How Much Is Too Much?

Having watched “JFK Reloaded” several times now, I am particularly struck by the comments regarding the video. The passion and emotion surrounding this particular historical event are clearly very strong even though nearly a half a century has gone by since the assassination. The death of President Kennedy has not yet been relegated to the dust-bin of history and will likely remain a controversial topic for many more years.


What surprised me the most was that many of the commenters were primarily concerned with their particular score in the game. There were even congratulatory comments aimed at the game player’s particularly high score. A few of the comments focus on the graphic nature of the wound Kennedy suffers, and a few more saw the whole exercise as an attempt to exploit the death of a beloved (by some) public figure.

While all of this banter is interesting, I suppose that the most crucial question is, is this a tool of historical education or not? Is this game a proper way to educate the public about an especially gruesome event or just a puerile and grotesque way to emulate a vicious crime in a virtual and consequence free environment? The answer is yes…

It seems likely that games like this do allow some to live out their fantasies and commit a heinous act while at the same time forgoing any of the consequences that ordinarily would accompany such an act. At the same time however, the game players are themselves investigating the intricacies of the historical event in a way that many of them might never do in any other sort of medium. Sure they may be congratulating each other on the high score, but each and every one of them has in essence “lived” the murder of a President in a way that they never could or would in book, movie, or static museum display.

I disagree with those who criticize the gore of the game. The blood and gray matter were there in Dallas. They are part of the history of the event. To leave them out would be a disservice to the story. Sure, children under a certain age should be shielded from the ugliness of some historical events but that certainly holds true of any presentation.

The Kennedy assassination (John F.) still maintains a firm hold on many. Games like this are sure to stir up controversy as well as educate players on the facts of the event. I just wish that the assassination of President McKinley and other nearly forgotten historical events were as well presented and remembered.