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BlackSite: Area 51: politics should not ruin the game

Posted Feb 15, 2007 at 4:56AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: Harvey Smith, Midway Games, MTV, playstation 3 updates

Harvey Smith is the man hired by Midway Games to work on BlackSite: Area 51 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), and he had some things to say about the gameplay and the story behind the gameplay. This article will look at his interview and focus on two things:

Smith cares about politics, and his take on US and world politics is included in this game.
The politics don't ruin the game because the politics are not the game. If you don't care about politics, that's fine - it's an FPS sequel to Area 51 and you can enjoy it as an edge-of-your-seats adventure. (And it has original gameplay elements like a morale system.)

The bad guys in fiction match the real fears of the audience and creators of that work of fiction. This is true whether the creators did it on purpose or not, because the audience will watch the movie or play the game and interpret it according to the things they are currently experiencing.

It's interesting how different generations view the world differently - and how these views make it into their art and fiction. During the Cold War, some people said the Empire in the early "Star Wars" movies symbolized the Soviet Union. After the Cold War, some people said the Empire is a democratic Republic that allows itself to be ruled by a military-oriented executive branch of government.

"Often people go after basic primal things, like the enemy is the other, the unknowable," Harvey Smith said in an interview with MTV News. But for Smith, this frightening "unknowable" is US politics, so the game echoes Smith's fears:

The game starts out in Iraq in a search for WMDs (weapons of mass destruction).
The enemy is bad and evil and is obviously the enemy. Just look at the screenshots. But the enemy was created "with some sort of American backing."
Most of the game takes place in the USA. The bad guys are the Reborn. They are recruited from among the millions of poor Americans. They wear the American flag on their uniforms.
Smith has a point: these are issues that TV shows (adventure shows, science fiction, and prime-time drama) tackle on a daily basis. Why shouldn't video games be part of the discussion?

The politics don't (and shouldn't) get in the way of the game. That's good. A non-serious video game is for entertainment (like the prime-time TV shows and the big movies that tackle real-world issues). "The Day After Tomorrow" tackled environmental issues, and although the political posturing was heavy in some parts of that movie, it was still a blockbuster movie that anybody could enjoy. "The Abyss" condemned US Cold War military paranoia, but it was really just a movie about aliens.

A good video game usually has a good story (and good gameplay, too). Sometimes - and often - that story has strong political, historical, or sociological themes. Many games tackle the issue power: the innocents who are harmed (and the millions who are killed) by governments, businesses, militaries, or by government-business-military alliances - and how the world is saved despite it all.

BlackSite: Area 51 from Midway Games should be out summer of 2007.

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It's already easy to tell what an idiot this game maker is. He obviously hates America, "but politics won't get in the way of the game" he feverishly wants us to believe. Sh'yeah right.

If politics aren't supposed to intefere with the game, then don't make the enemy wear American flags... make them wear three-horned toad flags or something like that. Would Midway put an image of allah on the enemy? Not if they want to keep their heads as we learn in the news.

If politics aren't to be a part of the game, then they need to not perpetrate the myth of the military being made up of primarily poor American citizens.

A) The "poor" of America (bottom 20%) have a far higher standard of living than those in industralized countries of Europe as well as those of America going back to the 70s.

Our "poor" have an average of 2 cars, over 50% own their own home, they overwhelmingly have microwaves, cell phones, DVD and multiple TVs. This is according to census data compiled by the Heritage Foundation if you want to look it up. Our "poor" suffrs more from being overweight than not fed enough. America's "poor" in no way compares to the REAL poverty out there in third world countries run by dictators or the degrading socialist/communistic societies.

B) The majority of our VOLUNTEER armed forces are made up of whites, not a particular minority. The majority of our brave men and women have diplomas and degrees, not the liberal myth of unlearned people joining as a last resort.

I hope this game fails miserably, taking Midway's stock down with it. If they choose to promote America-hatred in their games, then America needs to hate THEM by not buying their B.S. products.

Support America. Boycott Midway.

# what an idiot — Guest 2007-02-15 12:34

That had to be the most stupid thing i have ever read. He interviews because ppl are REQUESTING the interview with him to dicuss it.

DEMOCRACY is what it is to be Amrican... so why dont we boycott YOU instead....

And go recheck your FACTs... the majority of ppl who join the armed forced do NOT have college degrees, and most of them GO to GET a degree.. which is teh biggest selling point of joining from recruiters. And teh majority of them ARE not from a rich background.

And no DUH the majority are white... because the majority of Americans are white. Blacks are like 12% of teh population, and And even MORE if you accuratley count the number whop ARE hispanic. But since America cant grasp that concept they label Hispanic as 12.5%. But the serving numbers change when you look at the % ratio for each group.

And your even more of an idiot when you say our "poor" has this and that ... And then go on to list cheap things. Who doesnt have a microwave? or a ragedy car? DVDs and tvs??? well la dee dah... that ***** is cheap, I was in best buy the other day, and saw a women with 4 kids, and yea i assumed they were poor from the looks of them. She bought a 25 inch Tubed TV that was on sale, as well as buying bargain bin Gamecube games for her kids.... Just because she was able to save and go buy that stuff.. doesnt mean she was NOT poor. now... high end stuff is another story. Anyone can have a cell phone.. especiclly with PRE PAID ones, and some people choose to replace their Land line witha cell phone. TVs dont cost ***** these days. Hell ppl who are poor and have to live in trailer parks have that stuff. People who are poor and live in assisted housing liek projects have that stuff. AND cheap cars... big deal/

Do you understand the concept of "poor"? Anyone who does not MAKE the income lvl set by the government is considered poor. Just because you arent homeless on the streets, and can afford a few essentials doesnt take away from that fact.

Not to mention "poor" takes different meaning from state to state... because not EVERY state has the same "Cost of living". Sure... poor ppl can own a home... because you can get Mortage costs per month (small payments if you seemed to forget) to be the SAME as renting. So it gets to teh point where its silly to "rent" when for the same cost per month you can "buy" a home, if a bank lends you the cash. But lets see the "poor" buy a home in the north, in NY, or MA, or even Cali. Especially when buying a home in Boston costs about close to 1 million dollars. And rent in a decent area costs $2000 for a 2 bedroom. The cost of living in teh bnorth is greater then the south, but then again most incomes in the south are far less. Hell in the SOUTH working at Walmart is a career choice and one can afford to BUY a home and support a family doing it. Not possible in the north, the pay is too low, and the cost of living is higher.

# Memyselfandi is a moron — Guest 2007-02-15 13:10

Not to mention that in this age of "CREDIT" its easy to "blur" the line between poor and rich. Poor people can have good credit too. Doent change their income lvl at all.

# *** — Guest 2007-02-15 14:29

I understand poor by America's standard, boy genius (aka "omg"). I grew up in one of the most notorious ghetto cities in the country with my siblings and mom. Crime was rampant and she only had one job.

Did we have a house? Nothing spectacular, but yes. A car in the family? Yes. Food to eat, videogames, VCR/DVD and TVs? Yes, yes, yes, yes.

By the definition of being poor in America (bottom 20%), we were poor. But we still were well fed and comfortable. That's faaaaaaaaaaaaaa r worse than those in true poverty like Sudan, parte of the Middle East and a lot of Eastern Europe.

Even compared to nations like France, our "poor" have MUCH better living arrangements than the middle class of that country. Our "poor" have more comfortable things like air conditioning, personal music players, and cable TV than the middle class of Americans in the 1970s. Currently, 96% of our work-aged citizens are employed, which is higher than the average work force of the 70s, 80s, and 90s combined.

Yes, there are poor people in this country, but anyone who accepts personal responsibility is able to get a job and have all these things, or get educated to improve their lot in life. And those who ARE poor, whether you want to admit it or not, enjoy a life much greater than those in the examples I gave above.

Again this is U.S. Census data, taken every ten years, and its compiled by the Heritage foundation. As this country grows more prosperous, our "poor" get a better quality of life as well.

Now we have this fool excercising his American right to hate his country. Fine, I never said what he and Midway are doing is against the law. The 1st amendment, right? Well the first amendment applies to those who despise what they are doing as well. Boycotting is free speech too.

Support America. Boycott Midway (and their rabid defenders like "omg").

# Ugh, hollywood infiltration into gaming — Guest 2007-02-15 15:00

Hollywood mentality going into gaming.

Now we go from fun games about general "good vs evil" over to "provacative" games with some sort of "deep meaning"

I couldn't give a rat's ass about some insecure person who feels they need to prove something inside their game. Just give me well executed games that are easy to connect with.

I hate modern art. I hate modern classical music. I hate opera.

# But your points are STILL pointless — Guest 2007-02-15 15:51

You make no sense... the crap you are spewing from your pathetic mouth.... has NOTHING to do with this story. Maybe if you took the time and got off yoru damn soap box, before you open your mouth, youd see what YOURE talking about, and what HE is talking about have Nothing to do with each other. Get teh hell over yourself.

# ? — Vecha 2007-02-15 16:14

OMG...i think you need to get over yourself. You are posting paragraph after paragraph to make yourself feel better.

Take your own advice please.

# blah blah blah — Guest 2007-02-15 17:03

"That's faaaaaaaaaaaaaa r worse than those in true poverty like Sudan, parte of the Middle East and a lot of Eastern Europe. "

And THAT has NOTHING to do with this game. Dont you think we know that other countries have it worse? WTF does that have to do with us? with America? WTF does that have to do with someone questioning our own foreign policy or the way we treat our citizens, or being against the war???

", but anyone who accepts personal responsibility is able to get a job and have all these things, or get educated to improve their lot in life."

That is cmplete and utter Bull *****. Like the guy before said, it ALL depends on WHAT state you live in. No matter how responsible you are... only CERTAIN jobs allow you to live "decently" otherwise, you cant afford your own home, and live in apartments and have several roomates just to get by. The cost of living is too high in some places for teh ratio of pay the average person gets there. Someone who works really hard at Best buy STILL cannot afford to live on his own in anything bigger then a studio apt some places. You dont know what youre talking about. And not "everyone" is able to go to college without racking up a mountain of debt. And going to school part time for a BS takes 8-9 years.

But again what does your stupid arguments have to do with thsi article??? Oh wait, let me get what youre saying "Just because someone else out there has it worse, it gives us no right to complain about our own situation, or question it, thus improving upon it" Get over yourself.

# silence — Guest 2007-02-15 17:06

Where have you been? "deep meaning" games have been around since the Playstaion 1 days. Just because you're too dumb to accept it, doesn't mean the rest of us like "mature" themes in our games. And by mature i mean "real" mature not just blood gore and sex.

# .. — Guest 2007-02-15 20:52

The difference between the ravings of people like 'omg' and 'blah blah blah' (likely the same person) is that you only have raving emotion on your side while I'm presenting your with facts.

I was slightly wrong about an item, but on point for most of the others. Slightly under 50% of the bottom 20% American income earners own a home (I said it was a bit over). That is still an AMAZING statistic and points to how incredible our country is, despite the hate spewed by this game maker.

The bottom line is, our "poor" are not dumb without options, forced to join the military. If you want to know more about the truth on poverty in America, here's a snippet of the Census data analysis and the link. People need to get educated about this stuff:

+++++++++++++++ +++++++++

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various government reports:

* Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

* Seventy-six percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, 30 years ago, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

* Only 6 percent of poor households are overcrowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

* The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

* Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30 percent own two or more cars.

* Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.

* Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

* Seventy-three percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and a third have an automatic dishwasher.

As a group, America's poor are far from being chronically undernourished. The average consumption of protein, vitamins, and minerals is virtually the same for poor and middle-class children and, in most cases, is well above recommended norms. Poor children actually consume more meat than do higher-income children and have average protein intakes 100 percent above recommended levels. Most poor children today are, in fact, supernourished and grow up to be, on average, one inch taller and 10 pounds heavier that the GIs who stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg1713.cfm

# Don't forget — Guest 2007-02-16 02:48

80% have been peed on by me

# get over it — Guest 2007-02-16 03:09

Your points are STILL moot. They have nothing to do with the article. The article is NOT about "why" peopel are poor. So you're here arguing with yourself.

It does NOT matter if poor people in OTHER countries have it worse. ALL of internation conditions have NOTHING to do with this you stupid idiot.

Your argument about vcrs, tvs, and micowaves is baseless, pointless, and down right stupid, those things are cheap, and any of them can be bought for "under" $99.

WTF is yoru problem??? Youre making arguments that were never made. WTF does other countries poor have ANYTHING to do with iraq policies the director of this game dont like???? NOTHING. Get off your high horse.

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