Modern Warfare: Modern Violence
December 19, 2009
by William Hazlitt
One of the most anticipated video games of 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has already become an instant classic. Up for many awards such as Best First Person Shooter, and Game of the Year. But controversy follows Modern Warfare 2 for a particular level which has been called the most violent level in video game history.
When first starting campaign mode a notice comes up saying one of the missions in the game might be disturbing or offensive and gives the player the option to skip this level. They do not go into detail about the “offensive level” but they want the player to make a decision whether they will be offended or not. There is no reference made to an opportunity to mow down hundreds of innocent virtual citizens during a simulated terrorist assault on a Russian airport. “People have really strong reactions to the airport scene and it’s been fascinating because we all wanted to make it something that would be upsetting, disturbing, but also something people relate to,” said writer Jesse Stern to Gamepro.com. Even Stern used the word “disturbing,” as the game did. Given the evidence, it seems Infinity Ward wanted more people to experience the vague “No Russian” than not.
The level “No Russian” is a brief stage early on in the game in which players take the roll of an undercover CIA agent, Pvt. Joseph Allen, who has infiltrated the Ultra-Nationalist Russian terrorist organization. The terrorist group you are with enter a Moscow Airport and massacre hundreds of helpless civilians at a slow cruel pace. Then once that half of the level is done, shoot your way through waves of Russian police, until the eventual betrayal and escape of Makarov.
This level isn’t just randomly in the game because Infinity Ward is a little sick in the head. The only reason why they included it in the game is because it’s a crucial part of the story. As you go through the level the terrorists are all using American weapons and the player is reminded to only speaking English. At the very end of the madness it is revealed that Makarov knew the entire time that “you” were an undercover American and kills “you” leaving the horrible terrorist attack at the airport in the hands of the American Military. Russia then “cry’s for war” and sets up the events for the rest of the game, which is a Russian invasion of America and eventually the beginning of World War III.
But nowhere does it say that your mission is to kill the civilians in the airport, your main objective in the level is “Gain Makarov’s trust”. You yourself as the player do not have to shoot one bullet at any unarmed civilian to pass the level nor do you get points for shooting them in the first place. The three ways the level can play out is, you can notice what is about to happen and open fire on the terrorists that are with you, but they will swiftly take you down, hold your fire for the first half of the level, or you can simply let go and fire into the crowds. When Infinity Ward began beta testing the game before it was released, “people would get angry or sad or disgusted and immediately wonder what the hell was going on here.” says Steve Mancuda. Then after those brief moments, every single person who tested the game opened fire at the crowd. What does that say about Human nature? Even though everybody had a problem with it, they went along with it. Gamer Hoshane Wedderburn states, “People will always have a problem with a game like this, but its rated Mature, because it has Mature Content, so parents need to be responsible, instead of blame the game for making you be a parent.”
Needless to say, there are many people upset about this game including Russia. Modern Warfare 2 has allegedly been recalled in Russia due to the controversial level. It seems that the choice of killing innocent Russian civilians in the scene isn’t one that the Russian government would like to leave up to players. There is still protest going on for Infinity ward to take the level out of the game and re-release it in Russia. But if the airport from the mission was JFK or LaGuardia, this game definitely would’ve been recalled instantly. So what does that say about America?
