Killings force Norwegian retailers to take WOW and COD off shelves

01 Aug 2011 at 12:15:16 by John Robertson

51 videogame and toy brands taken off sale after bombing and killings.

Coop Norway has taken 51 videogame and toy brands off sale in response to the massacre committed in the country by Anders Behring Breivik. Games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, World of Warcraft, Homefront, Sniper Ghost Warrior and Counter-Strike Source join toy/replica guns in the self imposed ban.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and World of Warcraft have been receiving the most attention from the Norwegian press after Breivik mentioned the two games in his manifesto. "I see MW2 more as part of my training-simulation than anything else," wrote Breivik.

Coop Norway director Geir Inge Stokke said: "The decision to remove the games was made around the time we realised the scope of the attack. Others are better suited than us to point to the negative effects of games like these. 

"At the moment it's appropriate for us to take them down. I wouldn't be surprised if others do the same. We have to think very carefully about when to bring these goods back. The economy involved is of no importance."

Activision have been contacted for comment but weren't available at time of publishing.

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