EA recently decided to chop off the Taliban reference in the multiplayer mode. The enemy forces, instead of being called Taliban, are now called the Opposing Forces.

Bruce Casella, however, says his decision to not retail Medal of Honor remains unchanged. “Out of respect to those touched by the ongoing, real-life events presented as a game, Exchanges will not be carrying this product. I expect the military families who are authorized to shop the Exchange are aware, and understanding, of the decision not to carry this particular offering.”

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Ea has announced that all PC gamers will be able to enjoy a multiplayer beta for the upcoming, very controversial, First Person Shooter, Medal of Honor, but only for a limited period of time, starting the 4th of October.

The beta will consist of two multiplayer modes playable on two different maps. The first map is Kunar Base, with the mode, Sector Control which will require teams to assault their enemies with tactical strategies, and take control of several sectors of the map.

The second map is Shahikot Mountains, where the mode Combat Mission is playable. In this mode, players will have to engage each other in battle while completing a series of tasks.

The President of EA says: “We also hope that by offering the Multiplayer Open Beta, we can clear up any misunderstanding about the patriotism and respect that are the foundation of this game. The Medal of Honor franchise has always shown extraordinary reverence for American and Allied soldiers — this game is no exception.”

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EA’s Executive producer Greg Goodrich, while talking to New York Times, said that his studio’s upcoming controversial (US Military Bans Medal of Honor) First Person Shooter will have to sell at least 3 million units for it to get a sequel. It should be no big deal, though, since the game looks great so far. Goodrich, though, says, if the game fails to sell as much, he is “not going to be able to do another one.”

He also revealed that the game was going to be called Medal of Honor: Anaconda, named after the failed Afghanistan mission, but they thought the better of it and removed the subtitle altogether. The development team thought the name “hit a little too close to home” and that it “would put a sour taste in our brothers’ mouths.”

Medal of Honor release next month- book your pre-order copies, you might not get the chance to buy it, especially since it’s banned in most of the shops. UK readers, you don’t worry, though.

49 GameStop stores have already agreed to not selling Electronic Arts’ upcoming FPS, Medal of Honor, an AAFES representative told Kotaku. GameStop emailed all it’s employs, telling them not to ‘carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores…out of respect for our past and present men and women in uniform.’

This is what the email reads: ‘GameStop has agreed out of respect for our past and present men and women in uniform we will not carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores. As such, GameStop agreed to have all marketing material pulled by noon today and to stop taking reservations. Customers who enter our AAFES stores and wish to reserve Medal of Honor can and should be directed to the nearest GameStop location off base.’

GameStop also made it very clear that the game will not be stocked due to the fact that one team in the multiplayer mode will assume the role of a Taliban team. ‘GameStop fully supports AAFES in this endeavor and is sensitive to the fact that in multiplayer mode one side will assume the role of Taliban fighter.’

The game was about to be banned in UK for the very same reasonm, but wasn’t since the The Department of Media, Culture And Sport feels ‘he game in question is rated 18 so should only be sold to, and played by, adults. There is a clear choice for consumers which they can exercise when making decisions about purchasing video games.’ Check out the full story here.

Ea have made it pretty clear that they are very disappointed with these controversies. They feel there are several books and movies featuring terrorist groups, ‘or set in Afghanistan’, and yet ‘they don’t get flask, yet games do.’

EA should be feeling betrayed right now, since they “partnered with the US military, and the Medal of Honor Society as well. We’ve gone out of our way to produce the best story for the game.”

Sad… good games shouldn’t be penalized for such stupid reasons. What are your thoughts?

Danger Close Games will only be consisting of the team behind Medal of Honor. The rest of the guys at EALA, those behind strategy projects and music games, will remain as EALA.

The devs say the name signifies and symbolizes what will now be their main franchise, Medal of Honor. “When an individual is calling in for danger close fire, it’s the decision to take a chance, rather than sit back and call in from afar,” Goodrich said.

On Medal of Honor’s Afghanistan war backdrop, Goodrich said: “It may be controversial, but we felt it needed to be told, and we’re telling it with respect and authenticity, to shine a light on these guys.”

After several delays, the Medal of Honor XBox 360 beta went online recently.

Anyone with an EA account should head to the Medal of Honor website (medalofhonor.com) and you’ll be given a beta key (apparently, anyone with an EA account will be given a beta key). Enter the beta key here to recieve a token. Use the token on Xbox LIVE to download the beta for your Xbox 360.

Watch out for more info.

Pre-ordering the game via the MOH website will will give you access to a free weapon from day one, the MP7. People who pre-order the Limited Edition will also have access to other weapons like TOZ-194 and 870MC2 shotguns from day one, without actually having to unlock them in-game. You know what’s the best part? The Limited Edition will cost the same as the normal edition.

“Access to a weapon like the MP7 will allow players to experience a tool developed with the Special Operations Community in mind,” said exec producer Greg Goodrich.

“With its light weight, high rate of fire and its ability to penetrate body armor, the MP7 handles like a pistol yet allows targets to be engaged like a rifle.”

Medal of Honor will be out on the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC on October 15th.