Console Versions of Modern Warfare 2 Banned in Russia

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Console Versions of Modern Warfare 2 Banned in Russia

Every copy of the console version of Modern Warfare 2 has been recalled from stores in Russia due to the content of the ?No Russian? mission, better known as the controversial airport massacre level. Likewise, Infinity Ward has released an official patch for the PC and Steam versions of Modern Warfare 2, entirely removing the mission from the game.

Pending validation from the Russian government, the censored console versions of the game are expected to be released within less than a month, with the mission removed.

The game?s content has raised the ire of the Russian gaming public as well as a number of politicians who object to its portrayal of Russia?s armed forces as terrorists who invade the United States and subsequently erect statues of dead terrorists in Washington D.C.

Russian gaming website GotPS3 voiced their anger over the game?s storyline, which they criticized as catering to a primarily American audience with total disregard towards other cultures, especially the Russians, whom the game depicts as terrorists.

As it is, Russian gamers who wish to play the game will have to choose from purchasing the gutted Steam version, ordering the US/EU version of Modern Warfare 2 from eBay, or waiting for an indefinite period of time for the censored version to be released, pending validation.

Thanks, Warrax, for providing a Russian source.

News source: Hellforge

[perochan]

it is just a game...

[Dc'1]

Tbh I'm surprised they even released it there :p

It's bound to offend somebody.

[(Spork)]

lol @ Russia

[MindTrickz]

To laugh at the Russians when there most likely would have been an bigger outrage if this game had depicted American civilians being slaughtered doesn't make sense.

[Konstanov]

Considering Russia was the first country to start a war on terrorism, which I participated in, is offensive to me. However I brushed off considering how brainwashed American media is towards Russia in general and still acts like we're all criminals, terrorists, or just waiting for the day we can take America over, which is complete and total bull****. At least Russia has a defined culture unlike America.

[Titoist]

I havent played the game yet (no money) but how would Americans feel if they were portrayed the same way?

Here is a video of the sacrifices Russians made to keep terrorrism from spreading. Sad that American's don't recognize the achievements of other countries, unless its their own.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Titoist

[Master1]

this is absolutely pathetic good thing i hate call of duty: modern warfare 1 and 2, it is very unfair to portray any group of people as the game has portrayed them

[Boz]

I agree with them. It's definitely understandable why they are angry. As I played the game I definitely thought about this and how they would react. This is nothing new though. US in general has been doing stuff like this forever, in movies and other games. It's definitely not productive nor ok to do stuff like this. Imagine if other countries started making games that massacre people on JFK airport. US would go to war with the country who released the game :)

[b10h4z4rd]

All I can say is boo-hoo, get over yourselves. It's not like they put a big disclaimer saying this is how Russians really are.

[TrueMonolith]

I completely understand russia's outrage at the portrayal of russians as terrorists. While america was funding terrorism throughout the 80's (and continues to do so today), the russians were a country actively fighting against it. Israel, Russia and India are 3 countries that have been fighting the wave of islamic terrorism since as early back as the 60's.

If an american company wants to depict this in the name of artistic license, i would imagine they do so fully expecting ban's like this.

Its highly incensitive though, the publisher should do their history before spewing crap like this onto a game. Its not just bad taste, it sets a bad impression for what the culture of their artists is like.

[iamwhoiam]

Considering Russia was the first country to start a war on terrorism, which I participated in, is offensive to me.

If people get offended over fiction, especially a freaking video game, then there's definitely deep issues they have with themselves.

[Konstanov]

If people get offended over fiction, especially a freaking video game, then there's definitely deep issues they have with themselves.

Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize that if I get offended by the close minded mentality of American's toward Russia and you misinterpret that as being offended by fiction you can tell me I have deep issue that I have with myself, even though I lost my best friend who was practically my little brother to the Russian War on Terror. I'm sorry, that I got offended over a video game, get over yourself.

[Spookie]

All I can say is boo-hoo, get over yourselves. It's not like they put a big disclaimer saying this is how Russians really are.

Yet if it was happening in a US airport you'd all be calling for blood. :rolleyes:

[jonhapimp]

big reaction for no ****ing reason, it's not because "Americans is close minded" it's a ****ing game get over yourselves

[Konstanov]

big reaction for no ****ing reason, it's not because "Americans is close minded" it's a ****ing game get over yourselves

Educate yourself on terrorism in Russia and then say it's just a game. You just sound ignorant.

[jonhapimp]

Educate yourself on terrorism in Russia and then say it's just a game. You just sound ignorant.

Your ignorant making that post i said it's a big reaction for no ****ing reason, i didn't say **** about terrorism, now go educate your self on how to read a post

[TrueMonolith]

Yet if it was happening in a US airport you'd all be calling for blood. :rolleyes:

some americans would. But then again there are plenty of movies/games which pit you up against american terrorists. They're generally desensitised to the notion that americans can be terrorists. Russians have fought the fight for so long, the notion of being put into the same category is deeply offensive.

[JustGeorge]

Why are they Russian to judgment like that?

[Starcom826]

Considering Russia was the first country to start a war on terrorism, which I participated in, is offensive to me. However I brushed off considering how brainwashed American media is towards Russia in general and still acts like we're all criminals, terrorists, or just waiting for the day we can take America over, which is complete and total bull****. At least Russia has a defined culture unlike America.

Psshh, so you get all up on people who are saying to get over a game's fictional plot because American's are close minded and oblivious, and then you say Russia has a defined culture unlike America? Get of your high horse and realize you're standing knee deep in bull.

Yet if it was happening in a US airport you'd all be calling for blood. :rolleyes:

Yeah, but if were to happen, America wouldn't be so stupid as to ban it by mandate.

[splur]

It's the fact that terrorism is REAL in Russia. I'm sorry, but we're quite cozy over here, there has been tight security ever since 9/11, but there it's something that could happen any time. I don't actually think that the Russian government is offended by the fact that Russians carried out the attack, but that it was a terrorist group who attacked civilians in a Russian airport, something that is very possible there. I mean look at the Beslan massacre, one of many examples.

And people are always offended by fiction, video games aren't immune to that. Video games are actually worse because it satisfies someone's imagination visually and allows them to participate in it. It doesn't help that MW2 is very realistic, and it uses real names/places and not implied ones. Rockstar definitely dodged some bullets by using fake city names.

I mean, someone could get in big **** for reading a child pornography fantasy. It's just fiction right? No harm done?

[Starcom826]

I mean, someone could get in big **** for reading a child pornography fantasy. It's just fiction right? No harm done?

Well yeah, if its fantasy that is most definitely no harm done. No harm done to anyone else at least. I see your point. Essentially, if it happens, we must pretend like it doesn't so people can feel good. For that reason, the government should be able to ban whatever media they want at will. Gotcha.

[protocol7]

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36523/Religious-...odern-Warfare-2

God's people don't like it either. The comments shred the whole argument up in 3 points:

1) It's a 18-rated game. Kids shouldn't be playing this. Chalk one up to responsible parenting failure.

2) You are given the option to SKIP THE ENTIRE MISSION.

3) You can walk through the mission and not fire a shot and still complete it.

[Titoist]

Country (#) is portrayed as an enemy in a game.

1. Russia - bans game

2. US - ****ing nuke the country from which the game originated.

Actually there are a number of games that have been banned in the states or certain versions of it have been banned. One example I can make is a WW2 Strategy game from the 90's where you had the option of playing as a German commander. The game was banned from the United States and the companies legal rights were removed for "Promoting/Encouraging death of American's"

[Starcom826]

Country (#) is portrayed as an enemy in a game.

1. Russia - bans game

2. US - ****ing nuke the country from which the game originated.

Oh really? Which country was this?

Actually there are a number of games that have been banned in the states or certain versions of it have been banned. One example I can make is a WW2 Strategy game from the 90's where you had the option of playing as a German commander. The game was banned from the United States and the companies legal rights were removed for "Promoting/Encouraging death of American's"

And which game was that? Company of Heroes allows you to play a German commander and that sold just fine in the USA.