actually better at doing this kind of thing Even high body count movies don't spend so much time dwelling on the actual murder and revealing everything. Probably one of the most horrific scenes in a movie for me, was in Scarface, where Pacino's buddy is getting cut up in the shower. The camera is actually on Pacino's face the whole time, which both hightens tension and steers clear of gratuity. Games are never that clever - it's always about the player seeing everything.

Unless you're the sort of gamer desensitised towards killing through years of exposure, the airport scene is actually shocking. To anyone who actually thinks about what it is they're doing or who hasn't seen this sort of thing before, it is quite horrible.

With a cutscene, you'd have been required to watch and judge the evil terrorists - with it being in-game, you're being asked to enjoy it. After all, no point in playing a game unless you enjoy it? Developers aren't really in the habit of creating things that people aren't supposed to enjoy. So surely the intent is for people to play that and enjoy it?

I guess most people, through a desire to constantly defend games without question, will disagree with me, but c'mon, just because we're gamers, doesn't mean we have to defend violence in games 100 per cent of the time. Especially when it's as wrong as this.

Contextually, even Manhunt's violence was easier to stomach.

There is an option which allows the player to skip this level, so why do they play through it??

these people have nothing to offer society except OAP opinions for OAP minds.

Your ment to enjoy it???

Are you ment to enjoy movies?

Do poeple enjoy watching other poeple get torchared or die? the whole Saw series being a good example???

Rape, gun crime, robbery, child abuse, incest, binge drinking, drug abuse, car crime, immorale behaviour, arson, racism, fraud, adultery, etc; all in the soap operas broadcast early evening every day in the uk. Stop going on about games until the soap issue is stopped.

Because she is a bad parent and should be charged with child abuse. I think her kid should be taken into care, if she is going to keep forcing him to watch graphic adult images..

People do realise you don't even need to fire once to get through it? The team your with do it all, they do know, right?

This is ridiculous quite frankly. If history shows anything it's that this game and it's airport level in which a 'false flag terror attack' takes place is very realistic and happens quite alot, probably the most famous case of a false flag terror event was the reichstag fire in hitlers germany, it's widely believed that goerings thugs lit that fire and staged evidence to make it look as though polish communists perpetrated it. There are many examples of false flag attacks and a very elaborate american plan is called 'operation northwoods' in which the chiefs of staff put together a report on how to attack american warships in port, throw grenades into us military bases and finally blow up airplanes over miami. All for the purposes of blaming castros cuba in fact the report is called 'pretext for invasion of cuba'

I've played this level and do believe it should have taken place as an fmv or exposition breifing on the following mission. But the whole story doesnt take place if this 'false flag terror attack' does not take place. Religious leaders should worry more about what they can do for homeless people and poor families than they do walking around in frocks in big churches that could and should be used for helping people as i believe jesus would do, when's the last time you heard a catholic priest talk about jesus? rarely happens anymore because none of them have any intention of living up to their own myths. that's the major problem i have with religion. They don't PRACTICE what they preach.

Call of duty modern warfare 2 is a game. do religious Nutt cases moan about any other violent game>? Grandtheft auto, Postal 2, etc

News , Media its all terrorism hyped, could say the media has helped fuel these people that commit violent acts. (yer but god told me to!)

Games are games, they can only get more realistic and better, hats off to the game developers for the game.

Fazan, have you ever seen Irreversible?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290673/

I suggest you form a more thorough understanding of contemporary entertainment before so easily lambasting cert-18 video games.

I'd prefer to think of the scene as educating, rather than entertaining - it's meant to be shocking, it's meant to be something that seems real and terrible, as it's something that can happen.
The MW2 story isn't meant to be 100% fun and enjoyable; it's got a message.
As previously mentioned, you don't have to play the level if you're sensitive - you shouldn't even play this game if you're sensitive - especially if you're under the age rating which is very clearly printed on the box!!!

Aren't the histories of all religions marred by acts of violence in the name of God?

Is it ok to be killing any human being - civilian, military or even a terrorist?

Didn't Jesus Christ preach forgiveness? Didnt he tell his disciples to turn the other cheek if attacked? Did he not heal the ear of the person whom Peter struck with his sword?

So, it's ok for nations to attack and destroy other nations, in the name of fighting terror when it is clearly an act of revenge?

Did not the colonial empires enslave millions of people in the name of promoting civility and religion?

Please stop the hypocrisy!

20 years ago, the same arguments were being made about violent movies.

these people are the ones who insisted the earth was flat and thet everything in the universe revolves around it!
can you believe anything they say?

The hypocrisy here makes me laugh! There has been more blood shed (actual blood, not just pixels) due to religious beliefs than for any other reason...EVER! So these religious leaders are banging on about causing violence!! What the hell do they think happened in the crusades!?!?

Playing something is different from watching it. There is a point to watching something unsettling, in a way that doesn't translate to playing it.

You talk of movies, but harsh scenes are usually in place to prompt viewer anger or sadness or even fear... the same would apply here if the game gave you that massacre as a cut scene, but by putting the gun in the players hands, the tables are turned and its inclusion exits for a much different reason.

As I say, I don't think people should just defend all violence in games, simply because the mainstream media so very often get it wrong. Gamers should show maturity by not being afraid to criticise gaming when it's deserved.

"TV agony aunt Jennifer Trent-Hughes said that the airport section made her cry."

Here's an idea - don't play the bloody thing. These people.

I suppose there are valid points here, alot of kids will end up playing this game and there's always going to be one really mixed up kid who gets too involved and takes it for real, heck when I was a kid I tried to get into the Digi-World by running into a mirror. It's up to the parents to censor this stuff from their children, the creators can do no more than they've already done so back off.

I've been gaming for 26 years and the airport scene still made me feel uneasy. I didn't shoot any innocent civilians, because you don't have to. Unless you are deranged, this part of the game will only make you desperate to take outl the main bad guy, the leader of the terrorists.

As usual, a controversial part of a video game has been taken in isolation and annihilated out of context by people who do not understand the interactive medium. MW2 is adult entertainment and as such it has an 18 BBFC certificate for a reason - it's aimed at responsible adults who should be able to judge between right and wrong.

I've been gaming for 26 years and the airport scene still made me feel uneasy. I didn't shoot any innocent civilians, because you don't have to. Unless you are deranged, this part of the game will only make you desperate to take outl the main bad guy, the leader of the terrorists.

As usual, a controversial part of a video game has been taken in isolation and annihilated out of context by people who do not understand the interactive medium. MW2 is adult entertainment and as such it has an 18 BBFC certificate for a reason - it's aimed at responsible adults who should be able to judge between right and wrong.

I'm against any kind of violence, in real life as well as in games or movies.
But I can't believe the irony of this coming from "religious leaders" with religion being responsible in one way or another for probably 90% of the real life violence and wars on this planet...

None of the panel or audience appeared to have the slightest notion of FPS gaming, let alone played the game. Gaming was not represented in this one sided witch hunt.

One point that was not put across is that content such as the No Russian level raises awareness of what could happen. I doubt any gamers after playing this level would utter a single complaint the next time they are going through airport security.

I know this will not be popular with the upper echelons, but I must say the lack of action from ELSPA and TIGA in defending against another public video game hate campaign is the most worrying. While ELSPA just point outs in a sales figure release the game has an 18 cert, TIGA just points out when it's Xmas party is.

Where are comments from our industry associations? They should be the first point of contact for the BBC and other news agencies. Instead we have Tom Watson MP, who been very successful in creating the Gamer's Voice Facebook group.

The industry representation needs an overhaul to think about being more inclusive, proactive and effective otherwise it's influence will dwindle to the point of being a brandy and cigar gentleman's club.

I bet most of these people have never played a computer game... let alone palyed the airport level.

It's graphic - but at the end of the day it's still a game. The BBFC classed the game as an 18 title - because the themes contained were suitable for over-18s only... Adults. By the time we are adults we have developed our cognitive pathways - we are who we are, and are less likely to be influenced by third parties (in this case - the game).

THE RATING IS THERE FOR A REASON. "Lets face it - kids are playing it..." What?! - The issue here is not the game - its the fact that the kids are being shown something they shouldn't see. Why is it suitable to accept that kids play adult games - but they can't watch adult pornograpgy. They both have ratings for their own reasons - they aren't suitable, end of.

The simple fact is that the items on display are shocking - and the rating is there to screen out the sensitive... plus the opt-out option should mop up the left-overs. If kids still find a way to play this - then shame on their parents.

Without flicking back up to the artile - the lady who lets her 15 year old cover his eyes at the atrocities. SHAME ON YOU. You are the problem - exposing a child to mature content that he is not ready for... examine your own actions and you will see the real faults.

This game is a mere reflection of life - terrorism exists, and we all benefit from being made aware of it. Do you find it shocking to see? - Good. That's the point - there is no glorification of the atrocity here.

Watch the 24 hour news channel and you see things that are far worse on a daily basis... the difference with the news is that you don't act it out. BUT as an ADULT playing a game - you are mature enough to know that you are only acting...

Moral panic - not justified.

The game is an 18. It is marked as such
When you first play it it very clearly warns you there are disturbing scenes in the game.
It offers you the option to enable skipping them.
If you say "no" it again warns you - Outlining very clearly that the scenes may be shocking & that you may benefit from the option to skip them, asking, once more, for confirmation.
If @ any point in the game you are uncomfortable with a section you can press pause & choose to skip it.
Better yet - if you don't like the game DO NOT PLAY IT.

Quotes like Jennifer Trent-Hughes' about the game being emotionally disturbing to the player are utter tripe. You are in control @ all points

“We can make all entertainment for children, or we can take proper steps to try and protect children from adult entertainment.”

The steps to protecting children from violent games is to not buy them games marked as an 18. & to certainly not sit them next to you while you are playing them.

Damn this article is full of a lot of crap.

The real question, that I think they were trying to get at, is whether playing games such as these can encourage negative tendencies in individuals. But this has never been proved. People will always find ways of pursuing their interests. Banning violence in games will not magically make the world a safer place.

Also it's a damn good game, so quit your moaning

Wow. Is it just me or did Mr. Goldberg compare the bible to a videogame, extolling the virtues of the former whilst condemning the latter for not carrying a positive message? Furthermore, he apparently isn't familiar with the actual contents of the Bible itself. It makes all the violence in MW2 seem like an episode of Sesame Street. Let's see, it's got rape, torture, ritual human sacrifice, not to mention slavery. In many of these biblical cases, these acts are sanctioned by "God" himself for various reasons.
Even the contents of the Bible, as terrible as they are, do not approach the horror of the acts that have been committed in the name of "God" throughout history.

So, in conclusion, I would say that it is highly hypocritical for religious types that follow any variation of the original Hebrew scriptures to condemn "violent games" when the very book that is the foundation of their religion runs red with the blood and pain of the countless number of people that have died because of its contents. Has anyone been murdered, raped, sacrificed or tortured because of MW2? I think not.

'but by putting the gun in the players hands, the tables are turned and its inclusion exits for a much different reason.'

Whats the reason? to insite terrorism?

Should we ban paintball guns beacause your not having fun your shooting a gun at people? Is the problem the fact that your shooting at civilians or the whole concept of killing poeple. Lets be honest civilians die in games all the time, oh but i forgot the key work TERRORISTS the big taboo at the moment.

Guess what the most popular FPS has been for a while. Counter strike, you either play as terrorists or counter terroristst.

Its a joke i can drop bombs and blow up cities but i cant shoot a few civilians (in game obviously) without somesort of controversy.

I get your point dont defend games blindly but this has all been blown out of proportian. Many games let you do far worse.

"I didn't shoot any innocent civilians, because you don't have to. Unless you are deranged, this part of the game will only make you desperate to take outl the main bad guy, the leader of the terrorists."

Or you'll be really bored by having to walk really slowly throw piles of dead bodies.

The violence debate and pointless finger-pointing at the violence from religion aside, this scene was lame. It surved no purpose that couldn't be better achieved by a cut-scene, isn't anywhere near as intelligent or thought-provoking as some people are pretending, was badly thought-out and directed and is not actually at all comparable with movies, which are, on the whole, directed and executed in a completely different way.

Massive LOL to the person who thinks the scene was educational. It has nothing at all to teach. Except perhaps that gullible people like yourself will lap up anything intended to shock. And not only that, but defend it and claim it's something meaningful, rather than the controversy spinner that it was always indended to be!

I do think that it was a bit much, thats not to say I skipped the level or didn't put a few screaming civilians trying to crawl to safety out of their misery. I just think there are many topics that aren't being covered in the medium of Games, take Max Payne, that man had his Wife and Child taken from him, rather gruesomly by drug addicts, i would have to say that that would hit home to a lot of people.

I say congratulations to IW to having the courage to tackle such a complex issue...

And i really dont understand, I didnt see any Religious leaders ouside Game at midnight, where did they get it so quickly to complain the very next morning...

Bring on the Sims Fritzl edition...

Its a game damn it! deal with it its no worse than some passage in the bible or in the curan which I think are more graphic even in words.Even the whole history of religion is far more violent, yet they turn blind eye on it. Ignorant sh*t heads(eye towards all religions involed in this article), Hows is a game damaging society more than religion? look a the middle east(israeli killing under armed and under protected palestinians), or a better example read about the fucking crusade. All religions do is divide people rather than uniting them.

Frankly I find people admitting belief in the spaghetti monster far more worrying than a video game, how many people has religion killed in comparison to video games? Anyone know the figures?

"Should we ban paintball guns beacause your not having fun your shooting a gun at people? Is the problem the fact that your shooting at civilians or the whole concept of killing poeple. Lets be honest civilians die in games all the time, oh but i forgot the key work TERRORISTS the big taboo at the moment.

Guess what the most popular FPS has been for a while. Counter strike, you either play as terrorists or counter terroristst."

You're missing my point. I don't care about pointball, because paintball is something different entirely.

I have no issue with Counter Strike either.

Surely you can see that nothing I've said can be put towards either of these?

I have to agree with Rob's comment "Religion has a much more detrimental effect on sociaty then games. Cos thats what they are games!!!!"

How many wars have been fought and people killed in the name of religion or are we now going to blame computer games for these current and past events as well?

I think people need to get back in touch with reality, it's not real it's a game. Are we going to be pushing away films that contain terrorists & war?
If you don't agree with the game, don't buy it! Quite simple really.
Why should be who enjoy the games be deprived because of sensitive people taking offence?
I and think you'll find that more people enjoy the game than oppose it. Just look at the number of copies sold!
It’s a democratic world not a dictatorship! Isn’t it????

Gamers need a voice in this kind of forum, too often the media stacks the odds against computer entertainment without adequate representation from both sides.

Unless gamers get organised and start backing organisations like,
http://www.gamepolitics.com/
http://www.elspa.com/

We MUST stand up for ourselves and get organised enough to be able to stand in these debates otherwise these idiots will destroy all forms of free speech and entertainment.

Don't let them get away with it! Make yourself heard and learn about your rights and your entertainment.

I'm more afraid of a religious fanatic going on a rampage in the name of his/her religion, than of the gamer quietly sitting in his/her living room playing a game.

Religious groups give me a nut-cramp, go and preach your silly (and often violent) fairy tales to your followers and leave the games industry alone.

I find it amusing that so many people think that by pointing fingers back at religion, it somehow makes any issues raised irrelevant.

Sure, religion is a problem, but that's really not the issue. And by pointing out that religion is far more dangerous, you're not actually defending MW2's airport scene. You're just creating a pointless diversion.

What is wrong with you people! Its YOUR choice to buy the game, its YOUR choice to play it. No one is forcing this on you.

Grow up. Your wasting everyone's time and having read this entire thread am amazed that so many people can say so much and actually say nothing at all. Get a hobby or something.

Are you people so stupid with such empty lives that you have to rip in to anything you can to bring some meaning to your pathetic existance? I feel sorry for you.

MW2 is a consumer choice like drinking, smoking and everything else. Personnaly I think it is an excellent game and as with any movie, book or play, if it makes me react in a strong way whether angry or happy anything else it has done a great job. IT IS ENTERTAINMENT, it is supposed to provoke a reaction!!!

If your letting your kids (under 18) play it you void the right to complain.

If your over 18 and play it and dont like it, stop playing it and dont buy any similar games again. Consider it a lesson learnt.

All your complaining is doing is providing free advertising. If anything this rubbish makes me want to play it more to see what all the fuss is about.

I dont normally do these threads but felt I should this time just to offer my sympathy to everyone and anyone who knows any of these idiots who have complained. They sound like complete tools. Good luck.

I'm off to play MW2...

"Do poeple enjoy watching other poeple get torchared or die? the whole Saw series being a good example???"

I think some people do, perhaps in a 'masochistic' sense. After all, there must be *some* incentive to watch it? Not my cup of tea, to be honest.

Firstly, "play" is a vital role in the growth of children, i can't remember who said it is but "you can find out more about someone in an hour of play than a day of conversation" roughly. my point is that when growing up we realise the difference between play and life. this is why it has a certificate rating of 18.

secondly, the deeper question here is does it have an effect on us? well the answer is obviously, yes! look at the conversation happening about it. which i am sure the PR company assisted with. i am convinced that these "religious" leaders made those comments at the encouragement of the company.

One of the main reasons i bought the game was because it was violent and disgusted these religious people. can you imagine a game based on various religious stories... a god who kills an entire generation of first born Egyptians? raining fire? i mean a Samson video game would actually kick ass... imagine slaughtering hundreds of people with an ass jaw bone... anyone know anybody at Activision who can get on that?

now where is the fearmongering going to come from if the religious leaders can't moan at a video game?

You don't like it? Then don't play it and don't let your kids play it. But please just button it and let people choose what they want to do for themselves. Having played the game myself there is not a single act of encouragement or order given to shoot civilians in the whole game let alone the "airport scene" so I cannot see in what way you are playing a terrorist. Life is not censored (yet) so why should anything else be?

ALL HAIL THE SPAGHETTI MOSTER!

I BELIEVE!

It's a game at the end of the day, its not telling children to become terrorists and kill everyone, its a game! Its there for entertainment and if this isn't entertainment you want to see or expose your children to then stop playing it, stop buying it and stop talking about it, leave the people who take games for what they are, ENTERTAINMENT to it. Exposing children to this isn't the developers idea thats why the game is rated 18, the rating are there for a reason.

The 'Big Question' is my eyes is why don't these people get a life! Put the energy into real warfare, poverty and such. It's an adult game, you have a choice to play it. Don't like it, get Mario!!!

And when I say MOSTER, obviously I meant MONSTER :oD

to be fair.
the game is horrific and graphic as i have found out playing it.
but its like watching late night news thats all about war, famine and how the finance sector is dying.
once the religious leaders stop fighting over who got it right and who got it wrong about 95% of wars started regarding "religious" diversity and still cant come to a conclusion they turn to that which depicts the wars itself, ie: MW2.

most games are violent and most are age restricted.
these restrictions are in place to stop "15" year olds from playing them or even seeing them.
so any parent that allows his or her child to play or watch these games/films/shows is responsible for their own action and the child in their care.

games are games
war is war.
films are films.
religion is diversified and personal choice.
just like all above, personnal choice!

except.... religion is not once mentioned in the game... not ONCE!

Religion causes infinitely more suffering than video games. Also, this is an 18 - so if your kids are playing it then you are a bad parent.

Personally I feel that people maybe over reacting to this, if you actually play the game from the beginning you have a warning message come up saying wether you actually want to view this content, which is the gamers choice, the other thing is if you haven't choose this, then if you press start you can simply skip this misson anyway, what more do you want, its so simple you don't even have to shoot any civillans, you can just walk behind the guys doing it. It not like this happens in movies all the time, plus it is a 18 already, so maybe parents should be access the parental controls on there kids systems, instead of blaming the game developers, if that part of the game doesn't happen then the rest of the game makes no sense.

I have been playing FPS for 10 - 15 years now. And somehow, I have not wanted to go out and kill anyone! Strange!

Yes why are under 18's in the same room? That makes one wonder...

Religion: Yet people have been executed on live TV, for the sake of religion! Yet this is a game NO ONE ACTAULLY DIES!

Really does make one wonder.....

I am off to play COD4...... then WAW and soon MW2, oh yes I forgot - DF Black Hawk Down!

If we get the spaghetti monster to play the game. Then it can go and use the same tactics on the religious nutcases. Result=religious nutcases proven correct and everyone else gets rid of said nutcases. Both parties happy!

Remember - a religious war is a war about who has the best make beleive friend!

18 rating.... not just on box but also on the disc and during starting the campaign. parents fault.
and also a fifteen year old covering his eyes... does anyone actually do that other than in movies?
Don't buy it for a fifteen year old! and by the sounds of that one I think a Wham CD and some tickets to the next Village People concert would be better suited

I'm tired of TV programs dusting off an irrelevant groups of people to make comments on today’s society, people that haven't bother to catch up with anything going on in the last 30 years are now being called on for social commentary!

Religious people pointing out the horrors of a video game while clutching their holy texts which contain more intolerance and have caused more hate and real deaths than any computer game ever will.

I can sum up every comment by a person on that panel in once sentence:

‘I don’t like it, and therefore no one else should’

These people have some bizarre notion that what they think actually applies to people outside of the herds of sheep they stand in front of every week, thankfully though this isn’t the case and more and more people are starting to realise this.

The one person that scared me most is ‘TV agony Aunt Jennifer Trent-Hughes’ to be that out of touch and giving people advice….

As much as the rest basically said they didn’t like it / violence in a game, she was the one person seemed to have trouble telling it apart from real life and had an apparently physical reaction to it.

Plus she’s the only person that exposed a minor to a BBFC rated 18 game, great parenting there!

Religion strikes me as a much more dangerous topic than this video game, having played this scene only last night on my PS3. Most wars in this world are started (in part) by religion, not by kids who witnessed a video game terrorist atrocity...

The scene didn't shock me, but it didn't make me smile in any way, shape or form--it was just a part of the storyline of the single-player campaign you go through and it actually fits very well.

I remember very well the preachers of my youth making me a lot more scared to do anything in life and this is seemingly another great "the bible says" moment. BS alert above kids, don't listen to them--be yourself and enjoy life, be a good person and help others. You'll be just fine.

I don't agree at all that if you play violent video games, you yourself will become violent. if your mentally ill or a physco well that's a different matter.
what the editor of this article has forgotten to mention is that activision has given the user the ability to skip this mission, when you first start the game there is a warning that it contains disturbing content, if you decide that you don't want the disturbing content, you don't have to have it, its not forced upon you.
I played the airport mission, and I've got to say that I found it quite disturbing, and the comment made by the Bishop of Hulme, the Rt. Reverend Stephen Lowe, is a bit silly. I certainly didn't feel pleasure in the mission, in fact when you play, the reality dawns on you, this is virtual reality, it isn't real, therefore how can you feel anything towards this virtual level? I think this is being blown out of proportion, the world always blames its problems on games, first grand theft auto now, call of duty, why has the animal activists never complained about Mario? surly there's something wrong with an Italian plumber jumping on tortoises and kicking them??
jesus, lighten up!

Every man is entitled to his own selection of entertainment. What he or she does behind closed doors is their business. The beauty of gaming, if you are a REAL gamer, is that you play for numbers, for respect, the single player options in games is done once and people very rarely go back. The multiplayer genre is a completely different ballgame.

Truth be told, religions should be banned.

Gaming SHOULD be encouraged.

Unfortunately the government is run by OAP's in the majority, so as a nation we are screwed anyway.

Who the hell said at any point that the airport is enjoyable and were all getting a thrill out of it?? When I played the mission I failed it twice coz I kept shooting the other terrorists until finally realising that I had to do the same as them. I think this is just a case of game makers getting at the ethics and morality side of gaming as simply getting from one objective to the other while killing the bad guys has all been done before. This is just a game and this particular mission should be treated like a very bad nightmare.

Its not the game at fault it is the parents. This is an 18 certificate. TV agony aunt Jennifer Trent-Hughes lets her 15 year old son watch this, can she even count? Does she know 18 means 18 years or over - not 15! She no doubt will blame the makers rather than take responsibility for her own actions, what a sad reflection on society she is.

The only reason that so many wars were fought in the name of religion in the past is because so many warmongerers purported to be religious.

However, as secularism becomes more widespread, I predict that in the future just as many wars will be fought in the name of atheism as were fought in the name of religion previously.

As indeed the events of the twentieth century have already proved.

It a bit rich coming from the three religions that have caused more unrest / war / terrorism in the real world, than any game!!

Do these religious leaders not realise their religions and beliefs are the basis & cause of nearly all major conflicts/wars? Including terrorism that they try and distance themselves from as being extreme beliefs (they still have their root in religion).

Its obvious violent games shouldn't be played by young children. That's down to parents. Games come with ratings, same as movies, same as music.

I'm all for protecting children from anything that may be harmful, even if it is only a game. However this game is certificate 18, so only adults can buy it if they so choose. If they do not like it, they shouldn't buy it or play it. If children gain access to this game then it's the parents who we need to look at. They are being allowed to play it so you can't blame the people who produce the game. Parenting is the real problem here. Jennifer Trent-Hughes, you are an irresponsible parent letting your 15 year old child see any part of this game. You should be ashamed of yourself. And to complain in such a way about a choice that you made - to watch such footage AND let your child see it. You made the choice and it's nobody's fault but your own if you don't like it.
If you don't like chicken - don't eat it. If you don't like violent computer games - don't play them! The same goes for anyone else who has a problem with this or any other game or movie. Get a hobby - Do something you like to do rather than just complain about things that don't affect you in any way whatsoever.

"As I say, I don't think people should just defend all violence in games, simply because the mainstream media so very often get it wrong. Gamers should show maturity by not being afraid to criticise gaming when it's deserved."

LordMonkey I think you are wrong, sorry but I do. Cam a Christian (so is my name) and I have been gaming for years and you say we shouldn’t defend violent games all the time because the media sometimes get it wrong, but that is a load of pap because they are always trying to ban games and blame games for the violence in the community today. I have to admit I did play games of an 18 certificate when I was well under the age but it didn’t affect me, and do you know why? Because I had good parents and I was taught right from wrong. It’s not the game creator’s fault it’s the fault of parents who buy the games for their kids.

I was having a similar argument with a friend (who hates violent games) and his words were “Children will get hold of the game without the parents help from someone who will buy the game and sell it on to kids." 1. That sounds like a drug dealer lol and 2. The same thing is happening with alcohol, shops and pubs won’t sell to kids but people will still get it for them. I am dam sure that booze has had more of an effect on underage violence than games BUT the government isn’t trying to ban booze they just say it’s for adult and we should know better.

So you say we shouldn’t defend all violent games they shouldn’t condemn all violent games.
End of a rant.

Considering the violence in the bible and the koran they are being a bit hypocritical, nay comical.

It seems to me that far too many parents haven't got a clue what their children watch/ play in the video game world - a very worrying indictment of todays society. It is too easy to ignore when things are busy but there are far too many children playing this game. I know of ones from 9 plus, let alone the teenagers (13+)...............where was the censor?

Considering that most wars and terrorist acts are committed in the "name of god" or religion its astonishing that these idiots come up with criticism like this. Children shouldn't be playing it - it's 18 rated. I wouldn't give alcohol to my kids, I wouldnt let them play this game. It contains adult content. Dickhead parents should be the focus here not that children may be playing the game.

I bet Jennifer Trent-Hughes secretly enjoyed playing it and I bet she played thru the whole level. Crying? Crying at how awesome the graphics, sound and gameplay were probably.

We need to do more to stop our children playing adult orientated games. It does not help when their parents cue up at sainsbury's at 7 in the morning to buy this for them.

This is because most parents hear the world "VIDEO GAME" and link it to pac-man or tetris.......... not Graphic violence.

So stop blaming the game creators for parent failings, if there is a movie that strikes controversy, it wins an oscar. if its a game, then they try and ban it..... perhaps try and advertise the fact that the word "Video Game" doesn't always mean brightly coloured happy-go-lucky characters.

Why is it that they are involving religious fanatics into this? I read the bible & Cain was the first man to strike down his brother! That's in the Holy Bible! Idk if that's in the Quran for Muslims or not. & the Jews study the Old Testament in the Holy Bible. I swear some people! I love the storyline of this game. & I agree w/the University Professor it is for MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY! NOT FOR LITTLE KIDS UNDER 17! Geez!

& Excuse me this is NOT children playing a game! I play it & I'm 22 yro. I am NOT a child. If the adult/parent(s) is that stupid to NOT look at the rating, that is the parent's fault, NOT the child's. That's why the clerk asks to see the ID of the person underage! Get over it! Why don't you people griping about the game go & complain about porn! Children see that & they can spread the std's & sti's faster than violence! Go bitch & complain at the porn, little kids do watch them, I was one of them growing up!

& btw, this game won't stop coming out & neither will other violent games in the future, get on w/yall's lives & stop complaining about it! People love it! You can tell by the charts of how money was spent on it in one day & then look at it in one week. Geez! It won't stop!

So, no take up on my suggested game (see 63 above).

Anyway, my tv, freeview box, Xbox, Bluray player and DVD player all have options to restrict what material can be played without a password. It takes little time to set up, but I know what the kids have access too is restricted.

Common sense and responsibility is being passed on to everyone else other than the parents.

You only have to look at the sort of person who appears on the "morning whinge and sex shows" to explain a lot nowadays.

Well what can i say, ive just completed COD2 and all i can say is what a game, this is definetly a move into the 21st century of gaming 10 /10.

Right now back to playing Mario and jumping over some mushrooms. lol

You want to scare yourself to death, read the Bible. Scariest book out there. It scared the hell out of me to read about God turning people into salt, flooding the whole planet, making people drink gold, asking people to kill their son, burning a few cities, etc. Maybe Infinity Ward should make a game about that, Objective: Kill entire cities if they don't worship you! Really? Christians, Muslims and Jews, clean your own shit first.

The Airport as like the rest of the game.

A bunch of pixels on a TV screen in a artistic story about a war.

All make believe.

Im an adult i can tell the difference between reality and fantasy, however some narrow minded people in our society cant, and they like to be the vocal self appointed moral regulators for the rest of the world.

They are in fact the true danger to the world, they should be very afraid, before the world gets sick of there chattering, inciting and pointless words.

I have played the game in story mode from start to finish. I personally went through the airport level with my mouth wide open. I finished the level saying to myself 'whoa, I cant believe I have just played a level with such realistic and political content and the game developers have gotten away with it. And yet have made an incredible job of it'

You know where I am now? I am at work, surprisingly not sat in an airport with body armour on and ready to massacre many innocent lives. I'm also not running through forests sniping men walking their dogs and planting C4 on fuel tanks. You know why?! Because I am an adult that is the intended target audience for this game! I'm not a 15yr old child whose parents have bought me the game because they buckled under the pressure of my constant moaning and repeatedly saying 'well my friends all have the game'.

Also I am not utterly disgusted and emotionally scarred from the games events because I selected the 'No, I'm not easily offended' option.

The game developers and censorship panels have clearly gone to great lengths to inform people that this game IS violent and does touch on sensitive and possibly offensive subjects. The people who chose to ignore these warnings, get upset and offended, take it all to heart and go on a rant on how games are evil and should be banned, have only THEMSELVES to blame!

Religious types as such, constantly blast anything like this, be it a movie, a book or music. Yet their literature is marred with such things as violence, slavery and genocide, however it is deemed acceptable due to its followers and fundamentalists. Which is fine, I personally think that people should be allowed to believe whatever they want to believe, so long as it is not imposed on anothers beliefs and lifestyle.

So how can they condem a game for violent content, when the very scriptures that they preach from can be considered just as violent, ESPECIALLY to someone who doesnt believe what they believe, as to any non-believer it can be deemed just as fictional as any computer game, book or movie??

Reading 74 comments and not one from ELSPA.

Why was the Games Industry represented by a magazine publisher and a academic?

They are not leaders in our industry!

Oh wait, Andy Pandy and his motley crew were at a Sunday morning car boot sale, nicking someone for piracy. Clearly, far more important then defending Age Ratings and freedom of our industry.

Should Activision renew its membership to this joke of an industry body, for that matter should any publisher pay into this debacle of an Industry body!

Shameful!

I'm more concerned about what Religious groups actually do to Children. These groups should be more concerned about that. If it's not gay hate, sexism and other intolerances they peddle it's systematic child abuse they inflict!

Wow People need to man up and grow a pair of balls. Its rated M for a reason. So if you have your kid playing or watching thats your fault as a parent. Your kid is out at 15 having sex or even watching it but he cant watch a small scene of violence? Hell they ask you right when the disc is in to skip it. You can even pause it and skip it.

Parents who buy this game for their kids are idiots and i agree with that, but for us adults its just entertainment, so let it go Jewish guy

I can't believe some people actually cried when they saw the airport scene. It's a freaking video game - the blood and the people dying are not real. What kind of a moron takes a video game as real life??? I'll bet those idiots think the film "Saw" is real as well and when they watch it they think to themselves "Oh no.......look what that bad man's doing. Somebody should call the police and stop him!". People who get upset over a make - believe scenario in a virtual world are either mentally retarded or.........no. There is no other option, they MUST be mentally retarded.

So are crusades less violent then a video game intended for adults?

And no one mentioned the fact that you are asked 2 times if you are sure you want to play that particular piece of the game...

In reality people are killed by the "religious" every day. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, and all the rest are guilty of causing, and promoting, the deaths; by hunger, disease (sexually transmitted the most flagrant), and outright violence. People who play games KNOW they're games, and are not guilty of hurting or causing hurt to others. Those "religious" leaders are the most blatant hypocrites around, ignore them and STOP giving them money and attention.

The bible and god are all just silly stories so don't start bringing all that into it! The sooner the world accept that science and technology proves this the better for everyone!

hang on i've played the actual scene and i wasn't offended at because i know that this happens in real life and it's not real

whats confuses me though, is the fact that they give you the choice to skip it if it's too violent for you.

what possessed them to carry on if they didn't like it?

but the main thing is, why would you buy a 18 film/game/book for people that are underage, im sure thats illegal. There are age ratings for a reason

end of story stop trying to blame something for your own ignorance

this game is for 18 and up if u dont like it dont buy it and dont bitch about it

Religeous people should keep their noses out, why should they be given an opinion if they do nothing but preach lies, video games are science, the science of matter makes them work, they dont believe in big bang, therefore they dont believe in leptons, and no leptons = no electricty, so they cannot comment on this !!!!!

Hmmm, gutta love how RELIGIOUS LEADERS bad a VIOLENT GAME. Because tbh, what has caused more damage - Religion or Modern Warfare 2?

Well according to these naive idiots, it is clear Modern Warfare will spark something much worse than the palistine-israel war, the iraq war, afghan war, the crusades.

Modern Warfare 2 is obviously going to start WW3. FFS, its fine for normal people to criticize, but religious leaders??? Nah thats just rich.

has anyone noticed that you don't HAVE to shoot people in that level of the game?

I think we've all forgotten the main point, here: Fazan Mohammed of the British Muslim Forum has Godwinned the debate. We win!

Read the comments...

See the hate for GOD. See the disbelief. See the outright denial. Trouncing on His name. See what men have done to the covenant that God made with man, through the Lord Jesus.

Men have sought power and position amongst the people, and removed the relationship of God from their lives. Forcing them to confess to a minister or repeat prayers, without ever knowing Him, they endlessly talk.

There is a much deeper problem in the world. Pray for those same people, because they will need it in the days to come. A game is the least of the worlds troubles.

it's infuriating and in my opinion stupid the ammount of coverage and reaction this is getting, but gamers have to approach the argument sensibily. we have to show that we're capable of an adult engagement over this even when all others seem not to want to.

personally i boycotted MW2 because of Activision, long story, and refuse to play the game despite the fact i wouldn't have any problems mowing down a few innocent sprites (OOPS! did i say that out loud?).

Chess teaches us to sacrifice pawns, Risk lets us hang whole regiments' lives on the roll of a die, Monopoly encourages us to fuck our families over for a buck. granted it's not as graphic but i'm sure the airport scene is not as graphic as a lot of films are these days. we can learn lessons from these games if we choose to. FFS even the last few chapters of 1984 are really psycologically disturbing but they are some of the most important pages in literature. (No i don't think MW2 is as significant as 1984 and yes i do draw some parralles between gaming and literature).

the biggest issue here of course is adult material in the hands of children.
Having grown up in a Christian community, and now as an aetheist/agnostic i wonder why these (Christian's in this case, not too familiar with other faith) religious leaders never stop to think what impact the following has on a child's personality: kneel, give thanks and pray for forgiveness to an effigy of a murdered and mutilated corpse, eat his flesh and drink his blood to purify yourself because despite being about 7 years old an generally considered an innocent, through your birth you have commited a mortal sin.

seriously, religion fucked me up way more than games ever did.

@John Doe: Dude, you win. that's the most accurate and informed summary of the bigger picture.

well done, i am humbled.

Pathetic!

If there is a problem with games like this then it's that parents let underage kids play them in the first place. Personally I don't think playing this game is going to effect too many kids over the age of around 12 or 13 and I really can't see them going and shooting up an airport or doing whatever it is that these religious fanatics think is going to happen.

Human beings have a huge history of violence and detailed games like this have only been around for maybe 20 years at most if you include things like Doom. So how do these religious leaders explain things like the crusades? There was no airport scene to trigger that. Hitler didn't play some kind of race hate game before the holocaust.

Video game age ratings are as pointless as film ratings, it's up to parents to take more interest in what their children do. When I was growing up my parents didn't have a clue about what games I was playing and I imagine most of yours were/are like that too.

Basically I think games manufacturers should be able to push the limits of everything and everything and parents should do their job or shut their mouths. It shouldn't even be a debate.

I watched this on Sunday. Too many people arguing a foolish point. Fair play to mr binns and mr

It's a MATURE game people. M for MATURE.

“Surely this [scene] puts the gamer in the position of being a terrorist? The whole plot here is that it’s a military commander – whatever – who doesn’t want to blow his cover, so he blows up innocent civilians."

Rofl. You don't blow up anyone. You don't even have to shoot anyone. You can just follow them. OR, YOU CAN SKIP THE MISSION. Their argument is completely invalid.

should an actor at the age of say 16 not be allowed to play Hamlet? surely acting itself rather than film per se is a better analogy for games given the immersive nature of it.
if a young actor was to act well, when stabbing his step-father he should fill himself with the jelousy, rage and revoltion, guilt and madness that the character is meant to feel at this point and actually simulate murder in a most visceral manor. and this is art.

surely child actors need the same protection from adult material as child consumers. But perhaps, just perhaps, imagine if you will, that people are capable of putting things in to context and rationalising thier actions: differentiating between reality and fantasy. all this regardless of emotional immersion.

the more i think about this the more wound up i get. and sarcastic. and pretty self-rightous as well, you start to feel as tho anyone who disagrees with you is a freaking R-tard.

Wow all i have to say is...ITS A FUCKING GAME! GO BACK AND WASTE PEOPLES TIME WITH RELIGION.

The comments from religious leaders would be easier to stomach if it was any way believable that they had even the slightest idea about video games or the modern entertainment industry...

It's quite sad to see so many still using the same old arguments of ‘it’s just a game’, and ‘Kids shouldn’t be playing it’. You really do underestimate the power of the medium in every possible sense. Thankfully (I hope) you'll be left behind as the majority of the industry does seem to want to push boundaries and explore new ways of doing things, that actually work, are intelligent and aren't merely for publicity.

These people are trying to understand and talk through issues that they might be new to and don't simply say, I don’t believe in this it’s rubbish. I am fine with violence in games and have many ideas for improving its use but the way this was handled was just wrong. You cannot possibly compare the airport scene to anything else from games (or any other media as people so easily do) as this is like nothing else. There is no ‘punishment’ or effect to your actions (good or bad) and therefore it makes no sense of what it was doing in the game…unless it was possibly meant to shock…and get people talking on forums…to market the game…and make more money…maybe.

In some ways I could understand if this was done by a little known game developer trying to get some attention and more sales but to include it in a game that really didn't need to do this...well...it's pretty sad. Something that is reaching out to so many people (more than any other product people have been comparing it to), the developers really do have a moral obligation to make sure they aren’t just doing things for the sake of it, it’s dumb.

These games may have age restrictions, but lets face it the developers know children will pick up copies, and this is besides the point, anyone whether a child or not can be affected by an experience to a lesser or greater degree dependant upon there background. Just because some people claim to be immune to these things it doesn’t mean that others aren’t.

To be honest I think the industry, if it really takes itself seriously should shun the idiots that made it for lowering themselves and tarnishing the progress that games have been making over the past few years. They have shown a selfishness and lack of responsibility that doesn’t do anyone any favours apart from themselves. I’m pretty sure we’re not Hollywood

First off, I can understand others points of view when they say the scene is disturbing. And I can even agree with them that this takes things to a whole different level than tv and movies since you are actually killing the people yourself, or choosing not to if you're a digital saint. But that isn't the real point here. And before anyone scoffs at the big picture statement, think about this. What IW did may have been wrong, but at the same time they were still exercising their right of free speech, the right to express themselves in a video game. And has everyone forgotten the game gives stern warning of this graphic level upon starting the single player, not to mention giving the player the ability to skip the level entirely. But what all those that scream for censorship seem to forget is this. If we allow the government, or whoever, to censor one game, what is to stop them from censoring every game. And will it stop with games. It hardly ever does. Do we want to give them that ability, to censor public material without our authority? It only takes once, one instance where they are granted control and then we can say goodbye to all of our freedoms, for ladies and gentlemen, we have begun the long ride down the slippery slope to slavery.

I always have to chuckle when religious groups criticize others for violence and immorality, it's the very height of hypocrisy. Nothing's been responsible for more violence and immorality than the various religions themselves. A lot of the the content in-game is predicated on that very notion. Get rid of religion and you get rid of the majority of the world's problems.

I think there is merit in both sides of the argument here and I hope both sides can open thier minds a bit to see both points of view. Let me explain.

I am 41 years old and a father of two: an 8-year old and a 5-year old. I personally like to play FPS and have been enjoying MW2. I played the airport level, and quite frankly, having been well aware of the controversy beforehand, didn't have much issue with it. Gasp! For me personally, I made and make no connection with shooting animations toward the real thing. Again, I am also 41 and in my opinion, level headed. Granted, this is not some scene I would want to play over and over again. That just isn't necessary. But I can and do easily separate this game's terroristic level from reality. Ok done. It's over. No need to do it over again.

Where I do have concern, especially being a parent, is in the people who are playing this game and the faculties that they have or don't, to make real sense out of what they are doing. First of all, KIDS SHOULD NOT PLAY THIS GAME in the first place. Unfortunately, I know to many parents that have bought their 12, 10, even 8 year-old kids this game. Kids can't separate their alter-ego actions from reality like adults can. Furthermore, kids have the tendency to do things, read play things, over and over and over again. It is this "subliminal advertising" that worries me when it comes to kids...especially those that come from less than stable homes where good parenting is lacking. Kids are sponges and still need adult influence in helping them form their conscience. If games such as MW2 are going to be babysitters for kids while parents take no responsibility for what their kids watch, eat, say, and play, then shame on the parents.

Well formed adults can make their own choices. Even something as controversial as the airport scene will have little or no impact to a well adjusted adult.

Again, I play games and enjoy them. I play MW2 and have no problem with it. I consider myself very religious and have no problem with the religious views presented in the article or their concerns. On the other hand, I also do not have a problem with adults who wish to play the game.

I do have issue with parents allowing their young children to play this. My kids are not in the room when I play adult games. The airport level is not something I will want to continue to repeat, but playing it once in the context of a GAME with clear separation from reality did not bother me.

I don't understand why people are bringing religion into the argument, personally I don't really get on with it but do know some people whom it does a lot of good. And no they are not all trying to start wars...I don't think.

The Joseph Goebbels reference in the article makes a lot of sense and I understand why they included it. There is very clear evidence to say that an experience, be it immersive or passive can have a very profound effect on the individual experiencing it. Look at how unpopular smoking was until some clever marketing guru got Hollywood actors to do it on the red carpet. However if they had known the long-term effects smoking would have on society they may have not allowed it, saving a few lives and a fair amount of taxpayer’s money along the way. Now we know how people are subject to persuasion why include something like this unless it really had worth and was integral to the game? It just shows a lack of caring.

I was actually really excited about the game and the hype around it thinking, wow you know this is a really big deal for gaming, but then I saw this and it just made the whole thing cheap again.

At the end of the day it says more about the creators (and some of the people with very poor arguments for its merit) than the wider gaming community. But there will be knock on effects and it's just these sorts of things that will fuel the fire and could see tougher regulations brought in, when there really is no need for them. Free speech is good and all but have some control.

you know those people make me SICK! im sick and tired of people and religious fanatics and reporters who think they all know what they are talking about, speak up about a simple matter like a violent video game and speak against it like it is as if you take a gun in real life and start murdering people. IT IS A VIDEO GAME! and a mature one at that,which has a rating of mature. If you complain about your kids playing it, WHY DO YOU BUY IT FOR THEM, god knows they cant buy it on their own, you are to blame!

And really, that scene made me emotional in a sense of righteousness, not for the terrorists, but for what is right. That scene showed me that freedom is definatly not free, and it is a damn good reason we are fighting to stop people like that. And for those against the war on terror, that scene may have gone to show you that it is not a lost cause to stop maniacs that can do something so horrible as to murder hundreds or thousands of people and not get what they deserve. I think that level was a smart and clever thing to put in the game. It may have been the russians doing it for the sake of the story but it compares with terrorism from the middle east in the real world, and all around the world. Attrocious crimes like that need to be realized and dealt with or they will continue to happen.

So to all of you religious fanatics and complaining parents who want to complain and make a big deal about it, please do us all a favor and smack yourself in the face and get on with your lives.

I hope people realize that this merely puts you in the hands of one of the gun holders, you do not have to shoot anyone, YOU are in control of who you shoot during the mission. If you wanted you could just walk behind them and watch the men shoot up the whole place, and thus this would make it less concerning than the movie Aur Force One where terrorists highjack the presidents plane and kill his close friends and almost him... Why didn't that movie get flak?? Oh right... Its a movie.. they're irrelevant, since everyone knows movies can't cause violence, only video games... Get real people

I Read this and by god religion is a funny thing....i have Mw2 and i love realy do i love the airport mission also it reli does not affect me becasue it is NOT REAL if some kid some day maybe That womens "15" yr old kid decides to walk in an airport and shoot people so be it his choice nothing to do with a game can i tell you all why i like that mission becasue its just alot of data running around making it look like real people and tbh it dont bover me in the slightest it gives you a choice wethere to skip it or not IW have mad a great game 10/10 all you diffrent religions need to sort out stuff that you no best and leav the games to us thanks and good night xx ;)

started crying? C'mon - and your 15 yr old kid covering his eyes - geez what are you raising your son to be a cry baby? i play this all day and its great, couldnt be happier - my 10 yr old son is climbing the ranks - and i couldnt be prouder - stop turning kids into sissy's - give your kid a squirt gun for christs sake!!! and further more world of warcraft is for girls - cally of duty is just good old fashion fun!!!

Am I the only one who realizes that Infinity Ward WANTED to shock you with this scene? They wanted to show you how terrible terrorism is, and it f*cking WORKED. I walked through that entire mission in complete shock, I couldn't bring myself to fire a single round from my weapon until the game forced me to in order to proceed, and by the end of it all, I hated Zakarov more than anything in the game because of the atrocious act he had made me (as a character) not only witness but participate in.

The point of many games is to put you in the shoes of the character you play as. One of the things that's often difficult to convey is the emotional experience, actually making you feel what the character is feeling, which is something that books or movies are less effective at doing because the character's emotions are simply projected onto you, instead of your emotions working in lieu with that of the character's.

When I played that level, I wasn't simply watching a guy being forced to commit a massacre, -I- was the one who was forced to commit the massacre. It's a completely different perspective, one that I can relate to because I'm not just watching the character, I -am- the character, and my choices reflect on that character and the way they are portrayed to the audience. And with that, I felt every pang of guilt, frustration, horror and shock that I'm damn sure Allen was feeling when he walked into that airport terminal.

And that's what made that scene so incredibly poignant and effective at conveying the right mood. My choice would not only reflect on my character, but on -me-, something that honestly feels like it can only truly be conveyed through a video game.

Often, I remember certain works of art, whether it be a book, game, or movie, due to a single moment that that I know will define my understanding and perception of that entire piece. For Modern Warfare 2, this is that moment. Rarely in my experience have I felt so passionately about a fictional event like that. This was one of the most ridiculously effective moments of storytelling I've experienced. And Infinity Ward, for all of their failures in crafting a functional online experience, at least excelled in delivering an emotional roller-coaster of a ride, one that I will not soon forget.

I played the airport scene today and yeah i shot a few people as i went through, i wasnt uneasy about it, i wasnt upset by it, i didnt get off on it and i played through it because, as i've always said, "its a game" if you dont like it, dont play it, you dont have to shoot anyone because the others will do it for you and *spoiler alert* ya get shot in the end either way!
No one complains when your slaughtering Russians from the top of Burger Town or milling your way through street gangs in Brazil. Their people to, Civilians with guns.
15 year olds shouldnt be playing 18+ rated games and if your a parent watching your child do this then, i'm sorry but thats bad parenting, its not the games fault you didnt stop him! they have age ratings for a reason and if he's 15 YOU bought it for him. I played it and i will play it again.
Prime example of civilian deaths was when terrorists took down a flight in Die Hard 2 and there was no uproar. Games are basically interactive movies and if your the kinda person who takes more from a video game then enjoyment and think this stuff is ok then you have a problem and its not the games fault. War and Murder was around before video games people seem to forget that.

Moral of the story is, dont play it if you dont like it, your given the option to skip it from the start and a massive warning about it to. if you choose to play that mission then you understand that it could be violent and offensive, dont wanna see that, then skip it and go shoot some Russians? Which seems to be ok long as their holding guns.

its ok for movies but not ok for games?
yea, im still scratching my head on that one.
sorry guys whats good for the goose is good for the gander!
50 bucks says i could go into iraq make a documentary, have someone kidnapped and tortured in ways never imaginable.
than come back and put it in the movies and no one would say boo.
but take 10 seconds of that, make it 100 times less offensive pop it into a game and no no no you have to take that out.
well at least he did not use the "this game is teaching 8 year olds to become terrorists" argument.
i dident know MW2 teaches you to hijack planes.

Steven @ 101, you make a good point that it would be nice if violence in video games was approached in a perhaps more constructive, beneficial way - but this point seems not only moot but about what's in the eye of the beholder.

As I understand it, behavioural research indicates that games can increase aggression in children in the short term. I don't know what risks are associated with this and I don't know what the literature says about long-term effects on kids who play them through their teenage years and into adult life - as I understand it there are insufficient longitudinal studies to come to a sound conclusion.

I also understand that the literature suggests violent video games are not the largest factor in societal violence - in other words there might be more important things to be concerned about in terms of societal violence (let alone anything else). But, unlike the majority of participants in Big Questions, I am happy to change my opinions when new evidence arises and act appropriately - they on the other hand appear to have already made up their minds. This is completely understandable in terms of families affected by violence, but everyone else should pause to think.

I think you too readily dismiss the argument that ‘Kids shouldn’t be playing it’. It is an easily made but nevertheless valid point. Seriously, what was Trent-Hughes's son doing in the same room as her while she was watching an 18-rated game? Why don't some parents take the 18 rating seriously? If we made the 18 logo larger (Keith Vaz's suggestion, although I don't know how large he thinks it should be) would it lead to a significant reduction in the number of parents buying 18-rated games for their kids? Should we prosecute more retailers for selling games to under 18s? Should over 18s be prevented from access to particular content just because some parents and retailers are irresponsible?

Ed @ 104, your point of view seems very reasonable to me - I can't argue with any of it or add to it.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

“I felt sick to my stomach and I was frightened,” she said. “People are screaming, there’s blood splattering all over the screen. It is absolutely awful. I sat there with my son, who’s 15, and he was like [covers eyes].”

Hmmmm thats why they have age ratings and as a parent you should asses what is right for your child and more impartantly what is not.....

I have a son who is much younger and I wont even play this game or any like it until he is asleep why? because I take responibilty for my action and dont just pass the buck onto developers and hope the nanny state buts in....

For the same reason I wont read him the screen play to clockwork orange I ask is your lack of parenting skills akin child abuse????? as parents we are able to impact our children growing up. If you like I have some movies you might want to get the family around to watch: the saw series, pulp fiction and any number of other movies you would not let your children watch...

As a working parent who likes games I feel you are bringing us down not the entertainment industry.

all the best.

Have these guys read their own holy books? They are hardly in a position to offer moral guidance when their own ministries support exactly the sort of hate-mongering the world needs less off. And have they seen the state of the world anyway? Its not like kids can't see civilians being killed everyday IN REAL LIFE on TV.

Firstly does any one else see the irony in "leaders from across the religious belief spectrum" railing against violent video games. When they represent the various systems of belief which over the centuries and in to the present have rained fire & brimstone (excuse the pun) on men, women and children for things we would now in our "developed" world never consider just. Really people talk about, the pot calling the kettle black.

I have yet to buy MW2 and having read this will go out and buy it today before the Mary Whitehouse crew prevents me from exercising my own judgment. Based on the assumption that my own assessment of right or wrong is less accurate than some nut who believes in very old fiction..

Bring on the airport level, as far as I am concerned I will be ridding the world of sheep, (metaphorically of course)

Death & kisses

The truth.

All this is is the relgious factions reminding the world that theyre still around using, albeit, a violent adult video game as a spring board.

Their views on the modern world are as draconic as the very beliefs they follow and practice.

All this is is the relgious factions reminding the world that theyre still around using, albeit, a violent adult video game as a spring board.

Their views on the modern world are as draconic as the very beliefs they follow and practice.

I enjoyed the scene even if it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

It moved me in a way that no other game has ever done so before, and on that front and that point on in the game, somehow what happens is personal so it does its job of drawing you into the story and making you feel its important to see it through!

well done infinity ward!

I played PacMan the other day and it made my daughter cry... she blubbed, "Daddy, why are you eating those ghosts? What did they ever do to you?". Suddenly it dawned on me that she had a point, now I can't even bear to turn on my Atari VCS System.

this is whats going on where our troops are. but the government dont seem to care, so why does everyone care about a GAME. yea thats all it is a game that is representing war. its ok for peaple to kill others for no reason in iraq but when a game about real life is made everyone crys. pathetic. religion is the biggest reason for killing and war. they all need to shut up, and find something better to do!!!

why was the 15 year old kid even watching the game? This is a prime showing of some parents incompetance. I wouldnt buy my kids cigerattes or alchole to go get drunk in a park so why is this kid watching it?

Religious leaders? Go back to your religious wars, fundamentalism, fervor and fanaticism. Leave us to the fake killing.

i like it very good
supply lv and balenciaga hermes coach chloe wallet
www.lookhandbag.com

ok whats the biggie about the game, Jennifer Trent-Hughes cryied at this game as if she didnt know what the game was about it's a frigen "war game" duh . And it dose have an 18 rating so y did she bye it 4 her 15 year old son. and she let him play this level that she could have cut out . heres a tip dont bye/play if that sort off thing puts u of u sick bitch. And if u all remember at the end of the level u get shot in the head 4 ur crimes. And by the way the real scum bag in the game was the american genreal who was the who got his come uppings. And infinity ward/ activision r very good at selling there games. Thats y we byu there game to c how far the can push the envolepe. When people sound off about these games it only make activisions job easyer .

Get a bloody grip woman...it's a videeeoooo gaaaame!!!
Ok, yes, admittedly the airport scene is shocking, but it's meant to be!!
And why are you complaining that your 15 year old son is now traumatised after playing through this scene knowing full well that he is clearly under age? It beggers belief, it really does.

Pipe down Hughes and get over it......

These religious leaders should chill the fuck out! Honestly, the sooner the generation of "conservative" naysayers die out, the better it'll be for ever gamer.

I already played (and finished) MW2. And the airport scene didn't bother me one bit, I remember enjoying it a lot. It's like all the other games that let you play the typical opposite sides (good & evil), they just give you the option to play out a different role than the one the player is used to by obiding to "standard" moral & ethical values of the society in which he lives.
It's fiction! I'm sorry but if any of that compels you, a legal adult (game is rated 18+) to go out and kill people or commit any other type of crime. Then you already had a problem, maybe watching violence triggers it yes, but the problem is already in your persona. The game does not create mindless assassins. And if you're disgusted by it then simply don't watch it, why do people drive slower when they pass by an accident? Pure morbid curiosity, you know you might see something that grosses you out, but you look anyway!
It's the human condition... it was that way long before videogames... and it's going to keep that way. You're just finding an easy excuse for your problems. It's called projecting... seek help and leave the games for people who are mentally capable to cope with the content.

There's games worse than MW2 airport scene out there! Take GTA killing thousands of people, car jacking, blowing things up, drugs, sex, I've been playing these games since i was old enough to pick up a control pad, My parents never had a knock at the door saying i've just been on a killing spree! Don't these people have anything else better to do? Homless people, so called climate change, REAL TERRORISM. If you don't like the 18 Rated game, or any game with this type of content, don't play it or allow your kids play it.

ITS AN 18 RATED GAME.. if you let your 15 year old play it then You are at fault.
I Bet These same people would hit the roof if a Retailer Mistakenly sold it to their child without asking for ID but these Idiots go out and buy it for them instead.

In Short If you Dont like them dont play them and leave Us, the people smart enough not to copy every stupid thing we see in the media, Alone to enjoy these forms of entertainment.