Video: Fox & Friends & Fallujah
The evil Republican version of a Sid & Marty Kroft morning show, Fox and Friends, took on the controversial, no-longer-Konami-published Six Days in Fallujah and, most unusually, Gretchen Carlson does not prove herself to be the dumbest news anchor in America. Color me impressed that the guests dodged her unusually weak attempts to brew drama.
USMC Capt. Read Omohundro quite honorably defends the game and its purpose, which is to educate the public about one of the most historic battles in American history, and Atomic Games president Peter Tamte talks frankly about how potential profits from the project will "be donated."
Tracy Miller, who lost a son in the Fallujah fighting, seems to have the most human response to the game: she doesn't want to see a portrayal of her son's death, but she would also feel badly if he were left out of the game, because, as Miller says, every parent who's lost a child in the war wants most for them to be remembered. For Miller, it's less about education or honor and more about her son who died. If a mother of one of the fallen can admit that the issue is complicated, the rest of the pundits on either side ought to be able to tone down the hysterics as well.
All in all it's one of the most calm discussions of videogame controversy I've ever seen, let alone on Fox News, let alone on Fox and Friends.
tiny dancer
Posted to Miscellany, Video Games, Videos on 12 June 2009
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: fox and friends, fox news, gretchen carlson, six days in fallujah
Whatever did happen to unbiased news reporting?
I'm kinda glad I haven't watched tv in over 2 years.
OK, now this is ironic. First you preach that pundits should "tone down the hysterics", but then you use language like "the evil Republican version" and claim Fox News is creating drama.
Creating drama? Konami opted to not publish the game WEEKS ago, prior to the first shred of coverage by Fox News and due to public outrage.
You then engage is childish ad hominem attacks by calling Gretchen Carlson the "dumbest news anchor in America", with a straight face, then actually repeat the claim the game's purpose is to "educate the public about one of the most historic battles in American history."
WOW. I'm no lover of Fox News, but this is silliness and stupidity rolled into one ball of STUPID. Do you realize how moronic this makes you sound? Way to acknowledge that rage over this game appeared well before Fox News, way to attack someone personally with insults, way to play it safe and defame an entire news network, and way to showcase both sides of the argument.
But then, I wouldn't expect any more from a simple blog and reporters masquerading as journalists. I expected more from you guys, not half-fast additions to the 'noise'. You're better than that.
I know Tracy personally in Towson, MD. She is a professor at TU and president of the local Democratic club of the legislative district.
She is very soft-spoken, and just so sweet too. She ran for local office in an effort to honor her son and she is part of the gold star family group. She never liked debating, I had to coach her a lot for the political debates with the people she was running against.
She know's I am a gamer and asked what I knew of this game and others like it. Though it is not my usual genre, I informed her that most of these types of game go for realism and want to be accurate.
I agree with Tracy and feel that it maybe too soon to make a game about the Iraq war. While I want us to know the war is happening (and also try to stop it) it just seems too odd and unnerving to also be able to engage in battle which happened just a few years ago.
@Killer Kute: I have a tiny violin, playing a sad, sad song. Just for you.
BTW what was with the developer dude at the end? He totally became possessed and croaked like a frog.
Terrifying.
@Aximill: Very interesting, thanks!
I for one haven't formed a strong opinion on it either way. I don't believe education is the driving force behind the project, that sounds a bit ridiculous. But I'm not necessarily against it.
Seems to me the war itself is what people should be objecting to.
Hah, Gretchen Carlson is so ignorant.
I remember seeing her occasionally on tv and some of the other game related videos on GayGamer, and she seems completely oblivious to what is being said every time.
I am glad they finally got some REAL people to talk about it though- people who did a good job explaining... and even the mother seemed to have similar ideas and opinions as the developers. But Carlson tries to push her ideas onto them nonetheless.
What's with the jabs at Fox News? Generally speaking, its a great news channel. Well, that is if you actually watch it for more than 10 minutes and form your own opinion.
Does Gretchen know anything about video games? No, she is a middle aged woman who is probably given a fact sheet. You know, like all TV host personalities.
Did she ask leading, inflammatory questions? You bet. Thats her job.
The game was obviously developed with the intent to create controversy which generally does not make for a good game. Controversy doesnt equal talent.
Too soon? Yup. Poor Taste? For sure.
@Ant
"What's with the jabs at Fox News? Generally speaking, its a great news channel."
LOL.
This is a definitely a hysterical way of describe Fox News. The "Fox and Friends" show is usually entertaining. I will say that at times news organizations in general are ignorant of the gaming industry. Fox News had a particular situation which they mischaracterized Mass Effect as little more than a sex sim. Why can't we talk about the game "6 days in Fallujah" without getting so snarky?