Image credits: Akshay Kumar | phetthai05 / Instagram.
Akshay Kumar’s newly announced FAU-G game has come under scrutiny after social media users noticed something ‘odd’ on its poster.
- News18.com
- Last update: September 5, 2020 12:45 PM IST
- FOLLOW US:
There is a new game in town called FAU-G and is already receiving criticism on social media for the apparent lack of originality in his poster.
Days after PUBG was pulled from the shelves among 118 apps following the new escalation with China in Ladakh, Akshay Kumar announced the launch of a multiplayer action game called FAU-G, for the amusement of gamers and Bollywood fans alike.
Kumar also stated that 20 percent of his net proceeds were donated to ‘Bharat Ke Veer Trust’ for the support of the brave of India. The trust was also started by him.
“For young people in India, games are becoming an important form of entertainment. With FAU: G, I hope that as you play the game, you learn about the sacrifices of our soldiers and also contribute to the families of the martyrs; and with this, each of us has the ability to support PM Modi’s Atma Nirbhar vision, ”said Kumar.
While the news was initially greeted with hilarious memes and taunts, there was something “fishy” about the game’s poster that couldn’t be ignored.
As a post by Twitter user @maximustaurean suggests, the poster’s creators used a stock image to show soldiers involved in a battle.
The stock photo is not new in itself. It has previously been used in a Frantical Futurist news article in a post titled: “The US Army Explores the Use of Shapeshifting Robots by 2040” in January 2020.
Read also: ‘Unban PUBG’: Desperate Gamers In India Want App To Break Ties With Chinese Tencent
While another hawk-eyed commenter stated that the photo also appeared in a song called “Today We Rise” by the band Collision Of Innocence.
A quick Google search further suggests that the image used in Kumar’s FAU-G game exists on the Shutterstock website, credited to Phet Thai. The only visible difference between the two photos was an addition of the Indian flag on FAU-G.
A copy of which was uploaded to Instagram by the same person who uploaded the video in February 2019.
What is Twitterati’s opinion on this?
Many users were upset by the lack of “originality” used by Kumar and the developers to promote the game.
Indian “entrepreneurship” summarized 🙏🏼
– sarduski (@sarduski) September 4, 2020
Puri game copy kar ke bana raha hai, kyu rakhe original poster
– Bhavya Bhatt (@ BhavyaBhatt7) September 4, 2020
Arey Indian flag lagadiya …. bas air kuch nahin bolneka ….
– Jvd (@ JVD428) September 4, 2020
Read also: PUBG Ban will leave these Indian cricketers disappointed. Bumrah must be having the last laugh
However, many others were of the opinion that the photo was available for purchase on Shutterstock, making it fair use in any context.
This is the height of the ignorance of those who hate India. Claiming that #FAUG The image copied from others really shows their illiteracy about world design. This image is available on Shutterstock for purchase. If you don’t know how this all works, you should shut your fucking mouth. pic.twitter.com/y7Ltkg3YPt
– Prasad Karwa (@PrasadKarwa) September 4, 2020
That’s what stock photos are for. Did you think that the article you shared used a real image? Stock photos are meant to be used in this way.
– Sorry, it was a mistake that I (@chhole_kulche) September 4, 2020
Meanwhile, the game is based on real scenarios encountered by the Indian Security Forces to deal with both domestic and foreign threats. The game is expected to launch in late October with its first level set in the background of Galwan Valley followed by a third-person shooter on subsequent releases. The game will be available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The founder and president of the games publisher, Vishal Gondal, said: “It is a great pride to answer the call of PM Modi and present to the world a world-class game, which will not only help players in a virtual environment to fight against the forces of evil; but also contribute positively to the construction of the nation by supporting our martyrs. “
.
