When Does Political Correctness Merge with Common Sense?

Over the years it's been pretty standard in British society to look at a news story or an event (whatever it may be) and say something about it. Either it be offensive, a joke or a slight on what you mean (so technically, the former). What the big suits can't seem to grasp is the public's ability to just sattire about these situations.

Now...obviously...most of us are normally out of the reach of the MI5 if we ever dare to muse over these episodes. But one absolutely extraordinary event has just happened in the past few days which just boggles the fucking mind.

Basically some guy on Twitter was arrested on Anti-Terrorism charges for commenting about blowing up an airport. He was on the Stephen Nolan show (5live radio) saying he was meeting some fellow tweeters in Ireland. He received news that all planes would be grounded due to the snow infested skies and grounds. Regardless of what you truly think, anyone in his position would be angry. So he made the comment on Twitter, which was eachoed to his 726 followers.

1 week later, the police arrest him at work. They put him in custody, take away his laptop and iPhone to inspect for any instructions for making bombs.
Now he is on bail waiting for the next stage...his court hearing.

I really bloody hope the justice system uses common sense this time. Because this guy has done nothing wrong. All he has done is publish a joking musing (freedom of speech by the way!).

Really? What has Britain come to?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Review

PLATFORM REVIEWED - XBOX 360


from Wikipedia.


'Modern Warfare 2 is set five years after the conclusion of Call of Duty 4. Despite the efforts of the Marines and the SAS, the Ultranationalists seize control of Russia and declare Zakhaev a hero and martyr. Meanwhile, Vladimir Makarov, one of Zakhaev's former lieutenants, begins a campaign against Europe by committing numerous acts of terrorism'.

There is many skeptics out there that will judge a game simply by a certain level or mission. This game has received a shitstorm from not only the press, but mainly politicians. What they don't seem to grasp as that you can turn this option off and skip the offensive bits. It's a great move by Infinity Ward, the developers who along with Treyarch make the overall series come to life.
The action is visceral, get shot and the blood splatter is tainted on the screen. If you die you are treated to a visual of blood and some philosophy. Why anyone decided to put a quote used by Dick Cheney is beyond me....this guy shot one of his own men from 30 yards!

This game was announced in February 2009 and released nine months later to a fanfare of hype.
I think this has almost surpassed Gears of War in terms of gunplay and the cover system, it's that good. The AI has improved, possibly giving us all glimpse of next gen enemies. But, apart from the story which is just downright brilliant - is the updated IW.4.0 engine.

Probably the best engine in the industry, it is a close rival now of the Unreal engine (which was the base of GoW). In all the gaming hours I played in my first sitting, which was 6hrs 21mins I never dropped a frame. Fluid, intense and no lag. That's what gaming should be. The graphics are the best since GoW too. I'll just say one more thing about the visuals.
In the Washington mission, there is a part where you are exiting a bombed out building, rain is faling everywhere. I stepped across the threshold and the whole screen went wavy and dreamy. That for me is one of the greatest moments in any game I've played. The fact it happens in real time, in front of your very eyes is quite astonishing. The processing power required to jumble the whole screen must be immense but it pulls it off with ease.

During the end of the whole thing, you notice you've been betrayed the guy giving you all these missions. We have to kill him....and it's these storyline I think that make games that sell well.
Not only does it educate you about the warfare it lets you know how these things could start.


All in all, and it's not a thorough review asit should be but it would just end up being me saying 'awesome' or 'amazing' every few sentences. Well..I'm going to break it and say this game is both awesome and amazing. It has no competitor in terms of graphics at this very moment in time on the 360. Some of the best gun modelling I've ever seen too, which also seemed to a major leap from the first Modern Warfare.

So Infinity Ward have done it again. They've taken real subject matter and infused it with such gorgeous characteristics, that it's really impossible to question it without ever giving it a blast.

10/10

The Call of Duty debacle (review coming soon...)

Never in my lifetime have I seen a product been so sought after, hyped up and advertised more than this month's standout release.
Towering above all else, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is already near the $1 billion mark in sales since it's worldwide launch on November 10th.
It's the first time also, that a game has broken records over other mediums.

However, it's not the first time a game has been criticized because of it's content. Most of you will know the GTA frenzy in the US in the past few years. Most prominent of these criticisms is Jack Jones, an annoying American lawyer who blames video games for everything that results in death or violence.

Call of Duty acquired it's 18 certificate mostly due to the fact that in one level you take the role of an undercover American soldier in a Russian terrorist cell who complety massacre civilians in an airport ambush. Critics, fans and parents should be noted that at the very start of the game you are briefed about this and are allowed to skip it. But that takes away the whole point of the game. More on this later.

In light of the Jack Thompson era, step up British Labour MP Keith Vaz (who has blamed games in the past too). Mr Vaz says: “I am absolutely shocked by the level of violence in this game and am particularly concerned about how realistic the game itself looks.”

Now...let's dissect this pathetic attempt at gaining some support in the house. Infinity Ward, the developers of the game, want YOU the public to be able to step into a soldier's shoes for a couple of hours and live their life. Now we can't be allowed that? Why shy away from that, when we shy away from the real war that's going on?

No doubt any of you who have played this game will have marvellous respect for the guys doing this for real, but you also have to applaud the developers for doing a remarkable job of bringing those moments to life. I feel sorry for Mr. Vaz, because he and anyone who agrees with his shoddy view is hiding behind a curtain of denial. They just don't want you to see it. Plus, they will argue it might make young children want to kill everyone with an MP5 Machine Gun....

In conclusion, I feel it's necessary everyone play this game. To see how far technology has come, but also our belief in showing others what is going on over there in the real world. But poor old Keith won't be bothered, that's why he can charge the British taxpayer £75,000 for a flat twelve miles from his home.

NOTE: In-depth review coming soon!