They make video games about the Vietnam War--WTF?!?!

[DerekG]

I just saw a commercial for a game called Battlefield: 'Nam '67.

Think about this for a second: they fashioned a game that celebrates an imperialist country's genocidal assault against a peasant people.

What's next? The Algerian adventure? The Buchenwald brigade? What the #$%?!?!?!

This society is going to hell.

[mark414]

1. dude its badass

probably the most realistic war game ever

though not as fun as killing nazis in medal of honor or wolfenstein

yeah...NOTHING is better than killing nazis

[JohnKleeb]

3. Call of Duty is great too

[okieinpain]

8. like it. playing doom3 right now. can't wait for half-life2.

[Endangered Specie]

27. Very much so, if you play it...

look around the rifle only servers. I have "{DU}" in the handle ;), youll know it when you get shot out of nowhere :evilgrin:.

[rockymountaindem]

29. Can you give me some playing tips for COD.

I suck at it. Quite frankly, I'm embarassed. For example, I can't seem to get my target in the sights fast enough from long range. Why is that? Also, every time I'm in a close combat shootout with someone I loose. Can you give me a little help?

[Endangered Specie]

30. A few pointers...

when to use sites is tricky... depending on the gun you use, dont use sites unless its long range, and dont even attempt long range without a rifle or MG. In close quarters there is no reason to use iron sights, jumping around helps.

-Make liberal use of lean, crouch and prone.

-If youve been spotted or shot at, leave, change places, and do NOT go back to the same place, the guy will have his sights waiting, thats like the #1 mistake.

-You may need to select a gun that suits your purpose better, you will have to limit where you go and how far you engage the enemy depending on gun selection, I prefer to stay back and shoot from afar, Im not too good at close quarter shooting either.

-INternet connection, make sure your ping is as low as possible (<50 is great, 100 is bearable and should be considered a maximum).

-Quickness is just something that has to be developed, Id suggest (and Ive done this) starting a few maps on your own with just yourself, and figure out the best key/mouse/video/sound settings for you, also, play around with the guns and see what they can and cant do.

[jpgray]

2. Look! You and Joe Lieberman finally agree on something?

:D

Come on, it's only a game. Are all games about the Roman empire terrible due to the horrible human rights issues and imperialism there? Are games about World War II depraved because of our barbarous behavior towards civilians? Games aren't reality and they don't have to be morally impeccable, they just have to be fun. If you don't like it, don't buy it. But I really don't see the problem with simulating the combat in Vietnam.

[JohnKleeb]

4. A thing I should add

My WWII games that I love to play have made me more of a pacifist, I always try to save the guys I am with, why? because I feel like they are real people and the music is oh so beautiful, ok I admit I am a bit weird but seeing that poor guy who got stuck in his parachute in Holland really got to me, it was just so sad, and the brave british at Arnhem, all this in MOH:FL.

[mark414]

5. or in that first village in MOH

i always charge the nazis so they cant throw grenades at the americans

and the guy in holland makes me so sad, i just wish i could save him :(

[JohnKleeb]

7. yeah thats right

:(
It happens to me in Call of Duty too, and they all have names for sure in that game, and I mourn em. There's an 82nd Airborne guy in that same level in Holland, Pfc Langeau, I always try to save him along with Barnes, it just makes me feel good. I am gonna put up a thread on this ok.

[Endangered Specie]

28. Sorta like in COD...

during the russian game where you are supposed to snipe the officers, I spent a few minutes just shooting the machinegunners, a-I couldnt tell the officers from the rest, and b-I didnt care, I just wanted to stop those damn MGs!

spooky when you get into a game like that eh?

[DerekG]

6. I never thought I would agree with Lieberman on anything, but...

I am convinced that these war simulations have the government's blessing--they are teaching an entire generation to be better soldiers.

I am a Nintendo freak--but Metroid Prime or the Legend of Zelda is a hell of a lot different than these monstrosities.

[mark414]

9. well i can assure you

that the ONLY games i play are death/killing/soldier games

and if there is a draft (i'm a nice draft age), i will go to jail before fighting ANY war

[DerekG]

14. I don't believe in censorship...

But there is something profane about games like these--there are deformed babies born *every* day in Vietnam due to our chemicals. We turned the rice patty of the world into a scorching hell.

BTW--If the draft is reinstated, I'll be in prison with you.

[TheMightyFavog]

10. I like battlefield 'nam

Although the ping times suck ass where I am.

BTW If you hate the idea of games based on Vietnam, you'll love the Desert Combat mod for BF: 1942 which portrays battles in Operation Oil Grab.

[Ready4Change]

11. Well, you can play the side of the peasant people fighting imperialists.

.

[JohnKleeb]

12. You actually mangled the two Vietnam games out right now

Battlefield Vietnam where you can be the Vietnamese as well and Shellshock '67.

[Forkboy]

13. There's been plenty of them over the years

Some are pretty damn good too :shrug:

[Big Kahuna]

15. Yep, it's sick, and we have it in our cybercafe.

I am not happy about it. It was my biz partner's idea. Next I'll be clubbing baby harp seals for a living. :(

I definately draw the line at "America's Army" though. That's just outright brainwashing of our youth by the military.

[DerekG]

16. So no one's with me on this, huh?

Well, I hope your kids enjoy Iraq: Apocalypse in about a decade--they'll get to drive a tank--"Goldeneye" style--and crush lots of "insurgents" under its gears.

I can see the commerical now: "Shock and Awe your enemy into oblivion! For Honor. For Glory. For Freedom."

[Medium Baby Jesus]

17. I hate to tell you...

You don't have to wait.
It's called Iraqi Freedom

[Big Kahuna]

18. I personally beleive in Nonviolence.

I am a member of a local Catholic nonviolence community. (even though I am Pagan)

I have found through years of volunteering and working at our town's Youth Center.. You can not reach people or make a difference by "being a weenie", and demanding that the whole world stop and conform to your point of view.

[DerekG]

22. I'm not expecting anyone to conform

But I don't think I'm being a "weenie" when I see a shrewd attempt (even if it's unintentional) to reshape our perception of history for the sake of entertainment--especially at a time when we're committing the same sins.

We raped a country, and took the lives of 3 million of its inhabitants, that's why I'm being touchy.

Games like this will produce ripples, however small. What will the younger generation think of the war--that is was wrong merely for the sake of being unwinnable, or immoral?

[Forkboy]

19. So what's your answer?

Are you happy with just shaming people who play them or do you think we should ban them too?

[DerekG]

23. Who's talking about banning?

I don't believe in censorship. But I have the suspicion that the military-industrial complex *loves* this stuff to reach America's youth. They already incorporate these simulations into certain training programs. It makes the men more efficient--and reduces their enemies to damn pixels.

Don't you think these hyper-realistic games could have even the smallest influence in subtle but important ways?

[Forkboy]

25. I brought up banning to see how far you'd be willing to go to stop this

Your answer pleases me greatly.

Don't you think these hyper-realistic games could have even the smallest influence in subtle but important ways?

I dont believe there is a causal relationship between games,music,movies,tv etc. I believe that these forms of entertainment simply reinforce previously held beliefs,for good or ill.I also trust that most people can differentiate between these forms of entertainment and reality.I hate war yet love war games.The games haven't me think differently about war and it's effect on it's victims (in fact it's usually just the opposite...it reminds me of the price of war).I certainly dont think of dead Iraqis as just pixels.I'm sure for some it does,but thousands of people play these games without forgetting it's just a game and not a way of life.

As for you contention above in another post about the reshaping of history through some games that is true,and it is sad when games do this.As a long time "grognard" I can honestly say that the overwhelming bulk of wargames try their damndest to portray events as realistically as possible.But the industry is an entertainment industry first and foremost.Historical accuracy isn't always fun :shrug:

And as a gamer nothing is more offensive than a boring game ;-)

[HEyHEY]

21. I'm with you - it's disrespectful bullshit

I'd like to take the fucks that designed it, the marketing guys that sell it, and the CEO of the place the makes it, and send all to a battlefield.

[HEyHEY]

20. Yup, countless young men go off and die, and we make a game of it

Fucking sick

[Baclava]

24. Why does everyone hate

...polygons?

Is this a new trip geriatrics are using to mindfuck GenX?
Don't fear gamers...they'll soon be rotting in their crypts.
Game on!

[fishnfla]

26. Video hell was 'rambo' and the 'missing in action' movies

waaaaaay before they made these games, Stallone and Norris went back and won the fucking war