Simulated terrorism as entertainment?

By Omri Petitte

Contributing Writer

When industry giant Electronic Arts announced it would reboot the venerable “Medal of Honor” franchise last December, gamers rejoiced at the prospect of a new chapter in this timeless staple of first-person shooters, but news of its release has also ignited controversy.

The rumored inclusion of al-Qaida as a playable faction in the game, which EA's official press release failed to mention, is at the heart of the issue.

Predictably, the gaming community is equally divided on the topic. Hamza Aziz, community manager of the gaming review website Destructoid, took issue with the virtual portrayal of al-Qaida in “Medal of Honor.”

“It just hits too close to home. This is an organization that's terrorized Afghanistan, America, and numerous other parts of the world for decades now. To me, playing as al-Qaida means I'm helping the bad guys win,” Aziz wrote.

He went on to state that his Afghan heritage precludes any feasible enjoyment that might be garnered from the game, which takes its setting from war-torn Afghanistan.

For many others, the ongoing outcry ignores the importance of the “Medal of Honor” franchise’s adherence to realism and contemporary events.

“I think it is a fair point,” said Patrick Liu, one the game’s producers during an interview with PSM3 magazine. “We do stir up some feelings, although it's not about the war, it's about the soldiers. We can't get away from what the setting is and who the factions are, but in the end it's a game, so we're not pushing or provoking too hard.”

The “it's a game” argument has precedence with developer Infinity Ward's defense of the similarly themed “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” and its infamous “No Russian” level, where players assume the role of a Russian terrorist and gun down unarmed civilians in an airport.

“Medal of Honor” is scheduled for release Oct. 12  on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms.