Israeli Council Releases Videogames as Propaganda

[Baron_Rouge]

No clue who Ahab is.

Captain Ahab was the main character in Moby Dick.

Yeah, that's the only place I've heard of Ahab...could they mean Abram, maybe? That was Abraham before he was called Abraham, after all.

 

[Zoe Castillo]

--

 

[Dr Snakeman]

No clue who Ahab is.

Captain Ahab was the main character in Moby Dick.

... who was named after one of the "bad kings" from the Old Testament. He was one of the rulers from Jewish history who turned against God and generally screwed up his country.

I'm pretty sure that's what they're referring to here, not Moby Dick.

But yeah, this isn't propaganda. It's a game based on historical events, armed conflicts that actually happened. What, exactly, is the problem here?

 

[SinisterGehe]

I give them credit for trying to use games as a tool instead of trying to ban them. Now we need to get all the prudes to realize this.

 

[justnotcricket]

Hm. I'm all for educational games if they, say, help kids learn maths or spelling or something, but I've always thought that making a game out of history or politics was inherently a bad idea. Not to mention bringing religion into it.

Now, I know that tons of games exploit history, and technically could 'teach' awful, biased, or outright false lessons about any of the subjects listed above. But the difference is that they're not being marketed specifically for that purpose. If you're going to make an 'educational' game, then you should leave that out of it. Either that, or you have to take a modern historical approach and try to teach both sides, which I doubt these games do. I could, however be wrong.

 

[Icehearted]

Didn't the Klan do this? So the Israelis and the Klan have more in common than they thought? Or perhaps this isn't far removed from cartoons teaching young Muslims about the joy of strapping a bomb to one's self and blowing up infidels?


I don't know, maybe I'm reading this all wrong, but I'd thought these people above this sort of thing. Silly me.

Hey, Israel! I have a great idea for a game. Bacon Tycoon. The object is to sell pork products to Muslims and Jews without being blown up, shot, run out of town, or just plain thought poorly of. Bonus points if you can get Netanyahu or Abbas to eat a ham sandwich.

Not funny? Neither is making video game propaganda solely inculcate young minds with generic hate for a peoples.

 

[Keava]

To be perfectly honest, ain't half of US shooters/action games form of propaganda either with that white male with American accent saving the world, usually from 'evi' Russians or Germans? Ain't many of US TV shows on the border of proaganda as well, considering those about police forces/army are often funded by military/FBI/etc and are required to show them as the ultimately good guys?

The only difference is this is much less subtle.

 

[Canadish]

To be perfectly honest, ain't half of US shooters/action games form of propaganda either with that white male with American accent saving the world, usually from 'evil' Russians or Germans? Ain't many of US TV shows on the border of proaganda as well, considering those about police forces/army are often funded by military/FBI/etc and are required to show them as the ultimately good guys?

The only difference is this is much less subtle.

It's certainly happened. Doesn't excuse it.

If this is indeed an Israeli propaganda piece, then fuck them.
Though, thinking about it, whats a crappy videogame? They do WAY worse already, and their opposition has allegedly beaten them to the punch on this one.
Leaving thread before a flame war erupts.

 

[Aurgelmir]

I must question though, if we put aside that they are clearly making this as propaganda, how is setting a game during the 6 days war different from say the endless WW2 and Vietnam games out there? Both of which also could be considered propaganda on "how awesome America could be"...

But yeah... Israeli propaganda on things that are still a current topic? not so cool

 

[ProtoChimp]

Bah, You call THAT Propaganda? You should see the shit Hamas turns out.

Don't worry if you're the only one who thinks this is a silly idea. I never was one for edutainment myself.

So you never played Yukon Trail?

Hamas? What's Hamas?

 

[Smooth Operator]

I've personally am sick and tired of all the rah rah jarhead-marine type BS. As soon as another country makes the a game about the exploits of their culturealbiet some fudge, AS ALL GAMES, and movies do. Its propaganda. Way to go double standard.

People tend to ignore their own shortcomings, and as the "USA is your friend, are your freedom are belong to us" propaganda spreads so effectively across the globe almost noone will even notice it anymore.

 

[SnowCold]

As an Israeli, I am pissed off that everyone keeps saying "what a good game ISRAEL made" "what a shitty piece of propaganda ISRAEL made" "ISRAEL should be burned to the ground cause i lost at this game".

I know it may be hard for you Americans to understand, but just because it was MADE in Israel, doesn't mean it's a government project adored by all the population. America isn't the only country with freedom of political affiliation. (hell, you only have two major sides, we have at least six, not counting the many Arab sides!).

On topic, every though I disagree with the people who made the game, it doesn't seem like propaganda, it was made for their youth, who is already super-patriotic and doesn't need to be convinced. It's like saying games in English are Anglophone propaganda to rob poor little Pier or Ahmed of their language.

 

[Kinguendo]

I prefer Uncharted Waters and other Koei games, myself.

 

[SnowCold]

Things can get lost in translation very easily. If you read this in Hebrew you realize this was intended as a joke.

Not really, it's not propaganda either, just some really old people who went: "Those kids and their darn electro whatchama callits! they might as well play as their people insted of goys fighting with ham as ammonition!"

 

[muffin soul]

god...
i hate my stupid country so much...
how do those idiots expect to get a messege out while everyone is israel are busy with CSS and COD?
idiots...

 

[Dana22]

I prefer Modern Warfare series.

 

[redisforever]

I would say these games suck and provide no educational content, but then I would be called antisemitic.

Go ahead, I'm Jewish, and from Israel, and I agree. I've seen better games from Israel in the past, try harder.