Konami Cuts and Runs From Iraq War Game 321
Less than a month after the announcement of Six Days in Fallujah , a video game based upon a real-life battle between US Marines and Iraqi insurgents in 2004, Konami has decided that it is too controversial, and abandoned plans to publish the game. The developer, Atomic Games, has not commented on Konami's decision other than to say an announcement will be made soon. Konami told a Japanese newspaper, "After seeing the reaction to the video game in the United States and hearing opinions sent through phone calls and e-mail, we decided several days ago not to sell it." While the game did receive a great deal of criticism, others were optimistic, including several outspoken veterans of the Iraq war. One of the major complaints was that in researching the battle, Atomic Games reportedly interviewed several insurgents. This prompted speculation that the insurgents were compensated for their help, though Atomic later denied that was the case. Konami's decision also may have been influenced by the fact that they seemed to represent it as entertainment, whereas Atomic's president, Peter Tamte, was more hesitant to describe it as "fun." He said, "The words I would use to describe the game — first of all, it's compelling. And another word I use — insight."
Re:controversial to interview participants? (Score:5, Informative)
when i was in ramadi (05-06), AQI shot themselves in the foot by trying to muscle out the local boys. started a war-within-a-war between themselves and groups like 1920 Revolution Brigades and MML...at times there was more "red on red" violence than anything else. we (people above my pay grade...WAY above) saw the opportunity to play nice (read: pay nice)...and it worked out pretty well... probably not forever, but those suni's can be a pragmatic bunch. sons of anbar, awakening counsils, desert patrol...all started thanks to AQI being voilent and stupid.
case in point: at one point, while we were recruiting locals for the Iraqi police and army...all the local insurgents declared no attacks on the recruitment: they wanted to get people in...to influence, grab power, spy, whatever. well AQI said fuck that...and sent a suicide-vest-wearing dude who proceeded to kill several iraqis and a guy in my battalion [stripes.com]. AQI never learned that there was no I in retard...
little story behind that story for ya.
Re:Cowards. (Score:2, Informative)
I'm still waiting for the game about Vietnam where the Vietcong are portrayed as covert freedom fighters
They weren't actually called the Vietcong, they were called the Vietminh. Vietcong was a derogatory name used by the US to belittle their enemy. Much as 'Jerry' or 'Jap' was used by the allies in WWII. Just so you know... :)
Re:kneejerk army bashing (Score:4, Informative)
QED
I mean, really. If the army had just a shred of the decency that this conspiracy theory alleges (protecting people from the horrors of war), they'd have had Konami pull DDR first. The horrors! I'll never be able to erase the memory of fat aunt May doing the ... <shudder>
Re:kneejerk army bashing (Score:3, Informative)