Pakistan bans ‘Call of Duty,’ ‘Medal of Honor’ over country’s portrayal
Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II tops one billion dollars in sales, the quickest video game ever to reach that milestone.
Pakistan has banned "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" and "Medal of Honor: Warfighter" in response to the games' Pakistan scenes, which critics say portray the country in a negative light, according to The New York Daily News.
In the games, players assume the role of US Special forces fighting terrorism, reported the Telegraph. Critics say Pakistan-based scenes unfairly depict the country as a breeding ground for extremist activity, according to Pakistani officials cited by SlashGear.
The Telegraph had local authorities reporting hundreds of complaints from Pakistani purchasers.
Saleem Memon of the All Pakistan CD, DVD, Audio Cassette Traders and Manufacturers Association issued a statement saying the two "games have been developed against Pakistan, and the association has completely banned their sale," said The New York Daily News.
"Shopkeepers are warned and will be responsible for the consequences if found purchasing or selling these games," he added, according to GamePolitics.
The games also imply that Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, is supportive of Al Qaeda, according to criticisms reported by The New York Daily News.
The games are extremely popular, "Call of Duty: Black Ops II" reaching one billion in sales in just 15 days last month.