Konami Pulls Controversial "Six Days in Fallujah" Game

[DoctorFinger]

Konami, in the face of mounting criticism, has canceled the upcoming Six Days in Fallujah title.

The Atomic Games-developed FPS would document the 2004 battle for Fallujah in Iraq. The US Marine Corps called the operation some of the fiercest urban combat in decades. The announcement of the game earlier this month generated some controversy. That controversy came to a head today when Konami put the project on hold.

"After seeing the reaction to the videogame in the United States and hearing opinions sent through phone calls and e-mail, we decided several days ago not to sell it," a public relations official of Konami said. "We had intended to convey the reality of the battles to players so that they could feel what it was like to be there."

Some Marines who participated in the battle praised the game as a realistic account of the battle. Other Marines thought it was an inappropriate subject for a game this soon after the battle. Atomic did consult with a number of Marines in making the game, and they had promised a faithful re-creation of the battle. No word on what is next for Atomic Games. Rather than just throw the whole game on the scrap heap, they could try and repackage the game as a more generically set FPS, taking the assets out of the Fallujah milieu to avoid controversy.

Source - Asahi, via Geoff Keighley.

[LordDon]

Games can't be another way to experience something, like reading an account from a marine present, or watching a newscast? It HAS to be considered entertainment and the calls of "too soon" have to come out?

Fuck that.

[Sl1pstream]

Originally Posted by LordDon

and the calls of "too soon" have to come out?

You stole my post, asshole.

[thomas]

Lame... .

[menage]

Seriously, we need to get rid of the word game if this medium is ever to into something which can address serious topics and be accepted as such. Game = entertainment/fun. While an interactive product can be something completely different.

We had intended to convey the reality of the battles to players so that they could feel what it was like to be there.

This says it all really, would you being there be a game to you? Not that this wasn't going to be a game mind you. Which is probably mistake nr 1.

[TrackZero]

Too soon?


Apparently, yes.

[KamaItachi]

So games can't in any way touch on difficut or serious contexts or themes? How quickly did we see tv and movies capitalize in on the conflict?

Pretty damn quickly, if memory serves.

[Food Nipple]

Originally Posted by KamaItachi

So games can't in any way touch on difficut or serious contexts or themes? How quickly did we see tv and movies capitalize in on the conflict?

Pretty damn quickly, if memory serves.

I've yet to see a game deal with this subject matter successfully, and by all accounts this game wasn't going to be the one to do it right. This wasn't going to be Saving Private Ryan, this was another reskinned Rambo. You can't tell me you're trying to make me feel like I'm really there and give me regenerating health.

And I don't know what movies or tv shows you're referencing, maybe I'm out of the loop, but I can't think of any example in other media set during the Iraq war, aside from a made-for-tv movie about Jessica Lynch.

[Crowe]

Originally Posted by Food Nipple

I've yet to see a game deal with this subject matter successfully, and by all accounts this game wasn't going to be the one to do it right. This wasn't going to be Saving Private Ryan, this was another reskinned Rambo. You can't tell me you're trying to make me feel like I'm really there and give me regenerating health.

And I don't know what movies or tv shows you're referencing, maybe I'm out of the loop, but I can't think of any example in other media set during the Iraq war, aside from a made-for-tv movie about Jessica Lynch.

Things like regenerating health and some unrealistic damage have never been a factor for me personally. I usually look at the setting and the situation and then think about how fucked up it must have been to have people like that shooting at you, being one stray or accurate bullet away from death.

Now if they had bullet time or slow mo thats a different story. If the developers of this particular game where able to at least get the setting and the situations done well, it certainly would have been enough for me.

[Food Nipple]

Originally Posted by Crowe

Things like regenerating health and some unrealistic damage have never been a factor for me personally. I usually look at the setting and the situation and then think about how fucked up it must have been to have people like that shooting at you, being one stray or accurate bullet away from death.

The farther you go back in time, the more poetic license you get. When you're dealing with a war we're still currently fighting, that tolerance, in my opinion, is almost zero. As soon as you start altering reality in favor of making a more traditional video game, you're sacrificing your integrity. If you're changing reality to make your game more like a generic shooter, then you obviously don't need to set it in Iraq.

[Crowe]

Originally Posted by Food Nipple

The farther you go back in time, the more poetic license you get. When you're dealing with a war we're still currently fighting, that tolerance, in my opinion, is almost zero. As soon as you start altering reality in favor of making a more traditional video game, you're sacrificing your integrity. If you're changing reality to make your game more like a generic shooter, then you obviously don't need to set it in Iraq.

Despite Australia having troops fighting in the current war I'm sure that the atmosphere in America is so much more intense. I guess this is one reason why I would welcome such a game.

Originally Posted by Johan

Also, to say a game can convey the reality of battle is to betray one's ignorance.

Nothing except battle itself could convey the reality of battle

[J Arcane]

Originally Posted by Food Nipple

I've yet to see a game deal with this subject matter successfully, and by all accounts this game wasn't going to be the one to do it right. This wasn't going to be Saving Private Ryan, this was another reskinned Rambo. You can't tell me you're trying to make me feel like I'm really there and give me regenerating health.

And I don't know what movies or tv shows you're referencing, maybe I'm out of the loop, but I can't think of any example in other media set during the Iraq war, aside from a made-for-tv movie about Jessica Lynch.

Generation Kill.

A rather fantastic HBO miniseries, based on the book about the real life account of an embedded reporter following along with the recon Marines during the invasion of Iraq.

Brilliant piece of film that, and everyone should see it.

[Dr. Quasius]

Originally Posted by J Arcane

Generation Kill.

A rather fantastic HBO miniseries, based on the book about the real life account of an embedded reporter following along with the recon Marines during the invasion of Iraq.

Brilliant piece of film that, and everyone should see it.

Over There, which ran for a season on FX is another.

[roboninja]

Originally Posted by J Arcane

Generation Kill.

A rather fantastic HBO miniseries, based on the book about the real life account of an embedded reporter following along with the recon Marines during the invasion of Iraq.

Brilliant piece of film that, and everyone should see it.

I was going to mention the same thing. If you need another reason to see it, it is created by the same people as The Wire, the best TV show ever made.

I understand the whole "games as art" is a touchy subject around here, but the very reason this game was shelved is that video games cannot handle this type of subject matter the way good cinema or literature does. Those take you on a journey; video games give you keys to the car. I absolutely love gaming, and will never stop, but I do not think this medium is as expressive as others.

[J Arcane]

Originally Posted by roboninja

I was going to mention the same thing. If you need another reason to see it, it is created by the same people as The Wire, the best TV show ever made.

I understand the whole "games as art" is a touchy subject around here, but the very reason this game was shelved is that video games cannot handle this type of subject matter the way good cinema or literature does. Those take you on a journey; video games give you keys to the car. I absolutely love gaming, and will never stop, but I do not think this medium is as expressive as others.

Interesting bit of side-trivia about that show, the guy who played "Fruity Rudy" in the show was in fact the real Rudy, who also served as a military adviser on the production.

[DoctorFinger]

For the record, this is lame. Unless the game itself was really disrespectful (which none of the previews led you to believe it was) they should have let it continue. Konami had the guts to start development of the game, they should have had the guts to allow it to finish.

[bapenguin]

It'll get picked up by another publisher.

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by bapenguin

It'll get picked up by another publisher.

Would it? Can it? I think it's more likely that they'll rejigger the game into a generic desert combat FPS.

[Crowe]

So lame. All the pressure no doubt came from people who do not play video games.

[Telefrog]

Originally Posted by Crowe

So lame. All the pressure no doubt came from people who do not play video games.

I play video games. I'm a veteran. I thought it was inappropriate.