Survivor, is it too real too soon?

Replay Studios recently revealed its upcoming "Reality Gaming" project, Survivor. While there's no plan to include ridiculous tasks on a deserted island, the game will feature historical disasters from the past 100 years. Missions will include catastrophes like the Titanic, Hiroshima, and 9/11. Not to undermine those other tragedies, but the simple fact that 9/11 occurred just three short years ago puts a title like Survivor into question. How far is too far? And is it too soon? Replay argues that the game is about saving people, and although sensationalized, how much more inappropriate can it be than a game like Conflict Desert Storm (a bestseller)? The studio has even hinted at the addition of a Baghdad level, which would take an entirely new approach to the obvious military blitzkrieg. It's certainly a sensitive subject, reflected in the fact that Replay has yet to find a publisher. But if this game does ever make it home, it will be interesting to see how we react. Perhaps the thrill of games like GTA or Manhunt is that they aren't really real at all.