[Macworld]

Post your comments for 'Fallujah' game cancellation shows what's wrong with video game business here

[hmurchison]

Konami is a Japanese company. What do they care about the Armed Forces of the USA who have been put in harm's way for a pittance? The majority of people that complain about stuff like this are the people that never served in any aspect of the US Military.

[brian577]

Except Konami is the publisher not the developer, Atomic Games is developing the game and they are very much an American company. Konami is not publishing the game anyways because of the controversy, so what are you complaining about?

[rab777hp]

This is exactly the problem, they're raising children young to this big, cry of 'all middle easterners are muslim terrorists who want to kill everyone, and america is the good guys'
there are no good guys in pointless violence, in this whole Iraq mess America is just as bad as the insugents

[brian577]

Which is exactly what the developer is trying to avoid, this game is supposed to depict history, actual history. It's not trying to take sides, it's trying to tell a story, it's no different from any other war game. It's just being attacked because it's about recent events and an unpopular war, nobody's complaining about games based on the Vietnam war, so why is this any different.

[rab777hp]

Its making a game about attacking a town, very one sided

[brian577]

I'm sorry, do you think they are trying to direct this game at children? I are you one of those Anti-videogame fanatics who think videogame developers have some ridiculous agenda to subvert the minds our children? This game is based on history, and history can be ugly, and this is just another another way of insuring we never forget historical events. Who knows, maybe this could entice people learn about what really happened at Fallujah. I wasn't even aware of this battle and now I'm intrigued to learn more about.

[itsjustme]

Its a frikin game! If the gameplay is good who really cares? I for one, would like the direct relationship to the events. Problem is the extreme left or non-americans, will scream. It's like this, don't by the game and don't force your personal opinions on me or anyone else. I don't like CNN and don't watch the libral left BS. Others don't like some of moderate ideas or BS or opinions and don't watch FOX. Worry about what matters without trying to threaten or force your ideals on anyone else. Bottom line, if the game is good, give it its due....if you don't like it or the supposed facts built into the game....don't buy the game.......change the channel...

[addicted44]

There are 2 questions being asked here:
1) Why the issue with the Iraq War and not wars like Vietnam? Because the former is not over. Soldiers (and innocent bystanders too) are still dying in this war, unlike Vietnam.
2) What makes a Video Game different from Movies and Books? While its minor, I think there are 2 reasons here.
a) Video games are still looked upon as child's play, rather than a serious medium. Such a game would have helped get beyond this stereotype, which is basically what the author is arguing.
b) This is more serious. A video game never presents a consistent story. Basically, you can go about blowing up civilians if you desire, so its not a "true story" at all, or at least not an authorized story. So a video game developer is never really presenting a single story/viewpoint. The other, more minor issue, is that you are the soldiers in a video game, unlike a movie or book, where it is someone else. It seems a little demeaning to hear some internet poster posting "Dude, I kicked ass as lt. col. XYZ."...

[rab777hp]

The difference was one was fighting communism, which the entire American and "western" world was against and was a clear cut thing, versus this, which was a pointless war waged against an entire bloc and culture/cultures
The US (bush) alienated the entire eastern world, and then some

[farbotron]

Let me preface this by saying that I myself am an avid gamer and have also worked in the video game industry. However, I think I understand what this game is and is not.
From what I understand about this game, it certainly is taking sides. I'm not aware of any planned mode that allows you to play a story campaign as the Iraqi insurgents. In addition, all the consultants on this game were U.S. Marines. I'm sure it hadn't even crossed the minds of the games developers to have any actual Iraqi input, or say an Iraqi family who was actually affected by the real Battle of Fallujah. I think if that were the case we'd see a different kind of game.
Don't hide behind the false labels of "history" and "realism." If you are presenting a historical account at all (unless it's simply boring facts) you are taking a side! You're choosing to present some facts, embellish others, minimize others and completely edit others out. As Howard Zinn has said, "you can't be neutral on a moving train."
If this game was anything like all the other tactical war games that came before it (America's Army, Rainbow Six, Call of Duty, etc.) it's a pro-U.S. shooting gallery. And by shooting gallery I mean that the people your character shoots at aren't generally given much thought, like cardboard ducks in a shooting gallery. However, in real life you'd be shooting at a living breathing human being with a personality, a family, a culture, ideas, etc. However the point of the game is not to figure out why you're in the war in the first place, it's to shoot the people in front of you. It's not like there's some AWOL or conscientious objector mode (after all, that would be too realistic)
What these combat games usually offer is a relatively valueless environment where players can shoot what they please consequence free. This is the format that currently sells and thus the video game industry has no reason to modify it.
Oh, and I'm sure people have complained about Vietnam games, but if not consider me the first. What bothers me about the conversation surrounding video games is the lack of real analysis of a narrative, and what narrative a game is trying to present. By contrast, people seem to accept that books and movies can teach something, that they have specific cultural effects. If the goal of games actually was to teach, rather than entertain they'd stop the simplistic macho posturing.

[BigWhoop]

I just wanted to say I think this is one of the most well-written articles I've ever read in/on Macworld. I actually checked the byline when I was done reading the article to see if it was reprinted from somewhere else.
Nicely done, Chris.

[brian577]

Did you even read the article? It states "The developers interviewed not only 47 US Marines, but also civilians and enemy insurgents"

[Mista2]

Now I'm just waiting for a game that puts the player in the place of a US marine when the US is invaded by an imaginary superstate, schools are bombed, civilians slaughtered, abducted, held for questioning, tortured. And then give the player the choice of joining a resistance movement or joining the 'Police Force" being establised by the new puppet regime installed by the invaders to run the country until "Free Elections" can be reheld.
Now that might help educate Amerians as to how they are viewed by other countries 8)