Medal of Honor ditches the Taliban
This has been one of the games that I’ve been watching very closely. Not just because I spent a lot of time playing it a few months ago but because it’s the first time we’ll be able to play with guys who have kick ass beards. Recently EA has been up against a lot of criticism for using the Taliban as the enemy in the game. Well they’ve decided to go ahead and ditch the Taliban in favor of calling them the “Opposing Force”.
I know the guys on the team and they’re some really cool guys so for personal reasons I’m hoping this title does well. I think it will because I had a great time with its multiplayer and if you know me, then you know I’m really not a multiplayer guy. So it says something if I’m left wanting to kick more ass in it.
You can read what Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer on Medal of Honor, had to say after the break. I think it had to be done to avoid any additional controversy. I personally took no offense to it but what about you? Did having the Taliban in this game offend you?
In the past few months, we have received feedback from all over the world regarding the multiplayer portion of Medal of Honor. We’ve received notes from gamers, active military, and friends and family of servicemen and women currently deployed overseas. The majority of this feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. For this, the Medal of Honor team is deeply appreciative.
However, we have also received feedback from friends and families of fallen soldiers who have expressed concern over the inclusion of the Taliban in the multiplayer portion of our game. This is a very important voice to the Medal of Honor team. This is a voice that has earned the right to be listened to. It is a voice that we care deeply about. Because of this, and because the heartbeat of Medal of Honor has always resided in the reverence for American and Allied soldiers, we have decided to rename the opposing team in Medal of Honor multiplayer from Taliban to Opposing Force.
While this change should not directly affect gamers, as it does not fundamentally alter the gameplay, we are making this change for the men and women serving in the military and for the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice – this franchise will never willfully disrespect, intentionally or otherwise, your memory and service.
To all who serve – we appreciate you, we thank you, and we do not take you for granted. And to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines currently serving overseas, stay safe and come home soon.
Greg Goodrich
Executive Producer
Medal of Honor
October 1st, 2010 at 8:49 am
This is stupid. People complain about the stupidest things when it comes to just a video game. If this was truly something to be concerned over then they should not allow us to kill Nazi’s or Jap’s like they did in previous versions of War Games like COD. And if you are going to pansify, yes I said pansify and give in to the complainers and least come up with a good name change. Opposing Force are you kidding me.
Oh and if pansify is not a real word, it should be just for stupid things like this.
October 1st, 2010 at 8:52 am
i vote pansify in the Webster’s Dict
October 1st, 2010 at 9:01 am
PUSSY MOVE
October 1st, 2010 at 9:07 am
The return of OpFor… sigh…
ps – I suggest we combine Sugar and Boston’s response and add Pussify to Webster’s while we’re at it
October 1st, 2010 at 9:50 am
lol @ Deac and HeadGeek
October 1st, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Fail on EA!! First they say on one thing then they change it. If they knew it was going to be so much trouble from this they should NEVER use the name Taliban on the multi player in the first place. So the new name for then is called the “opposing force”. Really?… Really?… REALLY!!! Oh come on now EA SICK TO YOUR GUNS!!!
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 am
Ok, I agree with the above suggestions.
I think this was a stupid move, to satisfy the politically correct. You got to play as Nazis in World War II games, did any Jewish lobby such as the Anti-Defamation League etc. oppose this? NO.
Did anyone from Asia oppose you playing as Japanese soldiers in multiplayer in WW2 games? NO.
Yes there have been Taliban who killed servicemen and women overseas in Afghanistan, and there are relatives of those lost who play these type of games. However, the conflict in MOH deals with these two factions: the US and the Taliban. Obviously the opposing enemy would be The Taliban. This is not trying to insult the ones who have sacrificed a lot. This is simply having both sides available to play in multiplayer.
If people didn’t complain about having to play as Nazis in WW2, people shouldn’t complain about this. It’s a game, not RL, stop being politically correct.
I also suggest a new rule to be added to the 360 Laws, three in fact:
1. Thou shalt not be offended by such things as having to play the “enemy” in games that relate to current or historical events.
2. Thou shall not engage in political correctness and should learn to be civil without fear of offending others.
3. Thou shall not insult or disrespect the men and women of the US and Allied forces who have served or are currently serving.
October 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
People are so easily butthurt. It doesn’t matter what their name is, sack up people. Gawd…..
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
EA killed the Medal of Honor license… Sales numbers will never be the same. Oh, it’s also good to know EA cares about the Taliban’s feelings in this. Now we know EA just likes to screw their loyal fan base.
October 3rd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
i understand their point of view, but renaming it to opfor really doesnt change anything you still know youre playing the taliban, the people who are upset about it arent going to feel any better about it and probably still try to get their game banned, to me it just adds realism to it keeping actually accurate but then again its just a game i dont pay much attention to who im fighting except depending on which side im on i shoot the ones in the ski masks or the helmets.
October 6th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
It gets even lamer. Even with giving in and making the name change the Military will not sell it. Pathetic!