Activision chose to censor Russian MW2 News

when will the COD wankathon cease!

overhyped, unwhelming expansion pack.

No you didn't, stop lying IW (or Activision, for that matter).

Really not sure what the fuss is about that scene, it's certainly no more (if not less) disturbing than many other games which allow the killing of innocents. To be honest the Specter Gunship in MW had more impact, that one felt a little too real.

Are we assuming everyones played this level now? It was incredibly hard to keep that level a suprise.

To counter andromeda's well put criticims:

I like COD, it is good.

Was I the only one that did not find the Specter Gunship level moving? If anything I was bored by it. Call me desensitized.

"No you didn't, stop lying IW (or Activision, for that matter)."

Think it through for 2 seconds.

1. Why would they lie? To annoy you? Because they are evil (in the AD&D sense, where they just do evil stuff for no real reason)?
2. If they did lie, surely they would know that the truth would out in a matter of hours.

Of course they aren't bloody lying.

Was I the only one that did not find the Specter Gunship level moving?

It was amazingly realistic and that certainly stood out, but I didn't find it moving. Didn't find the airport scene moving either. Maybe I'm just a cold-hearted emotionless cynic.

If they're lying or not, don't care. I do think it's a bit of a strange and weak decision to censor themselves without any real objective reason to do that. And of course their 'counsel' will have advised that as it only wants to avoid any risk.

And of course their 'counsel' will have advised that as it only wants to avoid any risk.

That sounds like an objective reason to me.

overhyped, unwhelming expansion pack.

if you really believe that you know 0 about video games.

The russian government and people will not have taken kindly to being the bad guys in a clearly american game so I'm guessing that Activision were told in no uncertain terms to change it or face the consequences. There is zero other reason why any company incurs additional costs seemingly out of the goodness of their hearts. It's especially unlikely because there simply can't be that many sales of the game in russia.

kangarootoo: Both activision and IW are not above telling porkies if recent weeks are anything to go by.

In Soviet Russia, civilians massacre YOU!!

@ andromeda

Then it's the best damn expansion pack I've ever played. Overhyped, maybe. But expansion pack? You're kidding yourself.

@andromeda:

Don't tell me, L4D2 is an expansion pack too. There's nothing long about CoD4 and this one isn't any shorter. Bigger multiplayer and the co-op Spec Ops missions areincredible!

"kangarootoo: Both activision and IW are not above telling porkies if recent weeks are anything to go by."

I deal with these things on a case by case basis, and in this specific case, common sense suggests they aren't lying. There is no motive for doing so, and they would know that the lie would be discovered in moments. It simply makes no sense.

kanga: In all honesty, mate, I'd have to counter that; if the Russian authorities (governmental or otherwise) have stepped in and threatened to ban the title because of this particular piece of content, it certainly isn't beyond Activision's PR to throw out some positive spin in an attempt to save both corporate face and regional marketshare.

But if, in fact, Activision pulled it beforehand, before or without any hue and cry from the Russians, ask yourself one question - knowing full well that the title would be sold in that market and the ramifications that would undoubtedly ensue, why even bother incorporating it in the first place?

Not trying to don any tin-foil hats, but it certainly strikes me that Activision have had their wrists slapped here, and are attempting a bit of damage limitation.

Activision fearin' a nukin'. Don't poke the Great Bear.

@Redeye

I'm not saying it is beyond the abilities of IW to fib about it, but again I say that a lie like this would be found out easily and IW/Act would know that.

As for incoporating it in the first place, I don't expect anyone to get everything right first time. If the scene is in the game build for most regions, it is quite natural that it would be included in the game build for Russia, if only to start with.

If they then (perhaps in response to the public interest in the issue) sought further advice from a Russian councel (nobody, including Acty, is saying they had no contact with them) that suggested public outcry in Russia might be problematic it is perfectly feasible that they might change their mind about the inclusion to avoid future problems.


What part of that seems so unlikely? I'm not saying its impossible that this story isn't true, but the facts heavily suggest it is true. Certainly we have no grounds for kneejerk "No you didn't, stop lying IW" from someone who doesn't even appear to be able to decide which company that are complaining about.

This whole thing has occam's razor written ALL over it.

Taking the airport level out will make for an even shorter SP experience... unlucky gamers in Russia... but to be honest the level is pretty rubbish anyway so they are probably better off without it :)

The plot would make even less sense if they just chop this out!

"Other countries have formal ratings boards that we regularly work with. However, Russia does not have a formal ratings entity, but uses threats instead. As a result, we chose to block the scene after being told we'd be tied up and dropped down a mine-shaft during our next visit to Russia," the company didn't tell Eurogamer in a statement.

Surely without that scene its now going to look like the russians invaded the US because they were bored?

Quite right to remove the scene. Pure fiction. Russians never massacre other Russians. Never have, never will...

Good im glad they cut it out.
Last thing we need is the ruskies taking offence and declaring WWIII over a video game.

Methinks somebody from Activision is going to get a generous dose of polonium-210 in their tea.

One lump or two?

What the emote for crying again?

So, we've been talking about this scene for the entire week now. Well done IW. /sarcasm

im surprised they havent offered players in russia who do want to play this level a chance to download it as DLC for a monthly fee.....

missed opportunity by acti......

So now, rather than not having to kill innocent civilians which conveys an important element of the plot, Russian gamers will believe that their country invaded America for no reason?

That really makes no sense.

"In Soviet Russia, civilians massacre you!"

I didn't realise that MW2 was set in the 1980s.

Or in other words for the hard of thinking, what has Soviet Russia got to do with this?

@tomkuryakin: a TACTICAL FACEPALM for you

tee-hee - now they're addressing the letter of protest from Ministry of Internal Affairs as 'an advice of local council'...