Is it ethical?: Americans are playing HL2 where they are insurgents killing Marines

Thorgrim · 07-23-2007, 12:58 PM

FilePlanet: Half-Life 2 - Insurgency Client Beta v1

You can download the game and the patch, it's not some small project, it was a huge modification to Half Life 2 involving Fileplanet and a rather large team...the concept was from a Canadian veteran from Afghanistan who thought modern shooters were inaccurate so he wanted a 21st century version, he eventually left for another job on amicable terms but the project continued

It is set in 2003-2006 Iraq, where you can play as the Marines or Insurgents, as an insurgent you have the ability to spraypaint a wall with an image, the game giving you the option of an Al-Zarqawi image

Anyway, it is still in Beta, but I've been enjoying it, I prefer the Marine weapons so I generally play Marines

However, the Insurgent team is always full, and whenever I'm placed on there, it's all American college-age or older guys talking about taking objectives...it does get a little interesting as someone with an American Southern accent will shout "yeah i blew up that Marine!"

Is that really proper? While American Marines are fighting and dying in Iraq fighting in Baghdad, Americans are logging onto a game to play the insurgents in Baghdad and kill (virtual) Marines, a question of perhaps "too soon?"

DosEquis · 07-23-2007, 12:59 PM

I can understand the controversy point.. but I put it in the category of 'if you don't like it don't buy it'.

Thorgrim · 07-23-2007, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I can understand the controversy point.. but I put it in the category of 'if you don't like it don't buy it'.

As of now, it's all free

Publius · 07-23-2007, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

As of now, it's all free

So put it in the, "if you don't like it, don't play it" category.

Thorgrim · 07-23-2007, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Publius

So put it in the, "if you don't like it, don't play it" category.

I still thought it was interesting, on the day someone was celebrating that they killed a virtual US Marine in Baghdad, it was July 18th, when:

Sgt. 1st Class Luis E. Gutierrez-Rosales, 38, of Bakersfield, Calif.,
Spc. Zachary R. Clouser, 19, of Dover, Pa.,
Spc. Richard Gilmore III, 22, of Jasper, Ala., and
Spc. Daniel E. Gomez, 21, of Warner Robbins, Ga.

were all killed by small arms fire in Baghdad

Publius · 07-23-2007, 01:28 PM

I think it is in bad taste, certainly. But at the same time it's absolutely the right of the programmers to make that game patch and the right of any person to play it.

motivez · 07-23-2007, 01:33 PM

Definitely in bad taste, I think, but there are plenty of things that are in bad taste in life, and people can avoid that modification if they're incredibly offended.

I mean, you could play Counter-Strike on the Terrorist team on 9/11, 9/12, etc.. and there were plenty of people who did.

I don't think it really means anything to most people, they're not actually thinking to themselves, "Wow, cool, I'm a TERRORIST!" any more than they are thinking "I just killed some Marine, screw you USA" if they're playing on the insurgent team..

There might actually be some people who read into it more than they should, enjoy pissing people off by taking it too far, but in the end it's just a game.

AVengeance · 07-23-2007, 01:49 PM

I don't really think it's in bad taste. In chess, there are white pieces and black pieces. I don't feel like a racist when I'm the white side. In more realistic combat games, there are sides to choose. Those sides will have various weapons and tactics and uniforms to choose from. Doesn't it makes sense to learn all sides of a combat arena? Why play only the side that diffuses the bomb- why not play the side trying to set it?
Knowing how to operate better as a bad guy will also make you operate better as a good guy.

ballz2wallz · 07-23-2007, 02:18 PM

I don't understand the issue...is this in bad taste because of our current situation and our involvement in a war against these people? What makes this different than nay other video game or movie taking the perspective of the US enemy at that time? Should Clint Eastwood be in a controversy for providing the Japenese side to his recent WWII film?

DosEquis · 07-23-2007, 03:32 PM

In the ww2 games you can fly nazi aircraft and shoot down american pilots..

Simius · 07-23-2007, 04:10 PM

It isn't any more in bad taste than GTA is in bad taste because... well... afterall you are running around stealing cars and killing cops at the same time in real life *gasp* people steal cars and cops get shot.

Who cares it is just a game. It isn't even a realistic portrayal of insurgent vs Marine battles.

hsmith · 07-23-2007, 05:08 PM

It is immoral you can be a Storm Trooper in Tie Fighter and kill Rebel Forces.

Hillary should ban it.

Donkey® · 07-23-2007, 05:09 PM

I drop nukes on various alien races on the regular in Supreme Commander. Who cares? A game is a game. There are Vietnam games. There are games where we kill "terrorists" in Russia, South America, etc, etc...

Scrum · 07-23-2007, 05:09 PM

I don't think it's in bad taste at all.

It's a simulation.

JaJae · 07-23-2007, 05:14 PM

I was playing the World in Conflict Beta last night where you can be the USSR and kill American forces. I also play Battlefield 2 where you take turns being the Chinese Army and kill American forces, etc.

First person shooters have been using countries since long before the Command and Conquer series started. I don't think anything was intended to be a political statement here nor do I agree with making it out to one.