Defence Secretary Liam Fox has called on UK retailers to refuse to stock EA's Medal Of Honor - labelling the option to play as The Taliban in the multiplayer mode of the game 'disgusting'.
The FPS's controversial multiplayer mode has already caused upset in the US media - but Tory MP Fox's diatribe, printed in today's Sunday Times, is the strongest reaction seen yet.
Fox erroneously claims that the mode sees The Taliban shooting British soldiers - when there are no UK troops in the game. But the ferocity of his attack is unwavering.
"It's shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban," he said.
"At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands.
"I am disgusted and angry. It's hard to believe 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."
The title, which is due for release in October, has been given an 18 rating by the BBFC.
DICE, which created the multiplayer section of Medal Of Honor for EA, has said it wasn't intending to "push or provoke too hard" with the Taliban content.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=261236...
The Department of Media, Culture And Sport has distanced itself from requests made by Defence Secretary Liam Fox asking UK retailers to refuse to stock Medal Of Honor.
As reported by CVG yesterday, Fox labelled the ability to play as The Taliban in the multiplayer mode of the FPS "disgusting".
However, a Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson told CVG today:
"Dr Fox was expressing a personal view and we understand why some people might find the subject matter of the game offensive.
"There is a ratings system in place which exists to categorise games appropriately, in this case the game in question is rated 18 so should only be sold to, and played by, adults.
"There is a clear choice for consumers which they can exercise when making decisions about purchasing video games."
EA has responded to controversy surrounding the game both in the UK and across the Atlantic.
A company statement reads:
"Medal Of Honor is set in today's war, putting players in the boots of today's soldier... We give gamers the opportunity to play both sides. Most of us have been doing this since we were seven. If someone's the cop, someone's got to be the robber, someone's got to be the pirate, somebody's got to be the alien. In Medal Of Honor multiplayer, someone has to be the Taliban."
Meanwhile, DICE, which created the multiplayer section of Medal Of Honor for EA, has said it wasn't intending to "push or provoke too hard" with the Taliban content.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ar ... ?id=261328...
They couldn't have
asked for better publicity...
