Chris Davis of (but not representing) HookedGamers got in touch with me yesterday to share his thoughts on this Kotaku article about the current Korea crisis. He’s given me permission to reproduce this email here and has said that he doesn’t mind whether or not he’s credited. Personally I think it’s a cracking read, and so I’ve elected to credit him for it.

Chris’ thoughts follow:

Am I the only one that feels that it is tasteless to post an article, in reference to an unprovoked attack on a South Korean village where two defending marines died presumably trying to evacuate civilians, about an upcoming video game?  Seriously Kotaku?  I understand why you do some of the stuff you do but to post a story promoting Homefront, an American occupation title with the North Koreans being the invaders, sits somewhere between heartless hit-mongering and being downright rude to the victims of this latest event in a string of deadly incidents on the Korean peninsula.

I honestly think this article should either be removed from the site outright or, at the very least, amended to not discuss the events of today.  Publishing an article about the continuing Korean conflict is one thing but to use it to promote a video game is something else entirely.  The only word that comes to mind that contextualizes what was posted (though I know this isn’t the best way to put it) is profiteering.  I’d think that neither THQ or Kaos had anything to do with this post but it still upsets me that Kotaku would go so far as to utilize a fresh international incident in which people lost their lives and everything they own to promote a damn game.

Kotaku, listen up: if you want to do a post about games set against the backdrop of a Korean conflict then talk about that.  You can have a grand discussion in regard to how the Clancy franchise approached the subject or perhaps other American occupation games like Resistance or Freedom Fighters if you want: the topic has lots of avenues to explore!  Otherwise avoid headline news like this unless it has a direct impact upon gaming and/or the industry itself; you just come off to me like a jackass otherwise.

Tl;dr version: Kotaku’s news post ticked me off this evening and I hope there is some reprisal for it.