Posts Tagged ‘Atomic Games’

‘Fallujah’ war video game gets pulled

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

6 Days in Fallujah
NEW YORK (AP) – The publisher behind a video game based on one of the Iraq war’s fiercest battles has pulled the plug on the title, called “Six Days in Fallujah.”

A spokeswoman for Japanese game company Konami Corp. confirmed Tuesday the company is no longer publishing the game, which was set to go on sale early next year.

The game, which was still in development, sought to re-create the November 2004 Fallujah battle from the perspective of a U.S. Marine fighting against insurgents. Fallujah had been an insurgent holdout until U.S. forces stormed it in one of the war’s most intense ground battles.

“Six Days” was developed by another company, Atomic Games, with input from more than three dozen Marines. Before deciding not to publish the game, Konami had advertised it as a realistic shooting game “unlike any other,” combining “authentic weaponry, missions and combat set against the gripping story of the U.S. Marines on the ground.”

But the game was criticized by some veterans, victims’ families and others who called it inappropriate.

Konami did not give a reason for its decision to cancel the game.

Atomic’s president, Peter Tamte, said the company was surprised.

Video game publishers don’t always shy from controversy, which can even boost sales, especially if the game is of high quality. The “Grand Theft Auto” series from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., for example, has long been under fire for its violent content, but it brings in the bulk of the company’s sales. It is more common in the current economy for companies to pull the plug if the game is not going to be a hit.

Konami is known for other war games such as the popular “Metal Gear Solid” series, as well as “Dance Dance Revolution,” in which players dance on a mat in synch with music.

Other titles by Atomic Games include the “Close Combat” and “World at War” series. The company also develops training systems for military and intelligence organizations.










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