Making Games of War

The latest videogame to renew the classic argument about violence and desensitization is EA’s Medal of Honor, which allows players to take on the role of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan in the recent past. In addition to the question of whether or not it is appropriate to base a game on a war that is currently being fought, some have rejected to the way the multiplayer game will allow you to take on the role of a Taliban fighter. Chris Suellentrop has a very informative and fairly thorough exploration of the depiction of war in video games in a recent New York Times piece. Suellentrop interviews the Special Forces Consultants for Medal of Honor, traces the history of the debate, and engages the question of whether or not video games can offer a more accurate and beneficial depiction of warfare.

For Christians, Suellentrop’s article raises many important questions about the morality and dangers of playing video games that depict modern warfare, but he also explores the potential benefits of such games. If you are at all concerned about whether or not it is appropriate or loving to playing games like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, I encourage you to read this article to get it wider perspective on the issue.