Berlin Wall Shooting Game Sparks Fury

Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of German reunification—and the German people are none too pleased with a video game that was set to launch that day. In 1,378—named for the length of the wall, in kilometers—players can assume the role of border guards and shoot or capture people trying to escape East Germany over the Berlin Wall. Politicians and survivors' groups say the game is "macabre and scandalous" but creator Jens Stober says it is meant to be educational.

Players can also assume the role of escapees (or play a border guard who decides to swap sides and scale the wall himself). "In the game, you ask yourself: 'What would I do?'" Stober tells Der Spiegel. "You may come to the conclusion that you would not shoot at your fellow countrymen and women." Guards who excel at shooting escapees are awarded a medal—and then find themselves on trial in the year 2000. The game will now be released in December.
(More Germany stories.)