Inevitably, Someone's Mad That You Can Be The Taliban In Medal of Honor

Owen Good of Kotaku: I must be inside the bubble, because the idea of playing as the Taliban in Medal of Honor multiplayer didn't hit me as particularly controversial. Fox News noticed. Though it did treat the subject reasonably, the woman they interviewed doesn't.

[jaredhart]

Who cares about playing as the Taliban? it's just another excuse to attack the video game industry!

[Darkstorn]

Perhaps. I think it's mostly a small group of vocal reactionaries who, due to the death of a family member in Iraq/Afghanistan, are given open airtime to discuss their biased view of this issue.

Losing a son to a war does not mean that you automatically know what you're talking about, as evidenced by the woman in the Fox News story. It's bad journalism on the part of Fox to treat the woman's anti-video game drivel as a legitimate concern.

I may feel for her loss, but she expressed her ignorance quite vividly when she opened her mouth.

[Independent_Charles]

so perhaps its all right for american forces to slaughter poeple from the east and everything is fine but not okay vice versa. listen there is no 'good' and 'bad' sides just differant causes people can get behind. e.g. console wars

[Mmmkay]

i'm gonna play as taliban all the time just in spite...

[theKiller]

the only people who cares are the racist, patriotic, haters, evil people who support killing others but cant stand the sight of their imaginary soldiers die(which happens every day in afghanistan by the hands of taliban)

its ok to in GTA to kill and rape and steal and be racist in the game and in other games to kill Arabs, Muslims, Russians, Koreans, Vietnamese etc but it is not okey to kill marines in even a multiplayer? the campaign mode u r killing taliban!! so thats ok? but in the online mode is not okey vise versa?

poor taliban, they didnt get involve in 9/11 in any way yet they got attacked and invaded!!

any way, they control most of afghanistan now!! and guess how they did it guys? by killing their enemies which the media hides!!

the story of taliban in MOH is fromt he point of view of the west!! because no one want to hear the story from taliban!! because they are aliens came to destroy humanity!! oh wait, i think humans keep trying contacting aliens in space right? through sending signals etc? so taliban is even worst than aliens and worst than animals and even bugs!! and of course amercians are the best of the people on the planet and those who follow them in their life style!!

@Independent_Charles
"listen there is no 'good' and 'bad' sides just differant causes people can get behind"

i object!! the good and only good side of any side or conflict is the side of Allah!! the creator of everything!! who ever take the side of Allah will be victorious. but we don know who is taking God side 100% since we cant see through people hearts!!

[Panthers]

"i object!! the good and only good side of any side or conflict is the side of Allah!! the creator of everything!! who ever take the side of Allah will be victorious. but we don know who is taking God side 100% since we cant see through people hearts!! "

HAHA i dont know if you are being serious or not but that is funny!

[poopface1]

I wasnt aware that you could rape people in gta.

[KingKiff]

One mans terrorist.

Another mans freedom fighter.

Just depends on which side of the fence you sit.

[RedDead]

The problem with one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter is you could end up backing the wrong person. Hitler was a flute for example. But anyway.
British government:

IRA=terrorist
UDA=ummm, they're just doing what's right for them...

It all depends on the media

[SilentNegotiator]

Because the game trains you to be a Taliban member, just like all of these shooting games have taught children how to use guns!

/sarcasm

[zak94ma]

game don't teach kids how to use guns , there is a big deference between simulation and reality live your life pal . go visit mother earth and don't too much in your head.
don't tell me Study's say this or that , screw them they are bunch of losers

[IaMs12]

@Zak
Do you see the /sarcasm? That means sarcasm.

[rekonizakilla]

my grandad once hit his head whilst mending a leaking pipe during the war, so i get offended when people play mario. Makes me sick!

If she's offended by people playing as the taliban, then the rest of the world has the right to be pissed about playing as an American or english war dude.

it's just a game

[DarkSpawnClone]

i will in no fucking way play as the Taliban..i support our troops!!! yeah i know its "just a game" but nah im sorry i just cant do it.

[duplissi]

i bet youve played as germans or japanese in ww2 shooters before.....

edit @ independent

to be fair hiroshima happened after we were attacked and it pretty much ended the war.

[Independent_Charles]

again so its fine for amerian troops to slaughter and wreck families in the west but not vice versa. bth are bad as each other.
taliban ----> 9/11
america ----> hiroshima

2 pure acts of terrorisam

[DarkSpawnClone]

yeah sure but thats different,yeah i know your going to say "but how is it" open your eyes there's a war going on right now! and its so much the same thing thats gonna go on in this game its just too soon, disagree all you want you have a right to do that but why should we as Americans and Canadians ect be playing as people that are killing our solders in a video game..that doesn't seem fucked up to you ? these our are brothers and sisters going to fight for us and you want to play as the same people that are killing them ? why do we have to say its OK just because its a game ? disagree if you want thats fine with me i don't care its my opinion,not yours.

[Graey]

I feel for you man, I went to the war in Iraq and seen my fair share of people get killed(both sides). To be honest you'll never know what it feels like until your there. Shit to be honest still has me fu$%^d up till this day.

One thing you said that caught my attention "These are our brothers and sisters". This part I think is the part I have the most concern about. It feels like your saying us against them. I have two points to this part.

1. How come our so called brothers and sisters are killing, robbing, raping, stealing from each other in the states.

2. We are all brothers and sisters. This is the problem with the world as a whole. This us vs them mentality. Is used to confuse and limit you, and in respect control you. Its done through almost everything. Hell take games for example. Us against them, mario against Koopa, master chief against the covenant, Those gears dudes against those big ass roaches...or whatever the hell they are.

Until we all come to gripes with the fact that its an ego based world were all doomed.

I feel your pain man I really, do but I seen both sides die I saw pain from both sides. Its not as easy as you think to be black and white.

Much respect to you though.

[IaMs12]

@Charles
Yes true but then you must add in Pearl Harbor into that equation then it would make sense.....

[duplissi]

well said graey. well said.

[DarkTower805]

COD already had OpFor, we all know that's supposed to be Taliban. People are always getting their panties in a bunch.

[jjohan35]

This is just giving the game more press that it desperately needs. Seriously the beta was underwhelming to say the least.

[SupaGamer]

F the Taliban and F the people who complain about playing as them in MOH!

[Kalowest]

Yeah, i always wanted to be a Taliban /s.

[uhaul]

Hey Mr. Taliban, tally me bananas!

[FishCake9T4]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[mrv321]

Didn't the US army invest in doing much the same, in fact they MADE a game in which one can kill an American Soldier...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

From the coverage I've seen media outlets for some reason have been treating Americans as the master race, and forgetting the fact there's other nations involved in conflict.

[finbars75]

Good post even if people disagree.The truth does hurt.But really it doesn come down to just a videogame.If you hate what direction EA has gone with MOH then stop watching the trailers or playing the beta ect.At least they did there information on what goes on over there before they made the game.Its not some false piece of hollywood crap that gives me the wrong idea of the war.

[mrv321]

You mean like WW2 started in 1941, the Russians did nothing, Britain was 2 femto seconds from turning Nazi's and without the Americans we'd be saluting Hitler... you mean that Hollywood nonsense? While I am very greatful for the help provided by the Americans during WW2 and I have no doubt without their help the possibility of a Nazi invasion of Britain would be greatly increase but America played a part, as did Russia, France and Britain.

The one thing that truly annoys me is that of the German officers who are all seen as Nazi's, not all of them where, some of them where soldiers who fought well... and for a cause. No different from the Americans or British or Canadians or Russians who all lost men in the fight for liberty. But hey let's not look too deeply into 1900-1950's America we might find something we disagree with on a morale level.

[iamnsuperman]

@mrv321 you do have a point the Americans did stop Britian getting invaded to a point but you can't ignore the fact that British RAF crippled the German airforce in the battle of britian which allowed any American invasion force to happen...also Hitler ignored his Generals and made tatical blunders.....I agree with you on the Germans officers in games seam like crazy nazi when you can't ignore certain generals like Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, portrayed awfully by Tom Cruise in the film valkyrie come on he is not even German and Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg is seen as a German hero, who tried to kill Hitler

[iamnsuperman]

I know lets look at the British who were given Helmand provice by the Americans after they failed there and they were left until recently to make do and its one of the toughest provinces in the country. Other nations like German are there basically the whole of the nato countries are there

@ finbars75 ".At least they did there information on what goes on over there before they made the game.Its not some false piece of hollywood crap that gives me the wrong idea of the war."...thats one reason for me wanting to get this but i am going to wait for reviews to come out first just be sure

[socomnick]

in Americas Army you always play as a US soldier. In the mp game there are two teams and the enemy always appears to be insurgents.

[TheGameFoxJTV]

You can't disagree with facts. lol

[mushroomwig]

Don't like it? Don't play it. Simple.

[Dsnyder]

Basedon the beta, It Doesnt look like many people will be playing it.

[HelghastKid]

Based on the pre orders and the publicity its getting people will be purchasing this.

[The_Claw]

ugh, this is why im against public betas. too many idiots think its a early copy of the game.

[DaBadGuy]

It's not that simple. People who don't like the game won't just simply not play it, they will do everything in their power to keep the game out of your hands, just based on their own personal agendas and beliefs. Politicians, lawyers, etc. will do whatever is necessary, even risk self-destruction (see: Jack Thompson) to make sure that you can't legally purchase a video game in the United States of America. So you see, it's not that simple.

[RIPSKATEDESTROY]

why cant we all just get along!

[tunaks1]

"...families who are burying their children are going to be seeing this and playing this game. I just don't see that a video game based on a current war makes any sense."
- mother of a deceased soldier.

I have to agree, we all love video games- but sometimes you need to take a step back and see it through their eyes.

[turok]

... I disagree with ye.

[tunaks1]

im not saying this shouldn't or should be in the game, all I'm saying is we need to see it through their eyes.

[turok]

since I actually have some friends that the taliban has taken away from me i dont need to see from "their" perspective as I already am "them". I see no problem with playing as a terrorist. some people are seriously insecure or oversensitive. that said, this dont bother me. anyone who seems offended about this however i take offense to. its a game. and now i feel insulted for my dead comrades, that such a silly thing is taken seriously /facepalm.

[DarkSpawnClone]

tunaks1 you are totally right i don't care how many people disagree with you or me.i have gone through a lot with death ect and until you lose a loved one and yeah i don't mean your grandma you never cared about,i mean some one close to you..you can never truly understand what it feels like you can try to think what it would be like but its not the same.more people really should "take a step back and see it through their eyes. " our solders are out there dieing for who ? there families for you for me to protect us we need to support them i mean look at how things went down with Vietnam they went to fight for there country and after all the shit they went through they come home to be greeted like there scum,there just some things that shouldn't be in video games right now i mean 20 years from now sure but not now its too soon i have respect for dice for doing what they do but i will not support this game.people need to stop just thinking about them self and thinking there the only ones that matter.

[TheGameFoxJTV]

but remember when it all comes down to it; it's just a story. A game, a piece of fiction. Also I recall the game being rated M. So if children apprehend it, it's the parent's fault for not being attentive enough.

[rekof]

Because afghanistan mothers don't have children. Fucking hypocrisy its not like Usa has not been involved in all the wars in the past 120 years at least indirectly,.. There is so much blood shead thanx to Usa's foreign policy and military industry ,.. I love USA ,.. but shiet,..

[belal]

ehh what about the afghani people? i have some afghani friends, and they wouldn't give a shit, this is GAME, if you don't like it, don't buy it, simple! americans like shooting others but when the americans are getting shot at they go all mumbo jumbo jeezez...

[Darkstorn]

There is definitely a double standard. I think a lot of the tension stems from the fact that Americans have not been as exposed to the horrors of war as much as other regions of the world. Europe was decimated after WW2, the Middle East is and will continue to be a warzone, South America (while stabilizing somewhat) has gone through multiple coups in the past decade, genocide is being perpetrated in Africa, and most of Asia is under authoritarian rule. Let's face it - we Americans are a sheltered people. Why we continue to spend so much on national defense, I will never know.

American soil has only been attacked twice in (relatively) recent memory, on Pearl Harbor and 9/11. Americans are unused to being targets, so there is a heightened sensitivity to anti-American sentiment. I would also argue that Americans have a problem with empathizing for those in the middle of massive conflicts, if only because we don't have any tangible experience with it.

[No FanS Land]

too true mate. I'm not "americain" as a U.S. citizen but I'm still a canadian.

[darkdoom3000]

americans are so oversensitive. :/

[HelghastKid]

Im an American, and i have to agree with you on that. We have freedom of speech yet when we hear something we dont like, we are quick to sue or some other sh!t. Very sensitive.

[tinybigman]

im american but i dont get all over sensitive when other talk bad about us. i dont feel im better than any other person around the world. personally i always try to see things from other people's perspective because not everything is always black and white.

this is a game and if you feel strongly about playing as the taliban don't buy the game; i on the other hand will buy the game because is it just that a game.

[Kalowest]

Why should i care, I'm not buying this game anyway, too many other great ones coming out.

[Darkstorn]

You should care because this issue affects how video games are seen by those who aren't involved in the industry.

Politicians and simpletons alike will pass judgments of gaming in general by being exposed to this developing story. If the information being passed along is faulty (as it was on Fox News), then we have a major problem for the future acceptability of video games as a form of entertainment.

[dragonyght]

i don't know what the fuse about its not like MOH! have a Taliban campaign where the have you shot or blow up pixel like some other game did (No Russian) tho the only downside is that EA will be making lots of Gz at the expanse of the war(American soldiers sacrifice)that should have been the main focus

[SpitFireAce85]

The Multiplayer part of this game..to much like BC2&MW2.
And not enough MoH* so i will be renting this for the
Singleplayer.

Edit. Kotaku u SUCK!

[alextz]

You (the original poster) point out that people don't like assuming the role of a Taliban. Have you ever considered that many people also don't like assuming the role of an American soldier all the time? People have different point of views and may not agree with your own personal views on who's the 'good' and who's actually the 'bad' guy in today's conflicts.

My suggestion is to leave politics out of this and enjoy it for what it is, a game.

[BX81]

I agree here is also something we should ask our self about the Taliban. How many current Taliban members were pro U.S or just didn't care until we went over there and accidentally killed some people. It's a video game not real life. I don't think people should put too much weight behind it.

[-Judge_Fudge]

well i hope that in the game when im the taliban i can go kamikaze on someones ass and have 72 virtual virgins waiting when my guy dies

[HelghastKid]

hey you forgot to say delicious in your comment! you slippin judge fudge!

[radzy]

i can finally play as the freedom fighter good guy !!!

akhathnal alam thalatha ("we have taken flag 3" in arabic)

[Johandevries]

Since when do Taliban speak Arabic?

[zak94ma]

silly f****ng egyption

[BkaY]

they dont speak arabic you dumbo...

lol

[2FootYard]

King Crimson songs have cheesy lyrics.

[stuntman_mike]

you know what will happen next, that woman will try and sue the game company. and all it will turn out to be was her wanting to get money out of it.

gaming is becoming an easy target there really needs to be someone to fight gamings corner.

[ATi_Elite]

I think video Gamerz should run the world because we don't care about playing as the Taliban.

Actually happy to use someone other than the same stereotypical generic video game character.

Fighting the U.S. Marines will only make you a better gamer anyway because to be the best you got to beat the best....Hooah!!

If i was a Taliban I wouldn't want 72 virgins when I die. I want 72 Nymphomaniacs and a lifetime supply of Trojens.
but i would settle for Zoe Saldana and Scarlet Johansson

[Xi]

just like you can play as nazi's in countless ww2 games
the vietcong in countless vietnam games
the russians
the japanese
etc.

[il-mouzer]

sometimes I just think EA has some ties with FOX News on the marketing of a game... it just seems so obvious