Kuma Runs Into Ad Controversy Promoting Iraq Game

Thanks to Inc Magazine for its article discussing Kuma Reality Games' attempts to promote its downloadable Kuma: War PC videogame. The piece explains of the previously mentioned title, which "lets players march in the boots of U.S. troops... fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan [or] defending U.S. battlefield commanders from assassination attempts in Iraq", that polarizing forces were at work - Keith Halper of Kuma laments: "It's hard when people accuse you, on the one hand, of exploiting the military and, on the other, of working for them." It's also noted of the press campaign around the game: "Gamespot, one of the most popular websites for PC gamers, asked Kuma to alter one ad's content, which some at the site found 'disturbing,' according to RDA's media buyers. Kuma denied the request."

Good ideas and

[dave-tx]

While I think the idea of simulation recreating actual events is interesting, part of me questions the wisdom and taste of doing this with an ongoing conflict. To abuse a metaphor, it's not picking the scab off an old wound, because that wound hasn't even scabbed up yet.

Bowden's remarks are especially telling

[ibogost]

I wrote some thoughts on the Inc. article and Kuma\War over a couple weeks ago. Adding the link here for interested parties. http://www.watercoolergames.org/archives/000194.sh tml [watercoolergames.org]

Figures.

[KDR_11k]

When you have a game that by itself isn't able to stand out from the crowd (in this case a realistic war game, how many of those have been released over the last few years? no matter how many new features you put in, people will stop listening the moment you mention the genre) you have to do extreme advertising instead. And people likely remember what offended them. I hope we don't see a rise in offensive advertising or soon we'd be told to fuck off ten times, that our mothers are whores three times and that we are motherfuckers ten times per ad break on the TV.

Ouch. Accuracy hurts.

[LordPixie]

Señor Smart is really abysmal in that regard. I recall once checking out the support forums for his latest game. He was personally abusing other posters there. WTF sort of support is that ?

Now, don't get me wrong. I love it when developers show that they're real people too. Off-color humor, crossing the line occasionally, etc. But Smart is quite far beyond that.


--LordPixie

Re:Ouch. Accuracy hurts.

[geminidomino]

Wait, by "Smart" are you referring to Derek "Usenet Douchebag" Smart of the "All your Freespace are belong to us" Smarts?

Re:Ouch. Accuracy hurts.

[LordPixie]

Yes.

I'm replying to a zero-point AC comment, so it's probably hidden.


--LordPixie

Re:Figures.

[Trillian_1138]

Have you actually played KumaWar? I have. The problem is not the content. I think a episodic current-events game is a very interesting idea, and one with lots of posibilities. The problem is KumaWar is a sub-par game with dated graphics and absolutely piss-poor AI. The most extreme advertising in the world wouldn't make this game fun to play.

Extreme advertising - I think - is as much a sign that the product is lacking as it is that the viewers are jaded. Good games don't need advertising, and all the adver

Re:Figures.

[thrash242]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at trying this out, but I'll pass now.

I'm looking forward to Full Spectrum Warrior coming out for PC; it looks cool to me.

Re:Figures.

[Daniel Rutter]

> KumaWar is a sub-par game with dated graphics and absolutely piss-poor AI.

GameSpot concurs. [gamespot.com]

Re:the ad

[nlindstrom]

what was offensive about the ad?

It showed an exposed left breast.

Re:Game questions

[Stormwatch]

Maybe, and decapitation simulation as well...