Call of Suty: Modern Warfare Overblown

1378 Words3 Pages

As an avid video game enthusiast it’s always fascinating to witness the gaming world evolve and grow as modern technology seems to continually outpace expectations of what can be reproduced in a virtual medium. Gone are the days when a fraction of the entertainment world included lazily playing pong or pack-man on a cumbersome arcade console. Today, with the technological boom, the video game industry has evolved to include a plethora of gaming genres, bent on maximizing entertainment and profit. However, despite such exponential growth, this particular form of entertainment has remained in the shadow of traditional forms of amusement, such as television broadcasting or the movie industry. Yet, with the release of the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the once targeted hobby of many was thrust into the national spot-light; garnering new-found attention that temporarily consumed the news media. This attention wasn’t focused on the growth of the video gaming industry or the numerous attributes that explain the industries rise in popularity, but on a controversial level within the game called “No Russian”. The level, in which the player is tasked to remain covert in a Russian terrorist cell as they massacre an airport, has been hailed as inappropriate and violent (Stirling). This subsequently led to the game’s makers having to face numerous recall allegations and having to modify the game with a warning. Despite the numerous criticisms that materialized, the controversy surrounding the level is, frankly, overblown. The integral part of the game exposes players to the thought provoking reality of modern society. Additionally, it advances the conception that the video gaming industry is devoid of meaningful substance by introd... ... middle of paper ... ... elevate the game to a new level of entertainment. Moreover, the fact that the success of the terrorists is unrealistic and that there are obvious warnings about the level/game that provide any prospective player the opportunity to abstain from the controversy, only adds to the fact that controversy is overblown. If you find that the level is offensive, you don’t have to play the game. In an industry that’s success depends on making games realistic, can you blame Infinity Ward for drawing upon real world terrors, albeit exaggeratedly? Thus, the existence of the ‘No Russian’ level and the controversy that surrounds it is inflated. People who choose to play the game should be less focused on the controversy and more interested about how Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 “innovates not as much in its gameplay as in how it manipulates the emotions of players” (Schiesel).

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