UPDATE: Infinity Ward Pulls F.*.G.S. Video
In response to negative reaction to the video mixvio described in a post yesterday, Infinity Ward has pulled it from their YouTube channel. Over on his twitter, Creative Strategist for Infinity Ward Robert Bowling tweeted a couple of times about the issue.
In response to Game Informer Associate Editor Phillip Kollar's assertion that the "stupid joke stupid joke condones a part of their community they should be shunning," Bowling responded:
I think it was more of a social commentary joke of that stereotype than it was a fist-bump of acceptance to it.
Then to freelance games writer Mitch Dyer's claim that the video could be seen as derogatory, Bowling agreed:
I think the core gag is great, the end is a bit too far from the intent of the joke & can appreciate the concerns. Pulled.
Infinity Ward, despite their initial shortsightedness, seems to have responded relatively quickly and respectfully, although it still feels like they've left out a few answers. Even if you didn't personally feel offended by the stunt, the word still has a lot negative power for most in our community, whether it's used to describe poor sports in an online match or hurled at someone before an act of violence. It's not something we should just accept because some clueless straight people "have some gay friends" who don't care at all. Honestly, of all the excuses that I've read for homophobia, I don't understand how people can still use the gay friends one and not be laughed out of the room. Despite all we hear about the industry "growing up," the majority reaction to something like this just reminds me that it's ruled by pubescent straight boys.
Infinity Ward pulls MW2 Hamels video after internet furor [Destructoid]
[Link via: commenter Burr]
Dawdle
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 1 November 2009
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: activision blizzard, fag, homophobia, infinity ward, pc, ps3, xbox 360
Since this is Gay Gamer. I was wondering if any of the editor's or frequent visitors to this site, who are I assume homosexual, found the advert/video to be offensive or derogatory in any way?
Hi Matt,
You can read my previous article here (which Dawdle mentioned above) at this link:
http://gaygamer.net/2009/10/infinity_wards_psa_is_brought.html
Several other writers on staff commented in that entry too. While I can't speak for everyone on the site I personally found this to be pretty disappointing. I'm glad the video was pulled, but I wish this situation hadn't happened in the first place.
Yeah, I saw the article after I posted the comment(wish I could have taken off after reading what everyone had to say) and saw that everyone who visits your site and comments was pretty offended.
I just wanted to see how it went over with the group of people that would be more in the know than your random ,usually ingorant, internet commenter.
Ok, in no way am I saying name calling is any where near murder(but they can go hand in hand), but when someone kills somebody "I didn't know" isn't an accepted defense. So why are people still using it when called out this way? Besides how can someone now days *not* know fag is a derogatory term?
Bill, I think the difference is the severity of the offenses? A murder caused by negligence is a lot different from a PR gaffe slipping through the cracks. I know from experience that when you commission comedic content from creative types they're going to try let jokes slip past your approval without telling you about them. I'm sure the people who produced the video thought the "F.A.G.S." joke was funny and I'm sure they didn't explicitly explain the joke to Infinity Ward when they handed over the video. It's an easy thing to miss. "I didn't notice that, thanks for bringing it to my attention, I'm pulling it." Is an acceptable response IMO. If you're going to be mad at anyone, I think you should be the company they hired to produce the video, not Infinity Ward. If they did anything wrong it was the slight delay between acknowledging the mistake an pulling the video, but it's hard for me to rally behind crucifying a company because of another company's mistake.
@Brad: I understand what you're saying, but I disagree. Regardless of what company made the video, it has to do with Infinity Ward's product, and the responsibility ultimately falls on them. They either 1) had the opportunity to carefully observe the video for possible problems prior to airing, and failed to notice the "F.A.G.S." part, 2) noticed the "F.A.G.S." part and let it slide, or 3) didn't even bother to check the video's content first, for whatever reason(s) (e.g., time constraints).
Regardless of the details, Infinity Ward should still be held responsible.