Pro-game MP rewrites Modern Warfare censure motion
Call of Duty gets Parliamentary praise
The House of Commons has changed its opinion that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 mimics the London bombings, amending an Early Day Motion that proposed the BBFC take further precautions when allowing a game to be sold.
The revamped EDM now goes as far as to actually praise Activision's big-seller.
Labour MP Tom Watson (West Bromwich East) made his pro-game views known when he completely rewrote the Motion to say:
"That this House notes the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) gave the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 an 18 classification, noting that 'the game neither draws upon nor resembles real terrorist attacks on the underground'."
It isn't easy to imagine parliamentary old boys bashing control pads and calling to each other, 'Oh darn it, it's actually rather jolly good isn't it, chaps?'
However, that could well be the case as the EDM now tips its top hat towards Activision claiming, "the game has an excellent user interface and challenges the gamers' dexterity as well as collaborative skills in an online setting".
It then declares the House "encourages the BBFC to uphold the opinion of the public that whilst the content of videogames may be unsettling or upsetting to some, adults should be free to choose their own entertainment in the absence of legal issues or material which raises a risk or harm".
Earlier this month, another Labour MP, Keith Vaz, and other MPs proposed to discuss sanctioning sales further. The original EDM read:
"This House is deeply concerned about the recently released video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, in which players engage in gratuitous acts of violence against members of the public; notes in particular the harrowing scenes in which a London Underground train is bombed by terrorists, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the tragic events of 7 July 2005; further notes that there is increasing evidence of a link between perpetrators of violent crime and violent video games users; and calls on the British Board of Film Classification to take further precautions when allowing a game to be sold."
The amendment is a triumph for pro-gamers, a middle finger up to luddites who prefer to blame social disturbance on button bashers in a virtual warzone, over their own governance shortcomings.
Then again, banning a videogame that made a quarter of a billion quid on its first day of sales would be a tall order, even for those who like to think they're pulling the strings. ®
COMMENTS
So to translate into l337...
Tom Watson is saying STFU n00b to Keith Vaz?
Ugh. I agree with a Labour MP on something. I feel dirty.
do the [insert enemy of the day here] parents love their children too?
"notes in particular the harrowing scenes in which a London Underground train is bombed by terrorists, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the tragic events of 7 July 2005"
forgetting of course the rest of the game's remarkable resemblance to the myriad of Western led illegal wars and intervention in Middle Eastern, South American and African countries for political and economic gain waged against a fictitious 'enemy of the day' thinly veiled behind the guise of democracy and human rights and the need protect our so called 'freedoms' to such an overwhelming extent that even our own civil liberties are seen as obstacles to that same end...
...erm... yeah, right
I would have though that the link is pretty obvious. The link between "perpetrators of violent crime" and "the USERS of violent video games" is not so well documented.
During the hacking scandal, I have been very impressed with Tom Watson.
This is another + for him.
