Muslim Complaints Get Modern Warfare 2 Map Pulled

[sethisjimmy]

No post says that Christianity is perfect, but Christians are a lot more passive and wouldn't demand that people can't do something in a game.

I don't care what religion you are, if you get offended by a texture in a game then.... yeah...

Yeah, Christians wouldn't complain about a game, they'd instead complain about what you do in real life, such as gay marriage.

I get that not all religious people are like this, but my point is I don't think Christians are as "passive" as you think they are.

 

[Erttheking]

Oh boy, religion and video games in a news post, the Escapist is going to freaking explode I can tell it.

 

[Erttheking]

Well then, let me ask you guys, can you imagine a game (that isn't a horror one) using Christian imagery in a way offensive to Christians? Middle America would be up in arms and the game would be changed despite a vast portion of the world not being Christians, or at least not massively conservative ones. The game would get changed.

I agree pulling the map instead of issuing a texture fix within a short time is a little extreme, but the guy in the video seemed amiable enough about it, simply saying "this is offensive to a lot of people, please fix it." I fail to see the issue and support the guys consumer rights to an apology and his choice if not fixed to boycott the products in the future series.

Infact; How is this different than say:
"Dear Platinum Games,
As PS3/Xbox owners, we find your choice to release Bayonetta 2 on one of the projects primary founders console exclusively, offensive. We hope you recognise this and fix it as soon as possible or we will boycott your games"
Not much difference at all wouldn't you say?

I...you just said that middle america would be up in arms about a non-horror game using religious imagery in an offensive way and then commented about a game that did JUST THAT! And I don't recall there being a outcry over Bayonetta, or Assassin's Creed for that matter, and in that game you slap the pope around and the game more or less says that God isn't real. Christ the Escapist likes to generalize.

 

[Erttheking]

And people say Muslims are bad. Just look at this thread and the youtube page. You ask your self why religious people get offended when you write all the shit about their God?

>Snarky comments about a retarded religion
>People of said religion start killing people cause they are offended

Yeah, cause they are really the same! /sarcasm

Dude, last time I checked not every offended religious person pulled out an RPG and started shooting things.

 

[Haukur Isleifsson]

Yes it should not be a big deal. But changing it should not be a big deal either. Especially if it wasn't intentional in the first place. Their have been some horrendous examples of people trying to limit free speech by sighting religious tolerance and that deserves all our loathing. But this is not really such a case is it? Is pulling a single map until the next update really such an "extreme" reaction?

 

[axlryder]

Ugh, the responses in this thread. Good God, if they find it offensive then they have every right to do so. It is clearly stated in their religious text that this sort of thing is a no-no, so it's not as if they personally are just making things up. Whoever made that texture made an active decision to bring Allah into this game, so it's not like they weren't the ones kicking that hornet nest to begin with (unintentionally or otherwise). Also remember that no one made violent threats here; they threatened to boycott, not blow up a building. What's more, this was an active decision on the part of the company at the request of an apology and a patch. I have no doubt that the company was not trying to make a religious statement or be offensive, so it makes sense to throw in a quick fix to avoid unintentional desecration. This isn't a big deal and doesn't deserve hate.

 

[halobolola]

How rediculos.

Seriously people need to stop walking on eggshells around islam an muslims. it is waaaaaaaaay out of hand.
And in no way should a map get pulled just because a particular group might get offended.

Muslims are offended over a placement of a picture, but it is fine to show london, berlin etc getting attacked, with thousands of pixels getting killed?

what a stupid world we are in!

 

[blackrave]

/snip

I think you need to chill out a little bit, the Koran isn't loaded with more magick than any other religious text.

To make such a bold claim you better have some solid proof.

NLP isn't magic. I just said, that it might be the first religious text that started to use some NLP techniques.
Just to be sure, in what language have you read it?

 

[Erttheking]

And people say Muslims are bad. Just look at this thread and the youtube page. You ask your self why religious people get offended when you write all the shit about their God?

>Snarky comments about a retarded religion
>People of said religion start killing people cause they are offended

Yeah, cause they are really the same! /sarcasm

Dude, last time I checked not every offended religious person pulled out an RPG and started shooting things.

No but thats why I used "said religion" as that is the go to answer of the one we happen to be discussing here.

Ok, allow me to rephrase my comment, last time I checked not all Muslims keep RPGs stashed under their beds just in case someone pisses them off.

 

[aceman67]

Unfortunately I don't believe that this kind of incident portrays the Muslim community in a good light.

Wait... what? How does an individual, who calmly makes a justified, relevant, accurate and logical complaint (a far cry from what normally happens in this world, I should point out, just look at hazabaza1's quoted Youtube comments if you don't believe me), NOT put the Muslim world in a good light?

Because it caused a game company to take a map off a game?

Wow, you have some serious priority issues here.

Free-speech and freedom of expression does NOT give people a carte-blanche to do anything they want, damn the consequences. You have to take responsibility for what you say (The phrase "don't write cheques your body can't cash" comes to mind), and unfortunately, its stuff like this, given the current global situation, that can quite possibly lead to people DYING.

Activision did the right thing by taking the map down, and shows great responsibility.

I don't like political correctness as much as the next person, but at least I have the common sense to understand that when you poke a hornets nest, you're going to get stung. The muslim world right now is a Powder-keg waiting to go off, and its things like what was pointed out in the video that will set it off.

 

[wabbbit]

No post says that Christianity is perfect, but Christians are a lot more passive and wouldn't demand that people can't do something in a game.

I don't care what religion you are, if you get offended by a texture in a game then.... yeah...

Yeah, Christians wouldn't complain about a game, they'd instead complain about what you do in real life, such as gay marriage.

I get that not all religious people are like this, but my point is I don't think Christians are as "passive" as you think they are.

No post says that Christianity is perfect, but Christians are a lot more passive and wouldn't demand that people can't do something in a game.

I don't care what religion you are, if you get offended by a texture in a game then.... yeah...

Yeah, Christians wouldn't complain about a game, they'd instead complain about what you do in real life, such as gay marriage.

I get that not all religious people are like this, but my point is I don't think Christians are as "passive" as you think they are.

Yeah, because Islam is real different.....
Christians - even the extremists, wouldn't give a shit about this sort of thing in a game.

Also, Christians protesting gay marriage and Muslims protesting some words in a texture are completely different things. I'm not getting into that debate.

 

[Kargathia]

Does anyone think that the Muslims may get a degree of special treatment when it comes to things that offend them, due to the riots and such which were sparked off by that stupid video a few weeks back? And I'm not suggesting that Muslims are generally violent, just commenting on what the public perception may be for a while.

To illustrate my point, I can't see Smite getting altered to fit the demands of the Hindus, simply because I doubt there's a perception of the Hindus doing anything but complaining about it (which they have every right to do). However I doubt any publisher would dare create a game depicting Muhammad in the same light as the Hindu deities are in Smite.

Likewise, the tiny mistake of putting that picture in the wrong spot on that map, has prompted Activision to pull the map until the patch is out. Think about it... they haven't just said 'We'll make a patch and remove the texture', they've actually gone to the extent of pulling the map 'till the patch is ready.

It's almost like people are getting scared of offending the Muslims.

As multiple riots indeed have proved: right now the Muslim world is extremely volatile when it comes to perceived slights. There's a veritable plethora of issues, slights (real or imagined), and complaints, and it just takes one spark to set it off.

Quite frankly I'd say they can stuff it on some of the major issues - equality and freedom from persecution are a tad more important than religious sensitivities. This, however, is hardly important, and the last thing we'd want is a doodad texture in a video game causing riots.

 

[jthm]

As a militant athiest, I'm offended by the lack of mockery of organized religion in my video games. Not only do I protest this being removed, but it should be optional in each game to turn on a "blasphemy mode" which swaps the in game textures to images of Muhammed with a bomb turban, Jesus having homosexual relations with an uncircumcised Moses and Buddha eating a deep fried Hindi god with obvious enjoyment. Did I miss anyone?

 

[wabbbit]

As a militant athiest, I'm offended by the lack of mockery of organized religion in my video games. Not only do I protest this being removed, but it should be optional in each game to turn on a "blasphemy mode" which swaps the in game textures to images of Muhammed with a bomb turban, Jesus having homosexual relations with an uncircumcised Moses and Buddha eating a deep fried Hindi god with obvious enjoyment. Did I miss anyone?

You forgot Atheists, who in my opinion are more annoying.
Most religions will keep themselves to themselves, but atheists constantly like to remind people why they are "wrong".

For the record, that would be offensive- not some writing on a frame. Sounds more like a description of "Postal" though!

 

[GoaThief]

/snip

I think you need to chill out a little bit, the Koran isn't loaded with more magick than any other religious text.

To make such a bold claim you better have some solid proof.

NLP isn't magic. I just said, that it might be the first religious text that started to use some NLP techniques.
Just to be sure, in what language have you read it?

NLP is without doubt magick (note, not magic).

What does it matter which language I read the Koran in (or if I even have or ever will), it bears no relevance to your burden of proof.

What evidence do you have?

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Why was this even in the game in the first place? I don't see the point in taking the time to make that in a bathroom wall.

 

[bafrali]

People ask for a more culturally senstitive approach. Other side responds positively. But internet goes mad. I am disapoint people. You all talk about tolerance and love and respect all day but then you ***** about this?

You know what you are right. Why make a video requesting for something when you can blow the shit out of them. It is after all human way

 

[aceman67]

NLP is without doubt magick (note, not magic).

hate to burst your bubble, but 'magick' is the old english spelling of Magic, they mean the same, are essentially the same...

*flies away*