Norwegian shops pull Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and other games after tragedy

by Christopher Grant on Aug 4th 2011 2:00PM

Following the tragic attacks last month in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik, several retailers have removed games cited by the attacker from their stores. "In light of Friday's horrific events, and out of respect for those affected, we have chosen to remove selected items from our range," a spokesperson for Coop Norway told Danish site Gamer's Globe. Local Norwegian paper Rogalands Avis reported that while the removals are "temporary," Coop Norway will "think twice" about restocking the games, adding, "Others are better qualified than us to point to the repercussions these games have." UK site Thinq also reports that Norwegian store Platekompaniet has removed "certain games" from sale.

The Coop-removed games include just about anything with the words "Call of Duty" in the title, including Black Ops, Modern Warfare 2, and World at War, along with other titles like Sniper: Ghost Warrior, Counter-Strike: Source, and World of Warcraft. This isn't a Coop-wide removal though; the chain in Denmark told Gamer's Globe that it hasn't removed any games and believed "that terrorism has been guided by motives other than computer game universes."

Brevik's 1500+ page manifesto references many of the above games, notably calling Modern Warfare 2 part of his "training-simulation."

[image credit: Flickr user potomo]

Tags: Anders-Behring-Breivik, Call-of-Duty-Black-Ops, microsoft, Norway, pc, playstation, ps3, xbox

Reader Comments (131)

Isn't it bad enough you've got Breivik acting like an American, you've got to drag the retailers into it too?

@(Unverified) Acting like an American? Come on.

Nice to see Norway letting a domestic terrorist disrupt peoples lives.

@(Unverified)

What you said is way beyond a nasty troll comment. It's hate speech, calling a mass murderer "acting like an American." If Joystiq had any moderation of these forums, they should pull your comment. But of course, they don't ....

@(Unverified)

You're just an ignorant idiot. You will never succeed in life and you will die alone.

@(Unverified)

...... hate to break it to you but it isn't like America has a Monopoly on socially unsound individuals.

Sure does sound like your trying to go for a monopoly on ignorance tho ^^

Good luck with that :)

@(Unverified)

hahahahahahaha you've got a point there but this isn't funny. That was a sarcastic laugh.

@(Unverified)

Nice to see Joystiq's priorities. I got banned for making a South Park reference before and I remember getting one of my comments removed for criticizing a review (deservedly so) and yet this comment just flies by like it's nothing.

@(Unverified) Acting like an American? You aren't much of a student of history. Europe needs no roll models for violent, homicidal, or genocidal individuals or groups or governments, it has a long history of violent conquest, religious persecution, and bloody mayhem. The US hardly invented such things.

@(Unverified)

You're an idiot. Go enroll yourself in school.

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Just to let ya'll know...a *lot* of people overseas view Americans this way....I should know, I have to pass a 'social test' almost every time I meet somebody new traveling abroad all over the damn place. Reason being, to let them know I'm not like the ones they see on TV or personally was rude to before I showed up.

Simply put, the really bad ones are screwing it up for the rest of us, I wish I could tape some of the business meetings I attend that have some of these douchebags insulting nearly everyone, that isn't American, they come in contact with, its sickening.

No, not everyone deserves this, and sweeping generalizations just feed the stupidity that much more, but if you travel overseas and your treated exceedingly rude by someone...9 times out of 10 there was a jerk that showed up before you that help taint his view on us.

@i77ogical

America sort of has a reputation for mass murder... I know that comment isn't going to get me any love but it's true.

@(Unverified)
Lol

@ShadowXIII
@AntiVillian

"No, not everyone deserves this, and sweeping generalizations just feed the stupidity that much more ...."

Enough said.

@ShadowXIII

Oh trust me, I have experienced it too. I guess you are going to get stereotypes no matter where you are from though. Meh, just society being it's normal judgmental self. I have also seen a lot of racism, I come from a predominantly black neighborhood. I don't like people very much.

@i77ogical

Exactly! Spitting hate towards others while claiming to be fighting back does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! On top of that, how about we research our sources and even the truthfulness of "facts" before we start blaming others. As a conservative, Tea Party supporting, Christian, pro gay rights white guy I get spat upon all the time by those who don't know me and call me a racist, bigiot, Nazi, terrorist, etc. all while I am trying to do the right thing. I don't know ANYBODY besides those on the extreme fringe that actually believe any of that crap (like the guy in Norway). I have had people tell me that I should be imprisoned for my beliefs and that I am a poison to society. The truth is that people like me are the only people standing between another crazy dictator (an actual dictator and not people like George Bush). Truth is that so much hate, misquotes, and complete lies are getting spread that people like me will be the first people to get executed for being "misfits" to society. This crap has happened before and we are letting it happen again. I am not the enemy, those who are claiming to be for the "better of mankind" are the ones foaming at the mouth and ready to enact their kind of justice.

@Clownzilla

Your confidence in your grace-based beliefs is to your credit. Thanks for sharing your story here, where it can get kinda hairy with the responses. ;)

You're right, it's tempting to fight fire with fire, even for the right reasons, but it only ends up in a pointless debate that the haters end up winning. Maybe that's why Jesus, when he was on trial, chose to say nothing and let his record speak for itself.

There are indeed problems in America, and with Americans abroad (we've all been abroad, to the guy posting "how it is" out there), but as you've so well stated Clownzilla, prejudice for any reason is destructive.

Obviously America is a big part of this world--how in the heck did America even get brought up in a thread about Norwegian video game retailers--and "where much is given, much is required." We don't discount America's problems to say, let's keep this subject where it belongs: on the destructive nature of intolerance, and on the mental health issues the shooter obviously had. His dogma has nothing to do with peace-loving people.

@(Unverified) You know, it's true that America has a bad reputation, and it's citizens have no idea. America is the cocky, dumb bully of the class of the world. I'm an American, and I see this country for what it really is. People have issues stepping out of their own shoes and seeing the reality. Your comment may be a bit shallow, but there have been moments in this country that justify that.

HOWEVER, I believe stupidity and violence is found in all walks of life of humanity. Doesn't matter where they are from, what color they are, or what they may believe. Humans, in general, are ridiculous, and will most likely be their own demise.

@ShadowXIII
Guys, seriously, who cares what Europeans or anyone else thinks about us Americans. We as Americans give them WAY too much authority and leverage on these matters. There is a serious moral superiority complex going on here. I'm generally of the opinion that people are individuals first, not groups, and should be treated as such. If you're a jerk, then you're a jerk. If you're not, then we will get along no matter where you're from, what you look like, what your religion is, etc. I wish people would stop this nonsensical group-think.

@dan828 That's what America was built on...

@LivingDream

Rock n' Roll?

@AntiVillian

O so it's just America that has the reputation for mass murder? There are genocides taking place at this very moment in the world and this murder was not commited by an American and yet here we are saying its America's fault? O let me guess the Holocaust was our fault as well? It's ignorance like this that creates these types of tragedies not a nation as a whole. You can't take one persons heinous act and group an entire people in with those select idiots.

@(Unverified)

I LOL'd

@(Unverified) Maybe he recently seen the movie RAMPAGE

@TraceurRyuk Part III

Hahaha, okay Trace hold up, ima let you finish up in a minute but I just wanted to ask something... are you a first-year undergrad prepping for second year courses?

kkbai-

@cquigs

This does not even remotely relate to my statement.

@Nysik

Huh? No, why do you ask?

@(Unverified) I reported your comment, douchebag.

@ShadowXIII Well said,stereotyping is the worst form of ignorance.

Wow crazy, but a psycho can gain inspiration from just about anything but I think these retail chains do it more for the parents than anything else.

@type2red

I think every store in Europe should pull True Lies, because that movie is a like a terrorist training video.

There were terrorists in that movie, right?

That has got to go as it may be the inspiration for some crazy f*cking nutjob out there somewhere. We should only allow movies, videogames and other forms of entertainment that feature rainbows, puppies, kittens and happy, happy little children because anything else wil turn everyone that watches it into a violent killer.

And if that were true, there would be a hell of a lot more murdering psychos out in the world.

@Mal F4cti0n

You're over thinking this action, its not a step towards censorship. Its more so a band aid for the parents in the mean time, to show respect to the victims.

Was WoW part of his "training simulation",or was it just a game that he mentioned he played?

I remember reading in an article that someone in law enforcement mentioned that his mentality was shaped by online games but the retailer pulling WoW because of the tragedy just seems kinda random.

@SgtDookie

He stated in his manifesto, and I am not joking, that if someone needed to become less socially involved so they could plan a similar attack they could just tell their friends and family they had taken up WOW and it was taking up most of their time. I am trying to find the direct quote but havent pulled it up yet.

@SgtDookie I'm a Norwegian myself. Good joystiq posted this, though they are late doing so.. I can say with confidence that games had nothing to do with what this crazy man did. I'm dissapointed that they choose to remove these games from the shops signaling that there may be a connection with games and this tragedy. We - the real game nerds are a peaceful race. Never blame games for evil like this!!

Better remove the movies he watched and the books he read too, I bet they twisted his fragile mind! We all know media as a whole is to blame for this horrid attack, it had absolutely nothing to do with the deep seeded hate for multiculturalism.

@DeadpooI

Oh, and don't forget the one crucial detail: The man was a lunatic. But disregard that.

@DeadpooI Why stop at movies and books. Don't forget the food and drinks he consumed that gave him strength, let's take those off the shelves temporarily. Did he a drive a car? Let's stop selling those as well.

@DeadpooI
The problem is that so many people are averse to multiculturalism that it is often not seen as a problem. I agree with your post though.

I hate how society always reacts to controversy by restricting knowledge rather than enhancing it. Controversy should always be used to the advantage of progressing society.

This guy had some problems, and I think taking games off the shelves only proves that games can be harmful rather than proving that millions of other people play the same games and they don't commit crimes because of them.

Seriously?
Maybe it was really immigration issues and racial tension than it is video games to blame?

@Dizazter
Yes immigration led him to kill tons of people of his own race that makes a lot of sense.

@Yisrael

You don't read the news, do you?

@Dizazter

Actually it was one psychotic nutcase that is to blame. Immigration issues and racial tension don't murder 70+ people or serve as justification to do so.

@The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross

Yeah yeah of course, as an adult, he's totally and soley responsible for his own terrible actions, no doubt. But the other issues are what motivated him is all, not video games. But it's false logic to think that it is possible to remove all things from this world that motivate insane people to kill, cause it could be the neighbor's dog, or just about anything.

When most people our age play games, it isn't surprising when someone cites them in their crazy ass manifesto. Fifty years ago, he'd have cited films or books (or Hitler...or books by Hitler).

There you go, conveniently place all the blame on violent video games, then ban them. Pretty disappointing.

@Slight of Ham
That isn't t the reason. It's just to show support to those who affected. I were at the island at that time, and survived even thought I were shot in my shoulder. At the hospital I overheard a guy and woman talking, that they were pulling the games. just to show support, that the least they could do he said.

@Trogdorwhore

It only backs up his claims and other peoples misinterpretations that it was because of games. Its a stupid move that hits the industry again.

There are alot of other ways they could have shown support.

@Trogdorwhore

I upvoted your comment, not because of what you said, but because you survived despite getting shot.

@Trogdorwhore As a fellow Norwegian, I hope you also got a laugh out Joystiq actually managing to use the Svalbard Coop, of all things. :p

Anyhow, hope you recover soon, both physically and mentally.

@Pure Black World Tendency
Actually, I got "stiq raped". My friend who is sleeping over at my house, wrote that, I was only at the camping area when that happened. My aunt lives nearby, and since the 112 channel was occupied, he called me instead. I didn't know he wrote this, lol.

I didn't know there was a coop at svalbard, only joker and rema : S

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Norwegian shops pull Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and other games after tragedy

Reader Comments (131)

Posted: Aug 4th 2011 2:02PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Aug 4th 2011 2:06PM PercyChuggs said

Posted: Aug 4th 2011 2:12PM i77ogical said

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