November 07, 2003
War Games
From Henry Jenkins' Technology Review Blog:
Early next year, Kuma Reality Games plans to launch a service that will allow players to re-enact contemporary news events. Kuma's first product—centered on the war in Iraq—will brief players with information derived from real-world news reporting, and then allow them to play out missions based on actual troop deployments. On its Web site, Kuma claims that the new game "presents our soldiers' acts of patriotism and bravery as never before possible.” And then, the kicker: “In a world being torn apart by international conflict, one thing is on everyone’s mind as they finish watching the nightly news: 'Man, this would make a great game.'”
Comments
this is frightening. And if our society wasn't belligerent enough as is...Maybe they could do some other, more retro scenarios, like: "The Invasion of Laos" or "The Tet Offensive. " Or if they wanted to bring it back to the last 10 years or so, they could have a mission where your goal is to provide weapons and training to Osama Bin Laden to help him fight the Soviets.
Posted by: William Carter at November 7, 2003 10:42 AM
Can we also play: "400 pound tiger kept in housing development in the Bronx" or "19 year old NJ boy in foster care starved to 49 lbs by family who received $30,000 a year in grants." Maybe "Arson in California" would make a great game.
Posted by: pw at November 7, 2003 02:31 PM
Like the Roman Empire before us, we will fall.
This game makes me nauseous, however, did anybody else play 1942? Simulated violence is a complicated issue...
Posted by: Brad at November 9, 2003 08:44 PM
