Oh Infinity Ward, you so silly! Not content to cook up a big gay sh*tstorm with its notorious Modern Warfare 2F.A.G.S commercial, it seems that Infinity Ward had to slip some homononsensical banter into the game itself. Yes, that's Modern Warfare 2asking if you're still gay!
This hidden conversation occurs right near the beginning of the game, after the weapons tutorial. If you leave the game idle, this bit of gay banter will occur. It's unclear who the conversation is supposed to be between, but it's highly likely that the man asking the big gay question is voiced by none other than Will Arnett, who is credited as "additional voices" in the game.
This is too silly/stupid for me to personally feel any outrage over, but what do you think? Tasteless? Childish? Perfectly acceptable? Do you think Infinity Ward is secretly confessing some deep-seated homophobia, or are they simply trying to demonstrate that their game is so popular that they can alienate literally anybody and still sell millions of copies?
[Note: I know full well this is not homophobic. A lot of you are taking a late night tongue-in-cheek post way too seriously.]
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I'm not surprised that Will Arnett did voices for Modern Warfare. He was on Late Night With Conan O'Brien a while back, and he talked about 12-year olds trash talking him on COD4, just like all of the other celebrities that play games do. His gamertag is Roncore. Not sure why he'd say that on TV, though.
I caught that as well and did a double take. then moved on with the game. It's how soldiers screw with each other. Just like jocks. Welcome to reality.
I...don't see that as necessarily being anti-gay, and even less so homophobic. I mean, if we really wanted to read into it, I don't think it'd be too much of a stretch to say its some kind of statement on the ACTUAL US MILITARY POLICY which states that you cannot be both gay and serve in the US military.
I just think its funny that the words in that clip are somehow more homophobic than an actual, enforced policy within the US military. I think the policy is rubbish, and I don't think the clip was inflammatory enough for anyone who cares to be concerned about.
homophobia aside (although I agree with the commenters who say its not), i feel like that is exactly the kind of banter soldiers share in real life. in fact, i'm pretty sure they say much worse to each other.
Well before we set off the homophobia alarms, could it be possible to have a character in the game be homophobic with out the creators of the game being homophobic themselves? Hearing a homophobic comment on a military base might not be all that uncommon, thus adding to the "realism" Infinity Ward is trying to deliver. Also I should probably clarify, I don't think all military members are homophobic, but the military does have a homophobic policy that could add more to the culture of homophobia.
But the whole F.A.G.S. controversy was a rather bad show on Infinity Wards part.
Generally, when men make overly macho homophobic statements, they secretly want the suprise buttsecks. Remember the marine dad from American Beauty? Macho as hell. He would no doubt want to lick The Sterling Silver.
It's probably just a poke at the stupid "don't ask don't tell" policy. I mean there wasn't any part of that "conversation" saying anything bad/good about homosexuals.
Sure, you could be a neanderthal and read it as "homophobic," or you could see it as a satirical swipe at "don't ask, don't tell." The reality is that there are tens of thousands, if not more, gay men and women in the U.S. military, and it's the most unbelievable of hypocrisies that they can't say shit about it.
Add to that all the latent homoeroticism of physically fit men with large guns hanging around each other all the time, day and night.... Yeah, that shit's pretty gay. Too bad we can't just admit it.
I fail to see how this is homophobic. I DO see how this is a jab at the don't-as-don't-tell policy that the U.S. military enforces.
It's like me asking a friend "Hey, did you ever bury that hooker you killed?" while walking past a police officer. It's a joke. It's pretty sad that jokes need to be explained to the general public these days.
And the F.A.G.S. thing...I didn't think that was homophobic either. Yeah, it's not a nice word, but they were obviously making fun of all the 14-year-old children who use that word to describe everyone.
What's the big deal? Just because there's a homophobic character is in the game doesn't mean that that it reflects the opinions of the developer? I'm all for more portrayal of racists and bigots in videogames. More character diversity please!
To me, this is just another example of 1) IW flexing their power simply because they can and 2) IW appealing to their target audience (which is largely the sexbox 360 community, see what I did there?)
Now let me explain #2 with a few examples.
1! The whole F.A.G.S. video, I mean, c'mon, yeah it isn't "supposed" to be anti-homophobic or what have you, but at the same time, it's being risque to be risque which just comes off as kind of pathetic. It's the type of jokes frat boys make (i.e. sexbox 360 community). Are we taking ourselves too seriously? I mean, sure, but it still doesn't excuse it.
2! Throughout the progress of the game, you can achieve emblems and tags and what not, and some of them happened to be marijuana leaves or puns off of marijuana culture. Now I'm not criticizing marijuana in the least bit, but it beckons the question - what the f-ck is it doing in my game? If you'll notice - damn near the rest of the emblems or callsigns or whatever the hell they are have nothing to do with anything of that nature. To me personally, it's just another example of IW connecting with their demographics of who's going to purchase their games (probably 18 - 35 year olds, aka, XBOX 360 COMMUNITY!)
3! This homophobic easter egg! (good find by the way Jim, or whoever found it, kudos to you, good eye and ear) I mean, I could totally understand that they just wanted to "capture the real vibe or feel of what it's like to be around marines in the middle east". Ok, yeah, I get that, but on that same note, why aren't you talking about more, let's say, vulgar things that men tend to talk about? Why isn't THAT an easter egg? No, instead, we opt for a sociably "acceptable" (I use that word loosely) punching bag.
Not as bad as the commercial, though I predict some groups will still find a way to hate on this. It's not terrible, because this kind of shit actually happens.
Could be much worse.
You should have seen the 12 year old I was just against in L4D2. Even had his "posse" backing him up with homophobic slurs.
When I came back to them with scientific facts rather than the bullshit they were spewing, they actually shut up. Quite entertaining.
And I agree that it's a shame IW have stooped so low with their game with all of this awful advertising. Appeal to 13 year olds with "fags" and gay jokes, with Eminem doing an ad and 50 Cent in the game?
MW2 has destroyed the credibility IW had, in my eyes at least.
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Contest:
10:30 PM on 12.02.2009
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To see a full scale (and respected) game developer sink to the level of a thirteen year old is just disappointing.
>_>
<_<
That's like if I asked someone if they were Jewish, and then they called me an Anti-Semite.
I just think its funny that the words in that clip are somehow more homophobic than an actual, enforced policy within the US military. I think the policy is rubbish, and I don't think the clip was inflammatory enough for anyone who cares to be concerned about.
your butthurtage may vary though
But the whole F.A.G.S. controversy was a rather bad show on Infinity Wards part.
Bees?
Beads!
BEADS?!!!
GOB's not on board.
(Michael's eyes light up, quickly jumps up and closes the door)
Michael: His name is Gary and we don't need anymore lawsuits.
G.O.B.: No, I was talking about the magazine. Wait, Gary’s gay?
Michael: Yeah.
G.O.B.: (looking in his mind's eye) Uh-oh. He’s going to think I was coming on to him.
(Flashback montage)
(Gary is licking an envelope in the office supply room in front of GOB)
G.O.B.: You’ve got a nice mouth.
(Gary bends over to take something from the company kitchen fridge)
G.O.B.: I’d kill for that ass.
(Long shot of GOB sitting in his office chair with Gary on his lap, leaning back)
G.O.B.: Okay, the chair’s not doing it now, but lately it’s been giving out as soon as I lean back.
(Flashback ends)
G.O.B.: Anyway, I was talking about Poof magazine. The magazine for magicians.
Add to that all the latent homoeroticism of physically fit men with large guns hanging around each other all the time, day and night.... Yeah, that shit's pretty gay. Too bad we can't just admit it.
/have any of you even ever SEEN a chicken?
Get the fuck over yourselves.
It's like me asking a friend "Hey, did you ever bury that hooker you killed?" while walking past a police officer. It's a joke. It's pretty sad that jokes need to be explained to the general public these days.
And the F.A.G.S. thing...I didn't think that was homophobic either. Yeah, it's not a nice word, but they were obviously making fun of all the 14-year-old children who use that word to describe everyone.
Now let me explain #2 with a few examples.
1! The whole F.A.G.S. video, I mean, c'mon, yeah it isn't "supposed" to be anti-homophobic or what have you, but at the same time, it's being risque to be risque which just comes off as kind of pathetic. It's the type of jokes frat boys make (i.e. sexbox 360 community). Are we taking ourselves too seriously? I mean, sure, but it still doesn't excuse it.
2! Throughout the progress of the game, you can achieve emblems and tags and what not, and some of them happened to be marijuana leaves or puns off of marijuana culture. Now I'm not criticizing marijuana in the least bit, but it beckons the question - what the f-ck is it doing in my game? If you'll notice - damn near the rest of the emblems or callsigns or whatever the hell they are have nothing to do with anything of that nature. To me personally, it's just another example of IW connecting with their demographics of who's going to purchase their games (probably 18 - 35 year olds, aka, XBOX 360 COMMUNITY!)
3! This homophobic easter egg! (good find by the way Jim, or whoever found it, kudos to you, good eye and ear) I mean, I could totally understand that they just wanted to "capture the real vibe or feel of what it's like to be around marines in the middle east". Ok, yeah, I get that, but on that same note, why aren't you talking about more, let's say, vulgar things that men tend to talk about? Why isn't THAT an easter egg? No, instead, we opt for a sociably "acceptable" (I use that word loosely) punching bag.
Also, I'm LGBT. Just, ya know, throwing that out there.
Nothing worth getting worked up over anyways.
You should have seen the 12 year old I was just against in L4D2. Even had his "posse" backing him up with homophobic slurs.
When I came back to them with scientific facts rather than the bullshit they were spewing, they actually shut up. Quite entertaining.
And I agree that it's a shame IW have stooped so low with their game with all of this awful advertising. Appeal to 13 year olds with "fags" and gay jokes, with Eminem doing an ad and 50 Cent in the game?
MW2 has destroyed the credibility IW had, in my eyes at least.
If i person were to walk up to you and say 'hey bro, you still straight?' would you feel insulted..or just confused.