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Iraq War veterans support Six Days in Fallujah photo

We've been covering the grimly predictable outrage over Konami's Six Days in Fallujah, a videogame based on a real-life battle during the Iraq War. While tabloids and families of war dead have already condemned the game without seeing any of its content, a number of veterans have actually expressed support for the project. Kind of undermines the grievances of those who weren't actually in the war, right?

"As a combat veteran and as a gamer, I have no problem whatsoever with the game," explains Sgt. Casey J. McGeorge, who spent 36 months in Iraq. "As long as it's made as realistically as possibly, I believe that this could be a good thing for both combat veterans and for the war in general."

Former Sgt. Kevin Smith expressed similar sentiments: "Hopefully it will bolster support for military veterans by giving civilians insight into what this war was actually like for them... I really hope that this title receives positive press and encourages more empathy towards veterans after gamers have 'experienced' what they have gone through. On a side note, I really hope this game includes co-op!"

USMC Gunnery Sergeant John Mundy added: "You will have your group of idiots that try to be the terrorists and kill Americans and shout obscenities through the TV, damning American military personnel. But hey, those individuals can make fools of themselves all because of the protection that we military people give them each day ... If someone doesn't agree with the game, they can spend their money elsewhere."

Of course, I expect tabloids and special interest groups to ignore all this. It makes it hard for them to try and argue for dead men who may not have shared their narrow views.


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29

Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:10
Chronic Logic
Iraqi War Veterans supporting the game? They support making it as realistic as possible?! But it's a murder simulator! It's a propaganda video game to support militiarism and make kids joint the military! Hahaha, jkjk...
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:12
ArrestedDeveloper
I'm going to rise up
Gonna kick a little ass
Gonna kick some ass in the USA
Gonna climb a mountain
Gonna solo fly
Gonna fly on an eagle
I'm gonna kick some butt
I'm gonna drive a big truck
I'm gonna rule this world
I'm gonna kick some ass
I'm gonna rise up
I'm gonna kick a little ass
Rock, flag, and eagle
Havoc Fang's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:21
Havoc Fang
I bet you any amount of money that The Sun will be the worst offender in any discussion/ranting about this game. I can just FEEL it.

But yeah. The sane thing would be for the press to stop talking about the game until its out. 'Sane' being the main word...
xenon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:26
xenon
chronic, you may be joking, but to me that's how the interviewed persons make it sound: war is hell but we were objectively the good guys in the right and if it'accurate, the game will show just that. Also, only an idiot would even consider playing as the opposite side (to me, this means the game has an agenda, but I know I should elaborate on this). Jim, I totally support the abstract right for this game to exist, but aren't you somehow defending its contents (without knowing them)? As in, it's a game, so I just side with it whatever the matter is, without really thinking into it?
Ceallach's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:27
Ceallach
First off, I've been to Iraq twice. I spent a total of 26 months in iraq when I was a USN Fire Controlman. FC2(SW) Christopher L. Foster, Individually Augmented from the USS Kitty Hawk to serve in Iraq. for the record. One 13 month stint patrolling and gate-guarding, one 13 month stint FOB self-defense CRAM(Counter Rocket Artllery and Mortar), I'm still active duyu USN but I do other things now.

I completley support this game. A realistic portrayal of what it was like would be phenomenal. If it is realistic. If it is a balck and white we're good, they're bad. I think it will do more harm than good. It is so very complicated over there. So grey, that it will have to be mature. Call of Duty 4 was terrible in that regard. The game offended me honestly. Army of two, also but that game was a fucking cartoon. But I'm not one to decry anyone or what they do, make what you want, how you want-it's your art.

That being said, I wont play it, because I dont want to relive that. I only saw a couple really bad things over there, but it was enough I dont need to see a reproduction.

Anyways, I hope for it to be a really honest, really well made game that deals with the real issues on both sides.
Nicojay2's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:29
Nicojay2
There is only one logical conclusion; Iraq war veterans are sick filth and must be banned.
Nobody may question our Tabloid Overlords.
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:36
Usedtabe
"You will have your group of idiots that try to be the terrorists and kill Americans and shout obscenities through the TV, damning American military personnel. But hey, those individuals can make fools of themselves all because of the protection that we military people give them each day ... If someone doesn't agree with the game, they can spend their money elsewhere."


THIS. MOTHERFUCKERS.
Concerns of a Merchant's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:41
Concerns of a Merchant
Please put the word "several" at the beginning of the title of this post.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 15:42
Jim Sterling
"Jim, I totally support the abstract right for this game to exist, but aren't you somehow defending its contents (without knowing them)? As in, it's a game, so I just side with it whatever the matter is, without really thinking into it?"

I am not defending its contents. I am defending its right to exist, whatever its contents, and its right to not be judged until we see the game.

I've already said that the game could be tasteless. However, I am dismayed at people lining up to condemn it within hours of its announcement. That's pathetic and ridiculous.

Anything should be given a chance to show what it can do before being thrown into the fiery pit.
Zodiac Eclipse's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:11
Zodiac Eclipse
I've actually read up on this title and from what I've heard Konami and Atomic both want the game to have a heavy focus on the stories of the marines/insurgents/civilians who were involved in the conflict.

Supposedly, there are documentary style interviews that feature real soldiers who tell their stories when you encounter their in-game characters. A great deal of information for the game came from videos, photos and journals that were freely given to Konami by US Marines who wanted a chance to tell their stories after they returned from the war, some of whom are serving as consultants on the game.

I think the timing is a little questionable, releasing a game based on a war that is still occurring, but from what I've read about the actual focus and content of the game it seems like a pretty ambitious idea that could be very interesting for history buffs and gamers alike.
PrinnyMedic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:18
PrinnyMedic
@Jim

Indeed
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:26
wanderingpixel
This has the potential to be a really good story of the horror, drama, and controversy of war. Or am I being to optimistic and it's just going to be a Call of Duty 4 rip-off.
ChronosWing's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:36
ChronosWing
THANK YOU! These are the only people's opinions who matter, not the families of the deceased. IF YOU WEREN'T THERE THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE SO STFU AND GO BACK TO YOUR HOLE!
brosef's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:37
brosef
Arrested Developer wins an internet.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 16:38
Volomon
Most awesome game I've yet to play!! Blood, guts, and glory!! Mother fuckers!! Was that tasteless? hhhmm...
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 17:18
Corak
Well at least some people besides us get whats going on here.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 18:02
Cowboy TTop
I support this game, and those who had to go through the bad stuff of war. Their stories deserve to be told, so we can understand what they went through, so we can enjoy our lives.
InfraredChimera's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 20:01
InfraredChimera
So a movie about the brave firefighters who ran into the WTC buildings on 9/11 is put to film and released 5 years after the events of that day, but make a game (with the support of veterans) about a battle and released 5 years after the events of those days, and everyone cries foul. WTF is wrong with this picture.
Drauglim's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 20:07
Drauglim
Also @ xenon

Don't say Jim is defending this game because it's a game, we all know Jim hates games unless they have a raped blue mascot.
dyeah's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 22:03
dyeah
Jim, I am confused. You show sarcastic contempt at gold star families for their criticism of this game because they are making conclusions when they have not seen any of its content. Yet somehow, when some Iraq veterans potentially support the game based on the same lack of evidence, is it the case that you have no problem?? Maybe I am misinterpreting your statement in that you consider these veterans point of view as more open-minded.

The funny thing is that I think I would agree with you on your defense of the creation of this video game or any other that is trying to properly address a serious real world issue. I am just troubled at what appears to be shoddy reasoning.
dyeah's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 22:10
dyeah
By the way, Ceallach, thank you for your service and I am glad that you are back from Iraq safely. It must have been a weird transition from being an FC2 on an aircraft Carrier to spending 2 years in Iraq.
Ceallach's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 22:42
Ceallach
Thanks. It was a big adjustment, but those were the two most rewarding times of my career. Doing what I did on a carrier(CIWS and RAM maintenance), you get trapped in a cycle of boredom, and underway honestly, we mostly played games all day. One day we had a fucking 7 hour Mario Party session for fuck's sake, that's how fucking bored you get. It's really mundane 99.9% of the time. Doing shit that actually seemed to matter and helping people and actually doing something other than playing games or busy work, it felt good.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/10/2009 22:54
Jim Sterling
That's quite awesome that we have Ceallach here to provide some insight. Thanks for the comments, I know I personally appreciate some thoughts from someone who is really the only type of person qualified to have a proper opinion on the subject -- someone who was there.
RWarrior1CO's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 01:17
RWarrior1CO
So long as the game doesn't naively portray the insurgents as men with hearts of gold, farting rainbows out of their butts as they save puppies from being raped by US soldiers, there shouldn't be a problem.
triclops41's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 14:01
triclops41
All my vet friends are interested, they just want it to be treated with due respect.
xenon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:09
xenon
Jim, then we agree (for what it's worth). But I do not see why the only persons entitled to an opinion on the matter should be those who fought that war.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/11/2009 15:25
Jim Sterling
"Entitled" and "qualified" are two different words.
Jimeee's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/13/2009 02:54
Jimeee
I don't have a problem with the game itself - but do people still believe the bullshit fed to them by the government? - Particularly:

"But hey, those individuals can make fools of themselves all because of the protection that we military people give them each day".

Protection...from who? Does he mean Pre-war Iraq? Deluded doesn't even begin to explain it.
MissHinasaki's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/14/2009 10:37
MissHinasaki
I think I would be very interested in this game. I tend to stay away from "realistic" shooters or shooters with a war theme (despite the fact that I'm a huge history buff) but I see this as being a very good thing for people not involved in the war, if done properly. I would really like to see the perspective of soldiers while the subject is still fresh and not 20 to 60 years down the road. I never understood how they expected to make realistic games off of subject matter that is too old to truly understand. They make so many WWII games but the people that are playing them were barely even a thought while the actual wars of the games were taking place. It would be nice too see how some of the military people react to the game after its released so they can say, yea, I've been there, and for the most part this is realistic/unrealistic. I admire the idea of giving a voice to the military personnel of this day and age now as opposed to giving it to them when the war is nothing but a memory for the rest of us.
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