Settlers-vs.-Indians board game rankles tribes

"One player racks up points by defeating Native American tribal leaders, the other by snuffing out settlements of English colonists. Capture Boston or Plymouth Colony? Victory is yours."

"That's the gist of "King Philip's War," a board game based on a bloody and violent clash of the same name between colonists and Indian tribes in 17th-century New England, and developed by a company partly owned by former major league pitcher Curt Schilling"

"The game's designer says he hopes to educate children and others about a war that cost thousands of lives but receives scant attention in history books. But some Native Americans want the game blocked from release, saying it trivializes the conflict and insensitively perpetuates a stereotype of Indian tribes as bellicose savages."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bloody_board_game

On one hand, as an old grognard, I must say that a game dealing with this particular time period could be a fascinating thing if done right, and I'd happily give it a try if it was. I think, at the least, input from the tribes would be a wise thing to do, and then go from there. We have games dealing with almost every theater of war throughout history between all kinds of people, and very, very few are offensive in any way, so this can be done, but it needs to be done wisely and with some sensitivity.

I've done table-top gaming and I love historical settings. Both sides are in the right, it needs input from all sides and not to be whitewashed.

so yes it can be done, but will not be easy. And no I would not volunteer to write it either.

I've no doubt that this will be a quality, educational game.

That said, there are a few smaller publishers in the scene who make really cheap games that players actually have to assemble themselves; these occasionally end up being a bit ugly in tone. They are universally reviled among any wargamers I've ever met IRL or online.

Hall of Fame Douchebag.

MMP has a strong track record of well-produced and well-researched games that educate and entertain. This genre of gaming is quite serious and respectful in tone, a point which the article failed to make.

And a dozen other video games have been on the market for over ten years. Most can be entertaining and educational at the same time if done correctly. Why is a board game any different?

Just about every modern video game could anger someone - if people had nothing better to do than sit around waiting to be angry.