Military bans sale of MOH game

[Pima]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100908/D9I3U6680.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops.

"Medal of Honor" by Electronic Arts, a major game developer based in Redwood City, Ca., hits stores Oct. 12.

But after public protests, including one by British Defense Secretary Liam Fox, U.S. military officials decided not to stock the game in any of the nearly 300 service exchange shops on bases across the country.

Gamers are scoffing at the decision, saying that advanced technology has made it commonplace in the gaming world to let a player switch sides and play the bad guy.

Since, I don't buy video games, I am just curious do they sell Grand Theft Auto on base? How is this game that different? If I read this correctly, the player does not have to be the Taliban, they just have the option. I know our DS has several MOH games, but I wonder did they not allow this in the other MOH games?

Additionally, I kind of find this silly, if the military member really wants to play the game, he'll just go off base and buy it at Game Stop, Wal-Mart or Target. Isn't this just a move on being politically correct? The BX/PX/NX operate on any profit gets place back in the system. Thus, by not selling one of the hottest games out there, the stores lose money because the member will buy it somewhere, else which means less money into the system. It is an 18 and over game, no kid is going to get their hands on it just because the base sells it.

We don't allow smoking on base, but you can still buy cigarettes on base, right? Nobody believes that by not selling cigarettes on base that the military member won't buy them somewhere else. What's the difference?

 

[scoutpilot]

To be fully accurate, it was AAFES who banned the sale at on-post GameStops and in the BX/PX. We can debate ad nauseum how much the military's desires played into that.

 

[Pima]

I agree you can debate the military's decision ad nauseum...you are too young to remember the outcry when they stopped selling Playboy and Hustler on base, but I do remember it.

That is my point, it is not as if these members aren't going off post/base to buy it. So what is the main goal here? All I can see is it is PC. The military member should never be used as pawn in the PC game.

They are not achieving anything, but losing sales because that military member is going to go to Walmart and buy it anyway. The people you hurt are the military members since AAFES donates a % of their profits back to the service in MWR $$$.

Personally, except for overseas, I see no reason for AAFES to exist any more. Their prices are equivalentand sometimes more than the Big Box stores. The only thing I buy at AAFES now is Coach, Dooney and Ray Bans or Oakleys. Check out the price on electronics, bedding, or clothing and it really is not worth your time since you can buy it cheaper at Best Buy, Macy's, Costco or any other store running a sale on the weekend. Overseas makes sense because you want products that are from home.