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Well, its its own thing because its not interactive like No Russian, right.
But its still pretty crass. There's something really effective in not showing something horrible, something kinda classy. I think these things, for anyone not trying to be unshockable, come off as cheap narrative steps. Yes we're supposed to care about our role in the campaign, but going for shocks instead of building a bit (like they did even in MW1)... enh. You would hope that the medium would be used more adventurously.
/caringAboutArtisanshipInStorytelling
But its still pretty crass. There's something really effective in not showing something horrible, something kinda classy. I think these things, for anyone not trying to be unshockable, come off as cheap narrative steps. Yes we're supposed to care about our role in the campaign, but going for shocks instead of building a bit (like they did even in MW1)... enh. You would hope that the medium would be used more adventurously.
/caringAboutArtisanshipInStorytelling
I agree with Jim on his last comment. This scene did pretty much showcase a bigger sense of brutality with less than what 'No Russian' did. That aside I'm looking forward to playing Modern Warfare 3, although I simply can't afford it with Skyrim, Mgs HD collection, Saints Row: The Third and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
Being a father myself I find this a little disturbing. Although it is a game for adults, there will be millions of 12 year olds across the country playing it come Tuesday......:( It's a sad, sad world we live in.
It doesn't shock, because:
1) You spoiled it
2) There's no context/emotional attachment to the ppl in the video
3) There are no screams, panicking ppl etc as in No Russians
1) You spoiled it
2) There's no context/emotional attachment to the ppl in the video
3) There are no screams, panicking ppl etc as in No Russians
After reading some of the comments, I burst into laughter while watching this. "No Russian," while completely pointless, at least raised some kind of level of disgust in me. I wasn't outraged, but the whole purpose was to make the player genuinely want to defeat the enemy.
This literally serves no purpose. You can't prevent it and take no part in it. Putting all of that aside, though, this is just a horrible action cliche. I've seen this countless times in movies. Hell, I've seen it performed better in low-budget Hong Kong Cinema from the 70's.
I think this clip needs to be spruced up with some Heavy Rain voice overs. "But daddy, I want a balloon!"
This literally serves no purpose. You can't prevent it and take no part in it. Putting all of that aside, though, this is just a horrible action cliche. I've seen this countless times in movies. Hell, I've seen it performed better in low-budget Hong Kong Cinema from the 70's.
I think this clip needs to be spruced up with some Heavy Rain voice overs. "But daddy, I want a balloon!"
I'll give CoD: MW campaigns one thing: it honestly feels like shit is hitting the fan in these games. It started with the nuke, built up futher with the Russian invasion of the U.S. and the EMP over New York, and now worldwide CBR attacks. I guess that's why these campaigns, despite being just as boring to play most of the time, are supremely interesting.
I have no problem with the scene, except perhaps with how cliche it is. This exact same scene has been done to death in cinema many times, with the small child playing and yelling "look at me" while disaster approaches. They're just trying to make the bombings personal, rather than just presenting you with blips on a map. It was done in a cheesy way, sure, but the premise is fine. Illustrating that the collateral damage is actually human beings with their own lives is a time-honored method of getting the audience emotionally invested.
That's exactly why I think this isn't a big deal, however, and why the media likely won't bother trying to play this up. Honestly, people are jumping on Activision for trying to be shocking, but this looks more like standard storytelling. No reason to be shocked, or to blame Activision for attempting to be controversial. This is neither.
That's exactly why I think this isn't a big deal, however, and why the media likely won't bother trying to play this up. Honestly, people are jumping on Activision for trying to be shocking, but this looks more like standard storytelling. No reason to be shocked, or to blame Activision for attempting to be controversial. This is neither.
This scene did shock me a bit at the end (was expecting Big Ben to get bombed, with the family maybe getting crushed by debris, not the family themselves getting bombed), but watching it after the first time it still feels pretty cliche. A friendly traditional family (and American of course, even in fuckin' London because RELATABLE!) with a daughter being so adorable you just know they're all gonna eat a terrorist sandwich.
@Jim Sterling
I think the problem here is that you've gone and called "Controversy!" when most quite rightly call it pretty weak sauce compared to taking part in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed civilians.
And of course you wrecked the scene by making it pretty clear that the happy scene depicted wasn't going to last.
If it had been a fifteen minute video where you after the explosion have to drag yourself up to you dead family and try to put them back together I might have felt a bit more but no, big explosion scene over.
I think the problem here is that you've gone and called "Controversy!" when most quite rightly call it pretty weak sauce compared to taking part in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed civilians.
And of course you wrecked the scene by making it pretty clear that the happy scene depicted wasn't going to last.
If it had been a fifteen minute video where you after the explosion have to drag yourself up to you dead family and try to put them back together I might have felt a bit more but no, big explosion scene over.
@Jim Sterling
I think the problem here is that you've gone and called "Controversy!" when most, quite rightly, call it pretty weak sauce compared to taking part in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed civilians.
And of course you wrecked the scene by making it pretty clear that the happy scene depicted had no way of not ending in tragedy.
If it had been a fifteen minute video where you after the explosion have to drag yourself up to you dead family and try to put them back together I might have felt a bit more but no, big explosion scene over.
I think the problem here is that you've gone and called "Controversy!" when most, quite rightly, call it pretty weak sauce compared to taking part in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed civilians.
And of course you wrecked the scene by making it pretty clear that the happy scene depicted had no way of not ending in tragedy.
If it had been a fifteen minute video where you after the explosion have to drag yourself up to you dead family and try to put them back together I might have felt a bit more but no, big explosion scene over.
Terrorism in a game about fighting terrorism?!
VIIIIDEO GAAAAAMES! (to be read in this voice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbEfV05tJz8)
VIIIIDEO GAAAAAMES! (to be read in this voice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbEfV05tJz8)
Meh. Call me King Cool if you want, but this isn't even noteworthy. It'd be one thing if you were forced to kill the kid yourself, but just seeing a virtual kid get knocked over by an explosion doesn't effect me one bit. I've seen Schindler's List and dozens of disturbing movies where children are brutalized and murdered. Just "watching" doesn't bother me anymore.
yeah, i think that people were looking over the top shocking scene was because No Russian was over the top and COD's script is known for making millions of innocent people get killed to make a point for the villain. This wasn't that big because everyone was expecting a bigger, balls to the wall scene. But in the end it was only a family getting killed.
@Jim
Just because we're unamazed by the scene doesn't mean we desire more.
The disinterest you see being "flexed" is more aimed at the tactic itself rather than the execution. Please don't simply assume those of us yawning and calling this stupid are unimpressed because of a lack of explosions and gore.
Personally, I'm more offended by the company's desire to use cheap shock tactics and controversy to seem cool than I am by what happens in the video. But I do agree it is more elegant and understated than No Russian.
It's a little disappointing, Jim, that you're being so condescending to people who are mostly just annoyed and tired of Activision's tactics and media controversies, and acting like we're some kind of desensitized monsters for not being impressed by it.
Just because we're unamazed by the scene doesn't mean we desire more.
The disinterest you see being "flexed" is more aimed at the tactic itself rather than the execution. Please don't simply assume those of us yawning and calling this stupid are unimpressed because of a lack of explosions and gore.
Personally, I'm more offended by the company's desire to use cheap shock tactics and controversy to seem cool than I am by what happens in the video. But I do agree it is more elegant and understated than No Russian.
It's a little disappointing, Jim, that you're being so condescending to people who are mostly just annoyed and tired of Activision's tactics and media controversies, and acting like we're some kind of desensitized monsters for not being impressed by it.
Problem is, it takes far less than this to piss off Fox News and the Daily Mail, but it takes far FAR more than this to affect a gamer. Devs can't really win. They'd have to show a 5 year old getting sodomized by a band saw to make most gamers bat an eye, but mainstream media freaks out if the same 5 year old gets a paper cut in a video game.
@ACman
Those are good points. Using words like "shocking" and "controversial" builds people up for something big, so it's no wonder they would be less effected by something as standard Hollywood as this. There is no comparison to "No Russian" here, even though the title leads people to believe they'll play an interactive part in the death of a child.
This would have been more effective if people weren't expecting worse, but it still wouldn't have registered very high on the shock meter.
Those are good points. Using words like "shocking" and "controversial" builds people up for something big, so it's no wonder they would be less effected by something as standard Hollywood as this. There is no comparison to "No Russian" here, even though the title leads people to believe they'll play an interactive part in the death of a child.
This would have been more effective if people weren't expecting worse, but it still wouldn't have registered very high on the shock meter.
I am shocked. Nevermind my monotone. I am totally shocked and appalled by this scene. My shock and appalledness is unmatched.
Seriously though. I'm still not getting the appeal of all of this. Multiplayer is brainless fun for folks that love to shoot things until they die to death, but the single player in this series is the sort of dumb crap you find in bad military novels. It's not upsetting and it doesn't pull at your heartstrings, because you know the instant they appear that this family is toast. They wouldn't be there otherwise.
Seriously though. I'm still not getting the appeal of all of this. Multiplayer is brainless fun for folks that love to shoot things until they die to death, but the single player in this series is the sort of dumb crap you find in bad military novels. It's not upsetting and it doesn't pull at your heartstrings, because you know the instant they appear that this family is toast. They wouldn't be there otherwise.
The nuke in Terminator 2 was far worse. It really gets old that CoD just uses shock value for the hell of it.
I'm waiting on a scene in a shooter (FPS or TPS) that places players in the tiny little combat boots of a child soldier with a bunch of M-80 firecrackers strapped to his/her body.
That way, they can get two atrocities dealt with for the development cost and time of one! Plus, the kids who pre-maturely play these kinds of games will have a protagonist they can directly identify with, one who might have to bomb a business or a school before rushing off to their own school, being more afraid of being labeled a truant than a mass-murderer.
That way, they can get two atrocities dealt with for the development cost and time of one! Plus, the kids who pre-maturely play these kinds of games will have a protagonist they can directly identify with, one who might have to bomb a business or a school before rushing off to their own school, being more afraid of being labeled a truant than a mass-murderer.
@Tristrix
I agree. And the key phrase is "in a video game." Were this in a movie nobody would be talking about it at all. Except maybe Jim. Lol
I agree. And the key phrase is "in a video game." Were this in a movie nobody would be talking about it at all. Except maybe Jim. Lol
The nuke in Terminator 2 was far worse. However CoD using shock just for the hell of it is getting old. There, my comment makes a little more sense now.
Can this industry move away from garnering attention by killing children? It's happened twice this year, and once was more than enough.
I'm supposed to feel something while playing a CoD game? I understand that people die in carbombings, but taking time to focus on a sweet little girl on her vacation is such a cheap and obvious method I'm surprised they didn't film it inside a petshop.
Personally I would just have shown the aftermath and a burnt pink backpack on the ground. Not saying it would guarantee the player feeling anything, but it'd be more subtle than taking time to shove a family vacation in my face and say "Are you weeping yet?! No? Well, you can't see it, but the father holding the camera just beat cancer. Bawl, damn you!"
Personally I would just have shown the aftermath and a burnt pink backpack on the ground. Not saying it would guarantee the player feeling anything, but it'd be more subtle than taking time to shove a family vacation in my face and say "Are you weeping yet?! No? Well, you can't see it, but the father holding the camera just beat cancer. Bawl, damn you!"
Jim -
Seeing a little girl die in an explosion is shocking. I'm not going to sit here and compare the "shock value" between two instances of innocent people being killed in a terrorist attack. The Holocaust was no more or less upsetting than 9/11. Both are tragedies.
The reason I said "whoop de fucking do" in my earlier comment is not because I think this scene is somehow boring. It's not because I demand or expect a higher body count.
It's because it's to be expected from the series at this point to do something like this and I think it's rather pathetic. The video will not be taken down by Activision because it was put there BY Activision to get people talking about the game. There's no such thing as bad publicity. This "leak" is hardly more than marketing.
And just as disgusted as I am with the series, I am extremely sick and tired of the mainstream media running with these controversies. I'm tired of ignorant fucks labeling video games and the people who play them as murderous abombinations and I'm tired of game companies tastelessly and deliberately giving fuel to that fire, rather than trying to put it out.
Seeing a little girl die in an explosion is shocking. I'm not going to sit here and compare the "shock value" between two instances of innocent people being killed in a terrorist attack. The Holocaust was no more or less upsetting than 9/11. Both are tragedies.
The reason I said "whoop de fucking do" in my earlier comment is not because I think this scene is somehow boring. It's not because I demand or expect a higher body count.
It's because it's to be expected from the series at this point to do something like this and I think it's rather pathetic. The video will not be taken down by Activision because it was put there BY Activision to get people talking about the game. There's no such thing as bad publicity. This "leak" is hardly more than marketing.
And just as disgusted as I am with the series, I am extremely sick and tired of the mainstream media running with these controversies. I'm tired of ignorant fucks labeling video games and the people who play them as murderous abombinations and I'm tired of game companies tastelessly and deliberately giving fuel to that fire, rather than trying to put it out.
What I can't figure out is why we all assume Infinity Ward is doing this, or "No Russian" for that matter, for shock value. Why can't it just be that they're using these gritty, visceral scenes as an aesthetic choice? The point has been made over and over than a similar scene in a movie would go completely unnoticed. We're only talking about this because it's a game.
Why then should Infinity Ward pander to that double standard? They have every right to make their game as visceral as they like in the interest of artistic expression. No one would be accusing them of "shock tactics" if it weren't for the fact that the usual suspects in the mainstream media get so goddamn shocked about it. I'm certainly not shocked, and it doesn't sound like any of you guys are either. So why are we calling it shocking?
Why then should Infinity Ward pander to that double standard? They have every right to make their game as visceral as they like in the interest of artistic expression. No one would be accusing them of "shock tactics" if it weren't for the fact that the usual suspects in the mainstream media get so goddamn shocked about it. I'm certainly not shocked, and it doesn't sound like any of you guys are either. So why are we calling it shocking?
Attention seeking that is all this is .
Though process of the scene designer:
Red bus...check
Black cab...check
Red postbox...check
Red phonebox...check
Big Ben...check
Union jack... check
Do you think they will be convinced this is london or should we show the queen walking in the background?
London does not look like this heck it only has 3 people in this video london never this quiet
Though process of the scene designer:
Red bus...check
Black cab...check
Red postbox...check
Red phonebox...check
Big Ben...check
Union jack... check
Do you think they will be convinced this is london or should we show the queen walking in the background?
London does not look like this heck it only has 3 people in this video london never this quiet
I'm surprised that people are angry at Infinity Ward for this. It's standard writing to humanize large-scale disasters, otherwise there is very little impact on the audience. Yes, it was cheesy and cliche, but that's a minor offense.
I really don't think they were trying to be controversial here. This likely won't amount to much unless the media (this article, for instance) tries to make it into a big deal. The Daily Mail might chime in, but I doubt the big boys will bother.
I really don't think they were trying to be controversial here. This likely won't amount to much unless the media (this article, for instance) tries to make it into a big deal. The Daily Mail might chime in, but I doubt the big boys will bother.
It's a cool idea but seeing as it only lasts 1 minute, has little to no interactivity and unlike No Russian doesn't ask you to trigger the bomb/kill anybody it doesn't have anywhere near the same level of impact. No Russian was actually a really well executed set piece that was made offensive when it was put into the context of an action corridor shooter. This is basically a cutscene.
It annoys me that whenever a videogame tries to add some emotionally powerful content, we always get people who start with the "OMG THEYRE JUST DOING IT TO GET ATTENTION". I find it much more likely that they're doing it to generate emotion within the game, which is usually a good thing with storytelling. What do people want, totally vanilla and innocuous? But then they'd complain about that, too.
I don't even play CoD or like Activision much, but this trend of ripping the series for each and every little thing it does is getting out of hand.
I don't even play CoD or like Activision much, but this trend of ripping the series for each and every little thing it does is getting out of hand.
@Hystzen
Considering "London" is a made up place, who really cares how many people are on the street.
Considering "London" is a made up place, who really cares how many people are on the street.
@redeemer-The video is down now on a copyright claim by Activision. Is that shocking enough for you?!
@pokota
It is attention seeking , it obvious they "leaked" this themselves to gain publicity its done its job it hit all major game sites and no doubt the papers soon perfect timing for when game is due.
It is not to creating emotion, the nuke level in mw1 that was emotion, no russian in Mw2 was emotion this is a dying company running out of ideas for plot so again they tried the emotional controversial angle.
It is attention seeking , it obvious they "leaked" this themselves to gain publicity its done its job it hit all major game sites and no doubt the papers soon perfect timing for when game is due.
It is not to creating emotion, the nuke level in mw1 that was emotion, no russian in Mw2 was emotion this is a dying company running out of ideas for plot so again they tried the emotional controversial angle.
@Hystzen
I was going to respond to you but it's just so much easier to say "You're 12" and leave it at that. So yeah.
You're 12.
I was going to respond to you but it's just so much easier to say "You're 12" and leave it at that. So yeah.
You're 12.
Question: Is it really that shocking or is it just attention whoring?
I can't find anything shocking that is fictional/staged and/or of a character that I don't know, I don't interact and I don't control.
There are STRONG scenes in video games, don't get me wrong, but this is just obvious attention whoring that fails miserably to spark any kind of emotion.
If anyone is really sad about what happened in this video, I'm really sorry for you. You must be a psychological train wreck that cries for 2 hours straight after turning on the television.
I can't find anything shocking that is fictional/staged and/or of a character that I don't know, I don't interact and I don't control.
There are STRONG scenes in video games, don't get me wrong, but this is just obvious attention whoring that fails miserably to spark any kind of emotion.
If anyone is really sad about what happened in this video, I'm really sorry for you. You must be a psychological train wreck that cries for 2 hours straight after turning on the television.
@Faux
I acknowledged that already. And you continue with the misconception that I'm not "shocked enough".
I acknowledged that already. And you continue with the misconception that I'm not "shocked enough".
@Hystzen
No offense, but calling Activision a "dying company" is probably the funniest thing I've seen in quite awhile. Between CoD and Blizzard, they have more money than god.
One thing I will never understand is why people are so resentful toward games they don't like. If it's not for you, then just shrug and move on to the next game. All the CoD hate is just childish.
No offense, but calling Activision a "dying company" is probably the funniest thing I've seen in quite awhile. Between CoD and Blizzard, they have more money than god.
One thing I will never understand is why people are so resentful toward games they don't like. If it's not for you, then just shrug and move on to the next game. All the CoD hate is just childish.
This scene from Killer 7 still wins (spoilers, naturally, plus upsetting content): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXwWjxbzuIk
@ Pokota
more referring IW as most of the key players have left after MW2 , this new members seem be trying to emulate them too much which is shame imo.
I don't get the COD hate and i agree just ignore if not interested just this attempt at controversy to boost sales is a old trick
more referring IW as most of the key players have left after MW2 , this new members seem be trying to emulate them too much which is shame imo.
I don't get the COD hate and i agree just ignore if not interested just this attempt at controversy to boost sales is a old trick
Never gave a fuck about this shock value shit. Sure the nuke level was talked about, but it wasn't because of the shock value. It was because honest to good, it surprised many of us. Not only did the character (who at that point was more of a hero than Soap) failed, he did so just a few seconds from having victory.
Too bad No Russian was just a "kill many" peace of shit. They are not real people, its a videogame and the whole level is very badly designed (why the hell does it end so fast? the ending should have boiled up).
Considering that modern warfare 3 still uses the engine from Call of Duty 3, while DICE already made a new engine that looks a lot more different than their previous games, I'd say the winner is obviously DICE. Now they just need to make a better campaign than what they already have (let's face it, Activision doesn't know how to make anything) and they'll never lose.
Too bad No Russian was just a "kill many" peace of shit. They are not real people, its a videogame and the whole level is very badly designed (why the hell does it end so fast? the ending should have boiled up).
Considering that modern warfare 3 still uses the engine from Call of Duty 3, while DICE already made a new engine that looks a lot more different than their previous games, I'd say the winner is obviously DICE. Now they just need to make a better campaign than what they already have (let's face it, Activision doesn't know how to make anything) and they'll never lose.
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