EA Medal of Honor - Taliban FPS

[Edward64]

Not for me, not at this current time (for my anticipated XBox 360 Slim this Nov). Support their right to do it, let demand-supply and court of public opinion do its thing.

'Play as Taliban' angle controversial in 'Medal of Honor' - Technology & science - Games - msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38740099/ns/technology_and_science-games/)
EA's upcoming "Medal of Honor" shooter series reboot lets gamers play as allied or oppositional forces in a contemporary war theater. The allies in this case are U.S. Army Rangers. The theater is Afghanistan. And so the opposition, not surprisingly, is the Taliban.

That's not sitting well with some. The trouble stems not from the Taliban's inclusion in the game, but EA's decision to let you play as them in online multiplayer dustups. In essence, critics imply that it's okay for one side to shoot the other on ideological or moral grounds, but say that it's "disrespectful" to allow players to play as the enemy — in this case, the Taliban —and shoot back.

[Galaril]

Not for me, not at this current time (for my anticipated XBox 360 Slim this Nov). Support their right to do it, let demand-supply and court of public opinion do its thing.

'Play as Taliban' angle controversial in 'Medal of Honor' - Technology & science - Games - msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38740099/ns/technology_and_science-games/)

Is this for real? You have to joking?

[cartman]

It sounds like it is only in the multiplayer mode where you do this. There isn't any part of the single player game where you have to play as the Taliban and kill US soldiers to advance. That is a big difference.

[RainMaker]

Aren't most modern day games U.S. vs terrorists? Seems like most of the big games are that and have been for many years.

[Tigercat]

So we no longer have outrage over killing innocent people walking down realistic US city streets, but being the fictitious trigger man who kills a fictitious US soldier is going to far? I guess it might be OK if the fictitious trigger man writes an apology letter to the fictitious family members of the soldier.

[DanGarion]

Burka Burka.

[Dutch]

So we no longer have outrage over killing innocent people walking down realistic US city streets, but being the fictitious trigger man who kills a fictitious US soldier is going to far? I guess it might be OK if the fictitious trigger man writes an apology letter to the fictitious family members of the soldier.

It's actually normal shock value. And like GTA's killing of innocent civilians...there is a spike in interest...and then it fades. I guarantee that nobody will give a shit about this six months from now.

[Galaril]

Aren't most modern day games U.S. vs terrorists? Seems like most of the big games are that and have been for many years.

And you can play as the terorists? I might of missed them.

[chadritt]

Who else would you play as in multiplayer if not the bad guys though?

[Atocep]

Who else would you play as in multiplayer if not the bad guys though?

It should be USA vs USA with paintball guns.

[MikeVic]

Big fucking deal, you could play as terrorists since Counterstike... which was what, like over 10 yeras ago?

[mckerney]

And you can play as the terorists? I might of missed them.

Counterstrike and Modern Warfare 2 come to mind. Counterstrike has always been terrorist vs. counter terrorists, in Modern Warfare 2 when playing online factions you can play as include a fictional Taliban like side and a South American militia.

[RainMaker]

And you can play as the terorists? I might of missed them.
The last two Bad Company games let you play as the terrorists. I remember the old Socom games let you play as them as well (this goes back 10 years). I don't play a ton of war games online, but you don't really have many options when you have two sides competing against one another. Someone has to be the other side.

[Galaril]

Counterstrike and Modern Warfare 2 come to mind. Counterstrike has always been terrorist vs. counter terrorists, in Modern Warfare 2 when playing online factions you can play as include a fictional Taliban like side and a South American militia.

The last two Bad Company games let you play as the terrorists. I remember the old Socom games let you play as them as well (this goes back 10 years). I don't play a ton of war games online, but you don't really have many options when you have two sides competing against one another. Someone has to be the other side.

Ok makes sense. I never was intertested in any of these type of shooter soldier want to be games.

[molson]

I would totally play as the terrorists, even if there was a single-player scenario that involved NYC terrorist attacks.

I don't think that would turn me into a terrorist, and I don't think my game playing would support the terrorists in any way. I mean, I've launched more nukes at innocent countries than I can remember in CIV IV, and though I've never played Grand Theft Auto, I would definitely try to steal a police officer's car and run them over with it if I did.

[illinifan999]

Who else would you play as in multiplayer if not the bad guys though?


If they wanted to avoid the issue, they could have simply made it so the player always appears on the "good" side. That's what America's Army did. You were always the US, and the opposition was always the terrorists. Basically, both sides appeared to themselves as the US, but they appeared as the terrorists to the other side.

[RainMaker]

Modern Warfare 2 let you re-enact a terrorist attack on an airport. It was pretty gruesome and much worse than having your team labeled the terrorists in multiplayer.

The thing is that most people don't even realize the team name. I know when playing Bad Company I couldn't tell you what side I was half the time.

[Galaril]

If they wanted to avoid the issue, they could have simply made it so the player always appears on the "good" side. That's what America's Army did. You were always the US, and the opposition was always the terrorists. Basically, both sides appeared to themselves as the US, but they appeared as the terrorists to the other side.

Yeah, that is what I always thought games did related to this "sensitive" content. My delicate sensibilities are offended by it but would expect others to rail on it.

[Anthony]

in all honesty whether you're US or some other foreign group it really doesn't matter. i play Modern Warfare 2 a lot and once the match begins you just want to kill the other side, you don't play more heroically if you're the US and you don't look to take a hostage and cut their heads off if you're the terrorist. what group you are doesn't play one factor in how you play or the experience. it's just "my team" vs "the other team". there isn't enough time to be offended.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Modern Warfare 2 let you re-enact a terrorist attack on an airport. It was pretty gruesome and much worse than having your team labeled the terrorists in multiplayer.

It was also a skippable scene IIRC, as well as a work around where you could play through it but not actually have to shoot anyone.

[Anthony]

its a game. i can't think of anyone who plays these games in a manner other than "see target - kill target". who really wants to pause to think about whether they're shooting innocent civilians or if they're killing US soldiers? just tell me where to point my pixelated gun and i'll pull the trigger. God will save the noble and righteous.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Put me in the "this has been around for a while" camp, the label really doesn't matter a whole lot to me after playing MP in MW2 with what are pretty clearly not supposed to be good guys.

[Groundhog]

I remember playing a game once where I could control NAZIS and kill both Americans and Europeans!

[Schmidty]

in all honesty whether you're US or some other foreign group it really doesn't matter. i play Modern Warfare 2 a lot and once the match begins you just want to kill the other side, you don't play more heroically if you're the US and you don't look to take a hostage and cut their heads off if you're the terrorist. what group you are doesn't play one factor in how you play or the experience. it's just "my team" vs "the other team". there isn't enough time to be offended.

+1

I don't see what the big deal is. People are such sensitive pansies now days.

Everybody loves to be offended by everything. Liberal, conservative, it doesn't matter - The masses are a bunch of knee-jerk fucktards that react to any little situation that doesn't fit into what they're told they should believe. Then they get to experience the joys of listening to Rush or Keith Olberman while spooging all over the internet in clusterfucks of pseudo-intellectual outrage and narcissistic rancor. "Oh no!! Someone's building a religious building somewhere I don't like!! Wahhhh!!"... "These after-school programs are scandalous because they sometimes meet in churches, and we all know that even if this is also funded by non-religious groups, those Christians are going to shove the Ten Commandments down Sparky's throat!!"..."What is going on? These Muslims are practicing football at night because of they're religion! Let's make them choose between their religion and football!!" "Why are people making me buy a game where I can make the decision to play as a bad guy?? This is such a nefarious act by Americans hating America!!".

Sometimes I wish I could just take all of these idiots out of their houses, compact them down to the size of a basketball, and shove them up the rotting cornhole of a dead humpback whale.

I'm going to take a nap now.

[Greyroofoo]

This kind of reminds me of Command and Conquer: Generals (also by EA) where one of the sides was a middle-eastern terrorist inspired "GLA". It was complete with suicide bombers/trucks and people riding in the back of pick up trucks.

I think the add-on campaign even had the plot where you arrange for a WMD attack on the US.

[Galaril]

For the U.S. Military, Video Games Get Serious - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/fortheusmilitaryvideogamesgetserious)

[panerd]

In Balance of Power you could play the USSR and wasn't there a Rambo game based in Afghanistan where you fought the Soviets? I would guess you were fighting with the Taliban and maybe even Osama Bin Laden in that one.

[DaddyTorgo]

I miss Balance of Power...

[Sun Tzu]

Yeah...the fact that this is garnering press is ridiculous. For years you've been able to play as the Nazi's in COD, a group far worse than the Taliban.

As far as the US Army getting involved, this isn't news either. The US Military has been paying the video game industry to make war based games for years now, completely separate from AA. It's just another form of marketing to kids.

[wishbone]

I remember playing a game once where I could control NAZIS and kill both Americans and Europeans!

I was playing Battlefield 1942 several years ago, playing as a Nazi sniper on the Omaha beach map. I remember thinking "Wow there is a lot of people on today" as I happily plugged invader after invader. Later that day I saw it was the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

[Izulde]

I miss Balance of Power...

I still boot up the 1990 edition game on an old IIGS every now and then.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The Escapist : News : UK Defense Secretary Calls for Medal of Honor Ban (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102952-UK-Defense-Secretary-Calls-for-Medal-of-Honor-Ban)

[DaddyTorgo]

I still boot up the 1990 edition game on an old IIGS every now and then.

Grrrr.

I found a way to play it on my last laptop, but I didn't have what i needed to get past the copy protection anymore. Killed me.

[panerd]

Grrrr.

I found a way to play it on my last laptop, but I didn't have what i needed to get past the copy protection anymore. Killed me.

I still boot up the 1990 edition game on an old IIGS every now and then.

I used to love the music, especially during a nuclear standoff. The USA with the upbeat Yankee Doodle and USSR with the sinister duh-duh-duh-duh.

[Edward64]

Surprise it took so long.
FOXNews.com - Military bases ban sale of video game that lets players 'shoot' US troops in Afghanistan (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/08/military-bases-ban-sale-video-game-lets-player-shoot-troops/)
WASHINGTON – Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"Medal of Honor" by Electronic Arts, a major game developer based in Redwood City, Calif., hits stores Oct. 12. Gamers are scoffing at the decision, saying that advanced technology has made it commonplace in the gaming world to let players switch sides and play the bad guy.

After public protests, including by British Defense Secretary Liam Fox, U.S. military officials decided not to stock the game in any of the nearly 300 base exchange shops.

The game also won't be sold at any of the 49 GameStop stores located on various military bases. Troops will be allowed to own copies, but they would have to buy them off-base.

"We regret any inconvenience this may cause authorized shoppers, but are optimistic that they will understand the sensitivity to the life-and-death scenarios this product presents as entertainment," said Maj. Gen. Bruce Casella, who commands the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, which oversees more than 180 base exchange shops.

[Galaril]

Personally though I do consider myself moderate especially on social issues I never was enthusiastic about all this. I understand the arguments so maybe it just is my prior military background that this riles up.

[flere-imsaho]

I remember playing Counter-Strike after 9/11 (for reference, I started playing CS in 2000) and for a while it was kind of weird but the terrorist teams were getting steamrolled.

[Edward64]

I'm sure the functionality and graphics is the same ... but it's the thought that counts.

Technolog - EA dumps Taliban player mode from "Medal of Honor" (http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/01/5214301-ea-dumps-taliban-player-mode-from-medal-of-honor)
Citing feedback from "friends and families of fallen soldiers," Electronic Arts said it would remove the Taliban name from its new "Medal of Honor" game's multiplayer mode. Instead, that player selection would be called "Opposing Force."

[Buccaneer]

I remember playing a game once where I could control NAZIS and kill both Americans and Europeans!

Really? I might of missed them.

[sovereignstar]

I'm sure the functionality and graphics is the same ... but it's the thought that counts.

Technolog - EA dumps Taliban player mode from "Medal of Honor" (http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/01/5214301-ea-dumps-taliban-player-mode-from-medal-of-honor)

What a crock of shit. Seriously.

*goes off to download 3rd-party mod that undoes the changes*