Electronic Arts has reversed course in their decision to include the Taliban as playable in Medal of Honor's multipayer. In spite of past statements that the company wouldn't bow to pressure to remove the content, EA cites " feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers."
Instead of "The Taliban," the multipayer team will be refered to as the much less ominous "Opposing Forces." Gameplay will remain the same.
In a blog post, the game's executive producer Greg Goodrich posted the following:
In the past few months, we have received feedback from all over the world regarding the multiplayer portion of Medal of Honor. We’ve received notes from gamers, active military, and friends and family of servicemen and women currently deployed overseas. The majority of this feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. For this, the Medal of Honor team is deeply appreciative.
However, we have also received feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers who have expressed concern over the inclusion of the Taliban in the multiplayer portion of our game. This is a very important voice to the Medal of Honor team. This is a voice that has earned the right to be listened to. It is a voice that we care deeply about. Because of this, and because the heartbeat of Medal of Honor has always resided in the reverence for American and Allied soldiers, we have decided to rename the opposing team in Medal of Honor multiplayer from Taliban to Opposing Force.
While this change should not directly affect gamers, as it does not fundamentally alter the gameplay, we are making this change for the men and women serving in the military and for the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice - this franchise will never willfully disrespect, intentionally or otherwise, your memory and service.
To all who serve - we appreciate you, we thank you, and we do not take you for granted. And to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines currently serving overseas, stay safe and come home soon. Greg Goodrich Executive Producer Medal of Honor.
Just for contrast sake, check out this statement from EA president Frank Gibeau, from back in August:
“There’s a lot of furor around games that take creative risks – like games that let you play terrorists in airports mowing down civilians... At EA we passionately believe games are an artform, and I don’t know why films and books set in Afghanistan don’t get flack, yet [games] do. Whether it’s Red Badge Of Courage or The Hurt Locker, the media of its time can be a platform for the people who wish to tell their stories. Games are becoming that platform."
This is what we call a flip-flop... but one that, to me, makes perfect sense. What do you guys think?
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Comments
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InHumanMarine
Well, this just saved me 60 bucks.....
SamT3N7
The media was quick to jump on the controversy of the inclusion of the Taliban in MOH. The sad thing is this will probably never be mentioned in the media. Other things aside I think EA is one of the only game publishers that has it's head on straight. Good job, EA.
AkimboTrout
Before I get started let me give you some background about myself. I was in the Army. While in the Army is was deployed to Afghanistan. I was even on missions with Special Forces more than a few times. I have been shot at by the Taliban, multiple times. Im not talking about random mortar attacks, but direct fire, Assault rifles, RPG's, you name it, its gone by my head.
I even had a friend that was killed by the Taliban by a road side IED. Not just someone I knew but a friend. I had been to BBQ's at his house, met his wife, and his then 3 month old baby girl. And yes, I knew people who had families in the Wold Trade Center that never made it out. I've seen the pain in their faces when they remember those that they loved.
I've seen first hand what the Taliban are capable of. I have seen the villages in afghanistan that they have destroyed, both physically and emotionally. U.S. forces would deliver food, clothing, and medical supplies to those in need and not 24 hours later the Taliban would take all of it away from them; burning clothing, and supplies. They would beat anyone they suspected had taken any U.S. aid what so ever.
That being said I have ZERO issue with the Taliban as a playable faction in MOH multiplayer. Why you ask. Because the Taliban are not the soulless monsters that our very own government and news says they are. While I don't agree with the Taliban's tactics or beliefs, I can empathize.
What if a military faction invaded the United States? What if they started implementing new rules and curfews? What if they told you they where going to restructure our government and that they knew what was best for us? Would you just sit back and go with the flow? I'm willing to bet your answer is NO. You would fight back. You would join a group of like minded individuals to rally your cause. You would do everything in your power to fight for you way of life.
The Taliban is no different. There are no, "Bad Guys", in war. Only two factions fighting for what they both believe in their hearts is the right thing. To sit here and say that I believe the Taliban are any worse than myself would be a total lie. And to hate them just because the government or CNN told me to would be completely irresponsible for me as a human being.
No video game is going to change my feeling about my experiences. It's not going to make me mourn the loss of my friend any more. Its not going to make me feel hatred towards those the tried to murder me. And lets make no mistake about it; when you fire a weapon at someone you ARE trying to murder them. And its not going to make me want to kill U.S. soldiers. All this is is a simulation. A virtual war that happens to be based on a current war.
osamaismyhomeboy
Officially not buying this anymore.
SUNNYZATION
CHILL OUT GUYS,EA NEEDS TO DO IT,IF MOH SALES ARE NOT GOING TO HIT 3 MILLION COPIES,THERE WILL BE NO MOH ANY MORE,THEY R THROWING IT TO ARCHIVE BIN.
Strychnine
Unless you've signed up, volunteered, and done a tour of duty you're just pissing in the wind because you have NO IDEA about what you're talking about. NONE.
addictivestatue
I truly think that games should be rated for gamers by gamers.
micrapple
There are 2 things people should know about video game. One, there are people who played it and two, there are those who refuses to play it. Those who don't should be the one that get ban from opinion and commonly those who raises those issue are either want attention or just have nothing better to do.
As for me, when I play, I play for fun and entertainment and don't give a peepee about the politic behind it.
JaymEsch
It's bowing to censorship that wouldn't occur in any other art form.
Just like the bad guys in "The Hurt Locker" were called "The Meanies".
Or the bad guys in "Schindler's List" were called "Those Darn Goofballs".
What's next? Renaming "The Empire" in Star Wars to "The Collective of Protagonists"?
This is another example of conservatism and its bass-ackwards faux morals being interjected into our reality. We could have very interesting, meaningful, and intelligent discussions- as of course, the use of such content within art brings people directly to the issue and stimulates conversation- but we have a loud minority of conservatives in our nation diluting intellectual progress with their prudishness and ostrich-like view of the world... keep your head in the sand, don't look at what's really going on, and it'll all just go away. USA #1!
/eyeroll
Muscley_Arms
i think that a fair compromise would to do what MW2 did. give the players the choice of what they want to see. give them an option for it to show the other team as tailban or opposing players so that way everyone can pick what it is they want
RandyMercer
So, even after all that positive feedback from people who actually mattered, they still backed down? Ugh come EA we had your back screw everyone else, you weren't even being disrespectful.
fakeSKITTLEZ
@John-Galt... Wow... OK
1. Why should public opinion matter to industry? You're kidding right? Is it not the PUBLIC who PURCHASES or DOESN'T PURCHASE a good or service depending on what they like or don't like?
2. It's Nazi, not Natzi.
3. You can't even make that comparison. The Taliban is a terrorist organization, an insurgency, or militia group, whichever you would prefer to call it, as opposed to Nazi Germany being an all powerful government that controlled everything. The Taliban IS NO LONGER an oppressive government like Nazi Germany. It is not a government anymore, period.
4. Ummm... Clearly enemy soldiers ARE the enemy, or they wouldn't be "enemy" soldiers would they. Seriously, are you dumb?
5. They ARE fighting for traditionalist Islamic ideals and for country because we invaded their country and overthrew their rule.
But through this smoke screen of idiocy, there were, believe it or not, 2 things I agree with.
1. Clearly the OpFor is the Taliban, so why bother changing the name? We all know what it really is at this point.
2. They probably do go through a lot more stress and trauma. I mean, we kinda invaded their country.
fakeSKITTLEZ
@John-Galt... Wow... OK
1. Why should public opinion matter to industry? You're kidding right? Is it not the PUBLIC who PURCHASES or DOESN'T PURCHASE a good or service depending on what they like or don't like?
2. It's Nazi, not Natzi.
3. You can't even make that comparison. The Taliban is a terrorist organization, an insurgency, or militia group, whichever you would prefer to call it, as opposed to Nazi Germany being an all powerful government that controlled everything. The Taliban IS NO LONGER an oppressive government like Nazi Germany. It is not a government anymore, period.
4. Ummm... Clearly enemy soldiers ARE the enemy, or they wouldn't be "enemy" soldiers would they. Seriously, are you dumb?
5. They ARE fighting for traditionalist Islamic ideals and for country because we invaded their country and overthrew their rule.
But through this smoke screen of idiocy, there were, believe it or not, 2 things I agree with.
1. Clearly the OpFor is the Taliban, so why bother changing the name? We all know what it really is at this point.
2. They probably do go through a lot more stress and trauma. I mean, we kinda invaded their country.
slimmer
I meant "now" , sorry.
slimmer
Definitely NOT buying this game know.
slimmer
So much for the right to free speech.
smooth_trooper
So they're going to have the same name as OpFor in MW2?
Way to stand up for the 1st amendment EA.
BlackenedPickle
who cares anyway. this game is terrible
ProudFilipino
That sucks! seriously we can play as other Terrorists and Nazis in other games but they hate that we can play as Talibans? WTF! even though this sucks it wont stop me from buying this game when it comes out!
hammerofgod
will this is BS so what we can call the naiz scum and the russians scum but not the Taliban and they are right about movies how come it is ok for movies to do that but not in game it just the same but u play the person of the main story and it is tellling of that story just site down and eat the popcron and watch it is like a movie dont pepole realise it is just a game nathing more not reall and i do respect the pepole in the war right now but come on pepole just let things go !!!!!!!! ps just a game not real
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