Six Days in Fallujah video game controversy continues

[thedrifter]

Six Days in Fallujah video game controversy continues
August 5, 6:20 AM · Frank Haynes - Central Minnesota Fatherhood Examiner

Does war make for a good video game? That’s what the makers of Six Days in Fallujah are waiting to find out.

According to Wikipedia, Six Days in Fallujah is a third-person shooter video game described by the developer, Atomic Games, as a survival horror game. It is the first game to focus directly on Operation Iraqi Freedom, mainly the Second Battle of Fallujah or Operation Phantom Fury.

The game follows a squad of U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion 1st Marines over the span of six days. The premise of the game has been the subject of controversy; with questions have been raised as to its appropriateness, especially given the fact that the true event the game is based upon was so recent.

It was originally to be published by Japanese game publisher Konami. However in April 2009 Konami announced it was no longer interested in publishing the game.

Recently National Public Radio carried a story on the controversial game featuring Atomic Games’ boss Peter Tamte and retired Marine Captain Read Omohundro explaining that the game is meant to inform in an interactive format, presenting a unique view on war in such a way that will help communicate that war is not a game.

Gold Star Families, a group made up of families of soldiers who died in Iraq, is on the other side of the fence on the issue and takes credit for getting Konami to pull its support from the game.
But that doesn't mean the project is dead.

Atomic Games says it still sees promise in the project, and is shopping the game around to prospective publishers. Tamte was quoted in Newsweek as saying, "We have a lot of people who are interested in the project. But I'll feel better when we sign something and the checks start coming."

Ellie