Video games have often been identified as a cause of problems in the real world. A Russian newspaper accuses games like Destiny and CoD of contributing to unrest in Kazakhstan.
Is that the accusation? The state-funded Russian media company “Komsomolskaya Pravda” published an article about the current unrest in Kazakhstan. Putin sent military troops there to deal with the “anti-government protests.”
The Russian newspaper mentions that young people aged 25–30 are the reason for the protests. They grew up with American video games that deal with destroying symbols of the old USSR. Among these destroyed symbols is the famous cosmodrome “Baikonur,” known to many players of Destiny 1 & 2.
Assassinations and the ruins in the Cosmodrome
Which games are allegedly responsible? The media company holds four well-known games accountable that supposedly encouraged young people to protest:
- Command and Conquer
- Frontline: Fuel of War
- CoD: Black Ops
- Destiny
What reasons are mentioned? Specifically, CoD and Destiny are highlighted. In Black Ops, one had to destroy a missile of the Soviet troops, as well as kill a general of the then USSR. But the newspaper goes further and names the following things that are part of a mission:
In this, the player had to neutralize the guards of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, shoot down the Soyuz-2 rocket, rescue the CIA agent, and eliminate the Soviet General Dragovich, who forced him to work for the Nazi scientists of the USSR after the Great Patriotic War. This liberation mission called “Special Assignment” was written in 2010 by American programmers.
In Destiny, the Cosmodrome, also known as the space graveyard, was supposedly a victim of previous coups before the place was overrun by Fallen and Hive. Through such images and events in these games, young players are allegedly encouraged to act against the Russian system.
The Russian newspaper wrote the following paragraph:
A completely fresh game from a developer in the United States – Destiny, 2014. There, already in the first mission, the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a ruin, and the enemies are aliens. It turns out that scenarios of coups in Kazakhstan were written in the United States 20 years ago.
By the “completely fresh game,” Destiny 1 is meant, which is already almost 8 years old.
Destiny 1 indeed shows the devastated Cosmodrome. However, the Russian newspaper overlooks the fact that Destiny takes place in a post-apocalypse: The entire world of Destiny is a wasteland. Therefore, there does not need to have been a “coup” in Kazakhstan for the Cosmodrome to be devastated – an alien invasion is the more likely cause.
What do you think of these wild claims? Do you believe there is some truth to it and that Destiny is really responsible for the protests? Or can you only grasp your hair at the thought? Let us know!
By the “completely fresh game,” Destiny 1 is meant, which is already almost 8 years old.
Destiny 1 indeed shows the devastated Cosmodrome. However, the Russian newspaper overlooks the fact that Destiny takes place in a post-apocalypse: The entire world of Destiny is a wasteland. Therefore, there does not need to have been a “coup” in Kazakhstan for the Cosmodrome to be devastated – an alien invasion is the more likely cause.
What do you think of these wild claims? Do you believe there is some truth to it and that Destiny is really responsible for the protests? Or can you only grasp your hair at the thought? Let us know!
