IGA, why have you forsaken us?

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This is a combination comment for this article and the one regarding the marines reaction to it, in case anyone thinks I'm getting off topic.

Atomic Games have picked a hell of a topic. It's close to a number of peoples hearts - For understandable reasons.

What I think everyone is forgetting here is that some, if not all, the surviving marines are behind this project - They are lending their names, and I expect, their likeness to it. These marines are likely to be closer knit than some people commenting on the game are with their families - I speak not from personal experience, but from stories from a military man regarding his experiences on operations in a number of wars.

The deceased Marines/Allied soldiers are likely to have been well known and trusted, and vice-versa, by the surviving Marines, and I expect that they would have lent their support had the roles been reversed.

This 'game', I think, is (or should) be classed more as a simulation/experience more than a game, especially if it's done right. If the events during the game are portrayed properly it should paint a rather bleak picture of war, far from the idea of glorification of war that certain people think it will show.

Of course, Owen, this is 'entertainment' in a sense (In the, staving off boredom for another few days), but if Atomic Games do it right I think it'll be a moving experience more than 'entertainment'. Sure, the people you know who were involved in the war do not class it as entertainment by any stretch of the imagination - Neither of my grandfathers did (Both were in the RAF, one flew missions during, and one was a few years behind, and didn't fly any offensive missions), but the one who lived long enough to see WWII become a massive source for games didn't take issue - Sure, it wasn't entertainment to him, but he doesn't begrudge people for playing these games with no sense of what it was really like during the war.

Quite how one would incorporate the Rules of Engagement into this 'game' I'm unsure - I assume that a tally would be kept (far from the view of the 'player') that is brought to light at the end of the game. How this could possibly end, aside from retreat, I don't know. Then, presumably, the 'game' would provide you with a 'rating' of sorts that details what you did during the battle, based on how you acted, how you followed orders (As I bet you'd be a 'grunt'), how you ID'd targets, and how you decided to use force or not. I'd like to see this game with voice 'commands' - Integrate a system for the user to talk (as it is faster to say than press button combinations) through the target identification system. How this would be implemented, I don't know. Perhaps have a specific protocol to follow, if you don't follow it (In voice 'commands') then you get a mark against you for not following the RoE. Anyway, that's a shade off topic.

Use of WP and Mk-77's should, by all means, be shown. Whether they strike (accidentally) at civilians or not, should be entirely up to the player (Who ought to remain unnamed (Or very carefully named), for the sake of not laying blame at any one soldiers feet).

To provide an alternate perspective, worthy of including the insurgents views and thoughts in the development process (Insurgent, terrorist, freedom fighter, they're all the same word - Because we're not on their side we can't possibly call them anything else. It is, however, the same ideals we fight for, albeit displayed differently. They don't want our army there as much as we don't want their army on our front lawn), they ought to allow the 'player' to 'play' from the perspective of the Insurgent - Whether it's the same length of game, whether you fight named marines or not (I would hope for not, because that would be entirely tactless, even by my standards), I think it should be there. We, as non-combatants, ought to get at least a glimpse of what life is like to stare down the barrel of the US Army.

I understand people are pissed off about this 'game', but I think it comes down to it being called a 'game' when it is clearly anything but - If Atomic do it right. If they do this right, then I think it will do more to raise awareness of the rather less than fantastic conditions in which we fight our wars, and the rather less than expected ways in which people fight against us.

Insurgents use tactics we would never consider. We have no desire to die for our beliefs, and even less desire to kill ourselves to kill people in the name of our beliefs - The notion is entirely alien to us all. Getting insurgents involved is the only way to offer a true representation of how these wars are fought, how the two sides do psychological battle.

We don't understand them, or their tactics, to try and call this 'game' a realistic representation without getting the other side involved is entirely unfair, and would (In my opinion) be more tactless and offensive than anything this 'game' has demonstrated so far, and will (When it releases) demonstrate when it launches.

I tried to proof read that, but there are likely to be errors - Both spelling and typing, so forgive me that and try to understand where I'm coming from.

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BUT, I say if it plays good, then I am sold. With Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3 I am really starting to open up to the SRPG-genre.

However, is there anyone else than I suspecting there might be a Vandal Hearts-release amongst the PSX-classics?

IMO, that would be the BEST way for Konami to market this game.

From a marketing standpoint it would feel rather stupid not to do it when they have the ability.

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I mean, were I an SRPG developer that wasn't Nippon Ichi I would just pack my bags and go make an FPS or something.

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The graphics are disgusting - there is no reason for them to look as bad as they do other than Konami cutting corners... not in the age when I've seen some fantastic XBLA / PSN games. They would be better off going with sprites, imo.

It's a shame Konami isn't giving this series the respect it deserves by going with a full fledged proper disc based game... but that's just my opinion.

I just don't have faith in this, one bit.

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Either way, bring on the blood fountains, Konami!

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Don't get me wrong, I loved the film and Homecoming, its just, they don't feel like anything to do with Silent Hill that is portrayed in Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2 and SH 3.

I'm liking how Shattered Memories seems to be shaping out, but to be honest with you, if I see Pyramid head in this, I'll be pissed.

I love him and all, but seriously, Pyramid Head is for JAMES.

.No Homo.

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and i am definetly up for this,just like i am up for buying the original of the UK PSN store if SONY would just put it back up!!!!

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