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Well, that didn't take long. Someone has already made a Counter-Strike: Source map of the walled compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was recently found and killed by U.S. troops (you can find it for download here). This isn't the first time the assassination of an internationally important figure has made its way into video game format (For example, players can take the role of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of John F. Kennedy, in JFK: Reloaded), but it may be the most rapid. With its eternal struggle between terrorists and counter-terrorists, Counter-Strike is probably the perfect stage for playing out this battle. Look at how absolutely perfect bin Laden's hideaway is for translation into a first person shooter map:
Is this in poor taste? Is it "too soon"? I don't hold much of anything sacred from parody, satire, or even tasteful recreation, and welcome this alongside other Counter-Strike maps featuring real life locations such as MGM Studio's Tower of Terror ride. It might be worth a reinstall of CS:S just to get at this map while it's still poignant. Personally, I want to see a shooter featuring bin Laden's mountain fortress. Oh, that's right, that was already a fictional creation of the media.
I don't think it's too soon because people have a high level of curiosity surrounding the mission at the bin Laden compound. Since we have only basic details regarding classified intelligence/military information, the game player can use his/her imagination to duplicate the action that took place in the compound. As long as the game doesn't portray bin Laden and/or Middle Eastern citizens in a controversial manner, the new map should be permitted. I will not that is is quite amazing that maps can be created this quickly and realistically in such a short period of time.
ReplyDeleteIt is very rare that the media gets a glimpse into top secrets missions carried out by the Navy Seals, and its even more surprising that the public is debriefed in such extensive detail. In my eyes, the ins and outs of this mission serve as the perfect playground for revengeful gameplay.
ReplyDeleteThis is not surprising at all. Art has always found a way to imitate contemporary moods and reality. I do agree that if anything, Osama's death has been a revelation in the speed of transmission of news via social networks as well as the online community's exceptional speed in churning out countless memes, parodies, and what not far more quickly that the brains behind traditional media outlets
ReplyDeleteI think I might have to download this sometime over the summer. I love shooting games but never tried counterstrike; this might be the time to do it. I don't think it's too soon at all because the less than subtle celebrations around American ensure that it is politically correct to celebrate and otherwise recreate Osama's death.
ReplyDeleteIm always surprised at how in depth these news stories are and how much the government lets us see. They go so in depth that it makes me wonder if what they could possibly be hiding since their has to be some information that is too top secret for the public.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Trey, it would be naïve to assume that we'd receive the whole story on such a politically charged event as the assassination of bin Laden. In fact, in this case, the US is openly withholding information from the public:
ReplyDeletehttp://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/05/20115717832650859.html
As a fan of online First Person Shooters, I'd probably give it a whirl. I tend to prefer the vicarious armchair thrill than reality. But thats because I'm a pussy. Having said that, there are probably a bunch of 12 year old single mom X-box live kids out there who have difficulty separating 'reality' from a video game.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of them will make easy fodder for military recruiters. This wouldn't be so bad if there was something worth fighting for anymore. But there isn't. Today, the average GI Joe is just a pawn doing the bidding of big oil and other corporations. There are no nation states anymore. We're living in Bladerunner.
I don't think that there's really anything wrong with eschewing real combat for a simulated version of it, especially when as you say, the goals of our military are questionable. I do like your Bladerunner analogy, though personally I would say we are more realistically on the trajectory of becoming a Gibsonian Sprawl :)
ReplyDeleteThat said, I also agree that our military doesn't offer much of a cause worth fighting for. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say there's nothing worth fighting for at all anymore. I may get crucified for saying this, but I have nothing but respect for bin Laden's warrior spirit, something which is sadly rare in modern times. I'm not an Islamic fundamentalist, and definitely don't desire his goals, namely the death of my friends and family. However, I believe that the goal of preserving a traditional way of life in the face of acculturation into our global industrial society is indeed a noble cause worth giving one's life for. If I met bin Laden on the battlefield, I would be the first to lop off his head, but I would do it with the respect that a true warrior deserves.
Call me crazy, but imagine this scenario:
ReplyDeleteWhen US intelligence learned that Osama bin Laden was held up in the Abbottabad compound, they knew they had only one shot at getting him. So they hired a team of video game modders to make a "serious" video game Counterstrike map to train the elite Seal 6 unit. Playing within a virtual compound would train the special force team to learn every nook and crany of the compound before being delivered to the site on D-Day. Using modern 3D GPS sattelite imaging techniques (which do exist: http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1882317/germany_launches_3d_imaging_satellite/) the game designers were able to create a map accurate to six feet to train the soldiers.
Once the map was completed, the Seal 6 team endured grueling training through long red-eye nights of playing cs_abbottabad and drinking Mountain Dew. After countless hours of enduring shameful "pwnage" and being labeled "nubz" the team mastered the map and was finally ready to take on the mission, for real, in the field.
"Counter-Terrorists Win."
I certainly don't think it's too soon to release this map. Video game companies are FOR-PROFIT agencies, and they will do anything to make their game better than their competitor's game. Whatever videogame introduces this map first will be the most successful of the year, I guarantee it.
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