Blackwater Kill For Profit - Video Game

A game developer is facing criticism for creating a video game about Blackwater, the private security company accused of recklessly killing civilians in Iraq.

The game, titled Blackwater, invites the player to join a private army and wage war in exchange for big bucks.

Publisher 505 Games describes the game as "an intense, cinematic shooter experience unlike anything you've ever played before".

They invite the gamer to "lead a team of Blackwater operators protecting a fictional North African town, battling dangerous warlords and fighting back two opposing militia forces".

The game's developers worked closely with Blackwater's co-founder Erik Prince to make sure the game was authentic.

But Dr Benjamin Isakhan, an Iraq specialist from Deakin University, says the game should never have been made.

"It's just in bad taste," he said.

"Blackwater has been a highly controversial entity. It's been involved in all kinds of things that really shouldn't be encouraged and shouldn't be the kind of content of video games.

"It's insensitive to the families of the Iraqis who've lost their lives, not just those involved in Blackwater incidents but those who have lost their lives throughout the entire effort since 2003."

Blackwater protected US diplomats in Iraq until it was banned by the Iraqi government for using excessive force.

The company had to change its name in order to keep operating. It is now known as Xe Services.

Dr Isakhan says they had a reputation for shooting first and asking questions later.

"That's been something that has led them to be widely distrusted and disliked in Iraq," he said.

"Certainly their reputation was that they were trigger-happy."

Mr Prince said in an interview with CBS that it was simply a PR problem.

"It's not an accurate allegation," he said.

"Our guys, most of them are decorated military veterans from either Iraq or Afghanistan already.

"[There is] a general misunderstanding because we have not been able to communicate what we do and what we don't do these last few years."

A former Australian military contractor who worked in Iraq says some Blackwater employees earned their bad reputation by being careless.

"It was very violent. I guess some of them were there for more reasons than protecting a client," he said.

"I think some where there for the wrong reasons and doing the wrong things.

"It was just one of those things, [when] you put a gun in someone's hands and they've just left the military."

But gaming writer Tim Colwell does not see the difference between Blackwater and other military games that are on the market.

"It's very difficult to say that playing a military corporation is any better than playing as an actual elite special forces unit of the military," he said.
"It's just a matter of being aware that it is a video game, it does have probably an agenda and it's important to keep that in mind when it comes to looking at other games such as games that are actually funded by the US Military."