Determined to waltz through the minefield, Firefight plunges ahead...

Resistance is not Futile, the game "celebrating the heroic Polish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto" (publisher description) is back on sale again today. I'm not sure if this is a mistake and an older page was put on the website in error, but it does appear as if you can order the game from Firefight.

I haven't hid my dislike for the concept of publishing a game about an event that would force one player to roleplay an exterminator. The historic event in question did occur, did involve guns and molotov cocktails and tanks and stuff, but it was no battle. Not really. The heroic (yes, I do think they were heroic) and misguided Jewish defenders did resist, and to the end-- but in game turns those events last exactly one turn. The rest of the game (according to the one playtest report I had opportunity to read, before it got pulled offline) is about hunting down the pockets of resistance and exterminating them. There's no way in hell I would play a game like this, nor would I buy stuff from this company. I respect their right to publish and fervently wish they enjoy their hard won freedom of speech that would allows them to print this game in a free society. In my opinion, the act of printing the game (given the extremely negative press the game has received) will do the hobby some injury for a few years. Too bad...

Sometimes Bad Publicity is just Bad

Apparently RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE has received some attention from outside the hobby, and it's not very positive...

YNET NEWS ARTICLE ON "NAZI GAME"

The article does not name Firefight Games or RESISTANCE IS NOT FUTILE specifically, but does quote specific passages from the games promotional material, and not in a positive tone.

Selected online quotes attached to the article in the forum section:



Disclaimer: the quotes cited above are from YNET.COM, an Israeli news website. They do not represent the opinions of this blog's author.

Judging from these comments, I'd say we are in for another round of "all wargames about World War Two are inherently evil" backlash. But I could be wrong, there's always hope.

RINF was also cited on this blog here: JEWS BECOME FAIR GAME, but it seemed evident that the writer was just restating the position on YNET.COM without reading into the issue any further. That YNET article comes off as pretty irresponsible to me.

Another site, "Free Republic" had a series of responses that sickened me and had me almost feeling sorry for the folks who tried to publish this thing. I don't know the people at Firefight personally, but I know I wouldn't wish to be associated with folks who make "Death to Muzzies" and "diaperheads" part of their day to day argot.

Let the
insanity cease

Remember that Warsaw Uprising game? It's off.

Perry Moore - Sep 2, 2006 12:37 pm (#913 Total: 913)

NOTICE OF GAME WITHDRAWAL

Because of the numerous negative and libelous directed towards the game's topic and to its designer on this website and made directly to him and at his work(totally unprofessional), Resistance Is Not Futile is NOT for sale and will be taken off the FFG website. Paul has contacted an attorney and action may commence against certain individuals who have made false statements about him causing him monetary loss.

Previous orders will be refunded

This is the right course of action, but I have to take issue with the way they did it. Quietly pulling the game back is one thing. Making martyr noises for being "censored" is a whole other thing. Nobody held a gun to their heads and demanded they make a controversial game that would create hate, division and discontent. They made that decision all by themselves.

Though I have to admit I would be stoning the sap who thought it was appropriate to call a game deisnger at his office to bitch him out.
\\

You have to be kidding me

Recent press release from FIREFIGHT GAMES, a desktop publisher (dtp) of really cheap wargames done by two notable game designers, Paul Rohrbaugh and Perry Moore:

The following post was made by Paul on Consimworld back in 20 Feb:

It all started when, in an attempt to get some posts going, I described what I was working on for ATO as well as scenarios for Axis and Allies miniatures, and a game on the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Resistance is Not Futile.

The game will have a two 11 by 34 map sections, 280 counters (if done as double-sided, 420 single-sided), and about 24 pages of rules/charts. The game will use a standard deck of cards to determine the sequence of play and resolve combat. I'm rather pleased/proud with how this technique works in my game on Hue, and I'm confident it will work really well in RINF.

I was inspired to do this battle in game form after reading an article on the subject, did a bibliography search, and turned up all sorts of primary source information (we've got an outstanding Oral and Holocaust History section here at YSU). This is an incredible story that, IMHO, needs to be told in game form.

Some have objected to the subject, likening those who would play the German side as being anti-Semitic and/or Nazi-loving $%^& (you fill in the epithet). For me, playing a game on this subject would be the same as reading books and articles. If it helps raise the level of understanding and appreciation for this pivotal event in history, that is wonderful. Would folks who read the books and articles, and enjoy/get something out of them, be similarly scorned? It is amazing to me sometimes how fast some will jump to a conclusion about someone or something and not even pay the faintest attention to what was actually said or posted. For some, the emotional factor is too high and they just don't have the capability to learn more. This is NOT a game about putting people in gas chambers or ovens. It is a game about a very desperate, and heroic stand by those who were faced with annihilation. With little hope for survival or help the Jewish and the few Polish Home Army fighters who stood with them, fought anyways and earned a place in history that should be remembered and considered.

I'm very much looking forward to designing this game. It is a tale worth telling and I'll give it my best shot.

Cheers!

Now, here's the first playtest report:

Warsaw went up in flames over the 4th holiday at our cabin. The Germans set up to cut the ghetto into chunks that could be systematically neutralized. The Jewish units set up with scattered snipers and low strength units throughout the ghetto, but concentrated in the northern areas. Of course, the first German card drawn was red, but the new option of card choices opens up all kinds of possibilities. Because it was a face card, I chose the air unit, and rolled the higher number in the attack. Two misses, one suppressed result. The Jews sat. The second German draw was red, so the Trawniki entered the Ghetto eliminating a sniper. The Jews sat.

Well, to make the long story short, it became more of a (bug) bandit hunt than anything else. Some ZZW Jews escaped.

(note: the term "bug hunt" was changed to "bandit hunt" after posting -- Mr. Nizz)

Suggestion: Allow the Jews to pass through areas occupied by German units. In this way, the Germans can push only to find the Jews behind them occupying victory hexes that were thought to be secure.

The system works and the more that I play, the more options that I find hidden in the system.

Later,

Dennis

It must be me, but I find the whole idea of a game celebrating the brutal extermination of Warsaw's Jewish population to be far from edifying. I know John Prados did a game on the same subject back in the S&T days, and I wouldn't have bought that one either.

There's a lot of fustian about how the true heroes of the game are the Jewish defenders, how they rose to the occassion, and fought valiantly. How this led to the creation of the state of Israel, and etc.

Well, they still went up to the wall.

Who the hell would want to play the Germans in a game like this? It's a little too disturbing for my tastes. Maybe we should do a game on the Killing Fields or Sand Creek massacre?