Norwegian Gunman Used Modern Warfare 2 for Training
Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik apparently used Modern Warfare 2 as a training guide to prepare him for the shooting that would eventually kill 86 people at a youth camp on the island of Utoya.
A 1,500-page manifesto linked to the suspect currently being held responsible for the July 22 attacks in Norway has garnered attention for containing references to popular video games. The manifesto, credited to an Andrew Berwick, is believed to have been written by Breivik and calls for supporters to prevent the 'multiculturalism' and 'Islamisation' of Europe. Breivik details his beliefs as well as preparations for the attack, including the building of bombs using fertilizer, and even offers advice on how to avoid raising suspicion from loved ones. However, one particular detail on how the Norwegian man prepared himself for the attack on the camp in Utoya seems to have struck a chord in the tech industry.
The 1,500-page manifesto also contains a journal of sorts that was regularly updated by Breivik. In February of 2010, he wrote that he had just bought Modern Warfare 2 and that while he was more into fantasy RPGs, he had learned to love it because "you can more or less completely simulate actual operations." Breivik labeled the game as "the best military simulator out there" and said that the multiplayer in particular is "amazing."
Though there's no question as to whether or not Anders believed MW2 to be a great training tool, the fear is that this small portion of his manifesto will get blown out of proportion. As PCWorld's Matt Peckham points out, his references to video games -- he also says WOW makes for a good excuse when it comes to reclusive behavior -- account for only a tiny scrap of what was written. Unfortunately, with the trend towards dragging video games into the mix when tragic situations like this arise, it's likely we'll see at least a few people laying part of the blame on gaming.
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This story comes as a shock!! No one has ever blamed a tragedy on video games before!
and how is that different for America Army? a game MADE to train warfare situations... *shrug*
people that are nuts will use what they can, while ppl that are "normal" can enjoy games without going out shooting people, or running people over with their car etc. etc.
i knew MW2 was up to no good
but MW2 is not a simulator game. ARMA is a simulator military shooter. MW2 just teaches you how to be a tug with a gun.
Another whack job with too much time on his hands and putting a dark cloud on gaming.
I hope they wipe that smug smile off his face when they switch on old sparky.
Some judge will say he's insane and send him to some white walled motel with cable/internet and 3 hot meals a day.
Where's the justice?
Sympathies to the victim's families.
What did I tell you before on these pages. There's always a few crazed people who can't handle these realistic games and are influenced. We must be careful with future games releases with even more realistic graphics.
MW2 is so lame, that this reference just so what a lunatic he was. I play MW2, Black Ops, MOH and Bad Company 2: that means that I'm a potential murderer?
and what about games like GTA, carmageddon, or heaven forbid: postal (look it up, its crazy, only 21+ game i know...)
Doive1231... You really are a moron. He wasn't influenced by the game. Quite the opposite... His desire to do harm made the game something that it's not intended to be... a murder simulator. He used it in a fashion which the game's creators never envisioned or intended. The same way he turned a firearm into a device for killing innocents versus a method of self-protection. I really don't care how you try to spin it, but with the wrong intentions almost anything can be used for evil. No, you couldn't use a vehicle, kitchen knife or a brick to kill 86 people in such a short period of time, but they can (and have) been used to kill others. Should we ban all vehicles? Should we ban all sharp or blunt objects? By your logic (or lack thereof), yes.
Just for full disclosure: I own modern, high-res FPS games as well as firearms. I have never had the desire to use either for harm. I also have a crowbar, which I may send to Doive1231 so he can pry his head out of his ass.
He will never meet "old sparky". Most likely 21 years in jail, then free to go where he wants.
I think he use the "airport level" for training..
He will never meet "old sparky". Most likely 21 years in jail, then free to go where he wants.
Something tells me he may have an "accident" while in prison. I doubt many inmates would look favorably on what he did and if there are any followers of Islam in the pen with him he'll be lucky to make it 21 days.
Careful with the crowbar jokes Nicodemus..Gordon freeman might come and steal it and go on a crazy rampage.
ROFLMAO! I've been expecting this! Every time some psycho guns down people, blame it on a popular FPS... and disregard the fact that the source of the problem is in his head. I liked MW2, too, but I think I have better things to do then shooting people, lol.
... i played MW 1 and 2 in a row... it took me a weekend... and... after i played it, i know, that i don't wanna war at all... so the game is not to blame... it is to blame on sick and/or stupid people... don't wage war an games, do it on stupid people... i would say, that romantic movies are to blame for rape... let's ban romantic films...
Why didn't he use America's Army 3? That's a much more realistic game.
I use Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic to train the art of the Jedi. Then I'll take on NATO and crush all NATO forces with my lightsabre! Maybe I'll destroy some Talibans too.
I used to play Quake/Half-life/ especially Delta Force and I though I'll be as good as Rambo. I used to play Need for Speed and I thought I'll learn to drive. Then I went to the army and I started driving a car.
Games give you exactly 0 training, compared to reality.
That probably the most stupid thing I'll read today or maybe even during the entire month.
I use Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic to train the art of the Jedi. Then I'll take on NATO and crush all NATO forces with my lightsabre! Maybe I'll destroy some Talibans too.
The sarcasm is strong with this one...
Ok, we go back to the video game debate again. Thanks for bringing this matter up again. What if he played Kirby's Dream land? He would have sucked in the people? What if he played Tetris? He would have aligned the people to make them vanish? I like origami and I don't run around folding people. That guy is an idiot and should be punished properly. Done.
This story comes as a shock!! No one has ever blamed a tragedy on video games before!
Sadly thats not the case. People have tried to blame GTA for promoting gang and street violence, and FPS's in general as promoting gun violence.
Nothing as large scale as this tragedy, but politicians/reporters will always try to spin the truth and exaggerate when a insane person commits such a horrid act to push their own agenda's, or make a buck or 2 by creating a lawsuit with publishers of said games.
Its "somewhat newsworthy" at least for Norway given gun violence is typically absent and, more or less, unheard of. For the US, where gun violence is the highest among all measures for an industrial country like our own, its a non~issue. Obviously it'll be ripped apart and examined (the case that is) because for them its an unheard of situation.
Ban guns and video games. Ban violent movies and graphic art. Make it a law that you can't kill people. These 5 things will make everything better. Yep. Cause you know, there was never violence until video games and porn came (heh) along.
This is not how the Norwegian prison system works. In theory he can be jailed for life, but this sentence is made so it have to be renewed every 5 years after the initial sentence is served. The rules for such a renewal is very strict, and unless his violent and retarded enough to fail a psycho test he will be out before 21 years is served.
The Norwegian system is not primarily about revenge but to protect society against further crimes, to prevent anyone from taking revenge in their own hands (this have a long tradition in laws dating from when blood feuds where common)
If anyone think the death penalty would deter persons like this from committing their sick crimes think again. ABB actually thinks that he will be shot and tortured in Norwegian jail.
I played Pac-Man as a kid, now I'm overweight...I guess the two are connected. We'll probably see several groups target video game violence now as it makes for an easier target than trying to identify murderous psychopaths before they strike or, God-forbid, hint at infringing on someone's God-given right to shoot beer cans off a fence post.
That is like saying Novak Djokovic practice tennis by playing Pong.
THE GUY IS A WHITE RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN TERRORIST AND HE THOUGHT HE WAS A KNIGHTS TEMPLAR FIGHTING TO KEEP EUROPE MONO-CULTURALLY CHRISTIAN. SADLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AMERICA ACTUALLY LIKE THIS GUY. VISIT THE RIGHT WING WEBSITES AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.
Lol, MW2.
This "psychopath" was able to use weaponry for 90minutes straight. I have been trained to use guns and I cannot fire weapons for 90minutes straight at the range. He wasn't just merely an everyday "nutjob".
Think about it, he shot people, and then used a shotgun point-blank on bodies laying around to make sure they were dead. Murderers don't think like that.
Why did he bring enough ammunition for a 90minute massacre? Why did he bring multiple weaponry instead of just a semi-automatic + sidearm? 90minutes of ammunition and weaponry is at least couple crates that weigh around 50pounds each. How did he know the authorities will have such a big delay with finding a chopper and a 20minute search for a boat to get on the island?
Also, people who don't know about shooting a gun doesn't realize how hard it is to kill 1 moving target let alone 83 targets. Even seasoned veterans from the army would have a hard time shooting down AND killing 83 moving targets.
He wasn't JUST a psychopath. There are way too many questions unanswered. Hopefully the law enforcement finds out what his agenda really is.
More fuel for Jack Thompson, please just roll onto the next story.
And I use bumper cars at the local amusement park as a training tool for F1 races!
Sadly thats not the case. People have tried to blame GTA for promoting gang and street violence, and FPS's in general as promoting gun violence.Nothing as large scale as this tragedy, but politicians/reporters will always try to spin the truth and exaggerate when a insane person commits such a horrid act to push their own agenda's, or make a buck or 2 by creating a lawsuit with publishers of said games.
I think he was being sarcastic.....
The sad thing here is that people actually call CoD MW2 Realistic.
iKyunG, being psychotic doesn't mean you are less capable of carrying out a complex task. He obviously had the mental capacity to plan his attack down to the last detail...looks like the only thing he is lacking is empathy and a sense of right and wrong. Look at Hitler, he managed to fool an entire nation into giving him complete power, then brought it (and most of Europe) to it's knees with his psychotic behavior.