Should Konami's Fallujah Game Be 'Fun'?
Plus: insurgents consulted for Iraq war recreation
Konami's recently announced Six Days in Fallujah, which recreates the events of the real-life battle in the Iraq war, raises a number of questions, with one of the top points of contention being whether the game can (or should) be fun. According the game's creators, it will be for some.
Speaking in an interview, the game's creative director, Juan Benito, said, "...there will be a broad range of reactions and opinions on the experience itself. And for some, they may have fun. They may enjoy it. We are recreating and presenting these events and people, I think, will have their own individual reactions to it and those will be across the board.
"And that's what we want. We want people to experience something that's going to challenge them, that's going to make them think and provide an unprecedented level of insight into a great military significance."
That's a controversial stance. The question that will hang in the air for many is whether a game based on such a raw and recent battle should be 'fun'. The argument that "...people, I think, will have their own individual reactions to it and those will be across the board" appears to be one that enables developers and publishers to exclude themselves from any real discussion of the contents of what is a product. Stating the blindingly obvious, "everybody will have their own reaction", is merely a way of saying nothing.
As well as having consulted marines on the project, the title's developer, Atomic Games, says it has spoken to both Iraqis and insurgents. Atomic Games' president, Peter Tamte, said of the insurgent contribution, "I think all of us are curious to know why they were there. The insurgents [came from] different countries.
"And I think we're all kind of curious about you know - they went there knowing that they were going to die, many of them knew that they were going to die, and they went there to die. And I think that that's a perspective that we should all understand."
Intriguing stuff...
You can find more about Six Days in Fallujah in SPOnG's earlier coverage.
Source: Joystiq
Speaking in an interview, the game's creative director, Juan Benito, said, "...there will be a broad range of reactions and opinions on the experience itself. And for some, they may have fun. They may enjoy it. We are recreating and presenting these events and people, I think, will have their own individual reactions to it and those will be across the board.
"And that's what we want. We want people to experience something that's going to challenge them, that's going to make them think and provide an unprecedented level of insight into a great military significance."
That's a controversial stance. The question that will hang in the air for many is whether a game based on such a raw and recent battle should be 'fun'. The argument that "...people, I think, will have their own individual reactions to it and those will be across the board" appears to be one that enables developers and publishers to exclude themselves from any real discussion of the contents of what is a product. Stating the blindingly obvious, "everybody will have their own reaction", is merely a way of saying nothing.
As well as having consulted marines on the project, the title's developer, Atomic Games, says it has spoken to both Iraqis and insurgents. Atomic Games' president, Peter Tamte, said of the insurgent contribution, "I think all of us are curious to know why they were there. The insurgents [came from] different countries.
"And I think we're all kind of curious about you know - they went there knowing that they were going to die, many of them knew that they were going to die, and they went there to die. And I think that that's a perspective that we should all understand."
Intriguing stuff...
You can find more about Six Days in Fallujah in SPOnG's earlier coverage.
Source: Joystiq
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Comments
Joji 15 Apr 2009 02:13
1/4
I say, yes.
There's nothing wrong with enjoyable entertainment, with a message. Even He-Man on tv used to do this back in the day, post baddie bashing. If Bioshock and Valkyria (the current best examples) are good games, with important messages or themes covered in them, that's always better for games and gamers. Its always better to raise a subject, than not.
This game has potential to tip the industry on its head, in terms of what many fear to do. I'm sure many will eat their words, once the game is out.
There's nothing wrong with enjoyable entertainment, with a message. Even He-Man on tv used to do this back in the day, post baddie bashing. If Bioshock and Valkyria (the current best examples) are good games, with important messages or themes covered in them, that's always better for games and gamers. Its always better to raise a subject, than not.
This game has potential to tip the industry on its head, in terms of what many fear to do. I'm sure many will eat their words, once the game is out.
OptimusP 15 Apr 2009 10:02
2/4
Joji wrote:
This game has potential to tip the industry on its head, in terms of what many fear to do. I'm sure many will eat their words, once the game is out.
Actually, no it doesn't...those kind of games allready came out. Stuff like Age of Empires and Total War (Crusades ransancking Constantinopel, killing hostages and stuff or choosing exterminating when capturing towns in Rome Total War) made the first steps into this.
This incident actually says a lot more of the idiotic American centered gaming press situation then games having any kind of history writing impact. You have problems looking at stuff in a big picture don't you?
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Joji 15 Apr 2009 12:26
3/4
Can't speak for those PC games, and Six Days is a console game. You have no chance of ties to them.
I think you need to check yourself, because from what I hear, you may be able to play as both side in the game, both giving their own views and experiences in the game.
Don't know where you got that from, Optimus, as it seems you assume a lot about my train of thought on this. I have no problem looking at the big picture. My view of the big picture is that books, films and tv have all covered this stuff, while being fun and enjoyable. Games are no different and are at a point where they can handle such subject effectively.
Will I have fun with this game? Sure, I will, but I'll also learn of some experiences I never knew of, and insight of what goes on in war. And yes, I also watched Over There tv series, learned and enjoyed that too. I'm not some cold hearted bastard, but getting to the cold hard truth of things is a good move.
I think you need to check yourself, because from what I hear, you may be able to play as both side in the game, both giving their own views and experiences in the game.
Don't know where you got that from, Optimus, as it seems you assume a lot about my train of thought on this. I have no problem looking at the big picture. My view of the big picture is that books, films and tv have all covered this stuff, while being fun and enjoyable. Games are no different and are at a point where they can handle such subject effectively.
Will I have fun with this game? Sure, I will, but I'll also learn of some experiences I never knew of, and insight of what goes on in war. And yes, I also watched Over There tv series, learned and enjoyed that too. I'm not some cold hearted bastard, but getting to the cold hard truth of things is a good move.
OptimusP 15 Apr 2009 16:24
4/4
Joji wrote:
Can't speak for those PC games, and Six Days is a console game. You have no chance of ties to them.
Yes and? They're all games right? You can't really say that a game will tip the entire industry on its head because it uses a historical setting (and thank god they allow you to play both sides...last thing we need is some Yank patriotisme bullocks all over the place) while so many games have allready did that, and even giving players the option to do the really really bad sides of it, just because the game is getting some peoples panties in a twist.
This is by most a step in the right direction for games, not some head tipover moment.That's just the big picture i'm talking about. And if it's fun, i'm right there with you on the thumbs up stand.
Yaaaay Fun!