Now, I'm really not one to buy into hype and controversy, but the air surrounding EA's upcoming Medal of Honor game is really starting to bug me.
For those who don't know, Medal of Honor is a series of war games set in historically accurate settings. Since the first game back on the Playstation, the series has snaked across various parts of World War 2 and its associated conflicts - It's had a title set in the Pacific, a recreation of the D-Day landings and so forth. EA decided to reinvent the series and their first port of call is the war in Afghanistan. Yes, the current one. That isn't where the controversy lies, though.
As has been common with the Medal of Honor games (and the various "clones" such as Activision's Call of Duty series), there's a multiplayer element to it. In most of the previous games, if not all of them, you effectively had Allied vs Axis. This time around, it's US vs Taliban. In the multiplayer mode (I cannot stress that enough), one side is the US and the other is the Taliban. There's no single player campaign allowing you to play as the Taliban forces. That "option" (if you can call it that) is limited to multiplayer.
It's not like EA have gone into this with a sledgehammer, and one of the major selling points of the Medal of Honor franchise is its historical accuracy. The locations, the weaponry, the tactics - It's as close to historically accurate as you'll get, really. They've stated many times that they work, and have worked with, serving soldiers in the armies and societies such as the Congressional Medal of Honor Society (I believe that's their name) so they've had guidance and experienced people all through the development.
One thing I've heard is related to kids playing it - They shouldn't be playing it. In the UK, I believe it's been given (or is going to be given) an 18 rating - i.e. the only way a child is going to get it is if the parent supplies it to them. If a child is playing it and takes something from it (such as support of the Taliban), then blame the parent and not the game.
This war has been tackled by film, book, television and every other medium under the sun. Why is it so unacceptable for a game to have the Taliban as a playable side? They're not glorifying what goes on in a war, they're not supporting the Taliban. They're keeping it authentic and based in historical fact - And that's what the series is about.
I'm not against what EA are doing, I think I've made that clear, but you can't decry a product for being historically accurate and factual. If you don't agree with what EA are doing, then don't play the game. Don't give it any of your time. Don't buy it for a family member. Vote with your money.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Dungeons & Dragons #0 Review
Dungeons & Dragons #0 Review:
Publisher: IDW
Basic Info:
Issue #0 exists, chiefly, to provide a small glimpse at two of IDW's upcoming products - Dungeons & Dragons (Ongoing) and Dark Sun (5-issue limited). Both teasers are used to introduce the major characters and to start the events, so at least no time is wasted with pointless meandering.
Dungeons & Dragons
D&D is the upcoming on-going series, starting in November (woo!) and it revolves around a rather lucky band of adventurers. The party is somewhat clichéd - Elf Ranger, Human Fighter, Tiefling Mage, Halfling Rogue, Dwarf Paladin - but from what we're shown, it works.
The writing is very light hearted, and as someone with more experience in Forgotten Realms, it's quite a pleasant change. The art style is also cartoony (without being disproportionate or ridiculous) and it helps carry that tone across. The characters also interact pretty well and they seem like they've worked together for some time - it seems natural and fluid.
Overall, it's a well written short piece. I was instantly captivated by Bree Three-Hands (Halfling Rogue) as her character was very interesting and humorous, although that's not to say the other characters weren't good.
8/10 for me. It was too short, and whilst the art was good, the scaling seemed to change from time to time. I don't think it's fair, or appropriate, to rate it higher as it's simply a teaser piece.
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a setting I must admit I'm not familiar with. In this issue, it's a much shorter piece, and also of a different tone. In contrast to Dungeons & Dragons, Dark Sun has a much darker art style and no humour.
It's the story of a gladiator who escapes his predicament and is hunted down by, I assume, a slaver. His lover didn't try to stop him being taken by the guards at the start, so I can only guess that he's going to attempt find out why she didn't.
There's not much I can say about this teaser as there's only 6 pages to go on. All I know is that I'm really not sold on it. I don't really want to rate it, so I'll just suggest that you try to find D&D #0 and make up your mind. Dark Sun #1 is out in Jan '11, by the way.
Overall:
Combined with the interviews at the back, this teaser issue was well worth the $1 (think it was just shy of £1 here). I'm sold on Dungeons & Dragons, although I don't know if I'll get the issues or the trades.
If you don't play D&D but like fantasy comics, D&D and Dark Sun are up your street. If you play D&D and like comics, this is right up your street too. You don't have to know anything about D&D to understand and enjoy this (if the interviews are anything to go by), so seriously, if you have a few spare coins and you see this on a shelf (or eventually the trades), then pick them up.
Publisher: IDW
Basic Info:
Issue #0 exists, chiefly, to provide a small glimpse at two of IDW's upcoming products - Dungeons & Dragons (Ongoing) and Dark Sun (5-issue limited). Both teasers are used to introduce the major characters and to start the events, so at least no time is wasted with pointless meandering.
Dungeons & Dragons
D&D is the upcoming on-going series, starting in November (woo!) and it revolves around a rather lucky band of adventurers. The party is somewhat clichéd - Elf Ranger, Human Fighter, Tiefling Mage, Halfling Rogue, Dwarf Paladin - but from what we're shown, it works.
The writing is very light hearted, and as someone with more experience in Forgotten Realms, it's quite a pleasant change. The art style is also cartoony (without being disproportionate or ridiculous) and it helps carry that tone across. The characters also interact pretty well and they seem like they've worked together for some time - it seems natural and fluid.
Overall, it's a well written short piece. I was instantly captivated by Bree Three-Hands (Halfling Rogue) as her character was very interesting and humorous, although that's not to say the other characters weren't good.
8/10 for me. It was too short, and whilst the art was good, the scaling seemed to change from time to time. I don't think it's fair, or appropriate, to rate it higher as it's simply a teaser piece.
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a setting I must admit I'm not familiar with. In this issue, it's a much shorter piece, and also of a different tone. In contrast to Dungeons & Dragons, Dark Sun has a much darker art style and no humour.
It's the story of a gladiator who escapes his predicament and is hunted down by, I assume, a slaver. His lover didn't try to stop him being taken by the guards at the start, so I can only guess that he's going to attempt find out why she didn't.
There's not much I can say about this teaser as there's only 6 pages to go on. All I know is that I'm really not sold on it. I don't really want to rate it, so I'll just suggest that you try to find D&D #0 and make up your mind. Dark Sun #1 is out in Jan '11, by the way.
Overall:
Combined with the interviews at the back, this teaser issue was well worth the $1 (think it was just shy of £1 here). I'm sold on Dungeons & Dragons, although I don't know if I'll get the issues or the trades.
If you don't play D&D but like fantasy comics, D&D and Dark Sun are up your street. If you play D&D and like comics, this is right up your street too. You don't have to know anything about D&D to understand and enjoy this (if the interviews are anything to go by), so seriously, if you have a few spare coins and you see this on a shelf (or eventually the trades), then pick them up.
Wonder Woman #600 Review
As an outside observer of DC Comics, this was an unusual purchase for me, and so please take my comments with that knowledge in mind.
Wonder Woman #600 is a mess, but at the same time it isn't. It's a collection of shorter strips - One which I would assume ties into current DC events, one with the delectable Power Girl, and there's the "main" story, which showcases Wonder Woman's new costume. They all seemed disjointed and, perhaps, more a celebration of Wonder Woman rather than a canonical issue.
The first story involves many women from the DC line up fighting a group of "siren robots" who've enthralled a bunch of men, and then Wonder Woman hurried off to a graduation of some sort. Yep, that's about as much sense as it made to me. The art was blindingly colourful, and then changed into more neutral tones towards the end. The second is predominantly a story about Power Girl and Wonder Woman, although one of the female Bat characters (Batgirl, I think) makes an appearance. It's light hearted, and the art works pretty well. The final story is pathetically short, and you effectively just see Wonder Woman beat up some guys, walk through a sewer-like tunnel bordered by people in white robes and then talk to a blind girl.
Each small strip is separated by a few pieces of art by various artists, showing Wonder Woman in her old costume in various poses and situations. Some are better than others, but the standard is pretty high. My favourite has to be the piece of Wonder Woman stood on a podium, and I've found a picture:
To top it off, there's an introduction by Lynda Carter and at the end there's two smaller interviews with people involved.
As someone who doesn't read DC, I was left a bit confused. I suppose I let myself in for it as I'd hoped #600 would be a fresh start and less of a "compilation" issue. Does Wonder Woman's "reinvention" look like it could be excellent? Yes, it does. But by simply going by the art and what's been said so far, it looks like she's going in the direction of Batman in that everything's going to be dark and brooding. Her costume has lost a lot of its colour and vibrance, the tones used were predominantly darker/paler shades, and it seems a bit wrong for Wonder Woman. One thing I do like is how they seem to have toned her down a bit. DC and Marvel have both gone down the road of ladies having large chests, but whilst Wonder Woman is still well endowed in that region, she's more modest about it, I think.
Wonder Woman #600 is a mess, but at the same time it isn't. It's a collection of shorter strips - One which I would assume ties into current DC events, one with the delectable Power Girl, and there's the "main" story, which showcases Wonder Woman's new costume. They all seemed disjointed and, perhaps, more a celebration of Wonder Woman rather than a canonical issue.
The first story involves many women from the DC line up fighting a group of "siren robots" who've enthralled a bunch of men, and then Wonder Woman hurried off to a graduation of some sort. Yep, that's about as much sense as it made to me. The art was blindingly colourful, and then changed into more neutral tones towards the end. The second is predominantly a story about Power Girl and Wonder Woman, although one of the female Bat characters (Batgirl, I think) makes an appearance. It's light hearted, and the art works pretty well. The final story is pathetically short, and you effectively just see Wonder Woman beat up some guys, walk through a sewer-like tunnel bordered by people in white robes and then talk to a blind girl.
Each small strip is separated by a few pieces of art by various artists, showing Wonder Woman in her old costume in various poses and situations. Some are better than others, but the standard is pretty high. My favourite has to be the piece of Wonder Woman stood on a podium, and I've found a picture:
To top it off, there's an introduction by Lynda Carter and at the end there's two smaller interviews with people involved.
As someone who doesn't read DC, I was left a bit confused. I suppose I let myself in for it as I'd hoped #600 would be a fresh start and less of a "compilation" issue. Does Wonder Woman's "reinvention" look like it could be excellent? Yes, it does. But by simply going by the art and what's been said so far, it looks like she's going in the direction of Batman in that everything's going to be dark and brooding. Her costume has lost a lot of its colour and vibrance, the tones used were predominantly darker/paler shades, and it seems a bit wrong for Wonder Woman. One thing I do like is how they seem to have toned her down a bit. DC and Marvel have both gone down the road of ladies having large chests, but whilst Wonder Woman is still well endowed in that region, she's more modest about it, I think.
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