Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Spaniards Up in Arms Over Civil War Game

by Tim Stevens on November 19, 2007 at 12:38 PM

Spanish Civil War Game Doesn't Take SidesIn American war gaming, the American Civil War has been a popular setting for games ranging from the board and dice variety, like Avalon Hill's classic 'Gettysburg,' to the more recent (and forgettable) 'Civil War: A Nation Divided.' These games don't tend to raise the ire of those who were directly affected by the war because, well, there just aren't too many of those people still around these days. However, the situation is very different in Spain, where a game portraying the the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War is stirring up debate by those who still remember it.

The game, called 'Shadows of War: The Spanish Civil War,' enables players to take the side of either the victorious Fascist forces or the defeated Republicans, playing through the three-year conflict that resulted in 500,000 deaths and ultimately lead to a 36-year dictatorship. While many appreciate the opportunity to re-write history as a Republican soldier, many others who lost close ones or directly fought in the war think the game trivializes a difficult time in Spanish history.

What it seems everyone can agree upon, though, is that it isn't a particularly good game, scoring mediocre reviews by those who have weighed in on the game so far.

Here in the U.S., as mentioned above, the wounds of our Civil War have healed enough that few think twice about a game that embraces the subject. However, there has been quite a bit of discussion surrounding games set during World War II and other more modern conflicts, specifically whether they trivialize the plight of soldiers. Hank Keirsey, a veteran of the Gulf War and a military advisor for 'Call of Duty 4,' recently spoke out against these accusations, saying that they actually inspire kids to learn history and respect those who have fought in these wars.

Funny how nobody really complained about G.I. Joe and his cronies when we were kids, but maybe that's because G.I. Joe was re-imagined as an adventurer in the early '70s following Vietnam-war era complaints about the soldier doll for dudes.

From Guardian Unlimited and Next Generation

Related Links:

Tags: controversial video games, ControversialVideoGames, Spanish Civil War, SpanishCivilWar, video games, VideoGames, violence, war games, WarGames

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular