There’s a big new Counter-Strike update out, and it’s really good! …Mostly. On top of everything else, the update added a whole host of community maps, including one set in Turkey. Problem: some players claim that one is full of insulting inaccuracies.
The map, titled Mikla, was initially just a footnote in an update that seemed to finally break Valve’s streak of updates that royally pissed off Counter-Strike fans. After the frigid R8 winter of 2015, things like an updated version of classic map Nuke, a new event containing two campaigns and a new mission type, new weapon drops and a Bowie knife (I see what you did there, Valve) seemed like a breath of fresh air. However, the update also contained seven new community maps, and that’s where things got messy.
Video courtesy of Tbep.
Community maps are not directly created by Valve, but they are, at least in theory, vetted by GabeN’s House Of Storefronts, Hats And The Occasional Video Game. Usually they’re pretty solid. The new update in particular includes an especially good one, FMPONE’s de_santorini. In the case of Mikla, a map set in Turkey, however, it seems like the vetting process wasn’t enough. Shortly after the update dropped, a number of Turkish Counter-Strike players chimed in with grievances like:
So in short, these players claimed that the map misnamed a beloved Turkish historical figure, President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and made frequent references to generalised stereotypes (donkey riding, gun fights as a family and so on), some of which don’t even make sense when aimed at Turkey.
As ever, it would be one thing if this was a drop in a bucket of video game locations that represent Turkey. Given that it’s one of only a handful, inaccuracies and attempted gags can be much more potentially insulting than if something similar was made about, say, an iconic American location. Applying stereotypes to frequently misunderstood people is just not a great idea, you know, in general. Or, as one player put it: “We are not being overly sensitive. We want an accurate map.” Makes sense!
Mikla has been removed from Counter-Strike‘s Steam Workshop, at least temporarily. The precise reason why still isn’t known. Some people don’t love how T-sided (that is, advantageous for the terrorist team) it is, claiming it’s egregiously unbalanced. It could also have been removed for that reason, though other folks seem to like its layout just fine. I asked Valve what’s going on and whether the Workshop removal precedes removal from the Official portion of the game, but as of writing they had yet to reply.
As per usual with major Counter-Strike updates, Valve has already corrected some of the smaller issues stemming from this one. Earlier today, they released a minor patch to correct some crashing and smoke grenade issues. Given that there have been reported issues with framerate drops on Nuke and, of course, Mikla itself, more is likely on the way.
Comments
15 responses to “New Counter-Strike Map Met With Outcry From Turkish Players”
Why can’t people just be happy that there is a map dedicated to their country/region?
If it was actually “dedicated” then the creator would have put more effort into representing the country accurately. You can’t decide if someone else should be offended or not. And given Valve’s response in pulling it, their sensitivity towards the matter seems to be justified.
To be honest if there was an Australian map depicting people riding kangaroos, huts/shacks as houses and boomerangs everywhere it’d annoy me a bit too.
It’s never good to stereotype a country.
That map sounds completely awesome!
if it wasn’t for stereotyping a country then there’d be a lot less tourism.
If there was an Australian map with ads about Kangaroo rides and Pie Eating/XXX drinking contents I would be all for it. Guess Turkey doesn’t have the same sense of self deprecating humour that we do.
That is what I was thinking, that would be awesome! And with some over the top, completely inaccurate aussie accents to top it off
Yet that would actually annoy me. I wouldn’t get as bent out of shape about it as the comments in the article but I’d much prefer an accurate Aussie map.
And if it was all about children being raped in offshore detention camps and bogan shitlords threatening to glass ‘moosies’ would you be all for it?
Well if that’s the true representation of Australia, then perhaps the Turkish map should be updated to include the rape and torture of Kurdish prisoners as well as funding of ISIS through he purchase of black market oil from Syria.
Bogans I could do, but offshore detention sickens me. Maybe if it was done right it could be used to raise awareness into the true nature of the issue.
I rode a donkey with my family in Rhodes. That’s pretty close to Turkey.
Also camel fights? That’s fucked up.
Where does it say it is Turkey?
Perhaps the creator used artistic licence, it might be alternate universe.
Thinking it is Turkey because of the language and the Bazaar? That’s racist man.
You want an accurate map? Then make one that’s more accurate. Problem solved.
So Valve don’t release fuck all these days, yet they always seem to screw up these updates for counter strike from what I read on here.
A shame!