“US attacks Iran” (the game)

Rob Updegrove (GHoosdum) A new computer game by developer Kuma Reality Games is creating a storm of political controversy over its content.

October 25, 2005 9:23 AM ET in News,

Reuters reports that “US attacks Iran,” a new computer game by developer Kuma Reality Games, is creating a storm of political controversy over its content.

The game’s trailer plays pounding music and starkly asks: “Diplomacy has failed … Is nothing to be done?”. U.S. troops then strafe a car, leap out of helicopters and prowl around menacingly before blowing things up.

Www.persianpetition.com, a forum for Persian speakers in Iran and abroad, posted a notice asking Kuma to withdraw the game on October 12. Since then it has got more than 5,000 signatures.

“We must make the Americans understand that Iran is different from Iraq and Afghanistan, where they just did what they wanted,” the petition read.

Source: Reuters

13 Comments:

  1. Private_Snoball
    25 Oct '05, 2:08 pm

    This is stupid, it's fiction, who cares? Red Alert consists of the Russia attacking the U.S.A during the cold war and attacking NYC. Splinter Cell consists of future covert ops in Russian territories. Get over it people, relax, it's fiction.

  2. Justin
    25 Oct '05, 3:11 pm

    same for JFK reloaded then?

  3. rapture
    25 Oct '05, 5:50 pm

    JFK reloaded wasnt much of a game...

  4. Private_Snoball
    25 Oct '05, 7:11 pm

    JFK wasn't based on events that haven't taken place, it was based on the real assassination of a real president. Different story, next?

  5. Enverex
    25 Oct '05, 8:20 pm
    Quoting Private_Snoball

    JFK wasn't based on events that haven't taken place, it was based on the real assassination of a real president. Different story, next?

    Rainbow Six?
    Operation Flashpoint?

  6. profdlp
    25 Oct '05, 8:54 pm
    Quoting Enverex

    Rainbow Six?
    Operation Flashpoint?

    Wow! The events in those games really happened?

  7. Enverex
    25 Oct '05, 9:34 pm
    Quoting profdlp

    Wow! The events in those games really happened?

    No, and that was the point. Read his post.

    Quoting Private_Snoball

    JFK wasn't based on events that haven't taken place, it was based on the real assassination of a real president. Different story, next?

    He said the game JFK wasn't comparable because it DID take place, ergo I quoted games based on fictional wars/incursions.

  8. profdlp
    25 Oct '05, 9:46 pm
    He said the game JFK wasn't comparable because it DID take place, ergo I quoted games based on fictional wars/incursions.

    Sorry. It seemed to me that your comment was made as a rebuttal, not as reinforcing his point.

  9. tcith
    26 Oct '05, 5:05 am

    I know we normally shy away from politics etc but I do find the website for the company a little disturbing.

    It does seem more like a political site than a game compay

    http://www.kumawar.com/

  10. CyrixInstead
    26 Oct '05, 11:49 am

    From that website tcith it says:

    Kuma\War is a free online war game that uses cutting-edge game technology to accurately reconstruct real-war events from the news. Kuma\War is a first and third-person squad-based war game. It is the first PC video game to bring the tactical FPS (shooter) into the 21st century by modeling missions on actual real-world events. Each month players get new single player and multiplayer games (missions), to reflect unfolding events around the world. Armed with identical weapons in a realistic re-creation of various locations, you'll experience some of fiercest engagements in the most hostile territories in the world. A vast database of intelligence accompanies Kuma\War online games: satellite photos, political context, event details and the weaponry, tactics and forces involved. You'll also get exclusive video news shows and insight from a decorated team of military veterans.

    I'm confused. Private_snowball said it's fiction. Is this the same game? And what of their claim to it being free? Nothings free...

    ~Cyrix

  11. tcith
    26 Oct '05, 1:19 pm
    Quoting CyrixInstead

    From that website tcith it says:

    I'm confused. Private_snowball said it's fiction. Is this the same game? And what of their claim to it being free? Nothings free...

    ~Cyrix

    That's what was my impression from the original article too - that it's a fictional game not based on real events - yet the scenarios are based on real events and some of them their content I thought was a bit "disturbing" - I can understand why it would upset certain groups.

    I am not sure what to make of this - is it free as it's a "propaganda" tool? The site certainly does glorify war and praises the US troops in the area as well as provides veterans accounts all of which a very very pro America - like I said I don;t want to bring politics into this but I think the original article is not telling the whole story behind this game site

  12. Gravite2090
    26 Oct '05, 3:39 pm

    All I have to say is the people of Iran have justified paranoia here.

  13. CyrixInstead
    27 Oct '05, 7:59 am

    I agree. I'd sign the petition but I don't understand Arabic

    ~Cyrix

Troll-free since 2003 ®