games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


9/11 game whips up a storm: Because y'know, that wasn't likely to happen photo

A French Web site released a game on the Internet called New York Defender several years ago, a so-called satirical game in which you get a chance to "fight back" by shooting at a multitude of planes before they hit the Twin Towers. While shocking online games are nothing new and this one in particular is quite old, it has recently hit mainstream news sources, ensuring that a flood of reactions and screaming from people who should probably just ignore it is now underway.

The designer of the flash game claims that the message is that like America's war on terror, the game cannot be won. Wow man, that's about as deep as the faux social commentary spewed by the Super Columbine guy.

While I like some hard nosed satire and bad taste humor, this game is neither clever, funny, nor even a very fun thing to play. As for the people who are going to cry and be offended about it though, just ignore it. It's a bloody flash game, and if you're going to subject yourself to it and "open old wounds," as the CBS report claims, it's your own bloody fault. The game is stupid and so are the people who are going to willingly subject themselves to it just so they can be upset.

[Thanking Jack Klassen]


Continue: More HAHA Weird! stories





prev
next 50 comments

59 comments | showing # 1 to 50

MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 00:45
MechaMonkey
French.

That says it all.
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 00:46
MrSadistic
I like how a French guy has the balls to mention war and terror in the same sentence.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 00:47
MechaMonkey
Also, will anyone else be writing stories for Destructoid from now on? Not that I mind your writing, Jim, but you have to sleep at some point.
SantanaClaus89's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 00:48
SantanaClaus89
Damn Frenchies.

This baffles me.
F Whipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 00:51
F Whipple
This is why we can't have nice things
Trevor McGee's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:06
Trevor McGee
They made some crappy movies about 9/11, so what not a crappy flash game?
BA Chieftain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:09
BA Chieftain
Similar game with the whole "there's no way to win" philosophy was September 12th, which also came out a fair while ago...

http://www.newsgaming.com/games/index12.htm

Warning: Uses ActiveX control but I haven't had any problems since using it. It takes all of 4 seconds to figure out the "message", but *shrug* it didn't really rile me up or anything.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:12
MaxVest
Is that Jack's first credit? I'm having a tingling sensation in my left arm...
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:22
king3vbo
Jack gave a tip? A GOOD ONE?

Polish Hill's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:27
Polish Hill
Seriously Jim are you just a robot fueled by mountain dew and tips because I don't even remember when another person wrote an article. But that'll just make your coup even more simple to achieve.
CannibalCalvin 's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:35
CannibalCalvin
NEVER LINK TO GODDAMNED EBAUMS.

TAKE IT DOWN NOW.
Spykron's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:39
Spykron
i played starcraft SCUMS like tower defense. they were actually fun though.
velcroman's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:45
velcroman
SPOILER: JACK KLASSEN IS WIISUCKS LOLOLO (BANNED FROM C-BLOGS.)
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:47
Shin Oni
people are still whining over 9/11? Grow the fuck up.
realyst's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:49
realyst
Just what that thief Bauman needs, more publicity.
destructo5000's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 01:51
destructo5000
The wounds...HAVE BEEN OPENED
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:04
Cheeburga
Best game ever.
j0mb13's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:06
j0mb13
I played the game before anyone freaked. I agree the commentary is pretty one dimensional. But the game is fun. It's just a old school arcade shooter. I don't see the towers incident as taboo. Maybe it lets me fulfill may fantasies to kill flying terrorist? Lets be fair and consistent. Free speech! let this guy have it too. Here in the USA we have the right to offend and be offended.
TheStripe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:09
TheStripe
Sure he can say it,

but that doesn't make it not stupid.
Redzie's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:12
Redzie
"omg lets stop calling it french fries and call it freedom fries again". Would it be worse if an American did it? If south park did it would be totally okay, right?

@Trevor
DAMN STRAIGHT
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:27
Necros
What, are we not allowed to say Wiisucks around here anymore?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:32
Jim Sterling
j0mb: I love free speech and I think he had every right to make the game, just like I have every right to say I think the game was lame.
Macca's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 02:49
Macca
We all know it was Ubisoft.
pizzaface's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 03:05
pizzaface
I now read all of your posts with a british accent, ever since hearing your voice on FNF.
PrinceofCannedPeaches's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 03:15
PrinceofCannedPeaches
He spent six years developing that shit? Poor Pierre - think of all the wonderful opportunities to spread STDs and retreat in panic he must have passed up to create that game.

+1 French Deprecation! Kekekekeke.
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 03:22
Atlas
HAHA! When I saw Jack Klassen I got a kick out of it.

Jack "Wiisucks" Klassen is on a one way trip to being hired at D-toid, like I always say.
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 03:28
Atlas
HAHA! When I saw Jack Klassen I got a kick out of it.

Jack "Wiisucks" Klassen is on a one way trip to being hired at D-toid, like I always say.
danluvswii's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 03:29
danluvswii
wat a gay game
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 04:44
vexed alex
Seriously, Jim. You're a fucking blogging machine. Is everyone else on vacation?
j0mb13's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 05:18
j0mb13
Jim Sterling you can say game was lame as well offensive. I disagreed tho.I Never disputed your right or ability to state your opinion. Hope your cool with me stating mine? All is good!
Banj's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 05:58
Banj
So, hang on, in this game you are DEFENDING New York? What's the fucking problem? That's like getting upset about WWII games because, y'know, people died.

I love the French. The country and it's people pander to no-one. If someone wants to get bent out of shape over this game then that's their issue, not the French's.

The game does look shit though so, y'know, fair review.
Drunken Haze's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 07:38
Drunken Haze
About as tasteless as call of duty. Only these guys didnt obey the 22.3 year rule AND are french so obviously we should pour hatred upon them.

new york defender 2 seemed like a standard flash game to me. No good, but an engaging 5 minutes.

Also, could jim maybe post fewer 'news' stories to the frount page. Quality over quantity for once?
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 07:43
wardrox
haha, best game idea I've heard since Mass Effect.

Would it be funnier if it were about rape?
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 08:48
Holyetheline
Yeah seriously the crappy 911 movies didn't open old wounds? Oh Sterling you make such a good point. Who even cares.
Dastardly007's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 09:04
Dastardly007
A purile piece of toss that deserves to be ignored. Not because it's crap or offensive, but because of the reason it was made in the first place - shock value.

Same goes for Manhunt.
Orionsaint's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 09:40
Orionsaint
FOX NEWS will eat this up, especially that asshole Bill O' Reilly.
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 09:43
Professor Pew
wardrox: I thought 9/11 was all about international rape? :D
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 09:52
AgentMOO
If anyone's opening old wounds it's these misery thirsty news organizations digging up a several years old game. Shh... nobody tell them about the towers in The Godfather.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 10:13
Eschatos
You'd think that they'd have found this sooner.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 11:17
wardrox
Damn, I just got so close to 1000 points! This game is good.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 11:22
wardrox
Sweett! Just got +1500
Turtule Soup's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 12:59
Turtule Soup
That game sounds pretty gay. Its the you can't win thing that I found the worst.
SubOrbital's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 13:10
SubOrbital
Agreed
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 13:28
Magesx
Games like these are why people blame videogames for everything. :/
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 13:55
vexed alex
"Also, could jim maybe post fewer 'news' stories to the frount page. Quality over quantity for once?"

Also, could you be less of an asshole? I'm just curious. Is it possible for you not to be be a complete cunt?
TheStripe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 14:51
TheStripe
"I love the French. The country and it's people pander to no-one."

Except islamic extremists. And Nazis.

To echo Dastardly's statement, making media for shock value is for Rockstar and Uwe Boll. I mostly don't care about this, but seriously. Manhunt 2 was a pile of crap that was made to stir up the public, as is this piece of tripe. If you're applauding the French asshole who wanted his ten minutes in the spotlight, or cursing him because he's distateful, you're a fucking moron. You're pandering to an insecure attention-freak either way. I'm actually a little upset with myself that I couldn't keep out of this one, but crap like this isn't helping the image of gaming in general. Avoiding reporting it would be a diservice, as it is the responsibility of the press to inform and educate, but people need to see this for what it is: Some dick-squeezing french pussy trying to get Americans all fired up so he can tell us how we're all reactionaries.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 18:42
Sharpless
That game was a piece of shit. Why is it that all the controversial games never deserve the bloody attention? If you're going to try to be offensive, at least try to make it entertaining, otherwise you just come off as a fucking tit.
StolenName's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 21:05
StolenName
There was another game quite similar to this, which depicted a middle eastern style village with both terrorists, civilians, dogs and children wandering the streets.

Your objective is to bomb the terrorists, however with every shot you killed the innocent. Once you killed anyone, those civilians surrounding the dead begin mourning and turn into terrorists themselves.

Your bomb cools down just too slow to kill all the terrorists before more are created and thus, there are always terrorists.

The idea is that killing only leads to more hatred and you'll never win the war on terror using violence.

I've just spent ten minutes looking for a link but can't find one anywhere, grrr, it was done a lot better than this two towers game and wasn't as "controversial" as such. It was blunt, non-violent and the meaning was immediately evident from just a minutes play.
101gfx's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/06/2008 22:39
101gfx
@Stolen: I stumbled across that game not too long ago, it was a brilliant "game". One of the few instances of actual "art" in a videogame.
prev next 50 comments

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos


    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    EyePet review
    more reviews
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Hooking onto, under and above Just Cause 2
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50723 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Think L4D2 is an expansion? You're a f*cking idiot





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman
    Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong

    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006