When Does It Become OK To Make Games About a War?

The cancellation of Six Days in Fallujah seems to have stirred up almost as much debate as its original announcement. Given the popularity of World War II games, it seems clear that the main concern about a game focusing on modern war events relates to how recently they happened. Kotaku takes a look at some of the obstacles such a game would need to overcome to achieve broad acceptance. "When approaching a game that realistically depicts a modern combat situation, one criticism that often arises is the subject of fun. Can a realistic military shooter be fun? According to Ian Bogost, that's the wrong question to ask. 'We use the word fun as a placeholder, when we don't even really know what we mean when we look for some sort of enjoyment in a serious experience,' he said. Fun and entertainment aren't mutually exclusive, especially when it comes to entertainment based on real-world military conflicts. As Bogost explains, fun isn't the key word in this situation. 'It may not be possible to make a realistic war game that is fun — war is not fun — but it is possible to create an experience that is informative, appealing, and startling in a positive way.'"

Comments

Re:Not even going to RTFA

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd take you seriously if you douchebags actually try and understand the fundamental issues i.e. RTFA. It is easy to cast aside other people's worry while it is only a "minor" inconience for you. Democracy is not about the will of the majority, it's about compromise. sheesh

Re:Try this. Make a GERMAN war game

[rts008]

...americans are LOOSING...

Where the 'americans' are letting loose what?

Which 'americans'?
Canadians, Mexicans, Southern Americans from say, Brasil?

Obligatory Samuel Jackson:
"English, motherfucker! Do you speak it?"

If you can't even be bothered to be literate, stay off of forums moron.

realism?

[fforw]

It seems to me that such a game would be about just as realistic as the cleaned up war the Americans see on TV. No suffering, no civilian victims -- especially no children, no fucked up psychopaths using the rule free area of a war to do what they always wanted to do, no torture, no life-long suffering from handicaps, no PTSD, no being sent in again and again and again until you finally blow your own head off. Instead it will be full of cynical utilitarian rhetoric and patriotic sugar coating. A fun game for the whole family. Maybe it will even have some religious motives baked into it -- because Jesus loves the war!