In case you were raised and suckled by she-wolves, here's a little background on Raid Gaza: the Gaza Strip is a piece of land that isn't owned by any sovereign power, and Israel and Hamas (the de facto government and militant wing of the Palestinian National Authority) are fighting over it. Up until late December, what amounts to a glorified border conflict had been relegated to suicide bombings and sporadic missile strikes. On December 27th, however, Israeli forces invaded the Gaza Strip and have been bombing the balls out of it ever since, although the UN is trying to get them to stop. There have been protests throughout the world, two of which I witnessed during my trip to Paris.
In any case, Raid Gaza is a Newgrounds flash game that is clearly a representation of the author's one-sided view of things: Israel is depicted as an aggressive power mercilessly killing women and children under the pretext of protecting the Israeli border town of Sderot. Raid Gaza is, ostensibly, a real-time strategy game, but the point isn't to win -- it's to keep a high kill ratio. My personal best was 17 Palestinians killed for every 1 Israeli, but the end of the game cites a 25:1 ratio in the actual conflict.
The game is not only politically one-sided, but is mechanically stilted as well -- you, as an Israeli commander, have access to unlimited aid from the United States and a slew of technological weapons, whereas the Palestinians only manage to fire a feeble rocket every couple of seconds. The game is hardly a "game" -- it's nearly impossible not to win, which brings up an interesting discussion point: Should games sacrifice engaging mechanics for the sake of making a political point? As it stands, Raid Gaza functions more as a political statement than a game, and, to be honest, I'm okay with that.
The most succinct summary of the Gaza conflict I've seen yet, and one that reflects my own views, comes from GamePolitics commentor Geoff:
No one is the good guy in this one. You got hard-line Jews on one side pushing the rest of Israel to action and you got radical Arabs on the other poking the former with a stick.
In the middle are the innocent and diplomatic. The former gets slaughtered and the latter are ignored.
[Via The Escapist]
[Edit: Destructoid member ajay42 has been kind enough to explain to me, via PM, the degree to which my first two sentences are a gross oversimplification of the actual situation in Gaza. My apologies for the oversight and my gratitude to ajay42.]
Contest:
2:00 PM on 01.09.2009
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its hard not to think that the Palestinians have been taking it hard over the last few years
Actually, the Gaza strip was owned, and had been owned, by Israel up until 2005-2006 when Ariel Sharon and his "roadmap" to peace with Palestine gave up the Gaza strip to try and appease the Palestinian people (who aren't actually Palestinians but are really an exiled tribe from Syria) so that all of these conflicts would end.
That appeasement resulted in thousands of Israeli citizens being torn from their homes and being relocated somewhere else in Israel. Did that help with the Palestinian/Israeli conflict? NOPE. Hamas has still been bombing Israel (20 rockets a day) ever since.
So, I suppose Israel had enough.
Israel has been keen on killing women and children long before the recent Gaza conflict. This is simply what they do. If a goofy flash game can open some people's eyes to the fact, all the better.
I'll just hit and run and leave it at that.
Second, there have been people living in Israel and Palestine since before written history. The Palestinians are not just an "exiled group of Syrians". Whatever you want to call them, they lived there, and much of their land was taken.
Third, Gaza was not owned by Israel. Gaza was occupied by Israel. Sure, some settlements were torn down, but only as more settlements were constructed in the West Bank (the only possible center to a viable Palestinian state) than had been torn down in Gaza.
Fourth, if Israel wants to maintain its Jewish and its Democratic characters, it better get serious about making painful compromises. Otherwise, Israel will be demographically Palestinian by 2100. This means yielding Gaza, West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
HOWEVER, not all the blame goes on Israel here. Hamas is a terrorist organization filled with morons and idiots who do not understand that their tactics are harmful both to Israel and to themselves. Hamas does not, currently, represent a group that can be bargained with. Abbas and the West Bank can be bargained with and (if Israel yields overwhelmingly Palestinian East Jerusalem) probably can come to peace with Israel in the next few years. Hamas is a very different situation
Regardless, what exactly does Israel hope to accomplish with this invasion? My argument: it's a domestic political ploy to prevent a far right sweep in the upcoming elections. I'm open to other suggestions. I just don't see what would work.
im not sure i can be bothered to get in to this on a gaming site but look at the 1947 map here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UN_Partition_Plan_Palestine.png
and calling anti-Semitism makes you sound like a douche
30% of city with nervous breakdowns and 15 casualties is MEAGER result for 5000 rockets, however it still is not something one can just ignore. They had to strike like any other nation. Imagine 5000 rockets fired at your country by political movement that calls for your total destruction? "It's not worth it, let's just ignore it"?
However,
IMO it's COMPLETELY FINE to make such a game. As one going the other way. It's political statement and it's ok to say it. It's freedom of speech to say things that are outrageous and untrue - as it is freedom of speech to say things nice and cetrain. Neither should ever by banned and ... no one should ever have power to say which is which and silence one of them.
Neither side is right here, and I appreciate someone designing a game around that.
Actually we did that already. They're called reservations. They're technically sovereign nations. And people can come and go from them freely without going through a bunch of checkpoints and inspections and their allowed to trade, etc. So not really an apt comparison.
Whenever someone does something like this it's like there waving a little shining flag that says "Look how smart and socially conscious I am, I'm using the MEDIUM to make an IMPORTANT STATEMENT!"
Is anyone who didn't really care about this before going to care now as a result of this? Is anyone who's got a simplistic, completely one-sided view of things going to consider the situation more deeply and with more empathy because of this? Is it going to have any effect at all, besides making online forums slightly more contentious than usual?
To paraphrase Voltaire, I'd defend this guys RIGHT to make this game to anyone and everyone. But you have a right to do a lot of things that are a total waste of your time.
Sure, the game's a bit sloppy, but the medium's only been around for 30 years.
As you've already told us the game itself is garbage, serving as nothing more than a vehicle for presenting the creator's political views. That doesn't leave us with much, as you've already summarized the political ideals presented by the game.
But you asked if game mechanics should be dropped in favor of pushing political views. I'm not especially okay with that. I'm about as interested having other peoples' flawed political views shoved down my throat in-game as I am reading about them on my gaming blogs. :-D
Just kidding! Everyone here is a unique and special snowflake, and I'm always more than happy to learn about how they view the world. Srs.
In all fairness I'm not that fond of political rock and things of that nature either-- all too often, it's a big show of preaching to the already converted. Which is fine for what it is, but material like this is often given a kind of intellectual pass just because it's political-- like "Oh well, at least you're apparently trying to say something, we'll give you the 'thought-provoking' commendation."
For example, Nine Inch Nails is one of my favorite bands. The Hand That Feeds is largely a song about the war in Iraq, and though I actually like the song, I don't honestly believe that anyone who was in favor of the Iraq War had their mind changed by that song. They may have had their mind changed as a result of their respect for Trent Reznor and his outspoken views on certain topics, but that's a completely different issue.
Do I think it's impossible for someone to make a political game that actually has a purpose, and has a chance of educating people and changing people's minds? Absolutely not, but IMO the people who are capable of making that kind of experience usually already have their own visions-- they don't want to get bogged down in something as transient as condemning or promoting some political event or another.
Sorry if it seems like I was derisive of the article, I didn't mean it that way-- just derisive of the game:).
Sure, I guess semantics can show that being Anti-Israel doesn't necessarily make you anti-Semitic. However, most anti-Israel arguments are usually born from the idea of Anti-Zionism.
Sure, I suppose there are plenty of people who genuinely believe that Israel is an aggressor in this conflict, but the majority of the anger doesn't stem from their military conflicts and pursuits (Didn't hear of any major protests around the world when Hezbollah and Hamas were bombing Israel) but because they are Jews.
Why do you think that just about every middle eastern nation around Israel wants to erase it? Is it because the middle eastern nations surrounding it are somehow bullied by them? Or could it be that the surrounding nations are filled with nothing but anti-Semitic teachings and rhetoric that indoctrinate their people to hate the Jews JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE JEWS.
You may see Israel as an aggressor in this, and that is your opinion. However, I see it as an act of defense on Israel's part to try and fight back the attackers who believe in nothing but Anti-Zionism and want nothing but the destruction of Israel.
Also, I hope I don't come off as anti-Muslim specifically. I'm just as much anti-Hebrew, but Israel doesn't govern as much according to religious beliefs as Muslim states, so I'm siding with them.
if it were just the desire to go to the holy land(I will not call it israel or palestine)that would be good,but if to do so you steal people's homes that's nothing more than invasion.
also what do you think of people hating muslims JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE MUSLIMS?
You don't know much about history, huh?
They got this land from UN. And it was almost deserted part of Ottoman Empire before the world war. This is one of these few parts of territory that were not conquered (like most of the other).
If they really wanted to "steal homes" why not just round up all Pallies from Gaza + West Bank and drop them in Jordan. They kicked arses of all neighboars in 6 days, they could do that too (at that moment). But they didn't. This part of land, far smaller than orginally planned BTW that they got from UN + heights around it from which mortars and rockets were launch in the past is what they want.
If pallies stop firing rockets and digging tunnels to Israel (these to Egypt could even be left alone) - they'll get a state.
But Hamas declares it's goal as annihilation of Israel and subjugation/elimination of Jews and it just won't stop.
---
BTW Even if someone had amnesia and forgot that it's given land from Brits to Jews that was grabbed from Axis after it was defeated - and say they conquered it. Still conquest is how most ouf OUR countries got thier turf. And they didn't use Pallies tactics of firing rockets from school yards, blowing up civilians in cafe's or sleeping with whole extended family when you're military leader with a bullseaye on you head - so after you're killed you take extra 20 civilian casualites with you.
Even IF it was just a regular war for terrain - Jews win again on HOW they fight it. There's only 1 thing that Pallestinians have - it's that they're weaker (which will win them support in spite of all). In every other aspect they are worse, but still David vs Goliath, kid with a stone vs Tank - many doesn't care about these other aspects. They just side with the looser thinking he's gotta to be the victim too.
I know I hate people who hate Muslims for no reason, but here's the key difference between Jews and Muslims. Jews don't issue fatwas and declare holy wars against people who don't agree with their religion. They don't have infidel taxes that they require non Jews to pay, and they don't encourage their people to steal from non Jews when in a foreign country. Maybe some might, but I'll bet they're are far less Jews like that that Muslims like that.
I think it's all summed up in the quote:
"The truth is that if Israel were to put down its arms there would be no more Israel. If the Arabs were to put down their arms there would be no more war."
-Benjamin Netanyahu
look at the map before talking.
also it's not the UN role to distribute land.
also you can't listen to the UN one time and ignore it the next.
you don't make very interesting comments, huh?
Because I know that's my problem when I play games. They are literally _too_ much fun, and in the meantime I'm not being exposed to any political propaganda at all.
ArrestedDeveloper: when have the mexicans put checkpoints in the USA? when have they completely locked 1.5 million people inside a 40 by 10 miles territory?
this is the last time I talk about this subject to people who hate each other for the console they like.
But Isreal really does not care about blowing the hell out of civilians. Isreal certainly isn't the good guy. But that doesn't mean they're evil.
The UN should have just given them Florida and none of this would be happening.
Oh boy.
What a bullshit statement. So in your view, any critical argument about Israel is anti-Semitic? So I guess I shouldn't say shit about Israel because I'll be crucified on on the subject. Jews have had it bad, they're in a tough position, protecting their people. But you just can't throw out "thats anti-Semitic" every time somebody is the least bit critical about Israel bombing towns, including schools and hospitals, because they believe there might be rockets near the area. That is stupid and unproductive.
Its all happening because of Hamas. They're using innocent civilians as a shield. I don't know why though, because Israel has no problem bombing them. If Hamas wants to attack Israel they should just bring the fight to them instead of being cowards. But they know that Israel would just destroy them.
Don't be afraid to speak out against Israel. Its ok, it doesn't make you an anti-Semite. I'm sure Israelis do it all the time. Israel is a country. Not a Jew. Know the difference.
In the end, the civilians lose.
I think I will stick with "<current event minority death rampage> IV"
Is English your first language?
They let Israel bomb civilians so that people watching on TV will get all pissed at Israel for bombing civilians. Hamas-niks are suicide bombers. Sacrificing themselves and innocents is part of the strategy.
Wow thats a whole lot of factual wrong for such a short bit of writing. Amazing.Also to whoever said there's no such thing as Palestinians they're just "a lost tribe from syria": KILL YOURSELF. I don't even know where to begin on that one.
Anyway, I know better than to get into this debate on a freaking gaming blog comments section but if anyone really has questions and would like to know more about the conflict please PM me. I am getting a phd in middle eastern studies at columbia and have actually taught history of the modern middle east before.
And the game is wrong, the kill ratio in the last week is more like 100:1.
Joseph Leray needs to do more than watch American media before he gets to push ignorant political opinions on the front page of Dtoid.
I also didn't push any political opinions, ignorant or not. I just pointed out that this game is making the rounds and that it's interesting.
And my media consumption is quite varied, thank you.
how?
build 1 missile silo. spend the rest of the money on missiles. hope for bonus scores. if you don't send ground troops, you don't have casualties.
note: there is 1 Israeli casualty before the game even begins. dreams of perfect score: out.
Whatever reasons you have for killing civilians still doesn't make it right. Dead men tell no tales, and certainly the same can be said about dead women and children as well. The fact of the matter is that no matter what banner blood is shed for, blood is blood. And Israel isn't simply "fighting back", they are massacring people at a ridiculous rate. They can kill terrorists, Palestinian civilians, UN staff, blow up UN infrastructure, civilian homes, and do all sorts of illegal acts of war. They didn't get this far because they "worked hard". Your narrow-mindedness and blatant orientalism is typical. They got this far because they had support. Hard work does not protect fledgling nations from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
My ancestors were also people with no land and were promised some by the British. And you know what happened when things got sour and the locals didn't like us? The British went back on their word and tried to kill us. But luckily we set up a city and army of our own to keep those fuckers at bay.
Whats the biggy?
Skip forward a couple decades to present day where we have a lovely little apartheid going here. Problem is, the Israelis want everything, and aren't too opposed to getting this through Ethnic-Cleansing-Lite, and the Palestinians, who want to keep the land they had for generations now really really hate the Israelis and are looking for revenge.
So now we have one prejudiced people repressing another prejudiced people, and the breaking point has been met. So expect another Yugoslavia type affair where the US throws all of its guns and media attention to the rich side (Israelis) while the other side is portrayed as a terrorist group.
IN SHORT, yeah the game is kinda accurate in that Israel gets all the support because they have more cash, but on the other hand, Palestinians are encouraging retaliation on their side.
Of course, there are innocent people on both sides, but still, whoever wins is going to start a genocide.
I think it's pretty obvious that Hamas brought this on its own people. They refused to stop firing rockets into Israel after repeated warnings of military retaliation. That's like constantly poking a big dog with a stick.
The fact that Hamas is using its civilians as meat shields doesn't really help either.