The discussion on the Reich of Darkness page has been ... interesting. I don't think any resolution will come from there about whether or not it was a good idea to have a "ro-Nazi" game. I myself strongly feel that with so many choices out there, fighting on the side of the Nazis (and making them attractive in the meantime) was a very poor choice of subjects.
I doubt I will convince anyone to delete this game, but would you at least take away the Reich of Darkness promotion on the site? I don't think this is a game anyone would want to be associated with, and I think it would be in your best interests to avoid connections between this and pro-Nazi connotations.
There was plenty wrong with it, especially in view of the increasing activity of Neo-Nazi groups in some parts of Europe today. They don't use swastikas either - doesn't stop them from being radically nationalist and anti-minority (not just anti-Semitic).
There's no proven causation that computer games hosted by a company in California has created such groups.
Those who wish to consign the Holocaust to the past should realise that the more recent genocides (e.g. in Rwanda, as mentioned in other posts) are exactly WHY we should not forget what has gone before, and try to prevent it from happening again.
Encouragement =/= creation, which is why I didn't make a causal link.
And having done much translation work for a Holocaust memorial site in Europe, despite not being Jewish myself, I will politely point out that I am unlikely to be swayed by arguments suggesting that the history of the Nazi period is irrelevant today. If you don't like the Rwanda example, take the ethic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia instead, or look at the treatment of large ethnic minorities such as the Roma in Europe today.
I for one am glad that the game was removed from this site, and I'm not afraid to stand up and say so. I'm not expecting everyone to agree with me, but don't expect me to agree with you either
And having done much translation work for a Holocaust memorial site in Europe, despite not being Jewish myself, I will politely point out that I am unlikely to be swayed by arguments suggesting that the history of the Nazi period is irrelevant today. If you don't like the Rwanda example, take the ethic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia instead, or look at the treatment of large ethnic minorities such as the Roma in Europe today.
I think someone is missing the point that the game does not glorify genocide, or Nazi soldiers. It merely allows you to play in the Nazi role. I suppose Germans who take offence at 1944 Warfare can make a claim for the game to be taken down too, solely because it allows you to play as American soldiers?
Nazi is not a synonym for 'German' - there are (and were) plenty of non-Nazi Germans (the term indicated a member of the NSDAP), and today there are plenty of non-German Nazis in the broader sense.
I think someone is missing the point that the Third Reich, i.e. the polity established by the Nazis, is entirely and inextricably associated with genocide and the crimes of the Nazis - and that the supposed 'cool factor' of being 'bad' is certainly being exploited here by the use of the German word Reich (as opposed an English equivalent), and by the clear WW2 setting.
Nazi is not a synonym for 'German' - there are (and were) plenty of non-Nazi Germans (the term indicated a member of the NSDAP), and today there are plenty of non-German Nazis in the broader sense.
If we're going to play with semantics, be pedantic and hence evasion, then switch it to Nazi Germans. But no, I don't see why the word German can't be used here, the ordinary German may well and truly feel an innate hostility towards the Allies, which we are ''allowed'' to play.
I think someone is missing the point that the Third Reich, i.e. the polity established by the Nazis, is entirely and inextricably associated with genocide and the crimes of the Nazis - and that the supposed 'cool factor' of being 'bad' is certainly being exploited here by the use of the German word Reich (as opposed an English equivalent), and by the clear WW2 setting.
It's not an issue of playing it just for being ''cool'' and flaunting orthodox convention, but merely having the chance to play the other side. I think someone is also missing the point that the Werhmacht was not linked directly to the Holocaust. And no, Reich is also an English word that is used to con-notate a national state of Germany, right from the HRE to the Nazi.
Replying to the original thread's topic, I have to strongly disagree with having a poor taste when you're choosing to make a game where you're able to play as the Wehrmacht.
Granted, the WOII topic is a 'loaded topic' in general, but there are more than enough games out there that let you choose either side of the Axis or Allies to play with!
Look at the game "World Wars"! This game provides you with three different types of army to play with and one of them is the 'Wehrmacht'...
Another example would be the boardgame "Risk", or better yet... the board game "Axis & Allies", which also allows you to play as the 'Wehrmacht'!
So having a narrowminded view on these type of harmless games is out of the question for me. And I'm Dutch, go figure...
I just heard about the game having to be removed from the site. I find it hilarious tbh, never have and never will support Nazism, and never like any form of extremism. I find it extremist that the game was forced off the site. I have lost alot of respect for Armor games. This is not the site for me I shall stick to Kongregate in future.
this arguement is ridiculous its a good game and saying you should ban is like saying we should ban all good video games because they "romote" killing its just a ridiculous claim I say they bring the game back it was fun and didnt hurt anybody
Next week, due to poor admin-ing of the site, I'll go on a butthurt rant about imperialistic, barbaric games glorifying genocide and death and get them removed. Just have to yell long enough and say that genocide is bad loud enough and mods and game creators will bend over backwards in removing their games.
Personally, I'm peeved at the Anti-Defamation League for wasting it's time on this game. The game makes no clear connections to Nazism or Hitler. In fact it clearly states in the games description that it takes place in an alternate 1940's. There is no indication that Nazism or Hitler even exists in this alternate timeline. Furthermore, for those of you out there that claim that games promote increased violence or hate in people there is no conclusive proof (i.e. no study that cannot be disputed by the results of another study). If that were true then I would be a mass murderer by now.Finally, it's a friggin' game for crying out loud. It's meant for entertainment.
