You may have heard of it before: the controversial “Iraq” game by Konami. Unlike Call of Duty 4, this Modern Combat game takes place in a contemporary war based firmly in reality – a real battle, that really happened, relatively recently. Much like Sony’s long since canceled “shock and awe” project, “Six Days in Fallujah” rides a wave of controversy, bringing us to the age old question: How soon is too soon? Countless games about World War II have acclimated us to the idea of reliving famous wars from the comfort of our couch, but “Six Days” breaks new ground by focusing on contemporary military action.
The hook? “Six Days” is designed as a “documentary video game,” aiming to draw the player into a interactive re-telling of the battle from the perspective of a small group of real-marines who lent their experiences to the project. There has been outcry from social groups and concern former soldiers, the reality of the real War is still present, haunting for some. “Will this game recreate what I felt watching one of my close friends die less than 10 feet away from me? Will this game recreate my experience of being shot at by children?” asks Iraq War Veteran Dan Rosenthal, “Will this game recreate the positive experiences of Iraq, the endless hours spent with community leaders to rebuild schools and hospitals?”
It’s easy to see why this title is attracting controversy, but if it’s okay to make games about War, should there be qualifiers as to which wars are okay and which aren’t? In 2004 German and Japanese gamers seemed more than happy to gun down their forefathers, Rabbi’s are now telling us how WWII games help them get over their fear of Nazis – with all of the “good” and “bad,” who’s to say what’s “okay” in a war game? Virtues and Evil of war and war video games, “Six Days in Fallujah” is happening, and it’ll be out next year. Hit the jump and check out Konami’s Press Release
April 14, 2009
Media Alert
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.KONAMI ANNOUNCES SIX DAYS IN FALLUJAH FOR THE XBOX 360®, PLAYSTATION®3 AND WINDOWS PCThird-Person Action Shooter – Based on Fiercest Urban Battle of The War in Iraq
Uses Real Footage, US Marines Who Fought in the Battle and Real Missions
Features Co-op and Online Multiplayer Modes
El Segundo, Calif. – April 14, 2009 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., announced today that Six Days in Fallujah is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. Developed by Atomic Games, Six Days in Fallujah is a new third person shooter experience that puts the player in the center of the largest urban military operation in four decades. Six Days in Fallujah combines the action of a military shooter with the realism of a documentary film to create a new kind of experience that is both historical and engaging. Partnering with over three dozen US Marines to help develop the game along with unprecedented access to battle plans, after action reports, photos, videos and satellite maps makes this game the most authentic military shooter to date. Coupled with missions, objectives and scenarios grounded in factual events, Six Days in Fallujah will create an authentic 3rd person shooter unlike any ever developed.
“Six Days in Fallujah creates a very compelling interactive experience,” said Brian Christian, Vice President of Product Development for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “We are creating a 3rd person shooter unlike any other by combining a brand new game engine, authentic weaponry, missions and combat set against the gripping story of the US Marines on the ground.”
Six Days in Fallujah lets players experience the historic battle of Fallujah as a US Marine fire-team leader and places them in the heat of the action against the insurgency. Players are able to physically shape the battlefield just as US Marines did during the battle in Fallujah. Create new lines of attack by kicking in doors, blowing up walls, eliminating enemy cover and destroying the environment around them. To make the battle even more authentic, heavy emphasis has been put into the environments using real world satellite maps, weapons from US Marines and vehicles used in the conflict to fully immerse players in this epic confrontation and experience what it was like to be a Marine on the ground. In addition, Six Days in Fallujah will include multiplayer functionality – allowing players to team up with other fire team members in co-op and online modes.
Six Days in Fallujah is scheduled to be released in 2010 on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 system and Windows PC.
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Whenever I play a WWII game a la Call of Duty 1-3 I don't think twice about shooting Nazis.
I think people are alright with playing war games based on WWII because it's so long ago that we get disconnnected with the severity of the events. We especially lose sight of the fact that real people were affected. At the time it could have been our fathers, uncles etc. Now, it's our Grandfathers or great grandfathers that fought in the war. So there is a generational disconnect there as well.
It seems so obvious a thing to say that "real" people fought in the war, but since it took place so long ago we've also elevated the soldiers to a hero status (and rightly so for defeating that mustachioed midget...no, not Mario...you know the one I mean). Because we've elevated them to a hero status we lose sight that these heroes have family who were affected as well.
Since the war in Iraq is still very much on going and we know people who are in the armed forces and are directly affected by it, I can definitely see how people can get offended. And to make it worse, the documentary style will make it seem even more personal. How soon is too soon? Not sure. But we will more than likely have to wait a generation or two until more games like this are released. Of course, I could be wrong. This kind of war game could make a killing and it'll be the next brain training software...
Personally, I'm not sure how much of a problem I would have playing this game. I definitely feel a bit of discomfort, but I won't be able to tell if it's enough to greatly upset me until I play the game.
Good thing for Konami? This is going to work wonders for the game's advertising.