Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I’m still getting mail on this game and the message board is REALLY interesting so I’m reposting it: Should CoD: MW 2 be rated M? The release of this game marks a turning point in my life. An alarming amount of my mail, and a few of my questions on radio and at What They Play.com, concerned Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Now I get to give the same, or similar, answers for this one. Do you think your kids are ready to handle an M-rated game featuring not only a new instantly infamous controversy but all the old controversies from last time too? Is it harmful to a teenager? 13+? Lets talk about it.
This article is for parents. Teens should use it when they want to lobby mom and dad – or Santa – to play this game. As kids know, this is more than just a game. It’s an event. It’s already outsold similar games that have been around for years. Lets face it, through the lack of effort from most parents and the joy of having uncles or older siblings, a lot of the copies sold are in the hands of teens.So, lets get the controversies out of the way.
SPOILERS
CoD 4: Modern Warfare was controversial for the amount of violence (this is war), the questionable taste of releasing a Modern Warfare game while our own soldiers are locked into two bloody modern warfares. The accurate use of satellite imagery – and bombing – to kill hapless enemies disturbed some because it looked exactly like the real thing. Oh, there was also a scene where the player character gets slowly radiation poisoned and fried at the base of a mushroom cloud.
CoD: Modern Warfare 2 has much of what you’d find above and then goes it further with a scene where the player portrays a CIA Agent who has infiltrated a Russian Terrorist group and is expected to gun down innocent travelers in an airport. The player doesn’t have to, he can opt not to, but how many kids will do that? (Interesting test perhaps?) Oh and America gets invaded by the Russkies, Red Dawn style (where have you gone Patrick Swayze?)
SPOILERS END
Add to this my belief that video game violence cannot in and by itself cause violent behavior, that games might be cathartic (lots of in-danger soldiers are playing this game right now – I can imagine playing this is if I had a brother over there. I can also imagine that being difficult to bear). If you disagree with me about virtual violence – harm, that’s fine. Make your decision based on that. But remember, I’ve studied gaming for 30 years, written about them for 11 years and been a child advocacy expert regarding games for 6 years. FWIW.
Ok, so knowing the controversy, maybe a look at some gameplay footage at YouTube – remember parents you can always check the game out at YouTube! – and now you can make an informed decision.
For my part, I can see letting my own 13 year old play this (when he gets there and provided he’s mature enough). I can imagine the conversations it’d lead to and I like the game’s non-black and white tone. War and its consequences are presented with depth and the game is of high quality and sure to be remembered as an event. War is hell, Modern Warfare 2 does nothing to sugarcoat that. The trouble for some parents is that in gaming, war is fun. Some parents are uncomfortable with that, those parents should go with their instinct. Another way of looking at it: Is it preferable for kids to play a shooter that makes violence over-the-top, wild and wacky… or one that takes the stakes and the reality more seriously?
For the rest? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a chilling thrill ride into how hellish war is today. Thankfully this is virtual.
April 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Also Smart 13 y old I’m gonna try that idea. I do the complete opposite (except with grades) so maybe if I change they will think about it. Thanks!
April 26th, 2010 at 12:50 am
It’s great to read threads like this. I’m a father of 5 kids and appreciate the guidance.
On this thread my paraphrase of what I am reading from “13-year-old kids who want M games” is: I’m smart so I should get what I want. My friends all have this game and I’m an outcast if I don’t have it. I want it. And I’m oblivious to both graphical violence and moral thought. Its more important THAT you I am playing with friends rather than WHAT I am playing with them.
Really, these are very weak arguments that really make you look like a child younger than you probably are. What’s the best way to show you are “mature”? Act like you are mature! A baby says, “everyone else has it, I want it.” But someone with responsibility (and maturity) considers which things they and others should do and should not and why that is the case.
So you have to think of what rules you would impose if you were the parent on your kids. How would you want your kids to grow and develop? What characteristics of games would lead them to success and happiness in life and what habits might develop that might hinder their lives. If you think doing everything is ok and can’t relate actions to consequences, it is probably a sign that you are very young and not even close to the maturity one would need for an “M” game. And if you can’t understand that a parent’s role is to provide some protective limits for children, you don’t really have any chance of playing an “M” game.
The parents on this site are a real variety, and what I like about GamerDad is that he promotes discussion over thumbs up or down (absolutes), and recognizes families may come to different answers. This has made me really think about what rules I want.
I came up with a family video game policy. It is more in depth than this, but there are three main points for games I restrict my kids from playing:
1) No foul language in the game. This includes not playing online with players that swear. Its a moral choice for me and my family. Lots of websites will teach you why morally and practically foul language isn’t a great habit. I find it hard to argue that using foul language is a helpful habit to garner in children, and by extension, limiting exposure to foul language likely limits how strong of habit using foul language becomes.
2) No nudity or sexual solicitation in the game.
3) No excessively unnecessary graphical violence. I guess imbedded in this idea is the concept of not explicitly promoting immoral behaviour. It is debatable whether killing and violence are even immoral (religion seems to be responsible for as much violence as it prevents). But an explicit game theme of requiring theft, cold-blooded murder, rape, torture and so on isn’t really a necessary part of my children’s development. Virtually every game is about the elimination of an opponent or opponent’s pieces. Therefore, I think if you are a gamer, you don’t really see the elimination of an opponent’s pieces or resources as violence – just part of the game. There has to be some colour on the experience to try to make the gaming experience more fun and realistic as well. However, there is a subjective line when the game seems to be about graphics and violence rather than about being a game. I don’t want to give money to developers who focus on the graphical detail of death rather than providing better intracacies of deep entertaining gameplay. I’m still kind of subjective on this one.
Gaming is one of the best things about my life and will always be a big part of my life. I’ve played a lot of great games, but to be honest I’ve been slowly moving back to boardgames, pen & paper role playing games and card games because there has been a renaissance of new ideas and very interesting non-videogames (www.boardgamegeek.com for examples). Unfortunately, video games seem to be developing “eye candy” with less intellectual depth and collaborative player development compared to progress in non-video games. Still love both, but when will they improve the game play and strategy on a war theme video game rather than simply enhancing the resolution and foul language? And it seems like development of AI has gone out the window now that multi-player online gaming is popular. The game companies seem to be saying “why bother developing computer-based strategy when we can save time and just let people play each other?” People are great to play against, but I would have thought AI would have improved more.
I hope video games get another round of enlightenment and don’t just become about graphics. One of the top current board games is called Puerto Rico which takes 60-120 minutes to play face to face. Online, I could play a game with experienced players every 20 minutes on the Brettspielwelt site. This is a great example of when a top-ranked boardgame gets the advantages of computer power. No so for most first person shooters. Most are really just remakes of the 25-year-old “Wolvenstein” first-person shooter, but with higher resolution. Big deal. Reward the developers that get your brain working, not just your eyes! Otherwise, for a great first-person shooter experience – just go for a round of outdoor paintball – hard to beat real-life graphics.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:43 am
I decided that I won’t ask for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex, because after a discussion on War with my dad, he said that he wants people, especially children when they are old enough, to understand that, well, war is hell, and see videos (like Band of Brothers) that show what war is really like. On the other hand, he doesn’t want children under 18 to play video games that simulate war, because they don’t show every single concept AND experiencing WWII by playing a game (i.e. Call of Duty: World At War) just because it will probably make kids want to join up in the Armed Forces when they get old enough, and go to Afghanistan and shoot somebody and be scarred (not scared) for life.
He barely agrees on letting me play war games that are rated T (I own Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 for Wii and Battlefield 2: Complete Collection for PC, a few DS shooters, and The Conduit will be arriving in the mail soon), going so far as putting a Time Restriction on the Computer for Battlefield 2 at the time (until 1. I finish school for this year, and 2. Show I am more Mature.), and not letting my 6 year old sister watch me play Medal of Honor and not letting her play Multiplayer on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
There are no video games on the market right now that show war to its fullest. It doesn’t show people getting blown in the gut and holding their intestines in, it doesn’t show people how soldiers really react when their comrade gets their head blown off, and it doesn’t show what people are like when they get home.
I now understand my dad’s view of war games, and have decided not to beg for Bad Company 2 or Call of Duty 4. I hope all of you that are under the age of 18 view the same way as I do.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Also, I forgot to mention something in my previous comment. There are a ton of other great games out there. I like to play Mario and Solitaire, and there are a few great shooters that are T rated and are a lot better to play than M games. Try those out, and see what it’s like! It can be fun to play Call of Duty Multiplayer every once in a while, but what’s really fun about video games is that there are very fun games that do not involve war, blood and lots of violence.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Also, for those who HAVE to get a rated M Call of Duty game over their addictions, you have 3 options:
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2. Call of Duty: World at War
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I’m pretty sure that between a choice of Modern Warfare 1 and 2, almost everyone will pick MW2. However, when it comes to World at War and MW2, it might be a hard decision.
If you only have a Wii, I’m assuming that you will choose Modern Warfare Reflex. But, besides that, World at War should not be your pick if you don’t want your mother to ban M games from your home. World at War has dismemberment, and a lot of it. There is one scene where a soldier gets half of his head blown off, exposing what’s left over his skull and brains. There is also a lot of gore. Way more than any Call of Duty game to date (No Russian is as close as you’ll get to World at War).
However, I’m assuming that even without this post, people would have still picked MW2 UNLESS they love seeing their enemies fly in pieces.
So, I think World at War is the greater of 2 evils (3 if you count MW1), so unless if you have a Wii (the Wii version of World at War has an option to take off blood and gore, or at least most of it), you should avoid WaW (World at War) if you have at least a mother in the household. If you’re 18+ and live outside the house with your friends in an apartment, WaW will probably show them how tough you are if you NEVER, EVER, look away from the screen.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:50 am
@ Anonymous: If you think MW2 has a lot of violence, read my comment above. What do you think now?
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Dear gamerdad, i am only 12 and my birthday is comming up, i really want this game and only for online play, is it any different than killing civilians in an airport? Like more tame then campaign? i kno there is still swearing and blood but is there a diffrence?
August 26th, 2010 at 6:04 am
hi im 12 going to be 13 this october and i was wondering should i be allowed to get this game. i have good grades and i think im mature, i dont get into fights argue with my parents etc.my parents are fairly comfortable with me playing the game,but i have a 10 year old brother. he has good grades and doesnt get into trouble at school (as far as i know).he watches me play all the time and he has played metal gear solid 4 although he got a bit scared at some points.Do you think i should be able to get the game (bearing in mind i probalbly wont play the campain just multiplayer and ill mute everyone from what ive heard the mw2 community are not the friendliest bunch).please can you answer my question if you have time to.thanks.
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 pm
@ master dc
I beg to differ that no games show war how it really is. Not that I have been to war before but call of duty 5 world at war does a “great” job at showing the gore and horror of real soldiers. It shows graphic scenes and most AIs arms legs and head may be blown off. Along with strong language and other unpleaseantries. 6 months ago I was that 13 year old kid wanting this game to but I those six months I learned a lot. The kids who played it constantly were getting bigger and bigger and stopped playing sports and other activities. Just like anything to much is harmful. Every once and a while I’ll play a few rounds with my friends on spsplit screen but I’ve found some good t games as well: blacklight tango down, battlefield 1943 and soon to be released force unleashed 2
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Oh and honestly I never got the game and I don’t have any m games and don’t expect to anytime soon. There is pluses for being your age and negatives as well.
September 22nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm
I really want to get this game, but my parents wount let me. All of my friends have M games, and even though I am 15, they won’t let me. They hate video games already, and have no real reply to my questions. What do I do?
October 7th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Very nice site! is it yours too
October 18th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
hi gamerdad!
im 11 and i know that is young but i am mature, have good grades, and have r rated movies like kick ass were they blow some1 up in a microwave i have played cod 3,james bond quantum of solace and other t rated shooters like bf bad company 1 gold. i would like to play halo or cod mw2 (i am not the kind of person to kill civilians in an airport) i have played these games at friends houses and my parents know i have and seem to be ok with it. but say no to our house.my parents also dont like to talk about the subject but it seems like they dont like the subjject of violence against humans but i kill humans all the time on quantum of solace. i have no other m rated games. do you have advice or are they right and at my age with my background should i be allowed to play those games?
October 18th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
plz email if u have answer
October 19th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
@
dexter no game has officially been rated ao and actually published
January 27th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I am 13 and very mature to my teachers standards, along with my parents standards. I believe that I am mature enough to have this game. I showed my father the gameplay on the demo and he said he was fine with me getting it, with the only person in my way being my mother. What should i tell her?
March 19th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
If Halo is a 1 and GTA IV is a 10, where would you put CoD based on content?
June 16th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
My mom let’s me play any game that I want except “M” games. I try to tell her you can skip the airport mission and that I won’t play the campaign if she doesn’t want me to. She just says it’s rated “M” for a reason so why should I let you play it? I am 12 and she let’s me play “T” games so I say the same reason you let me “T” games. Then she just says “uh huh” and walks away or I something like I told you no. Sometimes she even threatens to take away all my video games and I try to show her gameplay but before I show her the video she goes “I told you, you can’t play the game.” I am kind of confused on what tondo could you help me out?
April 27th, 2014 at 11:40 am
One thing that I hate about video game reviews is all of the talk of the campaign single player mode. I’m 17 and I can legally buy any game I want and the last thing that I care about is an “offensive” skippable 10 second cutscene or even a skippable level. What makes video games fun, COD in particular, is the multiplayer. I have almost a week of straight gameplay between two cods and it is a blast to get online with my friends and play together. Most of your child’s experience will be on multiplayer, assuming you have XBL Gold. Seriously, I think that most single player video games are stupid because of how anti.social they are. Call of Duty is an excellent game and multiplayer has limited blood and no language, much in contrast to what has been mentioned so far in the comments here. Again, as for my own credability, I could say anything I want but those who disagree with my points will remain unconvinced regardless of my faith, GPA, extra curricular activities or core values in my life so I’ll spare all of you agreeable folks the time of day. To finish, I urge parents to pick up just about any CoD game and play some multiplayer with your reasonably aged child and not just fall for the hype that all games are bad and any external source of violence or other bad influence will corrupt your child. At some point they will have to face the world, and the job of a parent is to be a positive filter that allows children to experience and be shaped in life in a positive manner.