Console Versions of Modern Warfare 2 Banned in Russia

[jonhapimp]

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"

I call so much BS

[Blackhearted]

OK, so let me get some of you in this thread straight. Americans portraying any country as bad, even if a FICTIONAL SENSE, is bad, terrible, and the worst thing ever. Yet all of you [ignorant] foreigners who are so quick and easy to potray ALL of us as the same "closed minded warmongerers", are ok? The way some of you think make you just as bad as your claims of us.

[+SOOPRcow MVC]

Free Expression, deal with it. If something offends you so much ignore it. If it's such a major issue (which this really is not) then educate people on the wrongs of it. Banning something however is the worst possible thing you can do, all it does is create more interest.

Also, I find it ironic that those who agree with the ban argue that those who created the game are close minded :\

Edited November 17, 2009 by SOOPRcow

[splur]

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.

Well, it hasn't happened yet... it's a possible scenario. I mean, there's a difference between talking about 9/11 and talking about bombing grand central in NYC. I never said the government should ban anything, I'm simply saying I can see where the Russian government is coming from. They're overreacting with a ban, but it's not far fetched that they're reacting. Mind you I have no qualms about IW including the mission in the game. Just to clear that up in case anyone else misread my previous post.

Free Expression, deal with it. If something offends you so much ignore it. If it's such a major issue (which this really is not) then educate people on the wrongs of it. Banning something however is the worst possible thing you can do, all it does is create more interest.

Also, I find it ironic that those who agree with the ban argue that those who created the game are close minded :\

There is no real freedom of speech or free expression in Russia. Freedom is the only way? I guess it should be, but communist governments are notorious for censorship. China is thinking of banning World of Warcraft. Because... ... ??? And the same way you're saying "deal with it", they're saying the same thing (except technically none of us have to deal with it because we're not in Russia so I honestly don't see what the big deal is).

[Sethos]

May just be me but ( Game spoiler ahead ) A GENERAL goes rogue along with a huge lump of American soldiers apparently, doesn't that put Americans in a very bad light as well? ...

[Konstanov]

But terrorism in Russia isn't real and just in games. This is in no way a extremely touchy subject in all of Russia.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

May just be me but ( Game spoiler ahead ) A GENERAL goes rogue along with a huge lump of American soldiers apparently, doesn't that put Americans in a very bad light as well? ...

When you're poking fun at yourself, its parody, when you're poking fun at others its offensive. I can see the Russians point on this one, since it does put them (in some way) in a bad light, given that they're the main characters in the most controversial mission in the game.

Lets not forget that the German version of "Die Hard" portrayed the bad guys as "European", whereas to everyone else they were German. No country isn't going to take offence to the fact that their citizens are being portrayed as evil or immoral, and I'm sure there'd be some outcry if the Russians, Iranians, *insert "enemy of the free world" here* made a shooter that portrayed US, UK, etc armed forces in a poor light.

[vanx]

I think the fact that it is a game must not provide an excuse for cramming it full of atrocities. Portraying individuals of another country or religion in such cruel way, especially in fiction, is bound to create controversy. Considering that now there's an official patch available to remove this mission, it shows that if the developers are so eager to pull it then it shouldn't have been included in the first place. Gratuitous violence, within any form of media and in real life, is completely unnecessary.

Free Expression is no excuse either. Nor should anyone be advised to turn the other cheek in case he/she is offended or ignore it, which is even worse. First you ban, then you educate. Because simply educating doesn't send a message to developers/publishers about levels of what is acceptable within a certain locale and what is not. A ban does. In Germany for example, it is forbidden for games to feature swastika symbols, so German edition of Return to Castle Wolfenstein didn't have any. Developers/publishers have to be sensitive to such matters. IW/Activision didn't do their research on possible effects of such content well enough and if they loose revenue due to this ban, which they almost certainly will, then serve them right and I hope that they will learn from this mistake.

[Sethos]

When you're poking fun at yourself, its parody, when you're poking fun at others its offensive. I can see the Russians point on this one, since it does put them (in some way) in a bad light, given that they're the main characters in the most controversial mission in the game.

Lets not forget that the German version of "Die Hard" portrayed the bad guys as "European", whereas to everyone else they were German. No country isn't going to take offence to the fact that their citizens are being portrayed as evil or immoral, and I'm sure there'd be some outcry if the Russians, Iranians, *insert "enemy of the free world" here* made a shooter that portrayed US, UK, etc armed forces in a poor light.

A General with an army going rogue, wanting to destroy his own country is "poking fun" ... what the hell are you smoking?

[Sethos]

UPDATE: Activision has just confirmed to VG247 that reports of Modern Warfare 2 being withdrawn in Russian are incorrect.

[Vice]

To me, its just a video game. I'm British and in a lot of American movies and tv shows british people are portrayed as the evil villains. Something about the accent I guess (haha) but it doesn't annoy me. We play bad guys really well!

The level with the airport in the game was uncomfortable to play, it felt weird shooting down such realistically rendered defenceless civilians, but again its just a game. If anything that was one of the most boring levels in the entire game. If they portrayed that happening in a UK airport I wouldn't be offended, because ...it's just a game.

[ylcard]

So Russia finds it OK to portray OTHER countries as terrorists but not theirs ? (Or whatever it is they whine about ?)

The whole freaking game is about war, someone has to be the bad guy, or do we fight evil alien races ?

Oh silly.. so silly.

Pathetic Russia... People that get offended by a bloody game should get their internet connection closed, you might get offended by some obscure web site portraying Russia and hackers.

Edit:

I've seen plenty of movies/series that mention Israel/Mossad as an origin of evil dudes or some ****, but I admit I cried like a ***** in my bed, because it offends me and all, this is srs... /sarcasm

[curme]

I'm confused. Are the terms "Russia" and the "USSR" being used interchangeably now?

I thought Russia only existed since the break-up of the USSR, when parts of the USSR were freed and got their independence.

[ylcard]

USSR came to be at around 1920's, so "Russia" existed before that, way before.

[iamwhoiam]

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

No, I wouldn't. Why? Because it's just a video game.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

A General with an army going rogue, wanting to destroy his own country is "poking fun" ... what the hell are you smoking?

Sigh. What I meant was that because the game was developed by Americans, they have creative licence to call themselves the bad guys, no-one gets too offended. The Rock, Die Hard 2, Die Hard 4.0, these are all but a few films that portray that. However, if another country was to do such a thing, then the USA would be all "PROPOGANDA", "ENEMIES OF THE FREE WORLD", etc, etc (could you imagine how well received a film coming out of Iran would be in the USA if it portrayed Americans as terrorists?). Historically, the USA and the Russians have a pretty frosty relationship, which is better than it was, but still not great. For people from the USA to turn around and portray the Russians as terrorists could be considered offensive to the Russians. Things like this are always always always politically or religiously motiviated (you're Danish I assume, so I also assume you're aware of the reception of a certain Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) cartoon that was published over there), and you'd be pretty naive to think the Russian government was going to take this light-heartedly.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Majesticmerc

[Anooxy]

So Russia finds it OK to portray OTHER countries as terrorists but not theirs ? (Or whatever it is they whine about ?)

The whole freaking game is about war, someone has to be the bad guy, or do we fight evil alien races ?

Oh silly.. so silly.

Pathetic Russia... People that get offended by a bloody game should get their internet connection closed, you might get offended by some obscure web site portraying Russia and hackers.

Being portrayed bad by fiction, including games is really effective on people, especially nationalists. I guess you don't really love your country to understand Russian's position on this.

BTW, the US always have done this, not the Russians, get your facts right.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

UPDATE: Activision has just confirmed to VG247 that reports of Modern Warfare 2 being withdrawn in Russian are incorrect.

I'M GOING TO PRETEND I CAN'T SEE THIS POST AND CONTINUE ARGUING LIKE IT'S TRUE FOR ANOTHER 10 PAGES.

[techbeck]

Ummmm, who cares. Russia can do whatever they want...their country. I remember places like China banning games as well. Not to mention that Hilary Clinton got GTA edited for content at one point.

And why are people here getting so worked up about a game...seriously, a game?

[Chasethebase Veteran]

UPDATE: Activision has just confirmed to VG247 that reports of Modern Warfare 2 being withdrawn in Russian are incorrect.

I'M GOING TO PRETEND I CAN'T SEE THIS POST AND CONTINUE ARGUING LIKE IT'S TRUE FOR ANOTHER 10 PAGES.

AGREED, LET'S ARGUE TOGETHER.

Edit: I'm going to add to this post, in a way that this link really needs shoving around. Surely the topic can be locked now the news report has been proven false?

Edited November 17, 2009 by Chasethebase

[vanx]

And why are people here getting so worked up about a game...seriously, a game?

Just because it's a game, why should offence that this is causing to some people be reduced? Why make a big deal about people making a big deal about it?

[RangerLG]

But terrorism in Russia isn't real and just in games. This is in no way a extremely touchy subject in all of Russia.

Terrorism has happened in more than just Russia, *cough*9/11*cough*USS Cole*cough*

I'm not trying to downplay the tragedy, just stating facts.

And also, the in GTA, you can actually go into a FICTIONAL airport and slaughter everyone if you wish. I have played through MW2 and I personally was more bothered by the US military (mainly the brass) than the Russian Ultranationalist faction.

[ylcard]

Being portrayed bad by fiction, including games is really effective on people, especially nationalists. I guess you don't really love your country to understand Russian's position on this.

BTW, the US always have done this, not the Russians, get your facts right.

Aside from the fact that this whole thread fails (since the "news" are false), would you rather see made up countries like "Hizbalaland" or something even sillier ?

I don't love my country and it has nothing to do with my SANE approach to video games, there are plenty of reasons though.

Also, I don't get that last sentence, was it addressed to me ?

[WastedJoker]

Don't they realise there's also an American involved in the airport massacre? :/

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

I'M GOING TO PRETEND I CAN'T SEE THIS POST AND CONTINUE ARGUING LIKE IT'S TRUE FOR ANOTHER 10 PAGES.

I saw the link, but Sethos prompted me to explain the reasoning behind my opinion, so I did, no need to get your knickers in a twist.