Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine

[midian182]

In brief: Trying to report on the war in Ukraine to Russians in their home country is a challenging feat, given the media restrictions Putin has put in place. But Finland's biggest newspaper has found a creative method of delivering information: a Counter-Strike map.

To highlight World Press Freedom Day, Finish paper Helsingin Sanomat said it commissioned two well-known map designers to create a new map for Counter-Strike: Go based on an unspecified war-torn Slavic city. It's named "de_voyna," a reference to the Russian word voyna, meaning war, a term that is illegal to use in Russia when referencing the invasion.

The map contains a hidden room that can only be found using the spectator cam. Within the room are Russian-language stories and headlines, as well as images, from Helsingin Sanomat related to the war in Ukraine.

The room also includes a map showing the locations in Ukraine that Russian soldiers have attacked, along with a table listing the number of Russians who have been killed (70,000). One of the stories is about Yuriy Glodan, whose family was killed by a Russian missile while he went grocery shopping.

Russia refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation." Anyone who contradicts the Kremlin or spreads "false information" can face up to 15 years in prison. Combined with Russia banning access to media content produced outside of the country, many Russians don't see what's really happening in Ukraine.

Counter-Strike: GO is very popular in Russia, played by around four million people, most of whom are young men. And it's one of the few Western services still available in the country.

"As we have been widely concerned about the press freedom situation and freedom of speech in Russia, we decided that maybe it's possible to find some new channels to provide Russian audience with some reliable, independent journalism for example about the situations in Ukraine," Helsingin Sanomat's editor-in-chief, Antero Mukka, told Reuters.

Mukka also said that the newspaper had not asked Valve for permission to create the map, though it's hard to imagine that the company will object. "If some young men in Russia, just because of this game, happen to think for a couple of seconds what is going on in Ukraine then it's worth it," he said.

News that Counter-Strike is being used to get news stories about Ukraine to Russians comes a few days after reports of Ukrainian soldiers using a Steam Deck to control a machine gun turret.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/98558-counter-strike-go-used-inform-russians-about-war.html

 

[DSirius]

Would be something to appreciate if Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine, by telling the truth.
Unfortunately a videogame is being used to change the Russian propaganda war with US and West propaganda war. By Finland, a country recently "acquired" in NATO. And this is a bad warning sign for tech gaming industry.
And the article mentions, without even acknowledging it, the absurdity of the situation. For example: Russia refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation":
Where did we hear about "special military operation" before?
Oh, it is the catch phrase which USA is using for more than 50 years when they bring wars all over the world in the name of "democracy", another catch word used by US military corporation propaganda.
US special military operation in Irak, US special military operation in Afghanistan, US special military operation in Syria, US special military operation in Libia, US special military operation in Yemen, US special military operation in Iran, ring a bell? There are more unfortunately.
Though we can see the irony here, Russia is so lame that they copied USA with "special military operation" catch phrase. From this point of view, at least USA is "trying" to save the appearance, while Russia is more gross-minded.
So please, better let the gaming community and tech community free of propaganda, or at least free of manipulation. The majority of us, all over the world are well aware of all of these.
War is always bad, regardless of the web of lies in which both Russia and US is trying to veil and disguise it. Also war is always avoidable when those in conflict have wise, or at least honest rulers. Which is clear that neither Russia or US, or Ukraine or NATO do not have nowadays. They are so immature, and ignorant that they brag about which has the biggest guns and the most deadly weapons. And in their stupidity and madness they want to use them and found Ukraine as the testing ground.
Did you know that Russia older weapons arsenal, from their "concealed" underground bases from former USSR satellite states (republics) became so old, close to expire, that they decided better to use them than "waste" (decommission) them?
In the mean time, US military corporations are making billions in profits by selling their weapons to Ukraine, though quite often they called it "loan aid".
I have compassion for Ukraine, they really need help to end the war, but is hard or almost impossible to get it from those who wage it more.

 

[mrvco]

"Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine"

Back in the good ol days we called this propaganda and were proud of it. Now it's just warmongering BS rebranded as 'truth' aka Strategic Information Warfare.

 

[Bobbydpue]

Would be something to appreciate if Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine, by telling the truth.
Unfortunately a videogame is being used to change the Russian propaganda war with US and West propaganda war. By Finland, a country recently "acquired" in NATO. And this is a bad warning sign.
And the article mentions, without even acknowledging it, the absurdity of the situation. For example: Russia refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation":
Where did we hear about "special military operation" before?
Oh, it is the catch phrase which USA is using for more than 50 years when they bring wars all over the world in the name of "democracy", another catch word used by US military corporation propaganda.
US special military operation in Irak, US special military operation in Afghanistan, US special military operation in Syria, US special military operation in Libia, US special military operation in Yemen, US special military operation in Iran, ring a bell? There are more unfortunately.
Though we can see the irony here, Russia is so lame that they copied USA with "special military operation" catch phrase. From this point of view, at least USA is "trying" to save the appearance, while Russia is more gross-minded.
So please, better let the gaming community and tech community free of propaganda, or at least free of manipulation. The majority of us, all over the world are well aware of all of these.
War is always bad, regardless of the web of lies in which both Russia and US is trying to veil and disguise it. Also war is always avoidable when those in conflict have wise, or at least honest rulers. Which is clear that neither Russia or US, or Ukraine or NATO do not have nowadays. They are so immature, and ignorant that they brag about which has the biggest guns and the most deadly weapons. And in their stupidity and madness they want to use them and found Ukraine as the testing ground.
Did you know that Russia older weapons arsenal, from their "concealed" underground bases from former USSR satellite states (republics) became so old, close to expire, that they decided better to use them than "waste" (decommission) them?
In the mean time, US military corporations are making billions in profits by selling their weapons to Ukraine, though quite often they called it "loan aid".
I have compassion for Ukraine, they really need help to end the war, but is hard or almost impossible to get it from those who wage it more.

NATO didn't acquire Finland, Finland felt they might be next to be invaded by Russia based on Russia invading Ukraine. NATO is a defensive organization and wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Russian aggression.

Which country did the US invade and then flatten city after city with artillery, while deporting its residence to the US against their will? The US didn't invade Yemen, Syria, Libia, or Iran, and didn't hold elections in any of those countries making them US soil. You must be drinking that pro-Russian cool aid. The US invaded Iraq after Sadam told the world he had weapons of mass destruction. He made that up to keep Iran from attacking Iraq. .

Ukraine did nothing to Russia and Russia doesn't have any legitimate reason to invade other than to take Ukraine's resources and land.

You think Ukraine has billions of dollars to repay the US or anyone else who've given them weapons while their main exports are being held hostage by Russia? It wasn't a loan it was a grant.

"I have compassion for Ukraine, they really need help to end the war, but is hard or almost impossible to get it from those who wage it more." That just isn't true if you think that if one country did something bad everyone else is justified to do whatever they want, too.

 

[Bobbydpue]

"Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine"

Back in the good ol days we called this propaganda and were proud of it. Now it's just warmongering BS rebranded as 'truth' aka Strategic Information Warfare.

Russian citizen are being told only a few of their soldiers have been killed or wounded, they are saving people from a nazi government, and are somehow slighted by Ukraine defending themselves as if Russia hadn't flattened entire cities civilians and all. It's more truth than the Russian people are getting or have gotten since the 7th of May 2000. Did you forget when the Russian government said they weren't going to invade Ukraine then invaded Ukraine?

 

[kimo1]

Finland is the most corrupted country in the EU. Their people know it very well. They also have sold themselves to the west. So this is yet another project which is actually strategical western propaganda. It's also way too obvious since it's too based. Perhaps they should use the help of ChatGPT to generate more effective propaganda. That giga loop of conditional text generator loops is good at generating stories.

 

[IgrySteamRU]

Another stupid waste of money on valve.
Valve should spend it to fix holes which people used to sell cheats

 

[Nonam3]

Please do read info about Ukraine denuclearize agreement, and then it will make clear why Boris Johnson visited Ukraine, why US do help (including rest of the world) and why Russia .. is Russia.

 

[DSirius]

Please do read info about Ukraine denuclearize agreement, and then it will make clear why Boris Johnson visited Ukraine, why US do help (including rest of the world) and why Russia .. is Russia.

We read it, did you know that US and NATO promised Russia to not expand NATO into Est, Ukraine for example?
As I pointed before, 2 big sheep dogs quarrel and they decided to test their bites force on a puppy called "Ukraine".
Also, Boris Johnson is not so good as an example, that guy compromised his reputation so often, even in the eyes of UK citizens, that he was investigated by their Parliament commissions at least twice.

 

[return]

Both sides are pushing propaganda & doing war crimes. The same old bull that any war has.

 

[DSirius]

NATO didn't acquire Finland, Finland felt they might be next to be invaded by Russia based on Russia invading Ukraine. NATO is a defensive organization and wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Russian aggression.

Which country did the US invade and then flatten city after city with artillery, while deporting its residence to the US against their will? The US didn't invade Yemen, Syria, Libia, or Iran, and didn't hold elections in any of those countries making them US soil. You must be drinking that pro-Russian cool aid. The US invaded Iraq after Sadam told the world he had weapons of mass destruction. He made that up to keep Iran from attacking Iraq. .

Ukraine did nothing to Russia and Russia doesn't have any legitimate reason to invade other than to take Ukraine's resources and land.

You think Ukraine has billions of dollars to repay the US or anyone else who've given them weapons while their main exports are being held hostage by Russia? It wasn't a loan it was a grant.

"I have compassion for Ukraine, they really need help to end the war, but is hard or almost impossible to get it from those who wage it more." That just isn't true if you think that if one country did something bad everyone else is justified to do whatever they want, too.

Please check the facts about your affirmation: "The US invaded Iraq after Sadam told the world he had weapons of mass destruction. He made that up to keep Iran from attacking Iraq".
The entire world knows, and has proofs that USA and UK staged and spread, through propaganda, it's web of lies, that Saddam and Irak has weapons of mass destruction only to justify their invading war against Irak. And they called it "US special military operation in Irak".
Though it seems that you do not know or find difficult to acknowledge this after 20 years.

Also, I advise you to keep the conversation civilized, or if you are unable to, better keep silence. You already revealed yourself being not well informed after 20 years, do not insist in revealing yourself as being rude too.

 

[Nonam3]

We read it, did you know that US and NATO promised Russia to not expand NATO into Est, Ukraine for example?
As I pointed before, 2 big sheep dogs quarrel and they decided to test their bites force on a puppy called "Ukraine".
Also, Boris Johnson is not so good as an example, that guy compromised his reputation so often, even in the eyes of UK citizens, that he was investigated by their Parliament commissions at least twice.

And yet Russia promised to defend and honour Ukraine independency in exchange of atomic demilitarization... and nowadays we see how much that word is worth.

Personally I think Russia doesn't care about NATO and they want resources.

Natural gas in Ukraine - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/t22zkc

https://cdn.britannica.com/75/675-050-804F127D/basins-oil-fields-gas-Europe-Russia-Central.jpg

IIRC Ukraine has already deals in place with Shell for excavation.

I wonder how front line looks like when we do overlay this map.

PS. I'm not saying that other countries don't have blood on their hands or interest and US will win in this war, they already increased LNG export and it is now at IIRC 50% of total EU gas import level. But on other hand this is "help". I wonder why Nord Stream 2 failed so quickly, was it because Russia moved their army near Belerus or Russia did move army because of Nord Stream 2 fail?

 

[Ephebus]

I never imagined there were so many supporters of Putin's genocidal dictatorship around here.

 

[Robbie K]

Would be something to appreciate if Counter-Strike: Go is being used to inform Russians about the war in Ukraine, by telling the truth.
Unfortunately a videogame is being used to change the Russian propaganda war with US and West propaganda war. By Finland, a country recently "acquired" in NATO. And this is a bad warning sign for tech gaming industry.
And the article mentions, without even acknowledging it, the absurdity of the situation. For example: Russia refers to its invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation":
Where did we hear about "special military operation" before?
Oh, it is the catch phrase which USA is using for more than 50 years when they bring wars all over the world in the name of "democracy", another catch word used by US military corporation propaganda.
US special military operation in Irak, US special military operation in Afghanistan, US special military operation in Syria, US special military operation in Libia, US special military operation in Yemen, US special military operation in Iran, ring a bell? There are more unfortunately.
Though we can see the irony here, Russia is so lame that they copied USA with "special military operation" catch phrase. From this point of view, at least USA is "trying" to save the appearance, while Russia is more gross-minded.
So please, better let the gaming community and tech community free of propaganda, or at least free of manipulation. The majority of us, all over the world are well aware of all of these.
War is always bad, regardless of the web of lies in which both Russia and US is trying to veil and disguise it. Also war is always avoidable when those in conflict have wise, or at least honest rulers. Which is clear that neither Russia or US, or Ukraine or NATO do not have nowadays. They are so immature, and ignorant that they brag about which has the biggest guns and the most deadly weapons. And in their stupidity and madness they want to use them and found Ukraine as the testing ground.
Did you know that Russia older weapons arsenal, from their "concealed" underground bases from former USSR satellite states (republics) became so old, close to expire, that they decided better to use them than "waste" (decommission) them?
In the mean time, US military corporations are making billions in profits by selling their weapons to Ukraine, though quite often they called it "loan aid".
I have compassion for Ukraine, they really need help to end the war, but is hard or almost impossible to get it from those who wage it more.

Valid points and yes the US has a lot to answer for but coming from an ex Soviet country (Hungary), America is the lessor of 2 evils.