Source: Military-based GameStop stores will not carry Medal of Honor
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EA's upcoming Medal of Honor reboot has attracted some controversy due to the inclusion of Taliban fighters in the game's multiplayer mode. A source has informed Joystiq that, in response to the backlash, GameStop stores in Army and Air Force bases will not stock the game. According to the notice sent to employees, "GameStop has agreed out of respect for our past and present Men and Women in uniform we will not carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores." The notice specifically mentions playable Taliban fighters as cause for the pullback.
The affected stores will have "all marketing material pulled" and will no longer take reservations for the game. While the move showcases GameStop's sensitivity to the hot-topic issue, stores are nonetheless encouraged to direct buyers to a non-military store. "Customers who enter our AAFES stores and wish to reserve Medal of Honor can and should be directed to the nearest GameStop location off base," the note explains.
The full statement can be read after the break.
GameStop internal memo:
"GameStop has agreed out of respect for our past and present Men and Women in uniform we will not carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores. At this time it does not include our 4 stores on Marine Installations. GameStop fully supports AAFES in this endeavor and is sensitive to the fact that in multiplayer mode, one side will assume the role of Taliban fighters. As such, GameStop agreed to have all marketing material pulled by noon today, and to stop taking reservations. Customers who enter our AAFES stores and wish to reserve Medal of Honor can and should be directed to the nearest GameStop location off base. Again we appreciate the sensitivity, and know our AAFES based stores will continue to honor the great customer base in which they serve."
The affected stores will have "all marketing material pulled" and will no longer take reservations for the game. While the move showcases GameStop's sensitivity to the hot-topic issue, stores are nonetheless encouraged to direct buyers to a non-military store. "Customers who enter our AAFES stores and wish to reserve Medal of Honor can and should be directed to the nearest GameStop location off base," the note explains.
The full statement can be read after the break.
GameStop internal memo:
"GameStop has agreed out of respect for our past and present Men and Women in uniform we will not carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores. At this time it does not include our 4 stores on Marine Installations. GameStop fully supports AAFES in this endeavor and is sensitive to the fact that in multiplayer mode, one side will assume the role of Taliban fighters. As such, GameStop agreed to have all marketing material pulled by noon today, and to stop taking reservations. Customers who enter our AAFES stores and wish to reserve Medal of Honor can and should be directed to the nearest GameStop location off base. Again we appreciate the sensitivity, and know our AAFES based stores will continue to honor the great customer base in which they serve."
Reader Comments (112)
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 9:22PM shadowskill11 said
@arawk Yeah I got that. Are you saying that he shouldn't have been looking for tips in a strat guide like a noob and that affected your decision to join the military for some reason or that he should have had some special insight into a non-realistic video game because he is a non-commissioned officer who's job it is to do paper work and bus kids back and forth in a government car?
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Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 9:23PM ironcity11b said
@shadowskill11
its obvious the recruiter sucked at real combat. maybe he didn't have his kill streak rewards set up right.
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its obvious the recruiter sucked at real combat. maybe he didn't have his kill streak rewards set up right.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 9:28PM shadowskill11 said
@ironcity11b I know right? He must have kept dying too much allowing the real Taliban or insurgents to rack up so many kill streaks they kept calling in C-130's or nukes to kill his fellow soldiers. He was just using the guide to see that he should have been pressing right trigger and jump with the a button instead actually learning how to fight.
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Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 10:05PM Nook said
That's understandable, it's not like they are telling the enlisted they can NOT have a copy. If they wish they can go off base and pick one up.
To be honest, I'm kinda suprised the marine bases are still going to sell it. United forces, eh?
To be honest, I'm kinda suprised the marine bases are still going to sell it. United forces, eh?
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 10:42PM GuardianLegend said
It'd be pretty cool if they made a game which was 100% from a Taliban perspective.
We have Mafia and Yakuza games. Why not a Taliban game? I've read on the BBC that perhaps 20% of the Italian economy is run by the Mafia, and that the Yakuza is quite a presence in Japan too. Organizations of both groups have likely killed many police officers. But both groups are almost celebrated in pop culture.
We have Mafia and Yakuza games. Why not a Taliban game? I've read on the BBC that perhaps 20% of the Italian economy is run by the Mafia, and that the Yakuza is quite a presence in Japan too. Organizations of both groups have likely killed many police officers. But both groups are almost celebrated in pop culture.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 10:58PM sensuallettuce said
I don't see why people get mad at this, I really see their point but then again you can play as Nazis in games and they really didn't do "nice" things.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 11:41PM canada said
f*ck the idiots that think this is a problem. the taliban have been fighting our troops for 9 years and people still are in denial that theyr innocent and that its wrong to publicize it. even on the news when theres a terrorist attack or suicide bomb, they almost never mention the guy was from middle east and was muslim, but its almost always the case.
Posted: Sep 3rd 2010 12:09AM GuardianLegend said
@canada
You must mean they always mention they're from the Middle East and are Muslim.
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You must mean they always mention they're from the Middle East and are Muslim.
Posted: Sep 2nd 2010 11:59PM tonyprince said
i think its pretty stupid that most games, or war games i should say are mostly about Americans being the saviour of. No dev has ever developed a game based of the other nations view. I'd love to see a game based of Japans Military conquering most of Asia and the attack on Pearl Harbor without Americans coming in to save the day.
Posted: Sep 3rd 2010 3:05AM Verrier said
@(Unverified)
Games and other mediums generally don't portray aggressors as the heroes.
Go ask China and the rest of southeast Asia what they think of the Japanese. They still have a deep loathing for the Japanese, more than 60 years after the atrocities were committed.
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Games and other mediums generally don't portray aggressors as the heroes.
Go ask China and the rest of southeast Asia what they think of the Japanese. They still have a deep loathing for the Japanese, more than 60 years after the atrocities were committed.
Posted: Sep 7th 2010 11:04AM gatotsu911 said
@Verrier
Of course with this game, the aggressors WILL be portrayed as the heroes. Make of that what you will.
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Of course with this game, the aggressors WILL be portrayed as the heroes. Make of that what you will.
Posted: Sep 3rd 2010 12:12AM DeadbyDagger said
I had to pull down this damn marketing today because I work on the base GS - shame. Every personnel I asked today said they didn't care - oh, and any Marine-Only base such as the one in Hawaii still gets to see the copies on the shelves.




