Call of Duty: Black Ops new TV spot features a bunch of ordinary folk roaming the battlefield shooting the hell out of shit. There's a businesswoman, a cook, a nurse, and what appears to be a little girl getting their frag on. And also Kobe Bryant and Jimmy Kimmel with branded weapons.
Obviously, this commercial is targeted toward those of us who play online. Activision wants to appeal to your desire to kill a complete stranger, possibly even Kobe Bryant, then possibly crouch over his corpse in a tea-bagging fashion. Obviously, the sensible folk like you and I know that this is what it is. It's a a commercial for a game that will depict scenes of intense violence, but in no way condones or encourages it, at least no more than your typical action movie.
Though these are dark times for the freedom illustrated in the games we love. Politicians these days have an analog stick up their ass, and they can only ease the discomfort by trying to censor this art that we play, create, and live. Someone must have told the media and government that the gamers are the geeks to steal on, and that a crusade to silence our freedom would be met with little resistance. Go fuck yourselves, we're fighting back.
So I can't decide where this Black Ops spot puts us. Is it too visual? Will our detractors get the wrong idea, as usual, and start firing shots at the games industry, especially in light of these high profile concerns? Is Activision pushing the wrong buttons at the wrong time? Or is this a blatant middle finger to decision-makers, in essence telling people to parent their kids the right way if they want to see the biggest impact be made.
No idea, really. Penny for your thoughts, Activision? All I know is that I would love to dominate Kobe in Black Ops. Let's see what you got without Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher, punk!