Modern Warfare 2 in Jeopardy of Being Banned in Australia?
If you haven’t heard yet, Modern Warfare 2 is going to have a segment where the player is going to be a terrorist, walk into an airport and gun down as many innocent bystanders as possible. The feature was first known thanks to some leaked footage that was released online a few days ago. While I have my own opinion about playing as the enemy, I knew this was going to draw some controversy among people and groups who are already against violence in videogames.
An Australian lobbyist group called the Australian Council on Children and the Media are disgusted by the images of seeing a virtual massacre, which is up to the players to make sure the mission is a success. The group is calling on the Australian government to re-rate the title from MA15+ to “Uncensored,” which means it would most likely be banned in the ‘Land Down Under.’
“The consequences of terrorism are just abhorrent in our community and yet here we are with a product that’s meant to be passed off as a leisure time activity, actually promoting what most world leaders speak out publicly against,” said Jane Roberts, president of the Australian Council on Children and the Media. “We understand that it’s a game but … we’re not far off when you look at the images that you could actually put it on a Channel Nine news report and you’d think maybe that is real. If that material was on the internet about how to become a terrorist, how to join a group and how to wipe out people – that would be removed because it would not be acceptable.”
Comparing a videogame to some terrorist propaganda is just ridiculous. Modern Warfare 2 is not teaching anyone on how to become a terrorist, its simply showing what it would be like through the eyes of one. I find it unethical on her part to even hint towards that.
It should be noted that Australia is one of the only countries that doesn’t include an 18+ with their rating system. They feel its up the the developers to take responsibility and not feature adult themes, otherwise it would run the risk of not even being sold in Australia.
I understand that Jane Roberts is nervous that Modern Warfare 2 will somehow invoke children to become a future terrorist, and I guess I can somewhat respect that, even if I one-hundred precent disagree with her belief. With that said, I think it’s more dangers for any government to ban any form of media or expression. I wish someone like Jane Roberts would see that instead of pushing her own agenda.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:31 am
Being an Aussie, i am entirely outraged at this woman. I cannot believe that she HONESTLY thinks MW2 will do harm to children – its an MA15+ Game, meaning its not intended for young kids and if kids DO get a hold of it, its only for the fact that the parents have let them play the game. There are plenty of games out there that are worse in the violence department than MW2 and if she thinks she can stop release of it in Australia then more likely than not, she will get hunted down (jokes aside, im serious) She needs to get fkd because that right there is a joke.
November 11th, 2009 at 8:48 am
banning MW2 is pathetic give people a choice in what they want to play…its rated 15/18+ for a reason…
November 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Seriously games getin rated for a reason no matter what this game should not get banned in any fkn country. and this bitch tryin to ban is a stupid motherfker who needs to worry about real like situations and not a fkn video game.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Wow, Jane Roberts must be taking meth huh? Listen up Jane, NO MATTER WHAT, you cannot stop violence in the world, even banning it wont do nothing. You are pathetic and you seriously need to be hit in the head with a hammer and see what the hell’s up with you.
November 26th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Being an American myself, i can see why Australian government is a laughing stock for not giving what the real aussie gamers what they want. Instead they decide to censor everything that is too violent and stuff like that. this might reached to poor sales. Here in America, it not banned meaning that they don’t have to right to censored the MW:2 thanks to the Freedom of Speech guaranteed by the first amendment of the U.S Constitution. I feel sorry for you Aussies out there. You guys don’t deserve to be treated like little child’s =/. and as for Jane, you a fucking dumbass. Your parents make me laugh and a joke for thinking that everything harms children. Read the fucking rating, it rated M15+ for mature people only. IF a kid do get a hand of it, that up to the parents. Your bad parenting is what is example for. Don’t like it, don’t fucking buy it. There’s more violence out there in the world like now and it pointless for shielding away from your children like that. You Fascists old people don’t know shit which is why the youth is better than you people.