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Amid Controversy, EA Pulls Taliban From Medal of Honor Multiplayer
Last month we discussed news that upcoming shooter Medal of Honor would allow players to take the role of Taliban forces in multiplayer games, causing no small amount of consternation among political groups and military supporters. Now, Electronic Arts and developer Danger Close have bowed to pressure and announced that the Taliban side would simply be referred to as "opposing force." Quoting executive producer Greg Goodrich:
"The majority of this feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. For this, the Medal of Honor team is deeply appreciative. However, we have also received feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers who have expressed concern over the inclusion of the Taliban in the multiplayer portion of our game. This is a very important voice to the Medal of Honor team. This is a voice that has earned the right to be listened to. It is a voice that we care deeply about. ... While this change should not directly affect gamers, as it does not fundamentally alter the gameplay, we are making this change for the men and women serving in the military and for the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice — this franchise will never willfully disrespect, intentionally or otherwise, your memory and service."
... and for extra realism you get to shoot at British, Canadian, Danish and other "allied" troops. Ultra-realistic!
My grandfather died in WW2, could you please remove the Germans from all your future WW2 games as well? The Japanese, too.
I think we should keep the Germans in the WW2 games, and my grandfather died in a concentration camp! He fell out of a guard tower.
Adidas To Bring Back Sneakernet
They did. Its called "Enemy Territory: Quake Wars".
Killing virtual Nazi's and Taliban are bad apparently but its OK to gib innocent aliens and monsters...
Personally (as a Canadian) I loved the fact that in Counter Strike you could play the FLQ terrorist. I mean I don't care about the FLQ, but simply the fact that Canada is mentioned at all in a video game, and you can play that side, and the map is supposed to be in Canada, I thought was pretty cool.
Otherwise I will be waiting for the video game of canoeing and collecting beaver pelts etc... which I don't think will be a very good game. That or a historical RTS game of the war of 1812, where inexplicably the USA always seems to win...
In other news, the teams in counter strike will no longer be known as the terrorists and the counter-terrorists. Instead, the weapons have been removed and replaced with paint ball guns, and the teams will be known as "accounting department" and "marketing department".
Animations of soldiers dieing and hitting the ground will be replaced with characters raising their marker and walking off the field.
-Steve
"I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
My grandfather killed six Germans at Normandy. Unfortunately, this happened in 1967.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
I find that generalization offensive.
is sometimes a dandelion
How much is your data worth? Back it up now.
My brother died in a marketing accident, you insensitive clod!
"ruining it"? Game play has not changed one iota, regardless of what the "sides" are named. Would you refuse to buy the game if it were named "Silver Star" instead of "Medal of Honor"?
Perspective. You lack it.
I'll tell you what then - whenever you see and hear "Opposition Forces" in all the game text and audio, shout at the television: "OH NOES ITS TEH TALIBANZ IN MUH TEEVEEZ!"
Maybe that'll make you feel better.
As an anti-poopsocking measure
I feel this term needs some clarification... and no, I won't google that.