Will Bono stop Mercenaries 2?

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb by U2/BonoThe Venezuelan Solidarity Network has taken issue with Pandemic’s “Mercenaries 2: World In Flames” and want production stopped. They’ve stated they want Bono to stop development and publishing of the upcoming Xbox 360, PC, PS3 and PS2 game before its Christmas release.

Their plan is to collect signatures of religious leaders for a letter to U2’s lead singer Bono in early April, “to ask him to use his considerable influence to stop the sale of the game”. While this might seem laughable, there’s a hidden connection here: Bono is on the board of Elevation Partners, which has strong ties with the partnership established between BioWare and Pandemic in 2005.

MercenariesCVG quotes the letter as saying: “Our concern is that this game will only deepen an already antagonistic relationship between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments.” Obviously a result from Mercenaries 2’s plot that sees a power-hungry tyrant messing with Venezuela’s oil supply, which in turn sparks an invasion that turns the country into a warzone that the mercenary players profits from.

Please be aware Bono hasn’t actually done anything wrong yet, surely he’s clearheaded enough to see a game’s just a game, fictional war isn’t real war. Bono is a great humanitarian as an activist for Africa, Amnesty International, War Child, and more, as well as being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, 2005 and 2006.