Defence Secretary Liam Fox ‘disgusted and angry’ with Medal Of Honor Reboot
The man put in charge of the UK’s Ministry of Defence has urged retailers to ban the selling of EA’s Medal Of Honor reboot.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox now adds to the outcry against the game from various national media outlets.
Fox is “disgusted” by Medal Of Honor’s multiplayer mode, which allows players to assume the role of Islamist political group the Taliban and fight NATO troops.
”It is shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban,” Fox said.
”I am disgusted and angry. It’s hard to believe that any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game.I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product.”
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The move is a new blow for the once-rosy relations between the UK game industry and its government, which this year saw the Treasury back away from promises to introduce game tax breaks.
Fox, a Conservative MP, is not thought to have made public comments about videogames in the past.
The calls for a retail ban come after news outlet Fox News interviewed Karen Meredith, the mother of a soldier who died in the Afghan War, as part of a news report entitled “Video Game Lets You Be the Taliban”.
Meredith also called for the game to be banned, and sparked what is now becoming widespread criticism of EA’s war game.
An EA spokesperson said the game gives users “the opportunity to play both sides”, adding, “most of us have done this since we were seven: someone plays the cop, someone plays the robber.”
Medal Of Honor is in development at two key EA studios; the Californian outfit Danger Close, and Swedish group DICE.
Yes its ok for you to send people to their deaths but a mere simulation isn't acceptable, idiot
Finlay, they didn't send people to fight at the Taliban side, that is the difference.
It really is tasteless. In a video game, you are engaged in a simulation, you feel like you are the character, different from movies, in which you detach yourself from the characters.
In times of war, "being" the side that kills your friends in real life, just to have some fun, is offensive. It is not illegal, you see, it is just bad taste.
If it has a bad taste add some sugar.Assume the character is not taliban its a jewish with cap and beard.........
They develop games and make movies agains us(russians) and chinese we dont band the movies
or games. Their assess are too tight to take the truth
I would like to address this directly to Mr. Fox if I may: I am disappointed with you! Not only have you got the facts wrong about the game but attacking a game in this way will only serve to alienate you further from an important industry as well as young voters – myself included - who actually see games as much more then just mind-numbing entertainment. I urge you and your fellow politicians to stop demonising games and the games industry and get behind it instead. Show your support and welcome games as an important platform for political issues (including your war in Iraq and Afghanistan!) and not simply a political issue in itself.
