JFK - Reloaded
 

Link.

What do you think about this? Is it really to disprove the conspiricy thoeries or is it a just a game done in poor taste? I'm not really sure what to think about this. They offer $100,000 to the person who can replicate the shooting most accurately. Does that make it better or worse?

I was just about to start a thread on this, then I clicked on "new posts" and watta ya know!

I have long thought that computer games could be used to for more educational purposes as opposed to mere distraction or escapisim. As the tech increases and increases I think this could be a great way to experience an event in the past.

This is a little on the edge in terms of "tastefullness" but as we move in years further from the date in question it will seem more and more paletable. For example, a romantic love story (movie) around the 9-11 attacks would seem tasteless as 3000+ people were killed that day. However, a similar move framed by the events of Pearl Harbour is A-OK (but a crappy movie).

I just finished downloading this file as I was typing this, once I have had a look for myself I will report back.

EDIT:::: One last thing, I am sure the game makers are absolutely loving all this free advertising. Nothing sells quite like outrage and contraversy.

Any press is good press. I downloaded the demo and you can do everything but actually shoot. You have to buy the game in order to take the shots. You can modify different settings like crowd conditions and how people react. Pretty interesting. I think it would in poor taste if it yelled "Headshot" like in Unreal Tournament. I'd get a good laugh out of it but still, poor taste.

No way these guys have anything scientific in mind. This game is in poor taste.

Have you played the demo? Or the game? I've played the demo and it looks like they put quite a lot of thought into the game, and well they say it's to show people the science behind the shooting.

Extrapolating into the future, some company will release a game to let you plot and execute attacks like the WTC and OK City bombings eventually. A while later there will be nostaligic films about terrorism much like the "romantic" pirate movies of today. Sad but true :(

I don't see how this game is any 'less tastefull' than any FPS. I don't understand why some people are so offended.

I really think that they should have at the very least informed the Kennedy family and maybe even explained it to them beforehand..From the sound Sennator Kennedy's camp it was a suprise.

Otherwise it looks ok...It's still a bit on the edge of bad taste but otherwise interesting.

Slate's review :

^^^ I didn't know you could make 'real' people with pixels.

I understand the controversy regarding this game, but c'mon. Let's give these guys at least a little bit of credit for bringing it out as a science/reality-based tool. They could've very well hired the makers of Postal to develop this game. I don't see this as any different than a virtual reality program that the government would use to further analyze historical events, other than the widespread access and the $9.99 price tag.

Hell, I'll even go so far as saying I want to 'play' this 'game.' Does that make me evil? I swear; a movie re: this with Kevin Costner is regarded with heavy acclaim, while a videogame is looked upon as despicable. This only furthers my opinion that the only reason videogames get so much negative attention is because they are seen by many ignorant people as 'toys' created 'just for kids.' Hey, I'm not a kid, and I was playing the heck outta my I-Ninja game yesterday. My 10-year-old brother isn't an adult, yet he paid for his own dinner a few nights ago.

Maturity comes with experience, NOT age. Quit associating videogames with age, and then just MAYBE you could develop an applicable view of the maturity of such games.

I wasn't necessarily criticizing it; in fact, I selected paragraphs from the review to indicate my mixed feelings about it. Yes, it actually does interest me too. I'm not sure yet that I want to plunk down money for it, but I'm considering it. On the other hand, I do feel a little queasy about it. But I'm not a fan of any first-person shooter game.

As for Oliver Stone's movie... well, I don't acclaim it. It was pure fiction, slickly done.

abscondo - Just so you know, my last post wasn't directed towards you. It's directed towards all those ignorant people who use the following phrases: "Videogames teach you...," "TV Teaches you...," and "Why are you teaching my kids..."

I dont get the point of the game, is the whole game just recreating the assination of JFK? I mean, how fun could that be, or how many times could you possibly play that.

That's exactly what it is. I aquired the full version of this software a few days ago and have run thru the simulation a couple dozen times.

It is NOT a game.

The entire scenario run itself out in about 45 seconds and every time it's exactly the same, the motorcade slowly makes it's way into Deely Square (Plaza?), at which time you can start shooting. To simulate what Oswald alegedly did, you wait till the limo makes the turn and clears the tree, then...bang bang bang. Three shots and it's all over, then you can run the replay.

Don't expect this to replace GTA. JFK-Reloaded is more interesting and educational than fun.

Much more advanced than your typical FPS, at least simulation-wise. The graphics are probably on par with something like the original Unreal from 1999, but the physics behavior of the bullets is way more realistic.

I will post some screen shots when I get home later to illlustrate my point, and to reitterate....NOT a game.

Is it still available to download? Im not able to get to any sites. Keep getting a refused connection.

Yup. The download site is right here: http://www.jfk-reloaded.com/download/

Maybe you are being blocked if you work for the Kennedy family. ;)

I realize how real this game might be, and how great the phsyics might be (I havent played it yet - only the demo). Personally, I'm not offended by the JFK thing. But do I think its a good idea? No. This just opens the doors to more terrorist related games. All we need now is a "Afghan Terrorist Flight Simulator" or something. That would definitly not be a good thing.
I look foward to experiencing the true-to-life physics of the shots, but I definitly think they could have come up with a little more...tasteful way of showing it off. Maybe something like if there was an option to play as a SWAT officer, and your mission is to take out Oswald before he gets his shots off?

How is this in poor taste? You can play a game like GTA:SA or Hitman or something, where you can basically kill everyone you see if you want to. Nobody is forcing you to download the game (if you can call it that) and play it. Games are not real, and they never will be. If you're offended by a video game, you really need grow up. Its a GAME, nothing more.

With all due respect, you are completly missing the point.

It's not a game, the goal of JFK-Reloaded is not to "kill the president," the goal is not to entertain you the way GTA or Halflife 2 does. The goal is to prove that Oswald could not have fired the 3 shots in the time alleged on that day in Dallas.

I don't mean to be harsh, but if you havn't downloaded JFK-R and run thru the simulation you have no idea what you are talking about. Sure, it looks like a game, it sounds like a game, it even "plays" like a game...but for the 15th time, IT IS NOT A GAME.

The goal of re-enactment is discovery. For years police have re-enacted crimes to work out time-lines and shot placement. You've all seen CSI right? How many times have you seen the Civil War re-enactments where nerds in blue costumes pretend to kill other nerds in gray costumes?

This is the just the same sort of reconstruction with new technologhy. Now of course because it's in the shape of a video game the mass unwashed unfamiliar with the medium wind up getting their panties in a bunch. It's the typicall rallying cry. "Someone please think of the children" or "This is an insult to the memory of JFK."

Oh bite it. First off, JFK-Reloaded is never intended to be placed into the hands of a child. Secondly, we've been seeing computer animated bullets go into a computer animated JFK since the mid-90's, so this is no different.

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, and Todd I certainly don't mean to attack you, but when I see a case of media hysteria over technology or whatever, I get a little defensive.

Run the simulation, then decide.

I can't wait 'till that comes out. :)
Fuck all, it's an educational tool, and even if it weren't, this is America; it hasn't become the Empire of Bush just yet. The whole reason we have freedom of expression is to prevent the complete take-over of ignorance. Open up your mind and maybe you'll learn something new, rather than closing it to reality. This is here, whether you like it or not. You might as well take advantage of it being here to better your own understanding of the event rather than condemning it.

Tasteless and sad...

Do some research before you knock it, it's highly scientific, its shows bullet path, multiple camera angles...well thought out.

I agree exactly, how can rip on something you dont' know about. Hell I told me roomate about it and he thought it was going to be horrible. I let him play it a few times and he thought it was so cool.

It's not tasteless and sad. It recreates an actual event. I bought it and I love it. Its one hell of a good physics lesson with the way they show the bullet path

An assasination game would be ok (ish), but i don't like the way it uses JFK as an example. Use some imagination, don't just take a horrible event and capitalise on it!