Muslim Complaints Get Modern Warfare 2 Map Pulled

[crazyrabbits]

One of the biggest video game releases of all time, heavily scrutinized to hell and back by overzealous modders and people who ripped extra game modes and content from the product before they were intended for public release...and it takes almost three years for someone to get their back up over a barely-legible quote on a painting in the game?

We're talking about a series that had a main character describe the Afghan region as being "blood-stained by thousands of years of warfare", a Middle Eastern terrorist detonating a nuclear device in his capital city, civilians being massacred via the whims of Russian ultranationalists and every almost every NPC of Middle Eastern descent being depicted either as a helpless civilian or (in Al-Asad's case) a cowardly leader who got anticlimactically murdered, and your problem is with a quote that says to love God?

I guess Activision should be commended for enforcing the low suspension of disbelief in Muslim culture. They must have some kind of God to be continually incensed over a mistranslated quote in a game that's several years old.

 

[Gilhelmi]

At least this is a legit reason.

What no one seems too get is that there are No, zero, zip, zilch, depictions of the Prophet Mohammed in the Muslim world. They believe that any image of Prophet Mohammed might lead some too start worshiping the picture itself and not Allah. I do not blame them for this, in my Christian walk, I have seen people claiming to be Christians do some pretty stupid thing in Christs name (even though they are contradicting Christ by doing some of the stupid but I digress).

So I say, this is legit.

 

[BishopofAges]

This. This right here, this thread, this topic, this guys youtube channel, the comments left on his youtube channel, the ill will gained and thrown like daggers across a room full of children who have no idea what it is they are actually doing, believing, or going on about.

This is why I detest military shooters and do not play them. You can stand there and tell me all day long that you are a player and they you are a decent upright chap who has never hurt a fly or made someone cry with your words, that does not excuse the rest of your community.

Hasty Edit 1: I am okay with a map or two being pulled to be edited so it doesn't upset a nation, its one map people, theres many other to play.

 

[Jegsimmons]

Muslim Complaints Get Modern Warfare 2 Map Pulled

​

Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer map, Favela, has been temporarily removed from the game's playlists.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and 3 players have found themselves temporarily one venue short, as Activision has pulled one of the game's maps following complaints from Muslim gamers.

The map in question, Favela, depicts a shanty town in Rio de Janiro. One of the bathrooms in the map contains two paintings, the frames of which are decorated with an ornate quote attributed to the prophet, Muhammad: "Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty."

As was pointed out in this video released back in October, the sight of holy teachings written on or in a bathroom can be offensive to some followers of Islam. It's a minor error, and one easily attributed to ignorance rather than malice, but Activision has elected to remove the map from rotation until it can be edited via a title update. The publisher has since apologized for the slight.

As an Activision rep told Kotaku:

"We apologize to anyone who found this image offensive. Please be assured we were unaware of this issue and that there was no intent to offend. We are working as quickly as possible to remove this image and any other similar ones we may find from our various game libraries."

We are urgently working to release a Title Update to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 3. We are also working to remove the texture from Modern Warfare 2 through a separate Title Update. Until the TU is ready, we have removed the Favela multiplayer map from online rotation.

Activision and our development studios are respectful of diverse cultures and religious beliefs, and sensitive to concerns raised by its loyal game players. We thank our fans for bringing this to our attention."

The video that originally pointed out the issue has had its comments section closed, I couldn't possibly speculate as to why.

This isn't the first time Muslims have taken issue with unintentional slights in videogames. Media Molecule's Little Big Planet was famously delayed when it became apparent one of the musical tracks from the game contained lines from the Koran. More recently, Hindus took offense when Hi-Rez Studios' announced that their upcoming fighter title, Smite, would feature characters from the Hindu pantheon. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118471-Catholics-Buddhists-Join-Hindu-Protests-Against-Smite]

Source: Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5949764/modern-warfare--map-removed-after-complaints-from-muslim-gamers]


Permalink

you know what, activision are a bunch of pussies for doing it.

thats all to be said,

 

[cerebus23]

At least this is a legit reason.

What no one seems too get is that there are No, zero, zip, zilch, depictions of the Prophet Mohammed in the Muslim world. They believe that any image of Prophet Mohammed might lead some too start worshiping the picture itself and not Allah. I do not blame them for this, in my Christian walk, I have seen people claiming to be Christians do some pretty stupid thing in Christs name (even though they are contradicting Christ by doing some of the stupid but I digress).

So I say, this is legit.

I think alot of people get that and i still think when we get bomb threats to south park because they going to use a hooded muhammid in a episode about all the major religions, it ceases to hold any weight at all.

I am pretty sure the creators of s park are not islamic, i am pretty sure comedy central is not an islamic carrier, i am sure the episode never really intended to show anything of the actual muhammid, and i am sure s park bring s park they would have done something "tasteful" and not just gone for the shock fest and flame bating.

But none of that mattered they rolled out the bomb threats, death threats and boom they got what they wanted.

Again i will say stop just stop trying to justify anyone forcing their beliefs on everyone, it is wearing thin when everytime someone says boo on their side people cannot bend over fast enough to kiss their asses.

It is not like the more extreme elements of islam that actually use this stuff as an excuse to justify killing anyone are nice people to begin with, they are murderers rapists and thugs a good chunk of them and if not today over south park it will be tomrrow because it was allahs will, or the next day because of israel, or the next day because of some unheard of utube video.

 

[Norix596]

Really? The part of Modern Warfare that Muslims find offensive is the writing on a wall surface? How about the slaughter of mass quantities of generically "arabic" enemies?

 

[Stainlesssteele4]

At first, I thought it was some derogatory remarks towards Islam, after seeing how widely this was reported. But to find out it was simply a quote above a toilet...
I just don't understand the mentality. Do they not understand that not everything has to conform to their religion? Or that they are not free from criticism?
I guess I'll never understand, as I'm too free minded to conform to such zealotry. But I'm going to remain annoyed by the whole situation.
If someone calls me something on the internet, I live with it, because is can't be helped. But if someone openly criticizes Islam, heads roll.
I am sufficiently bugged by this ordeal. Bugged I say.

 

[direkiller]

Really? The part of Modern Warfare that Muslims find offensive is the writing on a wall surface? How about the slaughter of mass quantities of generically "arabic" enemies?

My first reaction was that was it. That's what your offended about. A picture probably used a bunch of outer places in the game.

I hate to see what he would do over this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvE8QQcSok&feature=relmfu
&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00KSBpGBwmo&feature=relmfu

 

[Something Amyss]

The only consequence of this is that Favela will be unavailable for a small time, don't blow this too much out of proportion.

You're on the internet. You're on the internet and talking sense.

I hope you have a flame bunker, as I'm afraid you're going to need it.

Christians - even the extremists, wouldn't give a shit about this sort of thing in a game.

Not sure if serious....

 

[Astoria]

When will people start standing up to these muslims and tell them to just deal with it! I'm sick of hearing these types of stories. You just can't go anywhere near Islam without a huge deal being made out of it.

 

[Easton Dark]

You can take away what players paid for without them breaking any rule?

Oh that's not good.

 

[Gilhelmi]

At least this is a legit reason.

What no one seems too get is that there are No, zero, zip, zilch, depictions of the Prophet Mohammed in the Muslim world. They believe that any image of Prophet Mohammed might lead some too start worshiping the picture itself and not Allah. I do not blame them for this, in my Christian walk, I have seen people claiming to be Christians do some pretty stupid thing in Christs name (even though they are contradicting Christ by doing some of the stupid but I digress).

So I say, this is legit.

I think alot of people get that and i still think when we get bomb threats to south park because they going to use a hooded muhammid in a episode about all the major religions, it ceases to hold any weight at all.

I am pretty sure the creators of s park are not islamic, i am pretty sure comedy central is not an islamic carrier, i am sure the episode never really intended to show anything of the actual muhammid, and i am sure s park bring s park they would have done something "tasteful" and not just gone for the shock fest and flame bating.

But none of that mattered they rolled out the bomb threats, death threats and boom they got what they wanted.

Again i will say stop just stop trying to justify anyone forcing their beliefs on everyone, it is wearing thin when everytime someone says boo on their side people cannot bend over fast enough to kiss their asses.

It is not like the more extreme elements of islam that actually use this stuff as an excuse to justify killing anyone are nice people to begin with, they are murderers rapists and thugs a good chunk of them and if not today over south park it will be tomrrow because it was allahs will, or the next day because of israel, or the next day because of some unheard of utube video.

These people did not do any of that BS. They just politely protested.

These Muslims are not the radicals. They just want common respect. Like any other American.

 

[Overusedname]

If a work actively encourages or congratulates hate, discrimination and hate crime, it should be brought under review.

I don't know much about this franchise, so I don't know first hand how bad it was. Was it really hateful or distasteful? If so, then okay. Innocent Muslims are often victims of hate crimes and discrimination in several countries, you know.

If not, then wtf?

And censorship should never be treated lightly. I realize this is not a company that values artistic integrity, but still. Cowardly to instantly give into demands like that.

 

[DeadpoolPwnz]

So if muslims resort to bomb threats, has anyone tried sending them bomb threats about them sending bomb threats?

 

[crepesack]

I know tons of christian families that have pictures of jesus, crucifixes, verses from the bible and little christian trinkents in their restroom. I bet there are muslims with islamic paraphenalia in their restrooms as well (it is where a lot of them do their ritual cleaning every day)...so why is anyone mad?