Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Controversy Arises Over Taliban Option In Medal of Honor

Posted by Soulskill on from the yes-this-again dept.

eldavojohn writes "CVG is covering the controversy surrounding players' ability to play as a member of the Taliban in EA's Medal of Honor multiplayer. Fox News hopped on the wagon, interviewing a Gold Star mom whose son died in Iraq. She said, 'My son didn't get to start over when he was killed. His life was over and I had to deal with that every day. There's 1200 families from Afghanistan that have to live with this every day. And we live it — it's not a game... EA is very cavalier about it: "Well, it's just a game." But it isn't a game to the people who are suffering from the loss of the children and loved ones.' EA's response to this criticism of giving players the objective to 'gun down American troops' was this: 'Medal Of Honor is set in today's war, putting players in the boots of today's soldier... We give gamers the opportunity to play both sides. Most of us have been doing this since we were seven. If someone's the cop, someone's got to be the robber, someone's got to be the pirate, somebody's got to be the alien. In Medal Of Honor multiplayer, someone has to be the Taliban.' Of course the story recalls Six Days in Fallujah, which was dropped by Konami following similar controversy. It's clear at least a few people take issue with games surrounding modern conflicts."

12 of 671 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Hypocrisy Isn't Free by OrangeCatholic · · Score: 2, Funny

    They should make Bionic Commando 2-player, so you can play the side that resurrects Hitler.

    I bet that albatross makes a sweet UAV as well.

  2. Re:HTFU by wjousts · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, but those Russian gamers will probably pirate it anyway ; )

  3. What about server admins? by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 2, Funny

    Clearly Uplink is insensitive to server admins who have lost data due to hacking. They didn't get to start over when their server was owned and they had no backups, and their families have to live with that every day. It's not a game... Introversion is very cavalier about it: "Well, it's just a game." But it isn't a game to the people who are suffering from the loss job.

  4. Not just war games! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I totally agree with this woman. Anything that can be linked to personal loss in video games should be disallowed. My son died in the 80's because a giant L-shaped girder fell on his head. People are unaware of the amount of construction accidents that happen everyday and affect the lives of so many, these game developers can be so insensitive!

    1. Re:Not just war games! by Jafafa+Hots · · Score: 4, Funny

      My uncle Mario was killed almost 30 years ago by a gorilla throwing barrels down the ladder he was climbing up.

      I've been fighting to have that damned game banned all this time.

      --
      This space available.
  5. I would play as aTaliban by jameskojiro · · Score: 4, Funny

    For the express purpose of losing and mocking the dumb SOBs. All through the match I would warble and scream like a Taliban fighter and would yell out "Allah Fubar" or "Admiral Akbar", before getting sniped, as I was getting sniped I would scream, "I can see heaven and my 72 virgins, oh crap they are star trek nerds!!" before respawning.....

    --
    Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
  6. Re:Firest a ground zero mosque now this whats next by sznupi · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEFCON_(video_game) - fairly close

    Also, there was this one C64 game, where you nominally play a world peacekeeper, IIRC. However, despite being a small kid (or perhaps because of it), I quickly figured out how to provoke nuclear exchanges; much more entertaining.

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  7. Pirates and aliens? by apparently · · Score: 4, Funny

    A's response to this criticism of giving players the objective to 'gun down American troops' was this: 'Medal Of Honor is set in today's war, putting players in the boots of today's soldier... We give gamers the opportunity to play both sides. Most of us have been doing this since we were seven. If someone's the cop, someone's got to be the robber, someone's got to be the pirate, somebody's got to be the alien

    Cops and robbers, sure, but who the fuck ever heard of playing pirates and aliens? Who's even the bad guy in that scenario? EA should've gone with the analogy all of our father's at one point impressed upon us: "If someone's the pitcher, someone's got to be the catcher, son. Now let daddy see your mitt."

  8. EA needs to sack up by Torodung · · Score: 2, Funny

    EA should do something really controversial. I'll buy the game when I can play and/or shoot Muhammad.

    --
    Toro

  9. Listen to DEVO - Freedom of Choice by ronaldmigahil · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think hearing this song can help. DEVO - Freedom of Choice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jVoroHx3IU&playnext=1&videos=IibK1CODwX4

  10. Re:Hypocrisy Isn't Free by Surt · · Score: 3, Funny

    The thinker is *naked*! For all we know he's thinking about how best to mix kiddy porn and clubbing baby seals.

    Think of the children, and baby seals...

    Oh come on, that can't be true. The best way to mix kiddy porn and clubbing baby seals is so straightforward that to hypothesize him 'thinking' about that is just ridiculous.

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  11. Re:Hypocrisy Isn't Free by The+Wild+Norseman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, I want to see Gabe's grampa modded too.

    I'm thinking a cyber-exoskeleton with built-in minigun and a few RPG's slung over his shoulder.

    Gabe's grampa could really bring a spark back into world war II action!

    --
    "A government is a body of people usually -- notably -- ungoverned." -Shepherd Book