Activision crass and inappropriate? You decide
I paused today (Nov. 11) to remember our veterans, as I do every Remembrance Day. After two minutes of silence I turned back to my computer and saw an e-mail from Activision: CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR INVADES RETAIL…
I paused today (Nov. 11) to remember our veterans, as I do every Remembrance Day. After two minutes of silence I turned back to my computer and saw an e-mail from Activision: CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR INVADES RETAIL SHELVES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.
The time stamp on the e-mail was–and I am not making this up–11:00 a.m. My first thought was that selling video games on the back of Remembrance Day was very bad taste.
I deleted the e-mail and, today being a busy day, got involved in something else and forgot about it. Until the second e-mail arrived, this time at 2:53 p.m. It was also from Activision but this time it announced that "troops from around the world will be among the first to play one of this year’s most-anticipated new video games from Activision, Call of Duty: World at War." Here is that announcement.
It turns out that U.S. troops serving in Germany, Japan, Kuwait and a fourth undisclosed overseas base competed online against players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the press release noted the game is "rated M (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore" it made no mention of whether it was appropriate to launch "World at War" on what the Americans call Veterans’ Day.
The involvement of the troops made me pause. Did I still question the marketing plan if actual soldiers were willing to be involved? Perhaps they have more right to judge than I.
On reflection, I still come down on the side of thinking this is in bad taste. While I understand the need to come up with innovative marketing ploys in the highly competitive video game market and while the participation of U.S. soldiers somewhat tempers my opinion, I have to think that sitting on a couch and play-acting "Intense Violence, Strong Language, Blood and Gore" is not the way kids should be commemorating veterans.
I would like to hear what others think.
Peter Wolchak
Backbone magazine
Yep, this is pretty stupid and disrespectful.
I agree; it's definitely questionable. But why would the troops want to play games that are so similar to their "day jobs?" One would think they would prefer more diversionary activities.
I see where you are comming from, but the reason this game escapes the "using a gimmick to sell the game on Rememberence Day, because the combat is ENTIRELY based on actually WWI and WWII missions, and it was these mission that completely changed the world that we know it.
After I played this game for the first time yestarday, I was completely compelled by how accurate the game is, and the mission you have to go through, is very similar to what our grandfathers and their fathers faught through.
Thank you
~Thomas
I believe it is totally inappropiate for any commercial entity to profit on the loss of hundreds of thosands of lives in the two World Wars. This is demeaning to the families of the vetrans. Thomas does not remember the devastation of war the way I do.
I didn't realize that the game was released on Remembrance Day until I went looking for it on Tuesday. The decision to release the game on that day was questionable, however I was pleased that my local Walmart, Future Shop and Best Buy were not selling the game until Wednesday the 12th. My local EB Games was willing to sell it, but they weren't displaying the game until the following day. The game is very realistic and does attempt to mimic the battles that actually happened many years before. Regardless of what day the game was released, after playing it you get a sense of what our elders actually experienced during the wars. The Japanese Bonsai fighters that came from the grasses and trees startled me in the game. Imagine what it would have felt like to have that happen in real life. In my opinion, it gives me more reason to remember.
Does the release of the game cause anyone to NOT think about the wars that were fought? Maybe it actually enhances what we think about those that fought and their experiences? The day is a personal one. As long as people remember and show their support, I personally don't care about the rest and I think we have much more important things to worry about.
Ryan, thanks for the retail information. I didn't know that the retailers were sensitive to the timing of the release and it's good to hear about that.
I was ready to agree, but in theory this game is just a documentary that you play out. It may be violent game, but that's why games have ratings. So kids shouldn't be playing this game to begin with. On top of all that. how is it different than watching documentaries, or movies based on the wars.
I think it's okay as long as the game is accurate to the stories, and important that the stories are told. The only reason this is being criticized is because it's a game.
Does anyone bring up the numerous TV shows, and movies that have come out on this date of the years? Not really, but since it's a game, and all people do is attack games, it gets media attention.
I look at it as an alternate method of learning, you still learn about the battles, and Activision has always done a great job of doing research etc. Same with EA and their Medal of Honor series.
To be fair though, the only people I think have a right to say anything at all, are the people who fought these wars, and I bet if you did some research, you'd find out the people that made these games, solicited the help of our veterans, and our heroes.
Ya i had the same thing with XBOXLIVENATION ,were i was warned for shouting . Actually for shouting about SOLIDERS ON REMEMBERANCE DAY ! SORRY ! I think it made them mad that i talked about my 2 uncles who didn't make it back from the jungle war ! I guess i to was bad for business and warranted the warning for suggesting that we all LEARN the day of INFAMY ! SO as to make it easier to make time for REMEBERANCE DAY ! OH YA the DAY of INFAMY DEC 12TH 1945
Having Rememberance day off I picked up Call Of Duty 5 early in the day with the expectation that I would have the day to enjoy some quiet time at home. The game features endless raw and graphic footage taken during both world wars and i surprised at how much it causes you to reflect on the experinaces of those brave souls all those years ago.
In Ontario, our kids had to attend school just like any other day, and just like any other day, they had a full day of learning. that is to say, the schools did NOT take any time to honor the Vetrans and the fallen. with the exception of the standard two minutes of silence. way to go public education!
After watching some of the cinematic cut-scenes my Daughter (14) started asking questions and wondering if the wars were really like that?
I think Activision did a great job with this one, anything that gets people talking and reflecting about the sacrifice those heros made is a good thing.
I must agree that the launch of the game on Nov 11th is indeed crass.
I'm a big follower of the Call of Duty series, and I think the games are fantastic. However, to launch the game on Remembrance Day for hype, to advertise, or as a gimmick is rude and dissrespectful. They did not make the game to honour our heroes, but for money.
Thanks for the info
I do agree with that last statement. But think of this: those soldiers who play the game, for them it is an 'out'. A break from the grim reality of they see on the frontlines when fighting a real war. It's only a game afterall and they could be out doing something worse, like drugs.
not at all in bad taste: i have seen in fourums of players of this game state their amazement of what the soldiers of ww 2 had to endure. what better time to awaken this realization, than remembrance day.
This is another volley at the individual's rights.
The corporates are winning this war. The one for the individual's rights and the extermination thereof. It is not limited to Activision, they are all on a mission. What better place to start than with our children. It is a strategic and offensive ploy.
Rememberance Day is a moment for the individual to reflect upon the sacrifice of those before us to maintain us. Our freedom is not free, it was dearly paid for in advance. Our freedom remains a target of the corporates and they will prevail if we neglect our interest in remembering.
I must admit, I am a victim of this sneak attack. I never anticipated such a possibility would take place. The attacks upon our air, water, food supplies, and being Canadian, Universal Health care, are expected. This attack upon our children was not. I suppose I should update my list to include mind control of the kids now.
More money. That's the objective they have here. As always. The only immediate defense is to stiff them for every penny possible. Screw em' for it !
This is another volley at the individual's rights.
It's important to keep the fire alive of remembering and passing it on to the younger generation. War games give an
impression of controlling the action. More actual footage
of what went on should be televised. Games do not give the the actual results of an actual battle – the carnage that took place; hours of bombardment,broken bodies and memories and emotional pain.they were never able to deal with. Thousands of families lost husbands fathers and sons.
The injured and one parent families were left with little
to provide for growing children widows and aging veterans.
Yet, they make a movie based on 9/11 and it's considered a memorial. I'd love to see a fact based game based on 9/11 and watch CNN wine about that for months trying to get it banned…yet again, because it's a video game.
Sending marketing information at 11:00am and releasing the game on Remembrance Day/Veteran's day is grossly disrespectful. I would say that it would be less so if the game wasn't being designed exclusively to make money. However, most games are designed with this in mind. If Activision wanted to raise awareness and inform the public about the conditions in the war, that would improve the situtaion a lot, and the best thing would be if they also donated a portion of the proceeds to support Veterans or something along those lines.
The point of playing a game is for diversion and, dare I say it, to have fun. Fair enough if war games are fun, I think so as well. But using remembrance day, a day for sober reflection (fun can be educational, but you can't escape the fact that "fun" is inherently not a cause of sober reflection)on suffering, our war dead and what has gone before, as a gimmick to make money off a product that tends to make light of the very events it portrays? Tasteless in the extreme.
This sort of thing boils down to your own perspective and mindset. I have never played games like this while thinking how cool it is that everyone is dying and blowing up. It's a simulation. To play something like this is akin to wanting to know what it was like to be there yourself. To get into the minds of the soldiers and their experience. It is just as important to find out "why" someone plays a game, as it is to research the game itself.
Maybe Rememberance Day is the perfect day to pick up the controller…
The point to Veteran's Day, and Remembrance Day here in Canada, is to honour those that have fought to protect the freedoms we enjoy. Unfortunately, some of those same freedoms include the ability to glorify war and sell video games with marketing schemes that are in poor taste.