Subject: BS: JFK Reloaded - Assassination Video Game
From:
GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 04 - 01:28 PM
Under the 'no comment' banner, from today's Boston Herald (the story is also in online news sources all over the internet):
"Outrage over JFK slay video game
By Jules Crittenden
Monday, November 22, 2004
A British firm seeking to capitalize on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's murder today is issuing ``JFK Reloaded,'' a purportedly educational ``docu-game'' that lets players fire the fatal shots from the Texas Book Depository over and over again.
The Internet release of the game - $9.99 per download - takes place today, the 41st anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald.
A spokesman for the slain president's brother, Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy called the game ``despicable.''
Presidential historian G. Calvin MacKenzie of Colby College said, ``Aside from being in incredibly bad taste, the idea of marketing it as an educational tool seems to stretch the notion of education beyond belief.''
The Glasgow-based firm Traffic said ``JFK Reloaded'' would help disprove conspiracy theories about Kennedy's death. Traffic said the game challenges players to recreate the three shots fired at JFK's car from the Texas School Book Depository. Managing director Kirk Ewing said the game would ``stimulate a younger generation of players to take an interest in this fascinating episode of American history.''
``We've created the game with the belief that Oswald was the only person that fired the shots on that day, although this recreation proves how immensely difficult his task was,'' Ewing said.
In a statement, Traffic said it was ``determined to promote the title respectfully,'' given the sensitivity of the subject.
Sen. Kennedy's spokesman, David Smith, would not comment on whether the family was taking any action to stop the game's release.
``It's despicable. There's really no further comment,'' Smith said.
MacKenzie noted that some games involving historic deaths - allowing players to re-enact major battles - arguably have the legitimate value of teaching strategy and history. But the JFK game crosses the line of decency, he said.
``It is an awful idea. I can't imagine that there is any educational value in this,'' MacKenzie said. ``The Kennedy assassination has been studied for 40 years. There have been scores of books. What could we possibly gain from a video game?''
|
sj
