Among the first wave of console games to strike online gold, tactical shoot 'em ups SOCOM and SOCOM II were huge hits on Sony's</a> PlayStation 2 system. The games, developed by Zipper Interactive, cast players in the role of Navy SEALS, battling terrorism at squad level in authentic global settings with realistic weapons and equipment.

For the government of Bangladesh, however, the SOCOM series is a little too realistic. An article posted on News From Bangladesh reveals how the government in Dhaka objected to the impoverished nation's inclusion as a setting for missions in the upcoming SOCOM III. An unnamed spokesman for the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs threatened to sue Sony Computer Entertainment America if Bangladesh was not removed from SOCOM III. The official is quoted as saying:

"Sony has no doubt intended to malign Bangladesh. We expect that the company will drop the name of Bangladesh before the launch of the game."

The president of the Internet Service Providers' Association of Bangladesh, Akteruzzaman Manju, further denounced SOCOM III as "tech-terrorism...Sony should seek apology as it will never be able to prove that Bangladesh is, or was, a terrorist country."

In the wake of the dust-up, Sony has caved in to the pressure from Bangladesh. A GameSpot report confirms that all Bangladesh references will be removed from the final version of the game. SOCOM 3, originally scheduled for August release, will apparently be delayed until the Fall in order to make the necessary changes.

Ironically, while SCEA folded like a Wal-Mart tent under modest pressure from a third-world nation, the South Asia Terrorism Portal reports that as late as 2003 Bangladesh was a safe haven for Al Qaeda operatives. The SATP also referenced a report in Time Magazine indicating that Islamist extremists in Bangladesh might be attempting to make a radioactive "dirty" bomb. Moreover, a 2004 Time report reads in part:

"Making the violence more toxic is the spread of a brand of intolerant Islamic fundamentalism in a country with a history of religious tolerance..."

Time also reports that Bangladesh has suffered at least 21 major bombings since 1999, claiming 158 lives, and that some in Bangladesh are committed to establishing a Taliban-style government. In fact, the U.S. State Department has issued a safety and security warning that remains current, citing concern over threats to American citizens from "extremists."

The obvious question for SCEA and other game publishers is, where will this all end? What if Morocco and Poland, two other nations depicted in SOCOM 3 decide they don't like being associated with terrorist missions, either? What if the city of New York objected to being the setting for Max Payne because it made the Big Apple look too crime-ridden? Or if Tokyo decided speeding through its streets in Ridge Racer might make people think twice about driving on Japanese highways? Or San Francisco objected to players recreating its famous earthquake in Sim City 4?

SCEA and other publishers need to be sensitive, of course. But in this case, there is certainly enough evidence to make a terrorist setting in Bangladesh plausible. Game companies need to make a stand, support the research and creative vision of their developers, and not cave in to ridiculous bouts of political correctness. Think about it. If the entire nation of Bangladesh boycotted the PlayStation 2, would that have a noticeable impact on Sony's bottom line?