The truly horrible events that happened in Norway a week ago that caused the deaths of 76 people were the reasons cited for one retailer in that country to remove a number of PC and console games from its store shelves. VG247.com reports via a Norway-based web site that the Coop Norway retail chain has decided to remove a total of 51 game titles because of "consideration for those affected" by the shooting and bombings that occurred on July 22. 68 people were killed in a mass shooting on the island of Utoya, also on that day while eight others were killed due to bombs set in government buildings in Oslo.
Right wing activist Anders Behring Breivik has claimed responsibility for the attacks. In his manifesto 2083: A European Declaration of Independence, released in a mass email just before the attacks, he mentions playing Blizzard's MMO game World of Warcraft. He also says playing the first person shooter Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 was a so-called "training" tool for his plans. Both games were among the titles that have been pulled off the Coop Norway store shelves.
Coop Norway's director Geir Inge Stokke said, "The decision to remove the games was made around the time we realized 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.”
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