Google has removed a game called Bomb Gaza from Play Store following the media storm and public outcry which greeted news of the title’s availability on Android. Apart from this, another offering dubbed Gaza Assault: Code Red is also reported to have been pulled from the app marketplace.
With the current Israel-Gaza conflict still hitting headlines across the world, it’s clear that no one’s in a mood to make light of the issue. The developers of the two aforesaid games which have been labelled ‘tasteless’ and other worse adjectives by various folks across the internet, were obviously trying to grab eyeballs by using the name of the war-torn region in their titles.
Well, all publicity isn’t always good publicity and the only positive thing that’s come out of this insensitive move by the publishers is Google’s decision to remove the two games from Play Store. Bomb Gaza game charges players with the mission of dropping bombs on terrorists while avoiding causing harm to innocent civilians and watching the ‘rage’ meter at the same time.
Also see: IAF to make mobile game ‘Guardians of the Sky’ to attract youth
Published in Google’s official market for Android apps and games, Gaza Assault: Code Red also asks players to destroy terrorist cells though it makes no mention of normal citizens. Both games were taken off the store on Monday, more than a week after they made their debut here.
Google hasn’t volunteered any specific information on why these two mobile games were removed. But it’s easy enough to guess the media attention allowed it to lean on its anti-violence, anti-bullying and intolerance of hate speeches Developer Program Policies in order to give these titles the boot.
Bomb Gaza and Gaza Assault: Code Red aside, Mashable notes that other titles which simulate Israel’s Iron Dome and Hamas rockets can still be downloaded by Android users from Google Play Store.