JFK - Reloaded - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

stonegrody · 11-24-2004, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Company launches JFK assassination game
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — A British company said Sunday it was releasing a video game recreating the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy.

Here is a scene from the JFK Reloaded simulation of events in Dealey Plaza, typical of the camera angles available in the action-replay system.
AP

A spokesman for the president's brother, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., called the game "despicable."

The Glasgow-based firm Traffic said "JFK Reloaded" was an educational "docu-game" that would help disprove conspiracy theories about Kennedy's death. The game was scheduled due to be released Monday, the 41st anniversary of the shooting in Dallas.

Traffic said the game challenged players to recreate the three shots fired at the president's car by assassin Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository.

Traffic's managing director, Kirk Ewing, said the game — available as an Internet download for $9.99 — would "stimulate a younger generation of players to take an interest in this fascinating episode of American history."

"We've created the game with the belief that Oswald was the only person that fired the shots on that day, although this recreation proves how immensely difficult his task was," Ewing said.

In a statement, Traffic said it was "determined to promote the title respectfully," given the sensitivity of the subject.

Sen. Kennedy's spokesman, David Smith, would not comment on whether the family was taking any action to stop the game's release.

"It's despicable. There's really no further comment," Smith said, adding that the Washington office started getting calls about the game Friday.

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?

the_marq · 11-24-2004, 11:28 AM

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.

stonegrody · 11-24-2004, 11:52 AM

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.

reiii · 11-24-2004, 12:06 PM

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

silent_jay · 11-24-2004, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiii

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.

Baldylocks2 · 11-24-2004, 04:10 PM

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

ninety09 · 11-24-2004, 04:42 PM

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

jonjon42 · 11-24-2004, 05:48 PM

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.

abscondo · 11-24-2004, 06:36 PM

Slate's review :

Quote:

After playing JFK Reloaded for a couple of hours, I have to give Traffic credit for the game's unbelievably precise physics. Every bullet bounces around with a super-realistic trajectory, behaving in the incredibly complicated way that bullets do. Sometimes I'd hit the back of the limo and the bullet would careen forward, smashing the glass; other times it would embed itself in the metal. After each round, the game lets you view the scene in a dozen different ways, including the classic Zapruder film angle or even from the perspective of a camera mounted on the limo. Then you get a 3-D model of the limo that you can rotate however you want, with the bullet trajectories traced in freeze-frame. As a physics simulation, it's remarkable.

But as an experience? It's nauseating.

When I play blood-soaked shoot-'em-up games, the vamped-up violence doesn't really bother me—the more cartoonish the action, the fewer consequences the game seems to have. Even war games where you're theoretically fighting a real enemy—like German or American or Japanese armies—don't really feel personal. But JFK Reloaded is different. When you peer through the rifle scope, the faces of JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy (and Texas Gov. John Connally and his wife Nellie) are completely recognizable. These are real people who still have immediate living relatives—or, in the case of Nellie Connally, are still alive.

CityOfAngels · 11-25-2004, 01:19 AM

^^^ 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.

abscondo · 11-25-2004, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityOfAngels

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.

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.

CityOfAngels · 11-25-2004, 11:31 AM

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..."

1slOwCD8 · 11-25-2004, 01:06 PM

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.

the_marq · 11-26-2004, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slOwCD8

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.

ToiletDuck · 11-26-2004, 11:34 AM

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

the_marq · 11-26-2004, 11:45 AM

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.

todd · 11-26-2004, 11:57 AM

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?

omega2K4 · 11-26-2004, 12:08 PM

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.

the_marq · 11-26-2004, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd

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?

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.

CityOfAngels · 11-26-2004, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd

All we need now is a "Afghan Terrorist Flight Simulator"...

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.

Irishsean · 11-26-2004, 08:14 PM

Tasteless and sad...

merkerguitars · 11-27-2004, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiii

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

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_marq

Run the simulation, then decide.

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

DarkPho · 11-27-2004, 11:01 AM

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!

11-24-2004, 11:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	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. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series Last edited by the_marq; 11-24-2004 at 11:34 AM..

11-24-2004, 11:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
stonegrody Brooding. Location: CA-USA	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. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality. Embrace this moment. Remember. We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion. Tool - Parabola

11-24-2004, 12:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
reiii unstuck in time Location: Nashville/D.C.	No way these guys have anything scientific in mind. This game is in poor taste. __________________ "Jombe? The chocolate icing" -hedonism bot

11-24-2004, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
jonjon42 Psycho Location: inside my own mind	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. __________________ A damn dirty hippie without the dirty part....

11-26-2004, 11:45 AM	#16 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	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. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

11-24-2004, 04:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Baldylocks2 Upright	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

11-24-2004, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
ninety09 Flavour of the Weak Location: Canada	I don't see how this game is any 'less tastefull' than any FPS. I don't understand why some people are so offended.

11-25-2004, 01:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
1slOwCD8 Psycho Location: chicago, illinois	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.

11-26-2004, 11:34 AM	#15 (permalink)
ToiletDuck Insane Location: In beautiful (YOUR AREA)	Is it still available to download? Im not able to get to any sites. Keep getting a refused connection.

11-26-2004, 11:57 AM	#17 (permalink)
todd Addict Location: Chicago	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? Last edited by todd; 11-26-2004 at 12:00 PM..

11-26-2004, 12:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
omega2K4 Natalie Portman is sexy. Location: The Outer Rim	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. __________________ "While the State exists there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin "Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."- Karl Marx

11-26-2004, 08:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
Irishsean edited for content Location: Austin, TX	Tasteless and sad... __________________ There are no absolute rules of conduct, either in peace or war. Everything depends on circumstances. Leon Trotsky

11-27-2004, 11:01 AM	#23 (permalink)
DarkPho Tilted	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!