Konami drops 'Six Days in Fallujah' after heavy criticism

[Blablurn]

Konami Digital Entertainment Co. has decided to pull a videogame that realistically reproduces the bloody street battles between U.S. forces and terrorists and insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. "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." "Six Days in Fallujah," developed by U.S. company Atomic Games, was showcased earlier this month at an event in the United States for magazines specializing in the videogame industry. Konami had planned to put the game on sale in or after 2010. However, bereaved families of soldiers, retired troops and citizens' groups in the United States and Europe criticized the game as in poor taste and insensitive. The fighting in Fallujah in November 2004 was among the most intense after the U.S.-led war against Iraq's regular forces ended in 2003. More than 2,000 people, including many citizens, were killed in the street battles over several weeks. In "Six Days in Fallujah," gamers play the roles of U.S. Marines deployed on the streets to wipe out the enemy. In some situations, the players must decide whether to shoot unarmed people. Jamin Brophy-Warren, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal and a specialist on videogames, reported that about 40 U.S. soldiers who saw action in Fallujah helped in the production of the videogame by, for example, offering their diaries and journals to Atomic Games. The times of the battles, the locations of troops and other details in the game are extremely close to what had actually happened in Fallujah, Brophy-Warren reported. The reporter also said several thousand photos, including satellite images classified by the U.S. military, were used in the production of "Six Days in Fallujah." "We think Atomic Games used a network (to produce the game)," the Konami official said. "But we don't know the connection (between the company and U.S. military forces)."(IHT/Asahi: April 27,2009) http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...904270177.html

.

[a Master Ninja]

Probably for the best. All the early impressions suggested the game did not match the lofty ambitions mentioned in the PR (ie: it was just another shooter).

[shibbs]

Too bad, I liked the idea.

[SolidSnakex]

Hopefully someone else will pick it up.

[ThatCrazyGuy]

Sucks, I wanted to play it. Hope somebody else picks it up.

[Hesemonni]

Where am I supposed to blow up mosques now?!

[Visualante]

Coming soon: Tom Clancy's Six Day's in Fallujah

[GrayFoxPL]

Too bad, I liked the idea.

Me too.

I don't believe they would treat the subject in shallow manner.

[Alx]

Probably for the best.

Probably. But why wasn't there any outcry against all the previous war games taking place in the Middle East ? I suppose that if Konami had named it "xxxx of War : Modern Conflict", it would still be on schedule. :/

[Gbeav]

Don't tase me bro RPG next.

[EatChildren]

So, when is this mystical cut-off point when subject matter goes from tasteless to entertainment?

[lowrider007]

I guess video games will stay being video games for a while longer, shame really.

[ChryZ]

I'm glad it's gone.

[sankt-Antonio]

wait? nobody had a problem with wwII shooters or vietnam or any other war but they bitch about this? ... bah

[Hazaro]

Maybe it will teach kids about Iraq just like games did with WWII.

Someone else will probably pick it up though. Good to see real support from some troops.
Hopefully the game has some tact.

[Mamesj]

I was excited to see how it turned out, if they could humanize everyone involved and inform the player, but if it was just another not-so-subtle army propaganda game, it would be pretty fucked up.

[BishopLamont]

wait? nobody had a problem with wwII shooters or vietnam or any other war but they bitch about this? ... bah

Tell me about it, I can't believe they gave the greenlight on this game, just to pull it once shit hits the fan, when they know full well beforehand that some people would complain.

[Revelations]

wait? nobody had a problem with wwII shooters or vietnam or any other war but they bitch about this? ... bah

...maybe too soon?

[CiSTM]

:(

I wanted this game.

[Mamesj]

wait? nobody had a problem with wwII shooters or vietnam or any other war but they bitch about this? ... bah

not sure where to begin, crossing fingers that it's a joke post...

[idahoblue]

...maybe too soon?

Maybe, but I reckon if it was 'Generic kill all the dark skinned terrorists in the middle east game #48' there would have been no problem with it at all.

[Anony]

christ, people are so fucken contradictory
there are a million ww1, ww2, ______ war game out there already
spoilers: more people died in ww1 and ww2, those games should be more offensive right

[GrayFoxPL]

Maybe it will teach kids about Iraq just like games did with WWII. Someone else will probably pick it up though. Good to see real support from some troops. Hopefully the game has some tact.

But if someone else picks it up then it's likely that it'll be reworked so much it won't resemble the same game anymore.

UBI: Gunz.

[Revelations]

Maybe, but I reckon if it was 'Generic kill all the dark skinned terrorists in the middle east game #48' there would have been no problem with it at all.

...WWII games and Vietnam games have about a 50 to 60 year gap from today. The Iraqi War is only 4 to 5 years old. Give it some time its still fresh in the minds of Americans. You'd think the developers and Konami would have known this.

[Gbeav]

Tell me about it, I can't believe they gave the greenlight on this game, just to pull it once shit hits the fan, when they know full well beforehand that some people would complain.

Too early, people for some reason think once time passes all is good.

1) WW2 sunken ship with dead sailors inside - Taboo so you shall never enter it.
2) Find a mummy in Egypt - dig that fucker up and any relatives you can find. Take apart bones and put dead person on display. Take him to Vegas!

[kpop100]

Either way you'll get to play this in another 10 years or so when it's called "Call of Duty 20 Iraq Wars" or "Battlefield 2004" , and is more accepted by then.

[Tkawsome]

wait? nobody had a problem with wwII shooters or vietnam or any other war but they bitch about this? ... bah

I can't think of any WWII game that has you playing as the enemy, I think that's what caused most of the outcry for this game. Personally I think it had great potential, but if it was going to end up being "just another shooter" it's probably for the best.

Edit: This is the game that has you playing as a Marine, a civilian, and an insurgent. Right? I didn't see it mentioned in this article.

[CiSTM]

Too early, people for some reason think once time passes all is good.

Yeah, I really don't understand why it's okay to make movies and books about the events of Fallujah but it is totally uncool to make game about it.

[GrayFoxPL]

Either way you'll get to play this in another 10 years or so when it's called "Call of Duty 20 Iraq Wars" or "Battlefield 2004" , and is more accepted by then.

*Checks news

We won't live that long.

[Dead Man Typing]

Tell me about it, I can't believe they gave the greenlight on this game, just to pull it once shit hits the fan, when they know full well beforehand that some people would complain.

Yeah, I don't understand greenlighting a game like this, and then running at the first sign of trouble. I don't know whether the game would have been a good idea or a terrible idea, but I was looking forward to finding out.

Maybe someone else with a reputation for edgy games will pick it up. "Rockstar's Six Days in Fallujah"

[VALIS]

And video games get left in the toychest again.

Maybe, but I reckon if it was 'Generic kill all the dark skinned terrorists in the middle east game #48' there would have been no problem with it at all.

Care to list the first 47?

[Count Dookkake]

Aeschylus had a similar problem in 472 BCE.

[C- Warrior]

...WWII games and Vietnam games have about a 50 to 60 year gap from today. The Iraqi War is only 4 to 5 years old. Give it some time its still fresh in the minds of Americans. You'd think the developers and Konami would have known this.

It sure doesn't stop Hollywood -- they made that 9/11 movie pretty damn quick $$$$$$

The fact of the matter is the movie industry has more balls than the game industry, that's why the game industry is fucked with used game sales, rentals, politicians, censorship etc. etc.

[sentry65]

Either way you'll get to play this in another 10 years or so when it's called "Call of Duty 20 Iraq Wars" or "Battlefield 2004" , and is more accepted by then.

+1

people are all for the most realistic and gruesome war games out there....

what honor are we protecting with the soldiers who died there if we just go on making WWII games that still have people alive who were there?

pff, look at Blackhawk Down and how quick that came out

[idahoblue]

...WWII games and Vietnam games have about a 50 to 60 year gap from today. The Iraqi War is only 4 to 5 years old. Give it some time its still fresh in the minds of Americans. You'd think the developers and Konami would have known this.

All I'm saying is that if it was exactly the same game, but set in a generic middle east location, I doubt you would have heard any outcry at all. I do think it's a case of a double standard, but hey, it probably would have been an average game anyway.

[Gbeav]

Yeah, I really don't understand why it's okay to make movies and books about the events of Fallujah but it is totally uncool to make game about it.

This is why


hypocrite

1. a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
2. a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, esp. one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

[idahoblue]

And video games get left in the toychest again. Care to list the first 47?

No. Hyperbole means not having to list the first 47!

[Tkawsome]

Yeah, I really don't understand why it's okay to make movies and books about the events of Fallujah but it is totally uncool to make game about it.

I think you answered your own question.

[Haeleos]

"We had intended to convey the reality of the battles to players so that they could feel what it was like to be there. So here we have this giant enemy crab..."

After the reports that came out from it's initial showing, they did very little to support that they were going to treat the material with respect.

[ntropy]

Aeschylus had a similar problem in 472 BCE.

Please elaborate.

[Swifty]

I don't recall FX or HBO getting this much controversy when they were airing Over There and Generation Kill.

[WinFonda]

Yeah, I think they probably dropped this for other reasons.

Either concerns for sales performance or for quality related reasons.

[Mar_]

Hmm.. I highly doubt Konami is dumping this because of the complaints. The way it was promoted certainly made it seem like a sure fire hit.

I have a feeling the game was absolute garbage and they got out while the gettin' was good.

[Revelations]

It sure doesn't stop Hollywood -- they made that 9/11 movie pretty damn quick $$$$$$ The fact of the matter is the movie industry has more balls than the game industry, that's why the game industry is fucked with used game sales, rentals, politicians, censorship etc. etc.

I dont think those two are releated. 9/11 was a national tragedy. Iraq War was a tour of duty I believe (contrary to political social circles).

[Sword Familiar]

They dropped it to focus on ZOE3. I WISH!

[SapientWolf]

Hmm.. I highly doubt Konami is dumping this because of the complaints. The way it was promoted certainly made it seem like a sure fire hit. I have a feeling the game was absolute garbage and they got out while the gettin' was good.

Hopefully. Canceling it due to controversy seems kind of cowardly, especially considering all the heavy handed anti-war proselytizing in the Metal Gear Solid series.

[Ledsen]

After listening to Idle Thumbs talk about the game, I'm really glad they dropped it.

[Zedsdeadbaby]

...WWII games and Vietnam games have about a 50 to 60 year gap from today. The Iraqi War is only 4 to 5 years old. Give it some time its still fresh in the minds of Americans. You'd think the developers and Konami would have known this.

You missed the small bit where the Iraq war is still ongoing.

[Rez]

I blame (thank?) Nick Breken!

[Opiate]

There's really no way to treat this with respect and also make a video game.

If it were treating the material with respect, you might kill one enemy combatant in the game. There would be no bosses. No health packs. No restoration shields of any kind. And that's just for starters: the full requirements would go much deeper than this.

To give this "proper respect," instead of just making a game, a la CoD or what have you, would be either painful, boring, or both, to most consumers, including those on GAF.

Here's a simple example: if I were to shoot 20 enemy combatants in my career as a real Marine, I would be given every medal under the sun. In "Six Days in Fallujah," that was apparently the first ten minutes of the game.

These people seriously need a reality check. Having seen the early impressions of the game, it's insulting to think these people thought this paid proper homage to the Marines, because if this is what you think is "proper respect," then you have betrayed an utter and complete lack of genuine understanding.