Three weeks ago, Konami announced its intentions to publish Six Days in Fallujah, an action title from Atomic Games based on the famous, controversial 2004 battle for control of the Iraqi city.  Since the announcement, the project has been the subject of significant outcry from veterans’ and anti-war groups, due to the high death rate and the fact that the battle took place only five years ago in a war that is till being fought today.  It seems the public backlash has reached Konami in a big way, as they are reportedly scrapping the game.

Asahi.com is reporting that Konami has officially decided to pull the game, with a public relations representative stating, "After seeing the reaction to the videogame in the United States and hearing opinions sent through phone calls and e-mail, we decided several days ago not to sell it."  This announcement comes despite the involvement of over three dozen US soldiers who took part in the battle, who offered tactical and personal details about the operation.

There has been no word as to whether Atomic Games plans to shop the game to other publishers, but given the amount of development that has gone into Six Days in Fallujah already, one would have to think they’d at least see what their options are.  With Konami dropping the project, however, they may have a tough time finding another publisher willing to take on such a controversial project.

I’m somewhat torn on whether or not this is a good thing.  I completely understand and appreciate the feelings of those who served in this battle and their families who feel the game would be in poor taste.  Likewise, I totally understand Konami’s decision to scrap the project based on these objections.  I wonder, though, if a movie about the battle of Fallujah would have received the same kind of outcry.  I also wonder if a movie should get the same kind of outcry.  For all the talk of video games “growing up” over the last few years, I’m still not sure that the medium is mature enough to handle touchy subjects like these.  I hope that someday video games and their creators will be responsible enough for topics like this; I just don’t think we’re there yet.

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