Creator defends Holocaust DS game
News by Rob Purchese

Today 11:47
Luc Bernard, the man behind DS title Imagination is the Only Escape, has defended his right to explore the issue of the Holocaust in his game.
Speaking exclusively to Eurogamer, he said his motives are to pass on knowledge. "It's to educate children about awareness and racism... There won't be any violent scenes, the bottom screen just displays the reality of what happened - you can find that information in books," Bernard stated.
"I hate World War II shooters. I think they are sick and disgusting. The war is not a game," he continued. "That is why I did this title, to show kids what really happened during the war."
WWII shooters weren't the only games to come under fire from Bernard. "Why can a game like Manhunt go on sale when it's a murdering simulation, and a game like Imagination is the Only Escape - which has no violence and is about a young child trying to escape the horrors of war with his imagination - be banned? Tell me isn't that messed up."
Imagination is the Only Escape is set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, and casts you as a young Jewish boy who uses a fantasy land as an escape from the atrocities committed around him.
The game is currently in pre-production and aims to prove that videogames can promote a meaningful message.
"The game is far from finished and will not be released until it is perfect," added Bernard.
"The profits I make off this game I plan to donate to Darfur, I am not planning to make money off controversy. I want this game to help show that videogames are not just mindless entertainment."
Imagination is the Only Escape was rumoured to have been blocked from sale Nintendo, which said it had "no plans" to release it in Europe or the US.
However, publisher Alten8 has since clarified that "no one has blocked" the game, but it is simply too early in development to be given a date.

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=94304

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

I have no problem with the game. As long as it isn't Neo-Nazi, Anti-Semitic, or overly preachy.

The basic concept sounds like something from Pan's Labyrinth...

"I hate World War II shooters. I think they are sick and disgusting. The war is not a game," he continued. "That is why I did this title, to show kids what really happened during the war."

I tend to agree with this statement.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

I agree with acker's sentiments, but I'd have to know more about it before forming an opinion.

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Best Regards,
JW

I'd love to play a completely realistic WWII game, with everything from guns to terror bombing to concentration camps. You see, my generation was born too late to know what that war was remotely like, and even a facsimile of the war would be a blessing to those who want to understand.

The way I see it? Most of the WWII games honor the endeavors of people, normally soldiers, who fought one way or another in order to create a better future. Of course, there are some excruciatingly obvious commercial knockoffs...

Unfortunately for some it creates a "Videogame" sense of Knowledge and History . I have seen many posters come to these types of forums that the only information and knowledge they have is from a game. And it is totally wrong and unrealistic. The games arent meant to teach they are made to make money and entertain. Especailly the "First Person Shooter" types. Not that I don't like them. They have their uses LOL . But they are chock full of inaccuracies. My favorite was seeing a commercial for one where a soldier shoots down a Stuka with a Thompson LOL. They are a start for infomation and knowledge but not like some think accurate.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

Absolutely right JCF.

Games where the truth of ww2 is not only bent but in many ways changed and retold, why don't they put real facts in with real people, real events and real circumstances, what the truth isn't gorey or violent enough for them?

I personally do like first person shooters except when they are filled with real facts and truths, but I know when I play that they are just games and I know that that 20mm Flak gun can not shot down 16 JU87's within one minute and that planes do not just go boom just because the developers say so, I hate that.

I perfer the stragety games like the 'Combat mission' series or the "hearts of Iron' ones, they are accurate with the facts but still allow you to play with history to add more tanks in or change the scenario to incorporate a million pieces of artillery and so on. But what we need to teach people is that a game is a game and not a history book.

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They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them. Lest We Forget

I would need to see it or even play it to make up my mind. apparently it is not pro-Nazi, I don't know whether it's dodgy in other ways .

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I agree with the "historical inaccuracy" part for practically every game out there. But, if children believe what they see on TV (or, this case, a computer), that's a problem with education. For obvious reasons, game designers need to take creative liberties...but I still cringe every time someone says that a Garand was less accurate and/or powerful than a Kar. I mean, seriously, a railgun the rifle is not...

The Close Combat Series was very good. Especially A Bridge Too Far.

Yes It was, I have the Invasion of Normandy with a whole lot of mods for it such it changes into the Battle for berlin, the battle of stalingrad, NOrth Africa campaign and many more. Except that the tanks crews are stupid

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They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them. Lest We Forget

Looks like an interesting concept at least. Worth a look although most certainly a commercial flop unfortunately.

IMO I think so too. Without violence or being able to shoot and kill someone I don't think there will be much interest in it. Unfortunately for some the killing and violence is what draws someone to a game.

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For the first time I have seen "History" at close quarters,and I know that its actual process is very different from what is presented to Posterity. - WWI General Max Hoffman.

I'm the "Confederate with a pipe"!! LOL

IMHO, one of the things I like about video games is it sparks an interest in what the game is portraying. Playing Medal of Honor: Frontline first got me interested in WW2, Age of Empires 2 got me interested in medieval stuff.

It's like watching Fireman Sam, it gets people interested in Fire Engines, or someone who watches Thomas the Tank Engine as a child will probably become a trainspotter in later years.

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The boy with an arse for a face, every week on five...

I agree with you on this completely. When that game Bully was schedualed to be released there was such an uproar that the game was a "Columbine Simulator". It was no such thing. A kid with a sling shot? Let the game magazines give the reviews and we can all look at the pictures they give and decide for ourselves whether the game is inaproppriate. I hate when other people tell me that game isn't sutible for me to be playing. If I want to go out and play Grand Theft Auto and shoot as many virtual cops as possible in a virtual world where I can do things I can't in real life, than let me be, and worry about yourself/your children, not me/my children.

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"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard." -General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
"The conqueror is always a lover of peace; he would prefer to take over our country unopposed."-Karl von Clausewitz