Veterans angry at XBox game

[John A Silkstone]

Xbox game based on Iraq conflict battle angers veterans

A video game based on one of the bloodiest battles during the Iraq conflict has been branded 'crass and insensitive' by those affected by the fighting.

Six Days In Fallujah, published by Japanese games giant Konami, is described as a 'survival horror' title for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.

Developed in collaboration with a handful of Iraq veteran US Marines - who have lent their videos, photos and diaries to the designers - the controversial action game is due for release next year.

Tim Collins OBE, a former colonel of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment whose inspirational eve-of-battle speech made history in 2003, was appalled by the game's setting.

He said: "It's much too soon to start making video games about a war that's still going on, and an extremely flippant response to one of the most important events in modern history.

"It's particularly insensitive given what happened in Fallujah, and I will certainly oppose the release of this game."

Reg Keys, whose son Thomas was a Red Cap killed by an Iraqi mob in June 2003, added: "Considering the enormous loss of life in the Iraq War, glorifying it in a video game demonstrates very poor judgement and bad taste.

"It is particularly crass when you consider what actually happened in Fallujah.

"These horrific events should be confined to the annuls of history, not trivialised and rendered for thrill-seekers to play out, over and over again, for ever more.

"It's entirely possible that Muslim families will buy the game, and for them it may prove particularly harrowing.

"Even worse, it could end up in the hands of a fanatical young Muslim and incite him to consider some form of retaliation or retribution. He could use it to get worked up and want to really 'finish the game'.

"I will be calling for this game to be banned, if not worldwide then certainly in the UK."

Six Days In Fallujah takes inspiration from the Second Battle of Fallujah - also known as Operation Phantom Fury, which took place between November 7 and December 23 2004.

An estimated 1,500 insurgents were killed - reportedly in white phosphorus attacks - along with 38 US troops during the battle.

Six Days In Fallujah is being developed by US-based Atomic Games.

The firm's president Peter Tamte said: "For us, the challenge was how to present the horrors of war in a game that is entertaining, but also gives people insight into a historical situation in a way that only a video game can provide.

"Our goal is to give people that insight, of what it's like to be a Marine during that event, what it's like to be a civilian in the city, and what it's like to be an insurgent."

John Choon, senior brand manager for Six Days In Fallujah at Konami Digital Entertainment, added: "The soldiers wanted to tell their stories through a game because that's what they grew up playing."

In 2003, electronics giant Sony was forced to abandon plans to launch an Iraq War video game called Shock and Awe after attracting a barrage of negative publicity. It later admitted the idea had been 'an exercise of regrettable bad judgement'.

[Bombardier]

I am an Xbox fanatic and would not be happy buying this title, as has been said above it is insensitive and too soon after the event.

Bad taste all round me thinks.

[03Fox2/1]

I agree with Sony, ... an exercise of "regrettable bad judgement ". I believe this endeavor by Xbox to be disdainful of the sacrifice of many brave men, many who paid with their lives and others who still suffer from grievous wounds. It is too soon to allow this reality to become nothing more than a person's entertainment. Besides, we are still in Iraq, people are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan looks more and more foreboding. I'm sure this game is profit driven and I'm sad that a few Marines were willing to compromise their integrity for money, even if they had good intentions.
Semper Fi

[Reloader]

Tim Collins is right in what he says, "It's much too soon to start making video games about a war that's still going on, and an extremely flippant response to one of the most important events in modern history."

Bad, very bad decision by Microsoft and Konami!

[GunBunnyInaMAB]

I can't believe those numbnuts at Microsoft even considered publishing a game based on the sacrifices of American troops in a conflict that is STILL very much alive... Kind of makes you sick to think about an American company making money on the backs of American soldiers who are fighting for the Freedoms we hold so dear; those same Freedoms that allow companies like Microsoft to even exsist!!