It definitely IS in poor taste if you ask me, especially considering there are real people out there living the experience, and families suffering in the aftermath - but doesn't this also say a little something about society as a whole?
About to join the huge inventory of video games on store shelves is a new fighting game. That in itself isn't overly startling news, it's the fact that this one happens to hit a little too close to home and to the hearts of very real people.
Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay - along with numerous other world leaders - is speaking out against an upcoming video game that allows players to choose to be Taliban fighters who can take out allied forces, including American soldiers.
While it's all virtual and not doing actual physical harm, isn't there something wrong with this concept?
The latest version of the popular game series "Medal of Honor," produced by California-based Electronic Arts Inc., will be released in October, and it's raising hackles across the globe.
Britain's defence secretary, says he's angered and disgusted, and is calling for a public boycott.
MacKay doesn't go that far, but says he finds it "wrong" that anyone, children in particular, would be playing the role of Taliban.
He says Canada and its allies have fought far too long in Afghanistan and it's not a game. Canadian soldiers, allies, aid workers, and innocent Afghans are being shot at and sometimes killed.
Doesn't this video game trivialize these losses?
And this has to be said... people seem to be upset that children and game players have the option of taking on the role of a Taliban fighter and killing Americans, but should there not be the same type of concern if the roles are reversed? There are innocent victims in Afghanistan as well. There are people who have lost loved ones and those who aren't "for" this war also. Are we sending the right message if we tell our youth it's acceptable to be violent, provided we choose the right target? I know we're talking about a game, but really.
There will be no stopping this game from reaching the hands of curious gamers, but as parents, and as individuals free to make our own choices, we can opt not to make this purchase.
