February 22, 2007 -
You're a soldier and your squad is sent into a town to clear out the menacing creatures threatening the townsfolk. The Alien-like monsters ravaging the countryside originated from Area 51.Sounds like your usual "destroy the alien menace" FPS, but Midway's Blacksite: Area 51 has a conspiratorial twist. The aliens? They're actually fellow humans who were abducted and experimented on. The extra kicker? They were abducted by the U.S. government. Their rampage is a type of insurgency waged against the administration that authorized the secret program.
MTV's Stephen Totilo checked out the game, speaking with creative director Harry Smith. A former employee of Ion Storm and Deus Ex design veteran, Smith realized that he couldn't continue with the usual "aliens crashed, they escaped, now go wipe them out" theme that carried previous Area 51 titles.
Experienced in Deus Ex's conspiracy theories, eyeballing the success of Half-Life's twisted plotline, and concerned about real-life government conspiracies, Smith decided to mirror situations that have been a bit of an embarassment for former CIA directors:
You could just make a metaphor for terrorists. But the most interesting sort of multidimensional part is, 'Wait, what if they are terrorists we helped create? What if the people supporting us in our fight against the terrorists aren't completely clean either? What if they're sending us after them now, but what if 10 years ago it was safe for them to create them?'
Players are faced with the realization that the bad guys they are fighting are fellow Americans who were corrupted, against their will, on American soil. The line between good and evil is suddenly not so clear.
Smith says he hasn't gotten any negative reaction in the industry, although it was initially a hard sell to Midway executives:
We're getting a lot of people saying, 'I can't believe you're touching this subject matter.' And I'm like, 'I can't believe you're not.'
Not wanting to be seen as a Bush basher, Smith promises that there are several Republican fans on his design team to keep things balanced. He describes on squadmate conversation in-game where the player's teammates debate who the bad guys are:
One of them says, 'We've got to get in there and get those guys.' And another one says, 'Wait a minute, this is f---ed up, we made them.' And the other guy goes, 'Well that doesn't matter. Now they're the bad guys.' It's just like, 'Well, what do you do?'
- Wondering whether he would negotiate, or just reach for the BFG, GP Correspondent Colin "Jabrwock" McInnes
Comments
Thanks for the clarification, I personally still think that it is slightly dangerous to personify your ideals into an object.
People tend to get themselves a bit confused when that happens and sacrifice their lives to safeguard something that is quite easy to replace (materially speaking).
In my opinion its not a problem to use something like a flag or another object to represent your beliefs, but it goes a bit invered when the object becomes the focus of your beliefs instead of just a representation of it...
The same goes for the cross we use to represent christianity.
I still wonder why my faith uses a torture device as its main symbol, but jou just can't argue with tradition I suppose (smiles)
But thanks for the comparative culture update (smiles again)
Flag Retirments are usually only practiced by the military and the boyscouts.
It is a thing of respect. Just like how you do not let the flag touch the ground.
Very rarely do you see it done outside of those groups.
I never heard about "flag retirement" ceremonies before, it's a strange concept for me.
Not trying to be disrespectful or make anyone angry, but to me a flag is just a "logo" for your or another persons country, just cloth in a few colours with a design on it to show who you or your country might represent.
Reading this it seems almost mystical to me. Must be a cultural difference.
I understand that someone burning a flag can be a strong statement of (probably) resentment towards the target country, but why hate someone for that? It's just an opinion, it's like shouting in symbols.
The symbol is not the thing, right?
There is enough hate to go around as it is...
Sorry all 0_o
Ohhh, bloody hell. Reread what I said. I didn't not promote nor dismiss it. All I said is the reason it's not illegal is because of the First Amendment protection. The GOP has tried before to get a constitution to ban flag burning. However, they cannot because it is constitutionally protected (or rather, that is the arguement which is being brought up). I used it as an example as what the First Amendment and it's strength; I did not express my views on flag burning, nor will I. Don't get me wrong; I have no problems with what I believe in, politically, just that this is not the place for it. For christ sakes people...Just because I said the reason it's not illegal doesn't express how I feel; just that it HAS been tried to made illegal before, and has not passed. All I will say is that I'm A. a liberal, and B. independent. Feel free to make assumptions, but my views expressing flag burning I will NOT argue here.
But if you REALLY must know my political view on it, then email me; fireroseneko@hotmail.com
Now why don't all of you just get back onto the topic of what this article is about.
makes me miss boy scouts a bit.
the flag is the embodiment of the Nation ,the nation comes in 3 parts the populace the government and the history there of,if one becomes so tainted and corputed theres only one way to fully show the disgust of it,however I would agree that tact and "true meaning" is lost on thos that are burning it.
there is respect in tactful "disagreement",its a shame the populace(US and world wide) has gone deaf,dumb and blind relieing on the media mafia for its passions and knowledge *shudders*
I have never been in the peace core but from what I have seen and read,basic discipline and organization are key elements of it ,its a shame the government is so mismanaged it would be nice if the peace core was 20X bigger did allot of low income housing ,clean up,helping the poor and other odds and ends around the country and in other places as well we have a need for such a force and it would be a good stepping stone to the army if one was so inclined.
I am not fully aware of what all peace core dose anymore but these are things it can do well,if the peace core was huge they could be used to help lite desastars from tornadoes and such letting the nas guard deal with bigger issues hell tis ashame we cant reroute all non vital personal from around the world to Iraq and not have to relie so heavily on new soldiers and the over used nas guard whos main job is to stay in the US...
I might be a libby bending lefty but I like to see a balance in things more than anythign else and currently we have 2 sides of the "government" running around with their fingers up their nose bending over backwards for their corporate masters..it just gives me a headache to see 6yolds(on both sides and hiding in the wood work waiting for their lime light) running the country >
A quick comment on Flag burning as a "right",it is my right as a adult to drink in this country but with out ID I might not get that drink,so thus freedoms and rights are more prevliages given to us by the constitution and the laws of the regions we live in,I might be nit picking but burning the flag is a right as in its not treasonous but the city might get pissed at you for burning without a "ID" (IE paperwork) what I am getting at is some rights require more effort to have and use than others.
But then I see rights and preivlages as 2 sides of the same coin they can be different and far from each other but are very alike in ways..
Finally, someone who understands the full effect of disrespectfully burning a flag and its possible meanings. However, I believe that the American flag represents the people and not the government.
I’m looking into that peace core, because I don’t agree with the uses of the military right now, my only problem is the girlfriend and the student loans. Had to leave my gun in America, but it will be there in case I need to overthrow the government when I get back. Lol, change is inevitable. But I get the point, enjoyed reading the rambling.
@Brokenscope
I also have run a number of flag retirement ceremonies it is quite an experience. I recommend that everyone attend one with an open mind.
You may burn a flag in bad taste, but it is not a "right". You need to file the paperwork otherwise, I hope that they throw every ordinance that you broke at you. IE get a burning permit, assembly ect. And I will "hate you till my dieing breath for it" with or without the proper permits.
When you retire a flag you burn it in a respectful ceremony. I have run several of these and been part of countless others.
As for burning it and throwing it on the ground... its your right to do so and it is my right to hate you till my dieing breath for it.
stupid typos >>
Halo DOSE have a simple story for a game,it is a "normal" FPS after all.
AS to your point,yes people are thinking to hard ^^
Weatherlight
Bad taste or not its within my right to use it as a sign of my distaste of the Multi national conglomerate controlled government the US government has become,thos that have fought and died for this country have fought and died for my right to be "disrespectful" to the government,don't forget its still a right to disagree with the government over its conspiring with the rich to further the needs of the rich and the powerful and not the needs of the general populace.
Now saying that lieing to get us into a war with a pined up dried dictator is something to burn the flag over to make the point the government has spilled our soldiers blood for no good reason,you might not see the need for it,frankly its a waste of fabric but its still a begrudgen'd time honored right of protest in the US,be it tho mostly used with most passion than tact but then tact is something the US has been missing for a while *L*
acoule years 'o peace core needs to be mandatory to put some back bone in todays youth... but I am rambling have a good day friend and keep to your guns and never let them change you ^^
@ Ohma
Do not consider my patriotism in anyway blind. I do not agree with a number of decisions the government has made, nor do I have to act proud of it or support it. As an American living outside of the US, I have noticed how the world looks at us as Americans, and have fight the stereo type every day.
I do not condone the disrespect that people are showing. It shows ignorance. If you disagree with something, by all means make your opinion known, however, hundreds of thousands of people gave their lives to preserve the freedoms that you enjoy. The American flag is not a symbol representing our government it is a symbol representing the American people, both living and dead. By burning it you are not proving a point you are merely being disrespectful to the other people who live in or gave their life’s for America's freedoms.
I also do not agree with the concept of "the man". The government has far better things to do then conspire against you. If you honestly feel that they are doing wrong by you, then make your opinion known and don’t vote for them in the future. I have better things to do then second guess every decision they make. Somebody voted for these people and the only way to prevent it from happening again is to inform people and learn from our mistakes.
In either case if you are so unhappy with the government you can always leave. I recommend Germany, they have taken great strides but are still haunted by their past. It will give you a good contrastive look, especially when it comes to their opinions about Americans.
In both cases it was voted as not being a criminal act. Hence you cannot be charged with treason and thrown in jail, just because they burned a flag. However there are more laws that both of those two people broke, however they were considered at the time to be lesser offences and hence not charged. Burning an American flag is not protected under freedom of speech. Your right to demonstrate is.
Burning a flag even as part of a legal demonstration is in very, very bad taste.
Burning a flag IS free speech it is also protected free speech, the supreme court ruled twice that is free speech. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_v._Johnson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Eichman
So if i burnt a flag i could not be arrested (unless it was not my flag I was burning).
Anyway I'm hedging my bets on the game forces you to fight for either side making all moral dlimeas null and void. If it doesn't than this could be an interesting game.
Seriously, I think that this article is more than a tad (re: a lot) bit hyperbolic (hmm...government conspiracy, main character discovering that their enemy actually has a *good* reason to fight against the government...I certainly haven't heard that in nearly every techno-thriller game/book/comic/movie ever made...nope). But Weatherlight's responses just reek of blind patriotism.
OHNOES! SOMEONE R BURNING MY FLAG! OH EMM EFF GEE TREESON!!!111
Again Arch hit it on the nose. I see no moral dilemma in kill or be killed. The only way I see them making any type of moral (or political) statements is in the cut scenes. But I don’t think a FPS like Area 51 would be able to effectively send any kind of moral message, but I could be surprised with the outcome.
@Dan
Wow talk about a leap. Ignorance emanates from that statement. The government would not attempt something like that. Doesn’t matter who is in office. It is unconstitutional, and millions of people (including non-gamers) would get a bit more then upset about it.
@Wolf
No offence, say what you will about America, that’s the joy of the freedom of speech. But you better pray to god you have your back end covered before you publicly burn an American flag. That right is not granted to you by freedom of speech. That is a very disrespectful act that used to be and still is by some considered treason. Just because there is no specific law in the constitution does not mean that it is allowed or an acceptable practice. Don’t Kidd yourself into thinking it is protected under freedom of speech, just because people got away with it in the past and claimed it was protected under free speech, does not mean that it is.
@Michael Brooks
Unless you know something we don’t. There is nothing to applaud. Except for preying on people’s emotions, the use of the word "terrorist, and claiming to draw non-existent parallels with current events. I think the common term now days for what they are doing is called "fear mongering", playing on peoples fear for profit. Hey, if the politicians can do it why not the game industry. Bravo, you have sunk to their level.
I was about to ask Brooks the same thing.
Then the tinfoil in my hat started itching again.
CCA was an internal, civilian-run authority created and run entirely by the comic industry, much like the ESRB.
As for the "novelty" of the basic idea, let's see here...
XIII (evil vice-president), MGS (evil SecDef, evil President, evil DCI in MGSes 1, 2, and 3 respectively), Splinter Cell (Rogue CIA agent in Pandora Tomorrow, implied conspiracy with high-ranking NSA and FBI officials in Double Agent and upcoming sequel), Hitman series (FBI director and Vice-President), Fallout 2 (the entire remaining US government), Soldier of Fortune II (rogue black ops agency), Deus Ex, Independence War (Earth Government is a totalitarian regime), GTA:SA (major enemy of the game is a group of corrupt LA cops)...
And that's -just- off the top of my head.
@Michael Brooks
Resonates with -current events-? Excuse me?
I'll look into the game though when i can.
this is why Bioshock makes my bladder weak...of coarse that might be age but still :P
I hope its half the game SS2 was.
lets hope Blacksite:A51 is 1/4 the game SS2 was :P
But you've kinda missed mine, which I'll state again at the end here. Funny you mention Halo though, I actually enjoyed the books more then the game itself.
@aniki21
Brains or not, it's a gun to the head and there really is no choice in my book. They shoot at me, I'm going to shoot them dead. This is my choice though, and not everyone is like me, this much I understand.
My question is still standing though, why is this on GP? Unless this game just comes out and says "Oh noz! Bush is at it again!" (which it isn't from what has been said), I don't really see this as news. Maybe for IGN or a review site, but GP must have something other then this.
How many chars were killed moments before you finally found them. 2 Died as you watched the. Audio logs haunted my dreams for a very very long time.
Then there were the ghost/psychic residuals those were hella creepy.
Especially the "You will be the mother of us all one".
As for this the moral line is clear. Unless said aliens are killing random citizens who had nothing to do with their problems. The government that would violate it citizens like that deserves to be destroyed. The moment they start killing indiscriminately they destroy any kind of moral high ground they had.
Deus Ex was an indescribable experience storywise. Number 2 no so much but 1. Damn conspiracy and subterfuge to the max.
I see your point but I am more interested the "entertainment" of it gameplay is the center of the EXP,story VAing and such add to it,its like Halo the game play is so so its not the best FPS control wise on a console I have ever played but the story made up for it somewhat still above average worth the discount price I paid for it.
In system shock 2 you were fighting your former crewmates who where turned into one collective organism.
The writing is this game was awesome, it made you doubt your assumptions about your situation numerous times.
I'd like to see better storylines in games, never mind the political twist stuf: i't has been done to death...
As for the Resident Evil/Umbrella connection that Arch brought up, it's *slightly* different. In Resident Evil (all of them except 4), the zombies were already dead - you're essentially just destroying a lifeless thing (which opens a different qustion of desecrating the dead).
BlackSite has sentient, living humans as the enemies; not following orders blindly but instead fighting back against an injustice that they feel has been done. The question the player is faced with is whether they're right for fighting back violently, or whether it's right to destroy the experimental subjects that have gone "wrong".
Frankly I'm a bit offended, you say this has a political undertone, I say everyone's thinking to hard. It's either the government, or a private company named after something to keep you from getting wet in the rain, that makes the monsters. Sure they were humans! So was Dracula, and you don't see anyone having moral dilemas about knocking him down.
My question is, will we be seeing more reports like this every time something of this sort comes up? I'm not saying it's going to be soon, but as more and more developers and the like try to stand out and make this pass time an art form, we're gonna see this kind of story more and more often.
Otherwise it could be another 8 years before another game comes close.
For instance, is it even possible within the game to communicate with the "aliens"? Is there a provision in the mission structure to generate objectives and a plot if the player manages to communicate properly with the leader(s) (if they exist) of the enemies and decides to join them to fight against the government that created them?
There's a lot of potential for moral quandry here, but unless the game mechanic is fluid enough to allow the player to act "naturally", instead of being forced along a linear path it's going to be another FPS.
They draw parallels with Half-Life 2, but Valve got away with the linearity of the plot by making Gordon Freeman essentially unaffiliated with any side of the war he was dragged into.