Six Days in Fallujah announced by Konami. Already raising controversy.

Yesterday, it was announced that Konami would be publishing Six Days in Fallujah, a 3rd person shooter that would take place in the 2004 Iraq war battle for the mentioned town.

Opinions are divided about the setting and the timing of the game, considering that it is based, after all, in an ongoing war. Voices against the game have not taken too long to make themselves heard, as reported in this GamePolitics article.

Considering the enormous loss of life in the Iraq War, glorifying it in a video game demonstrates very poor judgement and bad taste... These horrific events should be confined to the annals of history, not trivialised and rendered for thrill-seekers to play out...

It's entirely possible that Muslim families will buy the game, and for them it may prove particularly harrowing. Even worse, it could end up in the hands of a fanatical young Muslim and incite him to consider some form of retaliation or retribution...

I will be calling for this game to be banned, if not worldwide then certainly in the UK.

GamePolitics

It's much too soon to start making video games about a war that's still going on, and an extremely flippant response to one of the most important events in modern history. It's particularly insensitive given what happened in Fallujah, and I will certainly oppose the release of this game.

GamePolitics

Techradar also reports on this.

Konami vice president Anthony Crouts told the Wall Street Journal that his company was "not trying to make social commentary."

Crouts continued: "We're not pro-war. We're not trying to make people feel uncomfortable. We just want to bring a compelling entertainment experience...At the end of the day, it's just a game."

But is it really 'just a game'?

Techradar

Thoughts?

The soldiers who fought in Fallujah asked the developers to make a game based on their experiences. The devs had previously worked with that battalion on some other project before the battalion was deployed in Fallujah so they obviously had good relations with those soldiers. I also read that the same battalion lost half of their men in the conflict. IMO, if these soldiers want to share their horrifying experiences then who are we to say anything?

I have a feeling it wont be just another war game. I don't know if the devs can pull it off, but it's a noble cause nonetheless.

On the first quote, the same could be said of WWI, WWII, the Gulf War, and so forth. If one is taking that stance, then it would apply to any war. However, making a game of something is not necessarily glorifying something. That's like saying Schindler's List glorified the Holocaust just because it was a movie of the Holocaust.muthsera666

I could make an argument that the viewers of Shindler's List didn't personally gas the jews using a joystick. It's different when it's a game. Movies are like books, you are watching someone else's perception/account of the event. Video games on the other hand are an interactive experience.

P.S Now granted, the protaganist in Shindler's List was a decent guy and never shot or killed anyone, but if someone were to make a "FPS" based on Shindler's List, we would most likely be playing as Ralph Fiennes character rather than Liam Neeson's Shindler.

I really dont like the idea of it...at least not right now because its still going on.

I really dont like the idea of it...at least not right now because its still going on.

Scythes777

[QUOTE="Scythes777"]

I really dont like the idea of it...at least not right now because its still going on.

muthsera666

This line slays me:

"Even worse, it could end up in the hands of a fanatical young Muslim and incite him to consider some form of retaliation or retribution..."

Well if this young Muslim is already fanatical then anything could push him over the edge. If "GamePolitics" is journalism, then I am leaving this planet in search for intelligent forms of life and I'll be better for it. Good grief.

It is complete hypocrisy to find this game offensive and not any other video game based around another war in recent history. This is the media again trying to strangle any small drops of money out of any possible thing they can.Raiko101

As a veteran of the 2003 Iraq invasion, I am completely unoffended by this game. But then again, I don't get offended easily. I might be offended if it ends up sucking, but only as a gamer; no one likes bad games.

It is complete hypocrisy to find this game offensive and not any other video game based around another war in recent history.

Raiko101

I agree.

Konami's response is surprising. They're only doing themselves a disservice by downplaying the game. It should be social commentary, otherwise why even make a game based on the Iraq war? They're only contributing to the notion that the game is exploiting a controversial hot topic for a quick buck. Making a game about the Iraq war and not trying to make social commentary is both worthless and pointless. But no, they're screaming "we're not pro-war!" in panic as if any depiction of war propogates war. This industry really is weak.

Konami's response is surprising. They're only doing themselves a disservice by downplaying the game. It should be social commentary, otherwise why even make a game based on the Iraq war? They're only contributing to the notion that the game is exploiting a controversial hot topic for a quick buck. Making a game about the Iraq war and not trying to make social commentary is both worthless and pointless. But no, they're screaming "we're not pro-war!" in panic as if any depiction of war propogates war. This industry really is weak.

UpInFlames

It could be that they are looking at the poor box office of all the Iraq War movies. People have been exposed to a ton of information about the Iraq War, formed their own opinions and don't want to be lectured to. I'm not saying that the developers should strive for a nonexistent perfectly neutral stance, but I can see why they wouldn't want to say 'Hey, this game is us telling you what to think!'.

It could be that they are looking at the poor box office of all the Iraq War movies. People have been exposed to a ton of information about the Iraq War, formed their own opinions and don't want to be lectured to. I'm not saying that the developers should strive for a nonexistent perfectly neutral stance, but I can see why they wouldn't want to say 'Hey, this game is us telling you what to think!'.CarnageHeart

Telling people what to think isn't social commentary, it's propaganda. Relevant social commentary should be about depicting an event as accurately as possible and letting the audience come to a conclusion of their own. This can be achieved even if presenting something from a single point of view, if there is genuine desire to do so (Syriana and Munich spring to mind).

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]It could be that they are looking at the poor box office of all the Iraq War movies. People have been exposed to a ton of information about the Iraq War, formed their own opinions and don't want to be lectured to. I'm not saying that the developers should strive for a nonexistent perfectly neutral stance, but I can see why they wouldn't want to say 'Hey, this game is us telling you what to think!'.UpInFlames

Telling people what to think isn't social commentary, it's propaganda. Relevant social commentary should be about depicting an event as accurately as possible and letting the audience come to a conclusion of their own. This can be achieved even if presenting something from a single point of view, if there is genuine desire to do so (Syriana and Munich spring to mind).

Munich was a great movie. If the game is anything like that masterpiece then they have my money!

I think this game is a really relevant and good idea. Just make it have a Mature rating so we don't have to hear the 'OMG THINK OF THE CHILDREN!" line.

[QUOTE="GamePolitics"]Considering the enormous loss of life in the Iraq War, glorifying it in a video game demonstrates very poor judgement and bad taste... These horrific events should be confined to the annals of history, not trivialised and rendered for thrill-seekers to play out...

It's entirely possible that Muslim families will buy the game, and for them it may prove particularly harrowing. Even worse, it could end up in the hands of a fanatical young Muslim and incite him to consider some form of retaliation or retribution...

I will be calling for this game to be banned, if not worldwide then certainly in the UK.

I don't think we should hinder any such game. I recently read a book "Dear John" and it too takes place during the Iraq War. I just don't find the idea that it's going on now to be the automatic reason for such a game to not exist.

I don't think we should hinder any such game. I recently read a book "Dear John" and it too takes place during the Iraq War. I just don't find the idea that it's going on now to be the automatic reason for such a game to not exist.

Nifty_Shark

What a CROCK!!! I was a soldier and while I didn't go to Iraq, I certainly went to Afghanistan. I got to see my fare share of war and let me tell you, I think this political crap is just pissing me off and insulting.

Games are a great medium to tell a story and help others understand what war is really like. While the danger isn't there, someone might be able to get a sense of what it is like to be a soldier in a game like this. I FULLY support Konami for making this game. I think it's important and it's a story that needs to be shared with people in any medium... Books have done it. Movies have done it. There is no reason why anyone should exclude video games.

As a soldier, I find this kind of political block an outrage!