Video Games Cause Worry in Lebanon

This is a dual article via Middle East Times....both dealing with video games in Lebanon...

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Hezbollah launches video game on war with Israel

BEIRUT -- Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas have launched a video game that invites players to relive their successes in last year's war against Israel, and shoot down "the myth of an invincible army."

The game called "Special Force 2," is based on fighting that actually took place, one of its creators, Ali Ahmed, said.

"The player is involved as a resistance fighter, and relives the high points of the destruction of the Israeli military machine," he added.

The game was created in order to "reaffirm the destruction of the myth of an invincible army," he said. Each day there is a "martyr" from among a list of Hezbollah fighters killed during the war.

The six-step game starts with the capture of two Israeli soldiers on the Israeli-Lebanese border, which triggered the July 12, 2006 conflict that ended just over a month later August 14.

It involves pinpointing a patrol, launching the attack, destroying Israeli vehicles, blowing up a security enclosure, and capturing the soldiers.

"The [simulated] battles take place day and night," Ahmed said.

Every player, whether alone or in a group, is guided by the "resistance command center," and chooses his level, whether beginner, intermediate, or professional, he added.

Missions also include destroying an Israeli Saar-5 class gunship off the coast of Beirut, as happened during the first days of the fighting, as well as destroying dozens of Merkava tanks and launching missiles on northern Israel.

"This game stimulates thinking, because it involves fighting the Israeli enemy not only with weapons, but also with tactics and planning," Ahmed said.

The game, in Arabic, which will soon have French and English versions, sells for "$10 because the goal is not for profit," he said.

In 2001, Hezbollah launched a first game called "Special Force 1," based on operations against the Israeli army in Southern Lebanon before its retreat in the year 2000.

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Lebanon probes Internet game that kills PM

BEIRUT -- An Internet game in which players raid the offices of Lebanon's politically-embattled premier, killing him and members of his cabinet, is under criminal investigation, a newspaper reported Friday.

Court of Cassation prosecutor Saeed Mirza ordered the probe following complaints into the game "on how to raid the Serail electronically, and kill those inside," the leading An Nahar daily said.

The action was "a prelude to judicial lawsuits against parties behind the game," it said.

The Serail is the name of the building in which Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has his offices.

Information minister Ghazi Aridi warned that the game, entitled "Battle of the Serail: the final battle," exceeded the limits of entertainment and served no educational purpose.

"This ... targets the safety and security of the country, because it will only escalate grudges, conflicts, and divisions," he said, adding that the country could next witness a game that teaches youth how to raid the homes of Lebanese politicians.

On Friday, the game could no longer be downloaded from the Web log on which it was posted earlier in the week: www.14march.blogspot.com.

In a recent email, the blogger refused to identify himself, claiming security concerns. He only said he was Lebanese, and studying in London.

The game offers "the final battle ... where you have to liberate the Serail from the gang of 14."

Players fight their way into the premier's offices against "government militias" that have been trained in a tunnel, linked to the US embassy.

The last phase of the game involves shooting down Siniora and members of his government, before the screen reads: "Congratulations, game over."

Ironically, the March 14 date in the blog's Internet address is also the unofficial name of the parliamentary majority to which Siniora belongs.

The blog had also offered a game on the battle of Nahr Al Bared, the refugee camp in Northern Lebanon where the army has been locked in fierce battles with Islamists since May.

The Lebanese, who fought a devastating 15-year civil war that ended in 1990, are particularly uneasy about anything related to political violence.