Just saw MW2 airport terrorist mission, my thoughts

[Lee_Stricklin]

WARNING: SPOILERS!!!

I just saw a full play through of a mission so powerful that after reaching a checkpoint you will be given the option to skip it. Infinity Ward wasn't joking, it's shocking. I personally think it belongs in the game though because it better establishes who your fighting, but it's pretty disturbing to say the least and I'm glad they give you the option to skip it. To summarize it all you play as an undercover CIA operative caught in a bad spot and you with a few terrorist have to paint an airport red. The NPCs playing civillians aren't the kind in say any of the GTA games. They show emotion, they have personalities, and the blood spilled off of them is more graphic than that of soldiers you'll frag and will completely cover the floor. HUNDREDS of civilian NPCs end up getting gunned down on this mission, the first wave of which you can see crying and begging for they're lives, the rest of them just trying run. I'll most likely play it, but I can imagine a lot of people using the skip option on it. I would post the video, but in addition to Activision jumping on it so damn quick it would be too graphic and disturbing. With this mission it was obvious the Infinity Ward was trying to put you inside a terrorist's shoes as well as show you some of the more horrifying parts of war.

[Samual]

I thought the mission was sexy and I look forward to killing lots of innocent people in it. But really though, it makes you hope that eventually things like that won't happen anymore -- Although they most likely will.

[Lee_Stricklin]

But really though, it makes you hope that eventually things like that won't happen anymore -- Although they most likely will.

I think that's what Infinity Ward was going for, they didn't throw this in for fun. They wanted to make the player uncomfortable (which judging by the footage they did as the guy in control seemed a bit hesitant) and they were trying to send a message. I think one of the biggest things they were trying to do with this was to show you that no matter what higher cause or greater good your pursuing, an act of evil is an act of evil and the player learns that the hard way (sort of, this is just a game) when they're told by the terrorists that they knew you were undercover the whole time and shot in the face. One other important thing this does is put a face on your enemy and show you first hand why they're the bad guy.

[The mysterious Mr. 4m]

Those who like to see blood will enjoy it. The only thing such a game does is spur discussion.
(ignore the "only thing" part)

[TVR]

After a week of contemplation, I have finally realized the airport level was included in order to satisfy adolescent desire to commit a school shooting.

Why adolescents? It's the target market of shooter games.

Why a school shooting comparison? Some gaming adolescents enjoy the power trip of firing an automatic weapon into an unarmed crowd.

Why wouldn't this cause school shooting? This level is not a catalyst anymore than the Milgram experiment, it is merely an indicator of who would enjoy performing a school shooting, as anyone who chooses not to play it obviously does not enjoy doing so.

But isn't it just a game? Video game companies have been forever touting greater immersion by more realistic visuals & rational AI, to disregard that in this context is hypocritical.

[halogene]

/me pukes on the floor at the description of the mission

darn, I shouldn't read stuff like that. Now I have to either rent a carpet cleaner or buy a new carpet.

[Lee_Stricklin]

They actually made it uncomfortable for most players to go through it, however playing this mission will really put a face on your enemy and actually give you a reason to want to kill him. I have the video of it uploaded for those of you that want to see it, you can drop me a PM. I will warn you that it's EXTREMELY GRAPHIC.

[Sepelio]

*shrugs*

I've seen this before. There were crowds of AI in Hitman: Blood Money that you could gun down. Fun stuff.

[halogene]

Yeah I know I am a bit too sensitive maybe. I even turn off the gibs in Nexuiz

But "games" like that really give me the creeps. Especially when the aim is to authentically reflect the victim's emotions, I mean, blimey, your brain is supposed to react with compassion to these emotions if you are anything but pathologically deranged.

OH NO MY NEW CARPET! I will need to get some laminate.

Anyway, never mind me

*runs off to fetch a kitchen roll*

[TVR]

*shrugs*

I've seen this before. There were crowds of AI in Hitman: Blood Money that you could gun down. Fun stuff.

There are substantial repercussions to firing upon a crowd in the Hitman series.

However on this Airport level, it is not a question of to kill or not to kill, but rather how many to kill.

There is no ambiguity or moral decisions to be made - the game will prevent you from shooting the terrorists before they shoot the civilians.