Red Cross: violence in Call of Duty, Battlefield, a virtual war crime

http://www.nma.tv

The Red Cross reportedly considered applying the Geneva Conventions to video game violence. Call of Duty and Battlefield were among 19 titles singled out by the Red Cross, which stated "there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be virtually violating IHL [International Humanitarian Law]," during a meeting in Switzerland last week.

Battlefield 3 for the PlayStation 3, XBox 360 and PC was released in late October. It has already sold over 8 million copies.

The Red Cross is said to have considered asking developers to slash "illegal" actions, such as using torture and shooting unarmed combatants, from their creations.

Gamers on discussion boards had a field day, and blogs wrote about the news with incredulity and sarcasm. [The] "whole thing is ludicrous. people need to stop using video games as a scapegoat for societies [sic] problems," wrote a poster on Reddit.

Several hours after the news broke, the International Committee of the Red Cross issued a clarifying statement: "serious violations of the laws of war can only be committed in real-life situations."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Red Cross
• Geneva Conventions
• video games
• Call of Duty
• Battlefield
• PlayStation
• Box
• Wii
• Modern Warfare
• war crimes
• Next Media Animation
• Taiwan Animation

[Chantzehao]

Dear Red Cross:

Don't become a joke organization like PETA and get all pissy about retarded shit.

[ScottishAtheist]

The Red Cross has got pissy before at games using it's symbol for health.

[MRWWAYSS]

So if a war crime is commited in films or books by anyone, Its okay.

I call bullshit on this, Red Cross.

[BeatleBoy247]

@Chantzehao Dear Chantzehao, they already are like PETA.

[UncleFexxer]

Well, if I've committed virtual war crimes and virtually violated laws, then I guess they reserve the right to try a CGI avatar of me in a court before an AI jury and lock it up in a video prison. Just give me the URL of where I'm being held so I can go visit me sometimes and see how I'm doing. The firewall can search my browser to make sure I'm not smuggling any cash or drug code in.

Violate the Geneva Convention? Bitch, please. *facepalm*

[TwiIightSparkle]

Violent video games prevents suicide when in stress.

[celanousproductions]

I completely disagree with the Red Cross. To band video games of this nature would actually increase the amount of violent crimes in this world, instead of reducing it.

[supermorshu]

Thats why we play them. To do stuff we aren't allowed to!

[AlexanderArts]

Well, old people don't understand games. I am 27, but most people in charge of companies now are like 40 - 60 years old and have no idea what's going on. They must think video games are the matrix and when I kill my best friend online, he dies in real life. LOL.

[echo707]

NMA, always awesome.

[Phoenixspin]

Say "NO" to virtual war crimes, say "YES" to naked Li Anne clones.

[ChuckLonewolf]

FUS - DO - RAH!

(Communist Panda is blasted off cliff)