A discussion of the ethical issues surrounding games like Call of Duty 4 that are set in modern combat situations. Is it right to so closely simulate real and present events for the sake of entertainment? An interesting read.
An interesting non flamebait article in N4G? I am shocked beyond words then again its probably not gonna get aproved for the same reasons. I beleive that games are just games in the end and part of the freedom of expresion that the western world ejoys in general, you are not forced to play them and as such they can have any message the designers desire.
Your right. Expression is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. I just wouldn't play games based our current war, due to my beliefs. That was one of my biggest fears for the new COD4 game. I'm glad they chose to have a fictional conflict be the focus of the game.
I don't care either way. The public, however, would probably be appalled that the developer was "insensitive" or something. Who cares? People die in war. Future soldiers know they're lives could be in danger when they join the military. If a developer wants to create an Iraq war game, I say go for it. People will find something to complain about just to be heard.
If movie makers and authors and commercial media for that matter can all get a piece of the pie, why not game makers?
Anyway, war is just another form of business.
And heres a hint. Custom soundtracks. I used to love Conflict Desert Storm with System of a Down blarring while I killed. For some reason it was a good match.
I personally hope games get closer to actual tacticss and strategies we use in the military.
I was so impressed when Socom 1 (Ps2) came out. I then joined the military shortly after and noticed the game wasn't even close. I also thought full spectrum warrior, and Battlefield 2/1942/2142 were a joke. The closest to a battlefield scene perhaps that i experienced was Medal of Honor: Allied Assault.This games Omaha beach landing at Normandy (D-day) is about one of the most memorable. GRAW 1 and 2 also made decent attempts and were close but Ghost recon (the original ones for the PC) were way closer to strategic advances Vs an enemy.
But so far the closest game to an actual shootout is Rainbow 6:Las Vegas(- the 3rd person view). I believe COD4 will come somewhat close, but unfortunately the Games is steered more towards Arcade then actual simulation. For anyone that wants to steer more towards a realistic shooter try Delta Force 1 or 2 PC, Operation Flashpoint (PC), or the original SWAT games. They make look outdated but they have alot of tactital elements to them.
I personally have no problems with it as long it tastefully serves and respect the men and women proudly serving in the Armed Forces. That also means the game should be politically neutral.
I personally dont have a problem with games based on modern warfare. i am a infantry soldier in the army and a two iraq vet.trust me we love games like this and yes we do play a lot of video games in iraq in our spare time and a lot of the games are fps that invole a lot of killing. cod4 is not the first to use modern conflict. americas army and full specturm warrior are a few i remeber when full spectrum came out they had a big ass build board outside of fort stewart advertising the game. what pepole fail to realize is that games like that are good at recruting pepole to the military.
Being an Army veteran myself, any military-themed game is a potential recruiter of people. Now, I'm NOT saying this from a liberal's point-of-view, but military-themed video games, whether or not it is geared specifically for recruitment, will always be one of the first impressions people (kids this generation) get about actual military service. The problem? They have no freakin' clue what military discipline is.
It's a touchy subject no doubt. I really haven't seen a Vietnam based game, and Iraq seems to be heading the same way in terms of lasting appeal. We've been seeing alot of middle east themes games, but they aren't specific to the current Iraq war. I wonder if MGS4 is just coincidental, or if it's really about a bigger picture.
It's odd to see all these games based on a fictional war, yet they always revolve around an unknown middle eastern country. Makes you wonder if the people behind the project are trying to say something.
If a game is made in the current Iraq war, two things will be made: It is either a neo-con or a liberal propaganda. Heck, heated arguments were made in Gamespot about GRAW 2 (when it first came out) being an American right-wing propaganda bent on exploiting the illegal immigration issues. Area 51: Blacksite on the other hand also got attacked in Gamespot for not-too-ambiguous anti-Iraq war message (Silent Hill 5 could also possibly suspected for anti-war messages due to the main charater's back story). Though I really don't have problems with a game based in Iraq as long as it is respectful to the American service members and no strong political message, I see why there would be problems making it.
ShellShock: Nam '67 (ps2) and battlefield: vietnam are two game let alone a lot of budget Pc shooters.
The games are out there but they don't sell well. In fact Shellshock was Guerilla games (creators of Killzone 2) first console game, which also came out on the Xbox.
Vehicles like Call of Duty, and America's Army really show you what these brave patriots go through. It is 100% a reality check. Outside of the fun aspect, it really is sobering to realize that these guys do this stuff for real, and there is no respawn.
The US military created or hired people to create America's Army. They made it so it'd be a recruiting tool. If anything COD4 would be an even bigger and better recruiting tool.
Political neutrality, as long as there is no leftwing America is evil message in the game I'm all for it. There is no reason why we should not show and celebrate what our soldiers go through and the bravery they have while doing so. Everyone of those soldiers are heros, and that story needs to be told, lord knows Hollywood has failed to tell it. Let them tell it the military is the problem, and our military is evil. Terrorists are just poor freedom fighters who are all misunderstood.
I played Call of Duty 1, and I have to say that the devs did a really good job of making the military look like the true heroes that they are. If they portray the current warriors in the same light, I think that this game will actually do some good. No propaganda needed there.
This is off subject, but I read something interesting in a Vietnam biography once. The name of the book was Recondo: L.R.R.P.'s in the 101st Airborne (Long Range Recon Patrol), the author's name is Larry Chambers. In one chapter the author talks about being at base camp one day. Some had spotted a single VC scout off in the distance. Someone called in artillery and a squad was sent out to pick up whatever was left. Turns out that the artie didn't kill the scout, and he hears the squad that was sent out and the scout start firing on one another. Keep in mind this is one guy fighting twelve. He said the fighting went on for almost an hour before the VC scout was killed. He said that during the fighting, him and some of his buddies were jokingly pulling for the guy. Not because they actually wanted or even thought the scout was going to survive, but because they respected and admired the scouts bravery. I thought that was a pretty interesting take for a battle hardened soldier to reveal.
It's so obvious. They used the 911 attack as a catalyst for other events, such as illegaly invading Iraq an Afghanistan. They also have been taking American peoples rights, surely but slowly. (patriot act) All under the cloak of "anti terrorism". Bin Laden is a myth.
Mark my words, soon there will be another false flag terrorist attack on American soil. Martial Law will be put in place. Iran will be blamed and attacked. The whole world will be sucked into a global conflict. Stop Bush and the New World Order in their quest for world domination. Wake up people this is real! Think I'm crazy? Just do some research, the truth is so obvious.
once this goes down, it will affect you in Canada, and me in Holland. It's not just the American gov., my own government is in on it to, and so are other European govs. Well at least people in high ranked places are, probably in your gov. to.
Only thing we can do is to wake up as many people as possible. Fight the power!
Oh, I know it will affect me too. I'm just saying that it's a bit more mellow up here than in the US at the moment. I'm just going to wake up who I can, and I'll be looking after #1 when the sh!t hits the fan.
BTW, sorry all for being off topic. Last post, I promise.
Why don't you tell the easter bunny to come on XBL so I can teabag him over and over again until he smashes his own controller to pieces and logs off in tears?
An interesting non flamebait article in N4G? I am shocked beyond words then again its probably not gonna get aproved for the same reasons. I beleive that games are just games in the end and part of the freedom of expresion that the western world ejoys in general, you are not forced to play them and as such they can have any message the designers desire.
How do you think they would portray it? A mission to set a country free from a dictator or to steal the country´s oil?
I personally have no problems with it as long it tastefully serves and respect the men and women proudly serving in the Armed Forces. That also means the game should be politically neutral.
I personally dont have a problem with games based on modern warfare. i am a infantry soldier in the army and a two iraq vet.trust me we love games like this and yes we do play a lot of video games in iraq in our spare time and a lot of the games are fps that invole a lot of killing. cod4 is not the first to use modern conflict. americas army and full specturm warrior are a few i remeber when full spectrum came out they had a big ass build board outside of fort stewart advertising the game. what pepole fail to realize is that games like that are good at recruting pepole to the military.
It's a touchy subject no doubt. I really haven't seen a Vietnam based game, and Iraq seems to be heading the same way in terms of lasting appeal. We've been seeing alot of middle east themes games, but they aren't specific to the current Iraq war. I wonder if MGS4 is just coincidental, or if it's really about a bigger picture.
It's odd to see all these games based on a fictional war, yet they always revolve around an unknown middle eastern country. Makes you wonder if the people behind the project are trying to say something.