There have been at least 2 threads suggesting some Ukrainian themed items to show awareness of Putin’s attack on that country. But both got closed before I could add my thoughts
I almost proposed the same thing right after the attack started: A free blue and yellow Armor to show support.
However, I deleted my post even before publishing it, because the more I think of it, the worse this idea gets.
My main issue is:
This is a REAL war.
But Halo is just a game. We are just “playing” war. To me it feels kinda wrong to reenact such a serious topic in such a “playful” way. While people are actually dying, we sit at home and laugh when we score a Hail Mary…
Of course, I don’t want to blame shooter games in general. But this connection, this reality just feels wrong to me.
Even further:
When someone wears an Ukrainian armor, it does not only mean that he (or she) scores kills - but also that he (or she) gets killed.
Do I really want to shoot “Ukrainian soldiers” while playing this game?
To me, this has a really bitter aftertaste.
I would love to see 343 showing it’s support. But I think a less symbolic way would be smarter. For example, bring back Cat Ears and donate the income or whatever…
I think the issue that’s being peddled/overlooked/misappropriated/overgeneralized in the other posts is that we need to support “Ukraine” or “a Free Ukraine”. This generalization is literally throwing empathetic support behind a country involved in a real war like this is the Super Bowl. Completely unjustified invasion by the aggressor aside, it also shows just how unaware people are of the politics of Ukraine and how convoluted that country’s situation is and was.
“Ukraine” doesn’t need any support from private companies like 343 or bleeding heart gamers, the refugees fleeing a deadly conflict do.
Right now the best support anyone can give is aid to the displaced population of the country whether it’s 3rd party or in a direct way. A special item showing “you did a good thing” or “that you care in solidarity” isn’t the way to approach this, finding a charity that’s actively working with the refugees and donating to that cause is the best way to help.
You have the right idea and are pretty clairvoyant about this, but I really wish that the other content starved gamers would stop looking for an excuse to pine for official charitable virtual drip off the backs of real people who have lost everything.
It is clear to most people and organisations that we are dealing with an unjustified invasion. In the context of Halo however, a multitude of MNCs are pulling business out of Russia including a range of tech companies and that’s how it should play out here - Microsoft are better (probably not ‘well-’) placed to have an impact or a stance than 343i.
For me the only remotely feasible way of doing this would be that you donate directly to a charity and receive a code to receive an armour showing you’ve done so, with 343i having very little involvement in that process (advertising a link to do so, I suppose).
Also if it comes down to ‘I’d pay $5 for a Ukraine armour if that money goes to a refugee charity’, it begs the question why you don’t just donate that $5 directly and show your support through other channels.
Finally - and this isn’t intended to come across as snarky as it seems - I’d almost rather people didn’t get given a free armour because it gives people the feeling that they are doing something to help, when they are not. That feeling of wanting to help should turn into something tangible that actually does.
I understand this point but the truth is politics is everything and people do need to realise that, however tiresome. Whether it’s worth raising on a videogame forum is debatable, I agree.
I don’t think (hope) anyone wants to do that. I don’t even think it is possible to make armor coatings that make Spartans look like Ukrainian soldiers.
Best case scenario: 343 makes a yellow + blue armor coating that works on the 3 current cores. You buy them for 10 or 15 dollars. Of that money 95 - 100% goes to Ukrainian refugees or Non Profit organisations that help them.
