Warning: today’s entry will be something of a rant, so if you aren’t in the mood, come back another day.
Okay, to the topic at hand: the new British video game JFK Reloaded. To quote Senator Ted Kennedy’s spokesman, this is just "despicable" (CNN’s coverage).
I can think of no good reason for this video game to exist, and the reasons given by the game manufacturer are absolute crap. I hope the market responds appropriately and no one buys it.
But it got me thinking — someone has to be developing the marketing campaigns for this absolutely awful product. How do you put your head around marketing something so obviously offensive to so many?
In my career, I have marketed a controversial product. However, it would not have been possible for me to market, and defend, the Cyber Patrol Internet filtering software had I not believed that parents DID have a right to manage their children’s Internet access. And that schools and libraries do have the right, and perhaps even an obligation, to create safe spaces for children using the Internet in those venues.
Do the people developing and marketing this game actually think this is okay — to allow people to sit in the assassin’s shoes and pull the trigger? Is this a case of extreme cognitive dissonance, where they are just paid so much to believe it is okay, that any qualms they had are quashed? Or are their ethics so trashed that they market it even though they know it is just WRONG.
How can they not KNOW it is wrong? Have they forgotten that, although he was a public figure, Kennedy was also the brother, father, relative and friend to people who are still living? It is just not right to do something that will be hurtful to others in such a grisly fashion.
Coal in their stockings for Christmas this year.
I am a big believer in freedoms.
I believe that freedom itself is probably the most worthwhile thing any human being has.
This being the case, I have always sided with the game manufacturers in these situations (as well as musicians and authors).
In this instance I am afraid that I once again believe that if a company wishes to create a game title of such dubious nature, that is their choice. I do not think it should be disallowed by laws.
I also think that the people who decide to publish such titles are idiots. But they should be allowed to be idiots if they so choose.
I will not buy the game, nor do I have much interest in many of the other highly controversial titles out there, but there are always those who will, as misguided as humanity often is.
Hopefully this game will be a massive failure, perhaps bad enough to close down any and all companies associated with its release.
One can hope.
Perhaps those who purchase games which glorify violence and criminal activities should be monitored more closely…..
It would give all the Homeland Security people who aren’t making the US any more secure SOMETHING to do! 😉