War games becoming all too
real
9
March 2003
While Hezbollah's young supporters
pick off virtual Israelis in a bloody new video game, the simmering conflict in
the Lebanon looks set to escalate as soon as Iraq is attacked, reports Alasdair Soussi
in Beirut
THE slogan on the outside of the
packaging says it all: 'Be a partner in the victory. Fight, resist and destroy your
enemy in the game of force.'
This is the latest technological
development by Lebanon's Islamic resistance group, Hezbollah: a computer game that
allows players to take the part of its fighters during military operations against
Israeli soldiers . Special Force, a product of the 'Hezbollah Central Internet Bureau', hit the
shelves late last month, after taking some two years to develop. Each stage of the game
was inspired by actual Hezbollah operations. Everything is based on real-life
battles that took place before Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 -- even
down to the number of Israeli soldiers that players face.
Special Force also offers a
training mode where enthusiasts can fine-tune their shooting skills. Israeli premier
Ariel Sharon will probably not be too surprised to learn that he is one of the targets on
the practice range, along with several other Israeli political figures.
Thousands of copies of Special
Force have reportedly been sold in Lebanon -- and Syria, Iran, the United Arab
Emirates and Bahrain are also distributing what bureau official Mahmoud Rayya calls a
'unique gaming experience [for the] trigger-happy.'
He adds: 'This game is resisting
the Israeli occupation through the media ... In a way, Special Force offers a mental and
personal training for those who play it, allowing them to feel that they are in the
shoes of resistance fighters.' It will not be surprising if it leads to a glut of willing
young recruits.
