Tom Watson, a member of British Parliament, has developed a sort of folk hero status among European gamers this morning. After his fellow MP, Keith Vaz, promised to decry the violence depicted in Modern Warfare 2 (specifically in that one scene) in the next session of Parliament, Watson publicly defended the game on Facebook and Twitter. He then kicked it up a notch and started a pressure group called Gamers' Voice on Facebook. The group's mission statement explains that its members will discuss "how UK video gamers can find their voice in newspapers and government."
It was a wise, pre-emptive move on Watson's part -- as promised, Vaz brought up the game during today's Parliament session, explaining that it's so violent that "even the manufacturers have put in warnings within the game telling people how they can skip particular scenes." He inquired how the government was planning on "protecting our children." Watson stepped in and dropped the timeless observation that the UK already has a game rating system which restricts the game's sale to minors, and that it's more important to protect the gaming industry than it is to "create moral panic" in the media.
If you want to stay informed of Watson's other heroic, industry-defending activities, you might want to join the Gamers' Voice group. (We hear that shortly after that Parliament session, he doused a burning orphanage, then ate an entire maple tree for breakfast. Seriously!)
Reader Comments (58)
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 3:25PM Phoenix654 said
Thanks for making my footnote's sensible!
Now, shut up and shut up again, as promised.
Now, shut up and shut up again, as promised.
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 4:25PM BigBaller77 said
here it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxdZyGGE3T8
in case nobody seen it yet. Cause reading this i was like" oh well its just a game" but after watching it I'm thinking otherwise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxdZyGGE3T8
in case nobody seen it yet. Cause reading this i was like" oh well its just a game" but after watching it I'm thinking otherwise.
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 4:27PM Iroquois said
This man is my hero
...right behind Nakoto Nagano.
...right behind Nakoto Nagano.
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 6:19PM dosed150 said
sensationalist idiots like kieth vaz really do need to just shut up, as for ratings parents should definetely pay attention, my mum would buy me games that were a higher rating but still had limits like wouldnt let me watch 15 films till i was 13, 18 when i was 15 same for games, so dont think parents should feel bound completely by ratings but they should definetly take them into account
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 7:16PM (Unverified) said
I kinda squinted a little when I killed all those civilians in that airport, but then 5 seconds later I was Lovin' it!!! I just imagined it was the Verizon guy along with the GREAT network coverage... *Sarcasm is present
Posted: Nov 9th 2009 7:46PM BigBaller77 said
This really does make this game look bad...but i gotta admit even though its gruesome and is not morally right, it is cool looking. I would love a mission that would let you counter-act these guys. I'd like this game to follow more of the anti-terrorism role and let us defend U.S.A.




