Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has found itself at the centre of a confrontation between two Labour MPs in the ongoing debate surrounding violence in video games.
Labour MP and prominent anti-video games campaigner Keith Vaz has tabled a motion in the House of Commons, condemning Modern Warfare 3 for its violent content and calling on the British Board of Film Classification to take "further precautions" over violent video games.
In his motion, Mr Vaz said: "This House is deeply concerned about the recently released video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, in which players engage in gratuitous acts of violence against members of the public; notes in particular the harrowing scenes in which a London Underground train is bombed by terrorists, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the tragic events of 7 July 2005; further notes that there is increasing evidence of a link between perpetrators of violent crime and violent video games users; and calls on the British Board of Film Classification to take further precautions when allowing a game to be sold."
But Labour MP, Tom Watson added an amendment to the motion, drawing attention to the game's 18 certificate from the BBFC and criticising the claim that events in the game are similar to those of the 7/7 bombings.
"Keith, for many year, has been very critical of adult content in video games and he's homed in particularly on the Call Of Duty franchise," Watson says.
"He's tabled a motion, about a week ago, condemning the game. I just amended it to make the point that the game has an 18 classification and that the BBFC said in a statement that it bore no resemblance to the July 7 bombings in London – which is what he refers to in his motion.
"There may be disturbing or unsettling content in that game, but adults should have the choice as to whether they want to play those sorts of games or not."
Watson says that he hasn't played Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 yet, but he has booked time to play it during the Christmas recess as he's a massive fan of the franchise. He's currently playing Portal 2.
Neither Vaz nor the game's UK distributor, Activision, were available for comment.
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