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CR6
Administrator
Canada
2187 Posts |
 Posted - 07/10/2002 : 02:25:33 AM
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In response to Novologic's announcement that they are creating a game based on the events depicted in the Black Hawk Down book/movie, SimHQ has published an excellent article discussing the ethics behind such a project. I think it is a must-read if you are a fan of military sims. Here's a quote:Many of us find ourselves also wondering: "What if the producer is just using the name Black Hawk Down to make an easy buck?" Then again, what if that producer is earnestly trying to create a simulation that offers folks like us a taste of the challenge that our special forces faced in the dusty streets of Mogadishu? And is it right to offer that exposure at all, and if so, to what extent do we model the brutality of those events? Editorial
Of course many military sims (including the R6 series) are based on historical events. However, I share the author's concern about how this Black Hawk Down project will turn out given Novologic's past history with its Delta Force series, which is generally regarded as relatively unrealistic and a "arcade-style" game.
It is interesting to note that looking at the history of Red Storm's products, RSE intentionally avoids recreating current/past events (as confirmed by a comment made by Joe Sauder, RSE Engineer in GR.com's forum) but instead projects future scenarios based on historical events, which is arguably a better approach. (The exception is Black Thorn, but that was a project that Ubi Soft initiated, and it had to face a similar ethical issue post-Sept 11.) |
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snicker
Administrator
USA
2434 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2002 : 09:44:49 AM
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What about all of the WW2 themed games out there? Do you have concern about them as well? I don't see issues with creating media (whether it be a game or a movie) using themes that come from the real world.
In my opinion it does no disrespect to the soldiers that fought in Mogadishu by creating a computer game that lets players experience the events themselves. I see it as no different than watching the movie Black Hawk Down. After watching the movie I was left with nothing but upmost respect for the soldiers involved in that operation and for our country in general. The same feeling would come as I experience an interactive version of the same event.
The only problems that are going to arise are from disrespectful people. Those people are going to be direspectful whether you create a game or movie on a theme or not. The root problem is those people and not the media that gives those people something to be disrespectful about. You can't shy away from real life because there are messed up people that could be disrespectful with your creation. If the world let the messed up people control us like that we would be in a sad state.
The bottom line is that a computer game putting you as a soldier in the events found in the BHD environment is a tool in which further respect for soldiers can be found. Delta Force is hardly an "arcade-style" game and anyone that thinks that hasn't spent much time experiencing what all the game features. If it was nothing but an arcade game military operations wouldn't be licensing the game to do training with it. The fact is that it can be used as a squad training tool. Yes, it has pros/cons just like any other game but the above generalizations are inaccurate in my opinion.
Of course, my perspective comes as someone who hasn't served in our military and hasn't experience real combat. Had I have experienced those things my opinion could be totally different, I am not sure. Regardless, I am a gamer that could garner further respect for our forces through this game.
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Aaron "Snicker" Benzick
Editor-in-Chief
3d Retreat |
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CR6
Administrator
Canada
2187 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2002 : 02:00:18 AM
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Yo Snick, great reply! I totally agree with you that problems will arise if these historical scenarios are treated with disrespect.
I do not have problems with WW2-themed games like Medal of Honor etc. because they treat the subject matter respectfully and do not glorify war. Some realism fans may complain that they left out blood, but I think that was a wise decision on their part considering the wider audience this game will reach.
I do admit I was curious how Ridley Scott was going to portray the book in the Black Hawk Down movie, but I think he pulled it off well. I am defintely rooting for Novalogic to do just as good a job with the game.
For the record, I only played the demo versions of Delta Force 2 and Delta Force Land Warrior. IMHO, I thought DF2 was decent (especially the sniping and multiplayer), but DF:LW was definitely more arcade-like. And especially coming from a background playing the R6 series, many could argue games like Counter-Strike would fit the "arcade" description too, but this may be fodder for a whole new discussion ...
In any case, I'd like to highlight a quote from the last part of the article here (thanks Ian!) since some readers may not have got that far ;-)
"Personally I am a big fan of historically-based simulation titles. I
think they can educate as well as entertain, if they are crafted with
quality research, care and respect of those they are attempting to
emulate. They are borne of a new technology that, like motion pictures
before them, hold the potential to augment and add depth to what we
learn from history books."
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Ethics in Modern Sims
