(In yet another exciting edition of
Zombutler & Lemon Discuss, we discuss the recently leaked video that shows a level of Modern Warfare 2 that touches on an incredibly controversial subject. While the following discussion is riddled with spoilers, it's also riddled with semi-intelligent thought, love for Zooey Deschanel, and acknowledgement that Postal is indeed, a ludicrous excuse for a video game.
Hit the comments and tell us what you think, yo.)
electro lemon: When I saw the MW2 thing, my immediate thought was "AWWW, HERE IT GOES!"
Zombutler: I'm excited. Props to IW for pushing outside the boundaries and letting us feel real terror.(If it is real.)
electro lemon: I'm not sure if it's real, honestly. I think it could be, I mean MW2 comes out in like, a month.
electro lemon: Oh my fucking god, if I see Carrie Underwood sing about cotton one more time, I'll murder everything.
I only want this commercial with Zooey Deschanel. Only.
Zombutler: it's Miranda Lambert, but OK.
electro lemon: I care.
LATAH
electro lemon: Okay, i hadn't seen this video until now.
Holy fucking shit/ This is going to be a huge problem if real. Like,
enormous problem. Holy shit.
Zombutler: This is
why IW has to do stuff like this, so gamers can mature from being giant cockfucks like the guy narrating the video. This is
real. It's emotional. you know?
Zombutler: Oh are you watching the youtube one? Without the narration? Ignore what I said.
Zombutler: This looks fucking terrifying to play
electro lemon: Yeah, what the fuck, IW?
Zombutler: It's a good thing.
electro lemon: No, it's not.
Zombutler: Yes, it is.
electro lemon: You don't understand how much of a huge issue this is going to be.
Zombutler: Of course I fucking understand. It's a good thing for the future of gaming.
electro lemon: Come December, there will be at least one shooting blamed on that level alone. Come August, 50 more.
electro lemon: This is nothing new.
Zombutler: Really? What other game lets you murder civilians in an airport?
electro lemon: This type of thing has been in games before, and those games have sold like shit for a reason.
electro lemon: Not an airport, but Postal has been doing this sort of thing for three full games now.
Zombutler: Not even close.
electro lemon: … It's the point of the entire series. Also, Far Cry 2.
Zombutler: Postal is cartoony bullshit that is so far from reality in terms of violence and subject matter that it's impossible to take seriously. This is
real. You are living this experience, watching these people lose their lives.
electro lemon: But anyway, I don't think implementing a level that allows you to murder people for progression does anything for "the future of gaming." Sure, it creates a sense of empathy in the experience itself, but it won't do anything for the future. Games won't become more mature all of a sudden, from a precedent of empathy set by a single level where you play as a terrorist. If anything, it'll create fuel for bullshit, and prevent games from even going anywhere near the same sort of thing.
electro lemon: IMO.
Zombutler: It proves that we can move ever closer to maturing past the 9-11 xenophobia and cultural censorship bullshit that has plagued video games(and the media in general) ever since, and it proves that when implemented correctly, a game can have intense scenes like such without being tasteless. In fact, it looks like you aren't even a terrorist.
electro lemon: You are a terrorist, but that's kind of besides the point.
Zombutler: Did you watch the video? You are a CIA agent undercover, and you get shot in the fucking face at the end of the level.
electro lemon: I see that you get shot in the face, but I'm pretty sure you're still a terrorist.
Zombutler: …That's odd, considering the CIA level marker at the beginning, and the American troops who rush to your side at the end.
electro lemon: They were SWAT members, probably checking for a pulse, and they had CIA markers before a lot of the counter-operative levels of MW, too. I think if it were in English, it would explain who you are, as if it were a CIA briefing of your terrorist group, and not to say "You're a cia undercover agent." Again, besides the point.
electro lemon: While I agree that a) 9/11 xenophobia and b) OMG 9/11 REMEMBER WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED idealism are both bullshit, nobody will ever see that side of the game. As soon as people see civilians being murdered, no one thinks of the bright side. Sure, they think it's plot-advancing, and that IW didn't mean anything bad by it, but no one ever sees it as being there for the sake of gaming's future. It's a secondary thought, and while it's a good one, it's one that no one (or at least, no one of note or with influence) will see. Even Rev. Anthony, in all of his "infinite wisdom" would probably say it's a little (but only a little) tasteless. A little.
electro lemon: If anything, just for their boldness to place such a thing in such a mainstream series. if it weren't a multi-billion dollar series, it wouldn't be as much of an issue, but it is. But you do make a good point.
Zombutler: I completely understand everything you are saying. Almost no good can come from this. I do not look forward to the verbal inaccuracies the media will hurl at us gamers in the inevitable MEGA HUGE backlash, but I applaud Infinity Ward because although the media won't understand, it is a step in the right direction.
electro lemon: I agree. Completely agree. Just saying that the detriments will almost certainly outweigh the possible benefits.
Zombutler: Yep.
electro lemon: in the end, I really won't care. It will be a tough level to trudge through (even for me, who has almost no empathy or soul, thanks to the internet) but I'm sure the game will be fun. If it's real.
Zombutler: I am 110% sure it is real.
electro lemon: Same here. Too much effort and too good to be fake.
And just in case you've been living under Iraq (that's the saying right? It's an illusion to Saddam Hussein, yes?)
here's the video in question. Digg it for Dtoid!
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