Created by a Middle School Social Studies teacher, the not-yet-released game “King Phillip’s War” has come under fire from Native American tribes whose ancestors played parts in the battles from 335 years ago. The game, which focuses on the battles led by King Phillip (or Metacomet of the Wampanoag sachem) and the British colonials in New England in 1675-76.
The game from MultiMan Publishing can last five or ten turns and seems to run on the typical dice driven battle scenario game (think Risk.) It’s the Colonials against the warriors of King Phillip with the goal of each side to capture strategic individuals and locations.
The controversy comes from the ancestors of the tribes involved who believe the game highlights the atrocities brought upon their peoples in the course of the European conquest of the New World. One of the owners of the publishing company, Curt Schilling (yes, of Diamondback and Red Sox fame, that Schilling) claims the game, while controversial, still highlights a time in our history that is often overlooked in classrooms.
“If everyone intent on keeping historical events stopped at content that might seem offensive, we’d lose sight of the horrific mistakes this nation, the world and the human race are capable of, and that would be a horrific thing,” Schilling said in an e-mail sent through his publicist.
This writer must agree with the ballplayer. I personally knew nothing of King Phillip’s war prior to the discovery of this controversy. I was unaware of the existence of King Phillip or of the atrocities on both sides of this conflict, and I would consider myself well versed on this nation’s history.
What are your thoughts? Am I correct in agreeing with Schilling that the game should be published, and the history of the time exposed? Or should the publishers pull back the game in order to assuage the anger of those effected by this historical event? Please leave a comment and let us know.
