Kuma Games Issues Somali Pirate Sim
Kuma Games Issues Somali Pirate Sim
May 8, 2009
While the Iraq War combat of Six Days in Fallujah was judged by some to be too fresh of a topic for portrayal in a video game, the recent hijack of the Maersk Alabama by Somali pirates seems to have touched no such raw nerves.
Gamasutra reports that Kuma Games, which carved out its niche by recreating episodic, ripped-from-the-headlines military action, will launch Somali Showdown: Pirates on the High Seas this week for the PC:
Somali Showdown allows players to take on the role of either a crew member or an invading pirate aboard a captured vessel.
During a simulated hijacking, crew members will attempt to fend off the pirates and regain control of the ship's operations room. Players joining the game as pirates will try to take over the operations room and sail the ship into Somali waters.
Somali Showdown is a free download.
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Posted 11/24/09 at 01:44pm
JDKJ: And since you shared with me, I'll share with you, if you'd like. I have the best recipe for chocolate nut cookies. Just lemme know if you're interested.
JDKJ: And since you shared with me, I'll share with you, if you'd like. I have the best recipe for chocolate nut cookies. Just lemme know if you're interested.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:40pm
JDKJ: Thanks. That wasn't so hard, was it? You make me twist your arm. And I'm glad your ass ain't going nowhere near the turkey but to get a serving or two. I just can't see you cooking no turkey as a good move.
JDKJ: Thanks. That wasn't so hard, was it? You make me twist your arm. And I'm glad your ass ain't going nowhere near the turkey but to get a serving or two. I just can't see you cooking no turkey as a good move.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:36pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:its going to be a 20-30 person party soem are bigging in stuff all I am cooking is soem chocolate/nut cookies and some cake with choclate iceing.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:its going to be a 20-30 person party soem are bigging in stuff all I am cooking is soem chocolate/nut cookies and some cake with choclate iceing.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:33pm
JDKJ: For real, Zip, what's the plan for Thanksgiving? I know you ain't doing all the banister painting and leaf blowing for nothin'. I assume there're big things popping off at the Chateau Zippy. But that you won't share the plan hurts me.
JDKJ: For real, Zip, what's the plan for Thanksgiving? I know you ain't doing all the banister painting and leaf blowing for nothin'. I assume there're big things popping off at the Chateau Zippy. But that you won't share the plan hurts me.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:32pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:sorry but are a diseased lefty...but we love you anyway ^^ *lick*
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:sorry but are a diseased lefty...but we love you anyway ^^ *lick*
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:28pm
ZippyDSMlee: DS:But...I am a spaz 0-o
ZippyDSMlee: DS:But...I am a spaz 0-o
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:04pm
JDKJ: I thought it was because he types with his left hand only, his right hand being perpetually occupied otherwise.
JDKJ: I thought it was because he types with his left hand only, his right hand being perpetually occupied otherwise.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:03pm
DarkSaber: Too late for that.
DarkSaber: Too late for that.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:02pm
Valdearg: I just don't need a bunch of people thinking I'm diseased for whatever reason.
Valdearg: I just don't need a bunch of people thinking I'm diseased for whatever reason.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:02pm
Valdearg: No worries.. Just making it clear that I'm fine. Just gotta ride it out.
Valdearg: No worries.. Just making it clear that I'm fine. Just gotta ride it out.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:01pm
DarkSaber: Zippys hands hate each other, that's why he types like a spaz.
DarkSaber: Zippys hands hate each other, that's why he types like a spaz.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:00pm
JDKJ: I'm just saying that taking medical advice from Zippy may not be the best move you ever make.
JDKJ: I'm just saying that taking medical advice from Zippy may not be the best move you ever make.
Posted 11/24/09 at 01:00pm
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:DOn;t mind DS his dicky prickleness is what makes him so hot :X *luff luff* JD is just a dick.....a small annoying one....
ZippyDSMlee: Vlag:DOn;t mind DS his dicky prickleness is what makes him so hot :X *luff luff* JD is just a dick.....a small annoying one....
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:58pm
Valdearg: FYI, I'm getting better. It was a fast moving, severe cold.
Valdearg: FYI, I'm getting better. It was a fast moving, severe cold.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:58pm
Valdearg: It's frigging cold/flu season. Plenty of people are sickl.
Valdearg: It's frigging cold/flu season. Plenty of people are sickl.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:57pm
Valdearg: Wow.. Just because I'm bi doesn't mean I'm a slut. Damn guys..
Valdearg: Wow.. Just because I'm bi doesn't mean I'm a slut. Damn guys..
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:56pm
DarkSaber: ok, so you have good aids instead of gay aids (bad aids as it is otherwise known).
DarkSaber: ok, so you have good aids instead of gay aids (bad aids as it is otherwise known).
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:56pm
JDKJ: @Val': I dunno. Compromised immune systems often fall victim to common colds. You may wanna consider looking beyond Dr. Zip's diagnosis and towards a second opinion.
JDKJ: @Val': I dunno. Compromised immune systems often fall victim to common colds. You may wanna consider looking beyond Dr. Zip's diagnosis and towards a second opinion.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:54pm
Valdearg: @DS: gaids? Really? Wow, you are a dick.. That being said.. It is a cold. Zip's instincts were right on.
Valdearg: @DS: gaids? Really? Wow, you are a dick.. That being said.. It is a cold. Zip's instincts were right on.
Posted 11/24/09 at 12:42pm
JDKJ: Or hemorrhoidal flare-up?
JDKJ: Or hemorrhoidal flare-up?
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Comments
I wonder how well it will simulate the various situations.
One thing I have found in the media reports, blogs, and comments, people tend to not understand how these events work and why fighting back tends to be a really bad idea (i.e. why armed merchants are not faring much better)
I think i remember reading that article too, about running armed but i remember it being about IF they ran armed it wouldn't be much better and not that they actually were running armed right now. It also mentioned that for pretty much all ports they were heading to they could not run armed because the port authorities don't allow it so if they ran armed they wouldn't be able to dock and offload cause they would get inspected for smuggling weapons and anything found, even if they said it was for defense, they would get put in jail for so the idea of running armed isn't feasible anyways.
I think they need to allow some kind of security force, trained of course, though. These pirates are not new, the stories of piracy from somalia have been around for the better part of 6 years now and they've only gotten substantially worse.
The game would be interesting but somehow i doubt its going to be very detailed :P anyone tried it yet?
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*nods* the complexity of ports and regulations are one of the big issues yes.
The one I was thinking though is how the pirates are often armed. Many of them are using speedboats and are armed with RPGs, which makes them fast targets that have enough firepower to sink your ship. It is the same basic problem that battleships ran into against torpedo boats, which is why they had screening ships.
So basicly fighting back ends up having a low chance of success but a high risk of them hitting you, either by sinking the ship or using the high blast radius of an RPG to injure everyone on deck.
The cases where fighting back has worked either involved having a military ship nearby that didn't have to worry about RPGs much OR counterattacking after they have taken the ship (and thus can not use blast weapons anymore). Still, waiting till AFTER they board you in order to fight them off is risky, esp compared to 'sit and wait till parent corperation pays money', at least on the micro level.
Ya on a case by case basis sure, but in the long run that kind of thinking has given the pirates better ships and more guns O.o
I always tend to look down the road which is why i hate the idea of just submitting, its like deffering a problem to someone else down the road and making it bigger at the same time. Kinda like when I was younger and ignored the squealing brakes until my wheels locked up. Woulda been easier to take care of it sooner lol :P
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so I could sing "Somalian Pirates We"?
Piracy tag? This article is about real maritimes piracy and not software piracy.
I'm sorry, but that's hysterical!
"De minimus non curat lex"
Will all the pirates be black? Sounds as racist as Resident Evil 5!
well, we all know there's tons of white people in Somalia, so I doubt it. (sarcasm)
Yargh? No wait, I meant...
YAAARRRGGHH!!!
Someone needs to make a ninja vs. pirates mod for this game as soon as possible.
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