@buccomatic Considering Greg (you're on a first name basis now?) never actively participates in slander or libel, I'd say he's one up on you so far, yeah. You're not "pointing out" anything, you're actively attacking the character of a person, one whom you've never met. That's libel.

@buccomatic Not only is your second statement false (he never said MoH is realistic there), but he's addressing two different points: one, that games should realistically portray war (games, by definition, are not real, and only poor simulations of the real world, and thus incapable of ever conveying the reality of war) and two, that getting up and fighting after being shot ISN'T realistic (it is, in fact, as he then gives examples to counter that point.) If you're going to criticize someone's statements, make sure to do so correctly -- else you just look demeaning.

@buccomatic Ironically, now you're doing the very thing you're critiquing, as you're attacking the character of someone you've never met through the anonymity of the internet. No contradiction there.

@andrewwittmaier And so the developer is stating that soldiers who have actually been to war are making the game based off their experiences, such that it's not irreverant, but illustrative of what they're doing. Besides, McShea's impressions are from watching a small demo at a press conference. That's not only unfairly not indicative of the entirety of the game, but also sidesteps that the horror of war was addressed themetically in the last Medal of Honor. Something McShea cannot comment on, having not played it.

@andrewwittmaier @Sytherscvcn Then say that, and don't say attacking. You were playing off the loaded connotation that word brings to make an unfair point. Similarly, what "intimidation" was occurring? Because all I saw was a developer defending his work from a critic, and nothing more. It's not like he was yelling, threatening, etc. If you use attack incorrectly, I'm inclined to think you're using "intimidation" incorrectly too, for the sake of exaggeration.

@andrewwittmaier Arguably, it's the exact point. If McShea's thesis is "this is disrespectful to soldiers and their experiences in war," and soldiers are actively contributing to the development of the game to shape its story and tone, then his thesis is incorrect.

@andrewwittmaier @Sytherscvcn I would respond, but for fear of attacking you, I'm refraining from comment, lest pointed words become weapons.

@buccomatic This post is not only incorrect, but tacky. Now you're attacking the character of someone you've never met, based on their response to a scathing article, in the form of a heated 20 minute discussion on a video game presentation at a press conference? Ugh.

What exactly makes Red Orchestra 2 a more authentic depiction of war than Medal of Honor? From what I've heard and seen (and if that's good enough for McShea, that's good enough for me) it has respawns, gives notice of "nutshots" (classier than headshots, I'm sure), and players can slap bandages on near death to be fully healed, which cheapens the pain and suffering of real victims of war, and the process of recovery. So why isn't he calling all of that out?

@epaul525 "The unique aspect of storytelling in video games is that it's interactive. You can't comment on how you felt no sense of attachment or urgency at the distress of a teammate when you weren't the one reacting to that call. We should be listening to the person who was actually at the controller."That is absolutely what I wish I could articulate, so kudos to you. Thanks, +1, etc. This is especially prescient as the themes McShea wants were present in Medal of Honor 2010. The fight to survive the ambush when all hope seemed lost, or to save your squad mate, those really affected me. Maybe if he'd played that game, and known what the series stood for before criticizing it, he would've known that.