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CNN Live Event/Special

New Video Game Offers Players Chance to Fight Gulf War All Over Again

Aired October 29, 2002 - 12:48   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: As the U.S. considers possible military action against Iraq, a new video game offers players a chance to fight the Gulf War all over again. CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg is joining us now with a look at a conflict called Desert Storm.
Daniel, what have you got there?

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf, a little different segment today for our "Wired in Iraq," and whether or not the U.S. goes to war with Iraq, video gamers have a chance to relive the last time the two countries collided on the battlefield. "Conflict Desert Storm" from Psi Games (ph) and Gotham Games allows players to allow to be a four-man unit from the Delta Force or the British special forces development. And the developers actually enlisted a former Gulf War soldier from the SAS to ensure it's authenticity.

Let's have a look here. I'm actually playing it on the Xbox. It's for both the Playstation 2 and the PC.

I've got another guy with me. I've got a sniper with me. The game has actually been developed for about three years. The company says they've had it in development for three years. The fact that Iraq is back in the news is just coincidence for them.

It's more of a tactical game than it is a sort of run and gun shoot them game which people are used to. The idea is to use stealth and all sorts of other different tactics. You can see here, I've got a sniper with me. You actually do in the end get four characters to go with you through the game as part of this special forces unit, and you are going through all sorts of different towns in Iraq. You have got all sorts of different missions, ranging from taking out mobile scud launchers to securing towns, to rescuing POWs or helping Iraqi citizens. There is a whole range of different missions you've got to carry out.

And as I pointed the stealth and patience are important in this game if you want to be successful. It really is more about the different tactics to be developed and used in the game, and we've got some images now we're seeing from the game as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The accuracy of this game, and I say that as someone who covered the Gulf War -- I want to make sure that the younger kids who play this game will get the accurate history. SIEBERG: Right. We spoke with one of the game's designers, and he said the authenticity lies with the dates, the Iraqi terrain, the locations of cities and similar missions, the military tactics, though the Delta Force units in the game will likely see more action than they did when they were in Iraq during the Gulf War.

They also said it's more fantasy than reality, so it's important to point out that out.

COOPER: What about any well-known personalities from the Gulf War, let's say General Schwarzkopf. Is he available on this video game?

SIEBERG: No sign of General Schwarzkopf. But it depends on who you talk to. The last mission of the game actually involves infiltrating a secure bunker to assassinate General Aziz. We're seeing some images now. Name aside, General Aziz has some uncanny similarities to one of Iraq's leaders. I think people can figure it out. The game's develops told us that there wasn't a concerted effort to make General Aziz look like Saddam Hussein, but clearly there wasn't much of an effort to make him look very different. When you finally kill him, the words mission complete, as you can see, comes up on the screen.

When we spoke to the company, they also hinted at a possible sequel, but they stressed, not waiting to see what happens in Iraq in the coming months -- Wolf.

SIEBERG: Daniel Sieberg, thanks very much. I wonder if Tariq Aziz is going to get nervous when he hearsay the name Aziz coming up in this video game. Thanks for that report.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Over Again>


Aired October 29, 2002 - 12:48   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: As the U.S. considers possible military action against Iraq, a new video game offers players a chance to fight the Gulf War all over again. CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg is joining us now with a look at a conflict called Desert Storm.
Daniel, what have you got there?

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf, a little different segment today for our "Wired in Iraq," and whether or not the U.S. goes to war with Iraq, video gamers have a chance to relive the last time the two countries collided on the battlefield. "Conflict Desert Storm" from Psi Games (ph) and Gotham Games allows players to allow to be a four-man unit from the Delta Force or the British special forces development. And the developers actually enlisted a former Gulf War soldier from the SAS to ensure it's authenticity.

Let's have a look here. I'm actually playing it on the Xbox. It's for both the Playstation 2 and the PC.

I've got another guy with me. I've got a sniper with me. The game has actually been developed for about three years. The company says they've had it in development for three years. The fact that Iraq is back in the news is just coincidence for them.

It's more of a tactical game than it is a sort of run and gun shoot them game which people are used to. The idea is to use stealth and all sorts of other different tactics. You can see here, I've got a sniper with me. You actually do in the end get four characters to go with you through the game as part of this special forces unit, and you are going through all sorts of different towns in Iraq. You have got all sorts of different missions, ranging from taking out mobile scud launchers to securing towns, to rescuing POWs or helping Iraqi citizens. There is a whole range of different missions you've got to carry out.

And as I pointed the stealth and patience are important in this game if you want to be successful. It really is more about the different tactics to be developed and used in the game, and we've got some images now we're seeing from the game as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: The accuracy of this game, and I say that as someone who covered the Gulf War -- I want to make sure that the younger kids who play this game will get the accurate history. SIEBERG: Right. We spoke with one of the game's designers, and he said the authenticity lies with the dates, the Iraqi terrain, the locations of cities and similar missions, the military tactics, though the Delta Force units in the game will likely see more action than they did when they were in Iraq during the Gulf War.

They also said it's more fantasy than reality, so it's important to point out that out.

COOPER: What about any well-known personalities from the Gulf War, let's say General Schwarzkopf. Is he available on this video game?

SIEBERG: No sign of General Schwarzkopf. But it depends on who you talk to. The last mission of the game actually involves infiltrating a secure bunker to assassinate General Aziz. We're seeing some images now. Name aside, General Aziz has some uncanny similarities to one of Iraq's leaders. I think people can figure it out. The game's develops told us that there wasn't a concerted effort to make General Aziz look like Saddam Hussein, but clearly there wasn't much of an effort to make him look very different. When you finally kill him, the words mission complete, as you can see, comes up on the screen.

When we spoke to the company, they also hinted at a possible sequel, but they stressed, not waiting to see what happens in Iraq in the coming months -- Wolf.

SIEBERG: Daniel Sieberg, thanks very much. I wonder if Tariq Aziz is going to get nervous when he hearsay the name Aziz coming up in this video game. Thanks for that report.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Over Again>