In the game, a player can choose to be a US serviceman leading a team on missions against insurgents, or an unarmed Iraqi father trying to escape with his family to safety. While playing, gamers will hear from real US service members, who narrate the missions, and Iraqi civilians, who relay their experiences.

“Players will encounter civilians during gameplay, and these people also speak directly to players through video interviews,” Tamte told CNN. “We want players to get to know these people as real human beings, rather than just avatars on a computer screen. And we want players to hear these Iraqis’ perspectives and stories in their own words.”

Developers regularly consult with Iraqis on how they are portrayed in the game, Tamte says. If a player shoots an Iraqi civilian, the mission ends in failure. The only Iraqis who are allowed to be killed are insurgents…

“I got chills in my spine thinking about the idea that they can use the scenario of someone escaping something so tragic for a game,” Abdulelah said, referring to the scenario in which a player can choose to be an Iraqi father fleeing with his family. “It brings me to tears. How is this okay?”