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Protect children from this ‘brutal’ warfare game, MP demands
Mark Prigg and Peter Dominiczak10.11.09
Politicians today called for restrictions on a computer game that allows players to kill innocent civilians.
As fans queued through the night to buy a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, MPs demanded assurances it would not be sold or passed to children.
The game was unveiled at a “premiere” in Leicester Square. It was the first time Westminster council has granted permission for a games launch in the traditional movie heartland.
Call of Duty is expected to break sales records at the launch today.
Labour MP Keith Vaz called for action to ensure the 18-certificate game did not end up in the hands of children.
Mr Vaz, the Home Affairs select committee chairman, told MPs during Commons questions: “It contains such scenes of brutality that even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game telling people how they can skip particular scenes.”
But former digital minister Tom Watson said it would be better to support the UK's video gaming industry. Mr Watson said the game “wasn't pleasant, though no worse than many films and books”.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has an 18-certificate because of its “blood, drug reference, intense violence and language”.
Junior culture minister Sion Simon said the clearest recommendation of the Byron review — which last year looked into the risks faced by children from inappropriate video games — was that content suitable for adults should be labelled and sold as such.
“The game you refer to is a Certificate 18 game,” he said. “It should not be sold to children and the Government's job is to make sure that adults ... can get what adults should be able to and children are not in danger of being subjected to adult content.”
Hordes of fans braved the cold to get their hands on a copy at its midnight launch.
Activision, the company behind the game, said as many as three million copies could be sold in its opening week in the UK alone, bringing in around £150 million. Online retailer Amazon today said Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the most pre-ordered game in history.
Mr Vaz also told MPs during Commons questions: “I am absolutely shocked by the level of violence in this game and am particularly concerned about how realistic the game itself looks.”
The organisers of the Call of Duty premiere laid out a camouflaged — rather than red — carpet and the event also featured models in military uniforms and tanks. The premiere was hosted by TV presenter Vernon Kaye and comedian Dom Joly. Goldie and Alfie Allen were among the guests.
Army of fans queue all night
Hundreds of fans queued for hours last night outside the Trocadero branch of HMV in Piccadilly to try to be the first person in Britain to get their hands on the game.
Fans were greeted outside the store by four “soldiers” and a large tank. The first gamer to buy Modern Warfare 2, the sixth in the popular Call of Duty series, had queued for 23 hours and came dressed in full army fatigues complete with camouflage netting.
The 27-year-old fan, a temp worker from Surrey who would only give his name as Chris, said: “I was desperate to clinch the first copy so I stood in the freezing cold. I'm taking the day off work so I can play all day. I've been a huge fan for a long time so this is very exciting for me.”
Second in the queue was Tarran Plummer, a 24-year-old City worker from Chingford. He said: “I wouldn't normally come to a games launch, but this is going to be the biggest release ever. I'll be playing it all the time.”
Steven Carito, 25, a barman from Brixton, was third in line and said: “I'll be playing for 24 hours as soon as I have a day off work. I can't wait. The game is going to be incredible.”
Darren Scott, 28, an engineer from Walthamstow, said: “I've booked a day off work specifically for this. I'll be up all night and then I'll play all through the day. The MPs who are saying it is too violent are talking absolute rubbish. It's just a game.”
Reader views (14)
My eldest bought it yesterday and although the backdrops are stunning, but it isn't as good as Killzone 2.
Bandora, you misunderstand. These games are just the natural extensions of the "cowboy and indian" games we played as kids. We knew then that the indians had almost been annihilated by the white man but that didn't stop us pretending to shoot them, playing dead for a few seconds and then getting up and doing it again. These modern games are just that in a virtual world.
You may have seen what you claim to have seen but we have been playing soldiers in England for centuries and nothing is going to change that. Some of today's console warriors will become tomorrow's front line warriors, in the same way kids of the past who carried twigs and branches representing spears, swords and guns, did. They will offer you the protection and security the you obviously couldn't get in your own homeland, so do not be too quick to judge.
- Mark, South-East London
i've spent years in areas where violence, death and war are commonn place. i really don't need to get out more. rather, you lot need to get a grip and realise that you are just the result of capitalist control. the point is, this might be a game to you, but actually, this is reality to many more people. and the fact that you cna consider this as just a game says a great deal more about you than it does about me. you think these are just games? you sad people. you have no idea what the world really contains, and i am not the one living in a world of "disney". i;ve seen the things you;ve seen on screen in reality. it's a shame you've lost the humanity you were born with, but hardly suprising. i should be astonished i am the lone voice here, but somehow i am not. your loss, and mine.
- Bandora Etrog, london
Bandora Etrog, london, I think you need to loosen up a little. Most people who play these types of games are responsible adults who have a good idea of what's going on in the world around them. It's narrow-minded people, especially the self-righteous in the press and politics that seem to demonise these types of games based on one scene or screen-shot.
Nobody is forcing under 18s to buy this game, it's up to parents to use their common sense and note the age ratings of games and movies before buying any for their children.
I'm not much of a fan of FPS games (although enjoyed Killzone 2), so will not be buying this one. I'm working through Uncharted 2 anyway. Perhaps Mr Vaz should stick to Mario Kart.
- Mrmugambo, London, England
- Bandora Etrog, london
Calm down dear its only a game. The last time I played a video games was Horrace goes Skiing on my Spectrum 48k now there's an evil game.
- Dc, London
Bandora - I believe it's you who should get out more. You've got to learn how to distinguish the borders between fiction and reality. I'm sure there aren't thousands of people homeless and starving in this computer game. Just in the same way that the people playing these games aren't going to go into a theatre of war and start shooting people and inflict misery on others.
You may be happy in a world of knitting and Disney, but others like myself like a bit of excitement when playing a game...And that's all it is - a GAME.
Incidentally, have you never watched a war film, or a gun-slinging Western on TV or in the cinema?
- Jock, Ardmair, Scotland
what sort of emotinally retarded individuals play this sort of "game"? the scenarios in which they so enthusiastically engage in this computer generated world are for too many people a horrific reality. killing is not a game. rape is not a game. war is not a game. anyone who thinks this sort of "entertainment" is acceptable is a really poor excuse for a human being. you think this is fun while countless thousands of people -men, women, children- live in extreme poverty, in fear of often fatal violence, and with no hope for any sort of future? you should get out more.
- Bandora Etrog, london
So Britain produces an amazing game that stretches the boundaries of gameplay and what does our government do? Pander to the masses of idiots that are unlikely to ever see it never mind play it by declaring it harmful! Why don't you concentrate on dealing with child poverty, lack of morality and burgeoning violence and knife crime in the country rather than berating a very successful british industry - in fact probably the only industry that will make a profit this year!
- Mr Opinion, London
Keith Vaz is the biggest waste of space in parliament and that is no small accolade these days.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
It has an 18 certificate. What more does he want? If retailers sell the product to under-age kids, there are already laws to cater for that.
Move on Mr Vaz and start looking for a new job.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
I think we have been here before, time and time again.
Violent societies are generated through very weak government "Justice" policies, not PC games.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Hordes of fans braved the cold to get their hands on a copy at its midnight launch.
Silly Billies! I pre-ordered mine and it was delivered by courier this morning.
Sadly I have a job and must therefore wait until this evening to have a go.
- Jimbob, Kensington
What an ironic contrast to tonight's Leicester Square premiere of 'Harry Brown' with Michael Caine publically advocating from personal experience that a stint of National Service would do the youth of today good.
REAL job in a REAL army lads - or aren't you really that good . . .?
- Roz, France
Mr Vaz also told MPs during Commons questions: “I am absolutely shocked by the level of violence in this game and am particularly concerned about how realistic the game itself looks.”
He's bright spark isn't he. Who would have thought that war was violent!
- Mark, South-East London
"It's not about censorship, it's about protecting our children," he added."
Er... so its about censorship then.
Video games are already age restricted in the same way as movies - as they should be!
It seems to me that Mr Vaz hasn't realised that video games have moved on from kids playing Super Mario in their bedrooms after school!
- Mw, London, UK
