"This game presents the culture of the resistance to children: that occupation must be resisted and that land and the nation must be guarded," Hezbollah media official Sheikh Ali Daher said.

Now of course I am not involved in the continuing conflict between Lebanon and Israel in anything more than a seeing it on the news or on the internet capacity, so as a relatively complete outsider all I can say is it is interesting to see that even in a nation steeped with conflict, video games are prevalent enough to be used in such a fashion. In a way it is a form of edutainment, albeit a bizarro one.

Don't think this is a simple run and gun FPS either.

"The features which are the secret of resistance's victory in the south, have moved to this game so that the child can understand that fighting the enemy does not only require the gun.

"It requires readiness, supplies, armament, attentiveness, tactics."

The game is retailing for a mere $10, with a staff of volunteers handling production duties, and if the hundreds of reported preorders are any indication, demand is pretty strong for the title. All I can say is this is one gaming franchise I hope doesn't have to continue.

Hezbollah brings Israel war to computer screen [Reuters via Game Politics]

The Israel Defense Force sends recruits who play Dungeons and Dragons to a psychologist before giving them a security clearance, YNews reports.

"These people have a tendency to be influenced by external factors which could cloud their judgment, a military official says. "They may be detached from reality or have a weak personality - elements which lower a person's security clearance, allowing them to serve in the army, but not in sensitive positions."

Army officials say that gamers are also susceptible to influence. Man, they're going to freak out when they realize there's this little thing called video games out there. Brian Crecente

Army frowns on Dungeons and Dragons [Ynet News]

Following its 34-day war with Lebanon, funny man Adam Sandler is doing his part to help out war ravaged Israel. Not only is he generously donating US $100,000 of his own money, but he's also sending 400 PlayStations to children whose houses were damaged. Because after a war, the first thing you want to do is play some PS2 in your bombed out living room. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [JPost] Thanks, Zack!

We really have no reason to bitch. Well, we do but, compared to the Israelis, we'll be getting the PlayStation 3 damn cheap. Reader Shalom reports that an official Isfar Rep (Sony's official importer in Israel) told him there will be no 60GB model shipped in Israel at all. Instead, the country will get the 20GB model in November via Isfar, and then the 60GB model at astronomical prices. Think the 360 is a cheaper option? It is, but not by much. Shalom explains:

At the moment Xbox 360 doesn't have an official importer to Israel and costs 1000$ (And Xbox 360 games cost as high as 110$), So if Isfar will get the 60GB model to Israel it can cost up to 1500$ (Making it cost like a new HDTV in Israel). As for today the PS2 still costs 300$ at retail from official import by Isfar. 99% of the PS Israeli gamers were planning to buy the 60GB model, now all these gamers are angry and helpless and don't know how to get PS3 now. At the moment some gamers are trying to complain about Isfar's decision, but there's no official response as of now.

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't it possible to order stuff through online retailers? Because if not, folks in Israel and other countries in the region are getting dicked over. Shalom, that angry and helpless part is universal, those prices ain't. Brian Ashcraft

Buy Sony Stuff Here [Isfar]

Writes Kotakuite Yosubis:

I found this while waiting for the red light to change. The mushroom is located in Be'er-Sheva, Israel. It's painted on Be'er-Sheva's HQ of one of the biggest Political Parties in Israel. The last picture is of my brother, standing next to it in order to show the size of it.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say the Israeli-Palestine conflict needs a lot less nail bombs in school buses and a lot more 1UP mushrooms. If only all conflicts could be solved Mario-style: by innocently jumping on other people's heads. Florian Eckhardt

Mario Mushroom in Be'er-Sheva