An English-language Russian publication called RT linking to the "No Russian" level in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. New York Times blogger Robert Mackey early in the day and, unsurprisingly, a lot of news sources picked it up.
Three things make this story news. First, it's tied to a traumatic event that happened just yesterday, killing an estimated 35 people and wounding an estimated 110 others. In post 9/11 America, we're especially sensitive to terrorism stories. Second, it's tied to one of the best-selling video games of all time from a franchise that just had a game hit headlines for massive sales less than three months ago. Third -- and this is the part that got gamers clicking and commenting -- it's a prime example of the media scapegoating video games.
Even before RT's story hit the web, GamePro forum users were for a Modern Warfare 2 witch hunt in the wake of the Domodedovo Airport bombing. Once we and just about every other gaming site on the web picked up the headline, the "this is complete bullshit" comments started flying.
And why shouldn't they? It's bad enough when the media in a game's home country misunderstand video games enough to , but now we've got to put up with Russia's state-controlled media getting it wrong, too?
For the record, nobody's claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, but many believe it comes from a group of Islamist militants based in the mostly Muslim North Caucasus region in Russia.
STAT CHECK -- 3PM PST, Jan. 15, 2011
Chances You Saw This Story: 80%
Calculated by number of times we saw it divided by the number of sites we visited today.
GamePro Forum Views: 99
GamePro Comments: 4
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