In poor taste?

Nothing like a bit of controversy

505 Games only just announced Blackwater the other day, and already it's making its way into the news.

The first-person shooter for Kinect is based on the real-life militia group Blackwater, leading them into a fictitious African country to battle dictators and save the world. Imagine 24 for Kinect and you might be halfway there. The group Blackwater has been involved in numerous controversies since its creation, most notably in September 2007 when its licence to operate in Iraq was revoked following the deaths of 17 Iraqis.

Dr Benjamin Isakhan, an Iraq specialist from Australia's Deakin University, is unhappy at the game's creation.

Blackwater has been a highly controversial entity. It's been involved in all kinds of things that really shouldn't be encouraged and shouldn't be the kind of content of video games. It's insensitive to the families of the Iraqis who've lost their lives, not just those involved in Blackwater incidents but those who have lost their lives throughout the entire effort since 2003.

Of course, gamers have been playing as secret agents, special operatives and military commanders for decades, including in games based on real life armies, but the controversy surrounding Blackwater has clearly attracted the attention of the wider media.

Do you think a game based on a real-life military company is acceptable? Let's know your thoughts in the comments section below.