Medal of Disapproval?

EA's latest Medal of Honor instalment is set for release in October 2010, but is already causing a stir. The reason? The single-player game involves US soldiers operating in Afghanistan, but the multi-player game allows players to play as the Taliban.

Peter MacKay, Canada's Defence Minister, has sharply critized the game on the basis that soldiers (including Canadian soldiers), aid workers and civilians in Afghanistan are regularly attacked, and sometimes killed, by Taliban fighters. The Minister believes it is inappropriate for game players, who may include children, to play as the Taliban in the game.

EA has pointed out that there are no Canadian soldiers in the game, and that the game is rated M for mature and therefore should not be sold to anyone under 17.

This situation highlights once again the issues that arise from portraying real-world settings and situations in video games (remember the episode involving the Manchester Cathedral in Resistance: Fall of Man? If not, refresh your memory here). Real-world settings add verisimilitude and enhance the gaming experience but, as these examples show, may also be perceived as offensive or inappropriate.

Media coverage here.