Call of Duty: Black Ops has hit the streets and so far it has been welcomed with high praise and tremendous sales. The Cold War setting is a first for the series, and Cuban news is already upset about its portrayal of one of its glorified leaders. So much so, in fact, that they think its brainwashing American children into sociopathy.
Popular Cuban news outlet Cubadebate is upset over the (minor spoiler alert) mass appearance and depiction of Fidel Castro in Treyarch’s game, Call of Duty: Black Ops. A recent article on its site features Black Ops in a very negative light while stating the following:
“What the United States couldn’t accomplish in more than 50 years, they are now trying to do virtually. This new video game is doubly perverse. On the one hand, it glorifies the illegal assassination attempts the United States government planned against the Cuban leader … and on the other, it stimulates sociopathic attitudes in North American children and adolescents.”
It is interesting that American games depicting other countries being sabotaged is frowned upon, but equally the inclusion of terrorists fighting against American military was looked at as blasphemous in Medal of Honor. The fact of the matter is that video games, in most cases, depict fictional universes while sometimes dabbling in the world of truth. Using real characters such as Fidel Castro is certainly a way to improve the dynamics of the story, and as a fictional story it should be treated as such.
Did playing Black Ops make you want to kill Cuban government officials? Let us know in the comments below.
