After heaps of protest, Konami will no longer publish Atomic Games’ Six Days in Fallujah, citing “reaction to the video game in the United State.” Now, Atomic Games could try to find another publisher, but that’s easier said than done. Obviously.
Konami doesn’t seem to know what it had gotten itself into. It told a Japanese newspaper that it didn’t know the connection between Atomic Games and the U.S. military. As far as Konami knew, apparently, Atomic Games could have done all its research via old episodes of Male Call on the History Channel. (Yes, I know Male Call had nothing to do with the Iraq War.)
The game was scheduled for release in 2010—not no more.
It’s a real shame, I think. Presumably it’s a timing issue—Lord knows there’s enough World War II games that do nothing but teach kids that it’s kill cool to kill Wehrmacht soldiers because they’re “Nazis.” Give it a few years and we’ll be swimming in Iraq War video games.
In any event, here’s hoping the project doesn’t turn into a complete waste of time for Atomic Games. No word from them yet, though.
via Gamasutra
Good. It is disgusting for a game game to merely promote the (real) terrorists who are slaughtered civilians in Fallujah (and the rest of Iraq). I wonder, would this game have you bombing white phosphorus in crowded civilian areas or would they side step that issue, instead insisting on how the invading terrorists are actually horrified heroes?
Wait, doesn’t the Amry actively fund “America’s Army”… a game where you fight in middle eastern areas and kill people / things?
Sorry about that, *Army not Amry. That sounds like a horrible pop-star from American Idol or something.
P.S.
http://www.americasarmy.com/intel/missions.php?id=36
Yes, all the ‘evil’ people wear head dresses. The game has been manufactured to be legal and appetising to under 17yos so that by 18 (21 in US???) they think the army is all glory and adrenaline but no gore or horror. The Army doesn’t fund the game, – the game is developed by the US Army – the Public fund the game through tax.
Ignoring the recruitment, racial etc. etc. the game isn’t even that much of a good game. It’s unrealistic and visually unappealing. The only thing interesting about it is its focus on online activity.
Not only does the Army FUND “America’s Army”, they use it as a recruiting tool.
This (potential) game’s biggest audience will be kids that would NEVER join the military (by choice) and want to ‘be just like soldiers’ from the safety of their homes and Mt. Dew. And you know what: It would probably bank. That’s “Bank”, not “Tank”; as in a ton of kids would buy it, and really it’d be just fine. If you don’t like the game, don’t buy it. Plain and Simple.
Dang,
It was 3rd person.
This is total horeshit. This is completely unfair to the developement team who now have to worry about their job just because a bunch of prudes complained. They should sue the freaking pants off Konami for backing out.
So they made a game about Iraq? Big deal, they aren’t even the first. They made a game about terrorists? Sorry counterstrike did that about 10 years ago.
Lots of movies have already been made about Iraq which probably cost more and raked in more than this game would.
Where is the outrage huh?
This is the first that has focussed on Fallujah which is a crime against humanity/war crime/terrorism/etc. all the other have just been generally biased/racists or other controversies. I’m yet to see a game based on the Mai Lai Massacre or Israel’s Genocide in Gaza.
Same with movies, the point isn’t that the topic is ’something about Iraq’, it’s that it’s is staged in a VERY contentious place which is very well known for what the US did to the civilians there.
The use of White Phosphorus is illegal according to Protocol III of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. However, the United States has never signed the protocol. According to international law they are not legally bound by the protocol. Therefore the United States is allowed to use white phosphorus. In addition to the issue of legality every effort to attempt to say the United States used White Phosphorus has been proven to be a false hood. One such documentary even went as far to show an Apache firing what it claimed was a White Phosphorus round. However, no such weapon system availale to the Apache is capable of lauch a white phosphorus town. Next time you attempt to accuse United States soldiers of commiting war crimes you should have verifiable and complete information. Or just leave that up to the people who actually handle international crimes instead of spitting hair brained indictments from behind your computer screen. GO AMERICA
So, even though much of the rest of the world finds White Phosphorus immoral, because the US refuses to sign something it is moral for them to use it? What a terribly un-thought-out excuse.
The US documented their own use of WP in the March-April 2005 issue of Field Artillery, a journal published by the US Department of Defense.
Dept. of Defense spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Venable confirmed it’s use, General Peter Pace also.
I guess you are going to say that they didn’t use Napalm in Vietnam also?
The US has been found guilty before…. right? *cough*Nicaragua*cough*
Regardless of WP, well documented and irrefutable events are also grounds or War Crimes.
Given the forces uselessness of the UN and all other international organisations, the power lies in the US, and I am certainly not trusting the US to police themselves.
GO THE PEOPLE
They should have made this game, killing “Iraqians” would have been epic. You stupid liberals should stop crying about it.
What on earth is an”Iraqian”????
Anything to do with an Iraqi?
Your argument is so convincing, because we wish not to support the wanton murder of civilians, we are “stupid liberals” who are crying over spilt milk. Your logic is infallible, I might just change my life view because of your reasoning.
So, because you want to murder civilians you are a hero? Strange I’d call you a warmongering, xenophobic psychopath. Personally, I have an aversion to taking the life of someone. Congratulations on contributing to what’s wrong with the world.
I am not denying the use of WP by any means. I was simply stating that the United States is not legally bound not to use WP. And the United States uses WP for many things. It make an incredible shield for soldiers flanks and to mask retreats. It burns through vehicles engine blocks in an incredible amount of time. It is fantastic for illumination. WP is a multi-use tool. The United States is proven that it did not use WP against civilians as previously argued and the United States is legally allowed to use its chemical effects against combatants. No matter what the United States is allowed to use WP as an illumination tool and a heat source. I am advidly against the killing of civilians. I only wanted to let you know that the United States ABSOLUTELY did not purposefully kill innocent civilians using WP. GO AMERICA!
Just because the US is refusing to sign something that make them not allowed to use a disgusting chemical weapon, doesn’t mean it is in the slightest morally right.
Also, because of the weapon and how it is fired etc. you can never assure that no civilians will be hurt: why other countries think it isn’t the prettiest weapon.
The US has never proven that they have not used it against Civilians, they have only denied it (which they would regardless of the truth).
Also, it wasn’t that an Apache is incapable of using WP, it’s that it is very unusual because of its volatility. It;s quite easy to equip necessary material…
And also, the Geneva protocol (which the US has coincidentally hasn’t signed) prohibits it’s use in “in civilian areas” Fallujah WAS a civilian area.
This isn’t the first time it was used, Dresden and Tokyo (among other cities in Japan) are famous examples of incendiary weapons used as War Crimes (amazingly, the victors don’t get persecuted for their crimes).
I’m late to get to uni, so I haven’t the time to provide the evidence for it right now.
Also one last note: patriotism is embarrassing, especially as an observer.
Also one last note: patriotism is embarrassing, especially as an observer.
Could you further explain this? Somehow I don’t understand how patriotism could ever be embarrassing. As for your observer comment I’m not sure what you are talking about as I am not an observer by any means. I look forward to hearing your response.
I am the observer.
And:
William Blum: “If love is blind, patriotism has lost all five senses”
Patriotism is a conflict of interests, you cannot be subjective in regards to anything in the world that has anything to do with your country.
And yes, because you said “GO AMERICA” you are biased.
I never say ‘go Australia’. I will promote aspects of it I see as good, but there is much wrong with this country, and more-so with the US (just because of the power it wields, there aren’t any fundamental differences). There aren’t any fundamental differences between Israel, Iran, the US, or China really.
Ironically, Iran is actually the less aggressive – all the rest of nuclear weapons – and hasn’t invaded a country in the 21st century.
In America the word patriot embodies all that is good. I will acknowlege that some men who claim to be patriots are blind and some are idiots. However, to be a true patriot is to question the authority that others weld. It was this land that gave me birth and in this land that I shall die and be buried. I would have it no other way. The greatest thing about the United States it its citizens ability to question all things. We are free to do exactly what you claim to do. However, when we do it we can be patriots. The two can co-exist. In fact one is nothing with out the other. The “patriot” who blindly follows its government is nothing more that a member of the mass. Our first German-American Senator, Carl Schurz, is famous for saying “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” In short being a patriot and having an intense love and desire of good for your own nation is NEVER embarrasing. On the contrary I am almost as proud that I am a patriot as I am to belong to such a great nation. The good and bad that we have done have changed the world forever. I will never e embarrased to call myself an American Patriot.
GO AMERICA!