Editing JFK Reloaded

{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = JFK Reloaded
| image = JFK Reloaded logo.jpg
| developer = Traffic Games
| publisher = Traffic Games
| platforms = [[Windows]]
| released = November 22, 2004
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| director = Kirk Ewing
}}

'''''JFK Reloaded''''' is a 2004 [[first-person shooter]] game developed and published by Traffic Games. It [[Simulation video game|simulates]] the 1963 [[assassination of John F. Kennedy]], the 35th [[president of the United States]], according to the report of the [[Warren Commission]]. The player, controlling [[Lee Harvey Oswald]], is tasked with recreating the three shots fired at Kennedy and gains higher scores the more accurately they line up with the report. Shots can be reviewed in slow motion and from multiple viewpoints.

Traffic Games founder Kirk Ewing envisioned a small-scale simulation of a historical event after leaving [[VIS Entertainment]]. He chose Kennedy's killing over the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing in part due to the high amount of [[public domain]] information available on the former. A team of ten people worked in the [[game engine]] of ''[[Carmageddon]]'' to accurately recreate the event, taking several months each for research and development. Released on November 22, 2004, the 41st anniversary of the assassination, ''JFK Reloaded'' was denounced by public figures, including the spokesman for Kennedy's brother [[Ted Kennedy]].

== Gameplay ==
[[File:JFK Reloaded screenshot.png|thumb|right|The player aiming at [[John F. Kennedy]] through their [[Telescopic sight|scope]]]]

''JFK Reloaded'' is a [[first-person shooter]].<ref name="Game Studies" /> It recreates the [[assassination of John F. Kennedy]], the 35th [[president of the United States]], as it occurred on November 22, 1963, according to the report of the [[Warren Commission]].<ref name="The Guardian" /> The player controls [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] from the sixth-floor window of the [[Texas School Book Depository]] in [[Dallas]].<ref name="The Independent" /> As Kennedy's [[motorcade]] passes by on [[Dealey Plaza]], the player has to take three shots at the president with their [[sniper rifle]]. They gain points based on how closely these shots match the Warren Commission's report: The first has to miss the car, the second hit Kennedy in the neck and [[John Connally]] (the [[governor of Texas]]) in the chest, and the third fatally wound Kennedy in the head. The perfect score is 1,000.<ref name="Slate" /><ref name="Salon" /> While the game does not halt the player from pursuing alternative scenarios, the score is deducted from when the player deviates from the event, such as by hitting [[Jacqueline Kennedy]], the [[First Lady of the United States|first lady]].<ref name="Salon" /><ref name="CNET" />

''JFK Reloaded'' includes a "Chaos Meter" that controls how heavily the motorcade's drivers are affected by panic.<ref name="NYTimes" /> Following each game, individual shots can be replayed in [[slow motion]] and with a [[close-up]] on each bullet.<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name="CNET" /> The scene can be viewed from several angles, including from the [[grassy knoll]], the location of the [[Zapruder film]], and a virtual camera mounted to Kennedy's limousine.<ref name="CNET" /><ref name="GIbiz" /> The player can further enable [[blood splatter]] effects and exaggerated [[Game physics|physics]].<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name="Eurogamer" />

== Development and release ==
''JFK Reloaded'' was developed by Traffic Management Limited ([[trade name]]: Traffic Games), a company based in [[Stirling]], Scotland.<ref name="ABC News" /><ref name="BBC News" /> The company's founder and [[managing director]], Kirk Ewing, had previously worked at [[VIS Entertainment]] as the [[creative director]] for the 2002 game ''[[State of Emergency (video game)|State of Emergency]]'', which had been criticized for replicating the [[1999 Seattle WTO protests]].<ref name="Eurogamer" /><ref name="Game Developer" /> Having worked on projects as large as ''State of Emergency'', Ewing wanted to focus on smaller ventures. Establishing Traffic Games, he intended to create a game based on a historical event and initially considered modeling one after the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing. Ewing later settled on the assassination of Kennedy because there was a high amount of [[public domain]] information documenting the event. He also noted that ballistics simulations were a staple of video games and that many other forms of media had already covered the incident.<ref name="Eurogamer" />

Ewing sought help from a friend at [[Stainless Games]], the developer of ''[[Carmageddon]]''. The friend was fond of the game idea and provided Traffic Games with ''Carmageddon''{{'}}s [[game engine]]. Therein, the ''JFK Reloaded'' development team reconstructed the site of Kennedy's assassination with accurate object placements and apt weather conditions. According to Ewing, one aim of the development was to disprove [[John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories|conspiracy theories surrounding the event]] by displaying that Oswald would have been capable to perform the shooting in the given conditions of that day.<ref name="Eurogamer" /> The ten-person development team, composed of former ''State of Emergency'', ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' and ''[[Killzone]]'' developers, took several months to research the matter,{{efn|The time used to research was reported as both seven<ref name="The Guardian" /><ref name="GameSpot" /> and ten months.<ref name="The Independent" />}} followed by six months of producing the game.<ref name="The Independent" />

Before the game's release, Ewing sent a letter to [[Ted Kennedy]] (John F. Kennedy's brother and a [[United States senator]] for Massachusetts), who was informed of the game on November 19, 2004.<ref name="CNET" /> Traffic Games announced ''JFK Reloaded'' on November 21 and released it on November 22, the 41st anniversary of the assassination.<ref name="BBC News" /><ref name="CBS News" /> It was the company's first release.<ref name="NBC News" /> Traffic Games distributed the game commercially and alongside a free [[Game demo|demo]] via the game's website.<ref name="Eurogamer" /> The site was set to remain available for three months.<ref name="Game Developer" /> To boost the game's commercial performance, the company held a month-long competition for players to replicate the shooting as accurately as possible. The reward was a cash prize of up to {{US$|100,000|long=no}}, depending on the game's revenue. "Major_Koenig", a 16-year-old boy from [[Paris]], won with a score of 782 and received {{US$|10,712|long=no}}.<ref name="Eurogamer" /><ref name="JFK Reloaded: Competition High Scores" />

== Reception ==
''JFK Reloaded'' was denounced by several public figures: David Smith, a spokesman for Ted Kennedy, stated simply that "It's despicable."<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name="BBC News" /> Senator [[Joe Lieberman]] was "sickened" by the game, according to his spokesman Casey Aden-Wansbury.<ref name="PC World" /> Politician [[John Kasich]] discussed the game in his book ''[[Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul]]'' in a segment about graphic content in mainstream video games: "I'm telling you, ''despicable'' doesn't even begin to describe some of these things."<ref name="Stand for Something" /> The [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] passed a resolution condemning it.<ref name="Eurogamer" /> Presidential historian G. Calvin Mackenzie considered ''JFK Reloaded'' to be "in incredibly bad taste" and noted that "marketing it as an educational tool seems to stretch the notion of education beyond belief".<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name="UPI" /> The game was attacked by members of the public online, on television, and in print media.<ref name="NYTimes" /> Ewing claimed to have received [[death threat]]s.<ref name="Eurogamer" /> He responded that the controversy was "understandable given the fact that many people were alive at that time and still have vivid memories of the event" but stated that ''JFK Reloaded'' neither condoned nor glorified the event.<ref name="The Independent" /><ref name="IGN" /> In retrospect, Ewing said he regretted tying a cash prize to killing Kennedy, saying that he had been "naïve" and had "underestimated the deepness of affection for Kennedy held by many American people".<ref name="Eurogamer" />

''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''{{'}}s [[Clive Thompson (journalist)|Clive Thompson]] lauded ''JFK Reloaded'' for its realistic bullet physics and labeled it a "remarkable" physics simulation. However, he stated that the game was a "nauseating" experience because it saw the player shoot and kill real people, some of whom still had living relatives, as opposed to other games. He further felt that ''JFK Reloaded'' did not aim at provoking the [[catharsis]] other works of art brought about.<ref name="Slate" /> [[Jefferson Morley]], in his editorial for ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'', cited an "undeniable appeal" to the game's re-enactment of the assassination and the "antisocial pleasure" he associated with it. He cited the ability to give the killing a motive as part of this appeal.<ref name="Salon" /> The [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]] calculated a [[weighted average]] rating of 69/100, indicating "mixed or average reviews", based on four critic reviews.<ref name="Metacritic" /> Fans of ''JFK Reloaded'' asked Traffic Games to also produce a game that simulated the [[death of Diana, Princess of Wales]].<ref name="Eurogamer" />

== See also ==
* [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy in popular culture]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="ABC News">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GameOn/story?id=7750809&page=1 |title=9 Video Games That Went Too Far |first=Ki Mae |last=Heussner |date=June 4, 2009 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115112910/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GameOn/story?id=7750809&page=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="BBC News">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4031571.stm |title=JFK shooting game provokes anger |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113172222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4031571.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CBS News">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/video-game-recreates-jfk-killing/ |title=Video Game Recreates JFK Killing |first=Lloyd |last=Vries |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115130652/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/video-game-recreates-jfk-killing/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CNET">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/new-video-game-re-creates-kennedy-assassination/ |title=New video game re-creates Kennedy assassination |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=December 12, 2004 |via=[[CNET]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115124904/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/new-video-game-re-creates-kennedy-assassination/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Eurogamer">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-04-the-video-game-assassination-of-jfk |title=The video game assassination of JFK |first=Simon |last=Parkin |author-link=Simon Parkin |date=June 5, 2014 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113121000/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-04-the-video-game-assassination-of-jfk |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Game Developer">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/jfk-assassination-game-stirs-up-controversy |title=JFK Assassination Game Stirs Up Controversy |first=Andrew |last=Wilson |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113122214/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/jfk-assassination-game-stirs-up-controversy |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Game Studies">{{cite web |url=http://gamestudies.org/1502/articles/andersen |title="There Has To Be More To It": Diegetic Violence and the Uncertainty of President Kennedy's Death |first=Carrie |last=Andersen |date=December 2015 |website=Game Studies |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115140827/http://gamestudies.org/1502/articles/andersen |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jfk-reloaded-picks-up-press-none-pretty/1100-6113828/ |title=JFK Reloaded picks up press, none pretty |first=Curt |last=Feldman |date=November 23, 2004 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115115449/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jfk-reloaded-picks-up-press-none-pretty/1100-6113828/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GIbiz">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/traffics-jfk-assassination-game-stirs-up-controversy |title=Traffic's JFK assassination "game" stirs up controversy |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115123451/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/traffics-jfk-assassination-game-stirs-up-controversy |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/29/jfk-reloaded-qa |title=JFK Reloaded Q&A |first=Andrew |last=Burnes |date=November 29, 2004 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115125854/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/29/jfk-reloaded-qa |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="JFK Reloaded: Competition High Scores">{{cite web |url=http://www.jfkreloaded.com/competition/highscores.asp |title=Competition High Scores |year=2004–2005 |publisher=Traffic Games |via=jfkreloaded.com |archive-date=6 March 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306104052/http://www.jfkreloaded.com/competition/highscores.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/jfk-reloaded/ |title=JFK Reloaded |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-date=September 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914132325/https://www.metacritic.com/game/jfk-reloaded/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NBC News">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6566687 |title='Deborah Norville Tonight' for Nov. 22 |first=Deborah |last=Norville |author-link=Deborah Norville |date=November 23, 2004 |website=[[NBC News]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115140255/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6566687 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/technology/a-suretobecontroversial-game-fulfills-that-expectation-fully.html |title=A Sure-to-Be-Controversial Game Fulfills That Expectation Fully |first=Tom Jr. |last=Zeller |author-link=Tom Zeller Jr. |date=November 29, 2004 |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115132453/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/technology/a-suretobecontroversial-game-fulfills-that-expectation-fully.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="PC World">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/3780/jfk_reloaded_game_causes_controversy/ |title=JFK reloaded game causes controversy |first=Jason |last=Tuohey |date=November 30, 2004 |website=[[PC World]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115122326/https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/3780/jfk_reloaded_game_causes_controversy/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Salon">{{cite web |url=https://www.salon.com/2004/11/30/jfk_3/ |title=Why we keep killing JFK |first=Jefferson |last=Morley |date=November 30, 2004 |website=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115141259/https://www.salon.com/2004/11/30/jfk_3/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Slate">{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/technology/2004/11/jfk-reloaded-is-just-plain-creepy.html |title=A View to a Kill |first=Clive |last=Thompson |author-link=Clive Thompson (journalist) |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115133150/https://slate.com/technology/2004/11/jfk-reloaded-is-just-plain-creepy.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Stand for Something">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/standforsomethin00kasi/page/144/mode/2up |title=Stand for Something: The Battle for America's Soul |first=John |last=Kasich |author-link=John Kasich |year=2006 |publisher=[[Warner Books]] |isbn=978-0-446-57841-7 |page=144 |via=[[Internet Archive]] |access-date=February 2, 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/nov/22/usnews.games |title=JFK shooting game 'despicable' |agency=[[Press Association]] |date=November 22, 2004 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115115302/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2004/nov/22/usnews.games |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="The Independent">{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-conspiracy-game-jfk-s-assassination-is-turned-into-computer-entertainment-534293.html |title=The conspiracy game: JFK's assassination is turned into computer entertainment |first=Paul |last=Kelbie |date=November 23, 2004 |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113121555/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/the-conspiracy-game-jfk-s-assassination-is-turned-into-computer-entertainment-534293.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="UPI">{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2004/11/22/Kennedy-assassination-game-draws-anger/92381101137358/ |title=Kennedy assassination game draws anger |date=November 22, 2004 |website=[[United Press International]] |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115130433/https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2004/11/22/Kennedy-assassination-game-draws-anger/92381101137358/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041130154734/http://www.jfk-reloaded.com/|date=November 30, 2004|title=Official website}}

{{Video game controversy}}

[[Category:2004 controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Lee Harvey Oswald]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Newsgames]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in video games]]
[[Category:Simulation video games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game controversies]]
[[Category:Video games based on the assassination of John F. Kennedy]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games set in 1963]]
[[Category:Video games set in Dallas]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows-only games]]