[As originally posted on Japanator]
Straight out of E3 is the trailer for the Japanese forces -- no, sorry, the "Empire of the Rising Sun." In this little video, we get to see some of the Japanese forces, with cool Japanese names, and the deterministic voice of a general who sounds like he's been punched in the gut. There was something that bothered me, though, while watching the video.
I know that in the Red Alert mythology, that World War II proper never happened. This is essentially the result of that. But to have the Japanese troops brandishing the flag of the Rising Sun so prominently in the trailer? EA, surely you've got to realize that the flag carries some baggage with it.
It's not like people haven't criticized the flag's use before. It is the same as flagrantly waving around the Nazi flag in WWII games. I don't have the best memory of the earlier Call of Duty titles, but I can't seem to remember prominent symbols of Nazism placed throughout the game. Not that I'm calling EA racist or anything, I just believe they're not necessarily thinking about what they're doing.
In general, there's a stereotype in games to portray the Japanese as the propaganda from the 1940's did -- fanatical, willing to die at a moment's notice, and totally ruthless. I realize you're representing an alternative Japanese army here, but the game seems to wave the flag in your face, making it, and all the stereotypes that go along with it, rather prevalent. But hey, don't worry -- you won't have to sit through other games and watch Nazis oppress Jews or gypsies. That'd just be insensitive.
Contest:
10:27 AM on 07.15.2008
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Damn, that game looks incredibly fun. In particular, the air/sea switching unit seems like a cool concept (and an annoying enemy). The one transforming mech looks like it was ripped straight out of Macross.
I lost track of Command and Conquer after the first game, so I have clearly been missing out on a lot. I'll have to get reacquainted with the series. I'm not touching that flag issue with a 10-foot pole, though.
The thing I'm worried about is that the Allies are starting to look bland and boring in comparison to Tesla troops, circus bears, Macross style jets, and fucking Gundams. Hopefully the U.S. of A. will get some kickass units as well.
But anyway, I think it's fine. You can't go back and change history, and it would be stupid to have a different flag and have to try and work that into the story somehow. "Umm, they changed it or something because they needed something like, cooler."
Also, you may want to make it more clear in the write up exactly what game the trailer is for. I had to read it three times, and even now I only know that it's some game in the Red Alert series.
Getting upset over a flag is insane, no matter what kind of atrocities it flew over. Get over being hurt by something that did not happen to you. I don't get all bent out of shape when I see an English flag or a Packers fan. Grow up all ready and move on.
I'm sorry, I got away from myself for a second.
I think what's really been done here is that EA pretty much raped the whole Command & Conquer franchise. I liked the C&C games released by Westwood way better. C&C 3 sucked for me, so I won't be surprised if I find this one mediocre. Who knows, it might turn out to be good. I'm not holding my breath though.
@Char Aznable: I think they also got the Macross idea from Starcraft 3. They have a unit that does that as well.
And speaking of age, most of the C&C games are T+, so no child of impressionable age SHOULD be playing this game. Lets not get started on that whole bucket of snakes.
I'll put this on the table, I think the depiction of Imperial Japan in Red Alert 3 being "culturally offensive", is on the same level of Resident Evil 5 not caring about black zombies being "racially offensive".
You have to take into account that largely the reason we don't see the swastika in games these days is because of the current German government as it is. They're actively working to erase all notion that Germany had the Nazi uprising back then. So any games depicting Nazi Germany in any way at all are banned, any Nazi symbolism is banned, etc.
So most game developers are catering to the German government when they develop World War 2 games and are simply changing the word "Nazi" to "Axis" and substituting some other specially designed symbol in place of the swastika. This all so that Germany remains an open market to them.
Now, we will have to wait and see if Japan has a problem with the Imperial nation being depicted in such a fashion. Though highly more likely, this game won't even be touched in Japan because it was made by an American developer, and if memory serves "western" games don't do so well over there.