JFK computer game: Your views

The family of John F Kennedy has criticised a Scottish company for producing a PC-based game that recreates the late president's death.

Traffic Games says JFK Reloaded encourages youngsters to take an interest in history.

But a spokesman for Senator Ted Kennedy, the brother of the late president, has called the game "despicable".

Do you agree with the Kennedy family? Is JFK Reloaded in poor taste or does it encourage a greater interest in historic events? Have PC-based games gone too far?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Phil, UK: Are the Kennedy family right to be upset at the re-creation of the JFK assassination in a video game format? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

It's no different to making a film or book about the assassination, of which there have been hundreds with no outcry. The only criticism that needs to be levelled is that it's rubbish, both as a game and as an educational resource!
Andrew Livingston, London, England

Hang on a moment, the new Grand Theft Auto game is filled with violence, gun crime and murder and is being hailed as a masterpiece. This 'game' involves replaying an historical event and it is deemed 'despicable'. Am I missing something here?
Ross, UK

I think the main problem is how the game has been presented. If it had have been more respectful, and presented itself as a determined attempt to get to the truth behind JFK's murder, it probably would have escaped a lot of the criticism. But offering a cash prize to players seems to be incredibly distasteful.
Sean, Belfast, Ireland

There seems to be very little game play and glory involved in this game compared to other games based on real events. With the amount of real physics involved in this game and it's apparent attention to detail, like it or not, this silly little computer game may give a final, definitive answer to a 40+ year old question.
Stephen, Charleston, WV

There are numerous WW II 'Games' and showing deaths in graphic detail of hundreds of the 40,000,000 who were killed in WW II. So why the fuss about one person - JFK. What is, or was, so special about this one?
B.W. Moore, Stockton on Tees, UK

The fact that JFK's killing is an historical event doesn't exempt it from ethical debate Adam, Dundee, Scotland

The fact that JFK's killing is an historical event doesn't exempt it from ethical debate. Sure, we don't complain about WWII or Vietnam War games, but would, say, a game where players have to crash planes into the Twin Towers be tasteful? If not, then what period of time has to pass before it becomes sufficiently 'historical' to become 'educational software'?
Adam, Dundee, Scotland

Perhaps people complaining about shooting JFK in a video game should concentrate more on "tasteless" violence in the real world. For example prisoner abuses in Iraq, the mass murder being committed in Sudan...
anonymous, London

Let's have a game where we go on the hunt for Saddam!
Gail , Surrey, UK

What on earth is the problem? One man dies over 40 years ago and now there is outrage! I guess it must be an American 'thang'
John Wilson, UK

It's not like we haven't been blowing people's heads open in video games before Trevor Power, Waterford, Ireland

This is being blown way out of proportion, it's not like we haven't been blowing people's heads open in video games before, this just puts a face on the head instead of generic zombie guy. Relax, its only a game.
Trevor Power, Waterford, Ireland

I think the point the game producers are trying to get across is that if you can recreate the path of the so-called "magic bullet" they will give the "winner" 100,000. It's not a pop at the Kennedy family but at the authorities who still maintain that a single solitary shooter performed one of the most infamous assassinations in living memory.
Keith R, Fordingbridge UK

JFK Reloaded is a reflection of the "despicable" lengths some companies will go to try to get a buck. I think the Kennedy family should get compensated by being awarded 100% of whatever profit is made from this shameful game.
George Mosier, Pittsburgh - USA

An excellent piece of marketing Colin Meeks, Ottawa, Canada

Whether you agree or disagree, this is an excellent piece of marketing that has been given the kind of marketing push you can only dream about. At $9.95 they are sure to make a lot of money.
Colin Meeks, Ottawa, Canada

3 days ago I doubt that anyone had heard of Traffic Games - I certainly hadn't. Of course the game is offensive - but isn't it astonishing what a well-timed piece of publicity can do for a company.
Tom Attah, Sheffield, United Kingdom

If this is bad taste capitalising on the tragic circumstances of JFK's death then what about the multitude of tragic deaths in Vietnam or WWII and they don't complain about games glorifying them.
Mike, Atlanta, GA

Erm, I didn't hear anyone complaining about Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, which (if I remember rightly) is based on real peacekeeping battles in Somalia in 1989. Neither did I hear anyone complaining about Medal of Honour: Rising Sun, which is blatantly based on the massacre at Pearl Harbour. I could list a lot more examples of computer games based on far more horrific and recent events, that didn't elicit this sort of uproar. So why are people complaining about this? Have I missed something here?
Lloyd Evans, Brighton, UK

How would Britain feel if a game was created to re-enact the death of Princess Diana? Troy, USA

I also think it is in bad taste to exploit the murder of a countries' president. How would Britain feel if a game was created to re-enact the death of Princess Diana? I think the relations would be the same. Just because you can do it, should you?
Troy, USA

I think this JFK game is absolutely disgusting and despicable. I find it totally offensive and it should be banned. Whoever dreamt up this game must be sick in the head to want to make a profit from such a horrendous murder as JFK's assassination!!
Terri Little, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

One of the most offensive and tacky things to come on the market in years. It will no doubt be a huge success.
Rick, USA

I was very offended after hearing about this game. The Kennedy family is right, it is in poor taste. It's one thing to say "it encourages a greater interest in historic events" but to give someone the chance to pull the trigger is wrong. There are other ways to go to learn about the past.
Kevin Ward, Nova Scotia, Canada

Surely 40 years on, the JFK assassination is a matter of history. Game creators base games on World War II and the Vietnam War, why not the Dallas shooting? The killing has also been used many times in other media (e.g. Oliver Stone's JFK and an episode of Quantum Leap), so why not in this format? And unlike most of these sorts of games, there seems to be something educational behind it. Can't really see what all the fuss is about.
Dave Godfrey, Swindon

I completely agree with the Kennedy family. The idea of a game based on JFK's assassination is very offensive indeed. Why should we glamorise such a terrible tragedy. My son will never be allowed to play this!
Elanie Uren, Republic of Ireland

Just another reflection of a society with fading moral values Neil Mellor, London

Of course it's in bad taste, that's why it's up for debate. War games involve faceless people, this does not. Just another reflection of a society with fading moral values.
Neil Mellor, London

The subject matter of this video game is disturbing. The assassination of President Kennedy is one of the darkest moments in recent American history. Using this event as subject matter in a video game is in poor taste.
The Stonge, USA

It's just a game, just because it has historical and political tones, there's an outcry, get over it, it's history
Gavin Clarke, Portsmouth, England

I think that it is actually sick that people are willing to make a game that shows the cold-blooded death of a world leader. But the most sick thing of all is that there are probably people who will be willing to go out and actually buy the game and play it. In the end it is just a scheme to make money out of a horrible assassination.
Dan, Gillingham

I don't feel the need to interfere in other people's choices Katherine, London, UK

'Gone too far' according to whose judgement? It is called freedom of speech and expression. The answer is simply - if you don't like it, don't look at it. I don't, so I won't. I don't feel the need to interfere in other people's choices.
Katherine, London, UK

After looking on the official website I found this game disturbing. Whilst most historical games humbly mimic real events, this game is clinical. Your real objective despite other features, is to murder JFK whilst copying Oswald's assassination technique as accurately as possible. How far will we push the borders of human morality for entertainment?
Alex G, Manchester

The Kennedy family and others criticising this need to get a grip on reality. Do people complain about WWII games or other games based on historic events... ... NO
Jason, London, UK

Why is this any more or less tasteless than a film or book on this incident? The problem is calling it a game. Call it educational software and the problem goes away?
Chris Brooksbank, Chelmsford, UK

How is this any different to games such as Full Spectrum Warrior, which has US troops fighting and killing insurgents in Africa? The only difference is that in this game things are flipped round, which makes some people a little uneasy. Modern games are starting to include "topical" events and news in them, so why should the content only be limited to one side of things? It is after all only a game.
Chris Wright, Netherlands/ UK

Yes, it's in bad taste because we are talking about a real person here, not just an animated figure on a screen. Whilst it might interest children in its own right, how would it make them realise the event was real and its enormity in the lives of both the families involved and US citizens in general? Recreating a real event without context is not educational, just macabre.
Jenni, Cambridge

I've seen documentaries about the JFK assassination which used advanced 3D simulations to show how the bullets could have been fired by Oswald. This is just an interactive documentary piece, which allows curiosity and virtual insight to be the judge of what was possible, and therefore I see it as a legitimate use of technology. I do, however, feel that adding a tacky scoring system and actually charging for this is a bad idea. It feels more like a free web game idea to me.
R. Racer, West Midlands, UK

This is a very crass excuse for a historical reconstruction Matt Pinder, Leeds, UK

Having looked at "JFK Reloaded", I would personally find it hard to classify it as a computer game. By today's standards, it's very linear in its approach and doesn't offer the gaming environment modern gamers demand. It is much more an interactive reconstruction of the events in Dealey Plaza. I personally would find it hard to find much entertainment value in it, and if it didn't concern the JFK assassination I doubt anybody would bat an eyelid. Having said that, you only need to visit the homepage for JFK Reloaded to see that this is a very crass excuse for a historical reconstruction. The opportunity to win up to $100,000 for the most accurate head shot really does make a mockery of history.
Matt Pinder, Leeds, UK

I would question the psychological state of developers who thought that an accurate depiction of a real life killing is an acceptable topic for interactive entertainment.
David, Basingstoke

This is sick, and any right-thinking person would see that profiting from murder is wrong. But maybe we'll see a new wave of parental responsibility where parents explain to children why this game is wrong, and refusing to allow their children to have it. The number of sales of this game will accurately reflect the level of parental responsibility that exists today.
Lisa K, UK

Sick, sick, sick. If you want to take an interest in history visit a library and read a book. This is pure commercialisation gleaned from a family tragedy.
Jo, Nottingham, UK

I don't think they need worry, I don't suppose anyone will know who JFK was, other than a character in a new computer game.
Steve, UK

I've been playing computer games for over 20 years and over that period nothing has ever left me feeling shocked or sickened. Yet with the possibility of this game being released, it has already left a bitter taste in my mouth. To willingly recreate a tragedy such as this within a game is just wrong, it's as simple as that. If your loved one had been killed or even assassinated would you want a game released that recreates the scenario for people to play over and over again?
David Harvey, Poynton, Cheshire

Despicable...The creators should be sued for all proceeds of the sale and more...The worst part of the story is that with all this publicity the sales will probably be a hundred times what it would have been..
G, Miami, FL, USA

Why is this computer game branded 'despicable' when countless documentaries, films and articles about the same event are perfectly acceptable? Is it because you get to 'play' the killer? If so, what about all the other FPS type games that exist? Are they 'despicable' too? Used correctly it could be a very educational and informative tool.
Rich, UK

The game designers and consumers of the game have sunk to a new low Linda Stichtenoth, Cincinnati, Ohio

"JFK Reloaded" is an exploitation in the worst form of a family's tragedy and a dark moment in global history. I am a teacher. The company's marketing in which they say the only thing they're exploiting is new technology is nothing more than propaganda. If they're not exploiting this tragic event, then why pick the release date to coincide with the anniversary. This same technology could have been used to design a game that could truly be educational and fine, to support the positive character traits that are more and more important in our global society. Instead, the game designers and consumers of the game have sunk to a new low.
Linda Stichtenoth, Cincinnati, Ohio

I think this game crosses the between innocent shoot-em-up fun and bad taste. The 'historical' label that the game's makers peddle is a laughable defence. If responsible gamers around the world want to curtail the absurd wave of censorship that's gathering, then we should not download this game. Shame on Traffic Games.
Matt R, London, UK

The problem is the use of the word "game" which implies that it's only for amusement, and hence in poor taste. If instead it's viewed as an "interactive reconstruction" then suddenly its educational value becomes much clearer; for instance in enabling users to get a much better understanding of the whole "magic bullet" controversy.
Alex, York, England

Yes, it is in poor taste, but no more so that all the other bloodthirsty war-based 'games' which encourage kids to blow their 'enemies' to smithereens with a range of horrible weapons with all the recreated blood and gore. It makes me wonder what they would do if they were really in the midst of a real war (think of your grandparents) how 'brave' they'd be. Or would they be running away crying? Probably.
Jo, UK

The JFK shooting has been covered in detail in every other conceivable medium so why not the latest? Tony Coleby, London, UK

Oh here we go again, what a sensationalist question! Like major wars and violent events down the ages, including some only a few years distant, the JFK shooting has been covered in detail in every other conceivable medium so why not the latest? It accurately portrays an important historical event that merits an in-depth study and the interactivity brings the subject to life. I've played the demo and it's done fairly tastefully. The only thing that amazes me is that it can be called a game, as it involves a single scene and a single gunshot!
Tony Coleby, London, UK

While not as specific, games which recreate D-Day, and numerous other battles (including John Kerry and his swift boat incident!) have been around for years causing distress to millions of veterans. They have managed to stay silent on the subject though. As far as computer games polluting young people's minds goes - JFK is already dead, there is no danger of children repeating what they see, the only danger is that they may learn something by this sparking an interest in political history. With that said, I think the most likely outcome is that people will play this for 10 minutes, and then move on to the next GTA or HL2!!
Hayden, Northern Ireland

Maybe kids will take an interest in history but that's really not the point. This game is morbid, disgusting and incredibly offensive. They should be ashamed of themselves
Ed, London

I think videogames are a cultural product such as books, films or music, and should be understood just like that. If we admit a film or a book to be made about JFK's death, why not a videogame? What makes it different or easier to criticise? Only ignorance.
Pablo Dopico, Madrid, Spain

As an avid gamer even I'm a little surprised by this one. Even the name is poor taste!
Mike, England

Not enough time has passed for this. To turn the murder of someone into a game where you can take on the role of their murderer when their Family & friends are still with us is, I believe, a step too far. If it was intended, as the developers say, to encourage an interest in History it would have been more suitable to give the player the role of investigator surely ?
Jane, London, UK

This does not encourage a greater interest in historic events. Whatever happened to reading about history? You may say that this actually gets you involved, takes you back to the place where it all happened ... is this the start of a new generation of computer games, what next, a game of the assassination of Ghandi? Why do we want to be looking through the killers eyes? It is tasteless and evil.
Mick, Berks