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Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is quickly gaining pre-release notoriety as a center of controversy. First, there was the "No dedicated servers for PC users" flap (although, truth be told, that's more of an inside-gamer thing, not likely to be of interest to the larger culture), then the leaked video that showed that, for at least one level, you inhabit the body of someone taking part in a terroristic bloodbath in an airport. Today, there's a "viral" style promo video for Modern Warfare 2 that is, at best, in questionable taste.
The video was posted on YouTube over the weekend and stars a digitized version of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels delivering a mock-PSA about "grenade spam." The ad ends with the phrase "random grenades are for p*ssies." It is followed with a credit message saying the PSA was brought to you by "Fight Against Grenade Spam." You can figure out why the fake organization's name is offensive for yourself.
Infinity Ward pulled the video, and community Manager Robert Bowling tweeted that the ad was "more of a social commentary joke of that stereotype than it was a fist-bump of acceptance to it." Right. So Infinity Ward says it was just mocking the people who hold homophobic views as opposed to actually being homophobic... except I've seen the video, and there's nothing in it to indicate this is the case.
Usually, I leave the soapbox to Adam Sessler, but this time, I'm going to weigh in by pointing out that I spent the weekend playing The Ballad of Gay Tony and was pleased and surprised by the positive relationship between Luis Lopez and Gay Tony, and the respect shown to the homosexual community as a whole in that game, so this Modern Warfare 2 thing is doubly disappointing in contrast -- shouldn't we be past this kind of casual, backyard slur in the game community? If not from the players, at least from the professionals? Judging from the discourse on public channels of the last COD, Infinity Ward should are the last people who should be encouraging slurs against gay people; there's enough of it without the company's tacit approval. Besides, isn't that a violation of their own Terms of Service?
Sessler and I have much the same views on this kind of thing; check it out:
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Comments
Displaying 121–140 of 141
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skyarrow210
I guess I will be one of the mature ones here and say that Adam is correct. As a whole the "outside" view of gamers is rapidly becoming one of homophobia and racism. While I also completely agree that some things need to be taken with a grain of salt, like the Grenade Spam video, the entire thing was tongue in cheek but I think IW could have made a joke without the not so hidden acronym. Now to respond to some of the posts, Infinite_Lives while I highly respect you for serving our country words have been much more than words for quite a while now. If words were in fact only words none of the systems would have word filters or maturity filters. MindCarrot its quite obvious that its definitely not a little thing here. While the video itself might have been small it brings up the larger issue of homophobia and racism in the electronic world. nightsnipe all you need to do to go around that issue is mute everyone else on your team and then just talk to your friends. its the work of but a moment to mute everyone. PS3_jmanxp while Im glad you are stating your opinion there is no way that word can be used non-offensively unless its the English term for cigarettes. ZyloWolfBane I believe that the historical games were appropriate in their word usage as they were trying to present to the player an authentic historical experience. To remove or censor their language would be "softening" the past which is something I dont see as productive Theres a reason the games have their ratings its up to parents to enforce them and be responsible.
Rant over
TelevisionEyes
That Sessler video was awesome. Right on the money.
BigEd6377
"Fight Against Grenade Spam"
Come on Infinity Ward' you have to watch that. Could this just be a coincidence? A honest mistake?
Maybe, maybe not. The video is very fun up into you see who the video was brought to you by. Dam Come on Infinity Ward we can't have this stuff If it was a mistake come out and say so. But right now it seems more like the makers knew what they were doing.
Infinity Ward you have to correct this....
angel12791
i see no need to talk except to help CTF i am 17 and i can't let my little bro play without the volume off i wish there was something someone could do i am with you on this one Adam.
nickha0
Really? I hear that word every day on xbox live when playing COD4, all IW was trying to is make a funny video on it.
AmericanGrizzly
Seriously? You are throwing a fit over nothing. I am a gay guy and not offended by this. I believe they did not mean the organizations name in that context. It seems you are just looking for something to complain about. But anyway, I'm just looking forward to playing a great game.
Infinite_Lives
U should do what I do and not use your mic . Is it this type of s--t annoying? Yes it is, but people have options on these these types of things, like muting players or not using your mic. No offense, I respect your opinion, but it almost seems like your using the Soapbox to push your Liberal views on everyone else... not cool
*p.s. I'm a former Marine and what we used to say to each other on a daily basis was probably a lot worse than what you heard and we are around people from all walks of life. WORDS ARE JUST THAT, WORDS*
the_big_king_jdowg
Oh who gives a rip, this game is going to be fun and enthralling, stop whining about it and get ready to kill thy friends and foes!
rydin303
As for the Modern Warfare clip I thought it was pretty funny, because it's true, but I guess I see how it could be offensive to some. However, I agree with Adam Sessler in the video, I've had many expieriences online just like the ones he speaks about, with little kids and older dudes alike... All I know is I just like to play games without having to argue with someone who would never call you out in real life...
UltraViolence74
I agree with Adam, I'm 35, been playing since the beginning.... there's a new generation of kid gamers that spew vulgarities like it was part of their regular vocabulary. no one spoke like this when i was a kid.
it's embarrassing for us a gamers and i feel bad for the kids picking up a controller for the first time thinking this is how we're supposed to behave online. where are the parents??
MindCarrot
oh shut the #$%@ people i know this game is gonna be hot so why pick little things to complain about? jeez.
backerman
Can I launch rocket to that statue up the hill? boom.
reagenyouth125
Word Adam......hope people on here take note. Hopefully Microsoft is eventually going to do something to clean up the Live
Papa_bear
damn str8 adam!!!! i mean i can occasionaly drop a few cuss words while playing... but at least i stay away from the racist or homophobic words u knoe? and i find it funny that every1 can only say stuff like that in the comfort of their own home knowing damn well that if they said it to somebodys face than the end result would probably end in violence..... but n e wayz i agree with u guyz and i am kinda dissappointed in infinity ward for what they said.... BUT ive been waiting for mw2 so im still gonna buy it... kinda sad i know! but everybody gets 1 strike and a second chance right?
Anthoni
Oh my god, dude seriously!? I am sure in no way was IW trying to be offensive to homosexuals. I usually don't say things like this but Stephen Johnson you sir are an Idiot.
nightsnipe
also you can't play modern warfare 2 in party chats on xbl what kind of BS is that. CoD has one of the worst online communities and i dont want to be forced to listen to all those little kids screaming. why would you take out the option to only let me talk to my friends. another example of games being taken too wayyy seriously. IW/Activion really starting to abuse their power.
OneEyedMonsta
This is funny coming from someone who assumed ONLY black people that celebrate Kwanzaa would play DJ Hero. That is a little racist imo. He who lives with out sin.....
ZyloWolfBane
I'll also point out that noone ever seems to make the connection on how offensive alot of the WW2 games have been over the years (Not just CoD) with how the Germans,Russians,and Japanese are portrayed.
Yes it was a bloody and evil time, but alot of the slurs and additudes that are used in the games are still used today, and I for one take small offense to it, but...then I remember that its just a game and I play it for what it is same with any crappy movie of the same genre.
PS3_jmanxp
PS3_jmanxp's comment is abusive and has been removed.
asthmagasm
It's kinda disappointing really. It wasn't social commentary and they know it and instead of trying do the right thing and apologize they're trying to save face with a bold face lie.
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