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To illustrate a story discussing conflict in present-day Syria, Danish news channel
TV2 used an image from Assassin's Creed depicting Syrian city Damascus 720 years ago.
The head of news for TV2 confirmed the origin of the picture used behind news anchor Cecilie
Beck on February 26, was indeed from the popular action game. The image was sourced by one
of the show's researchers who confused it for a photograph of the Damascus skyline.
This isn’t the first time a news outlet has made this mistake.
Last year the BBC used the fictitious United Nations Space Command logo from Halo when
reporting on the United Nations Security Council.
The ITV network in the United Kingdom also aired footage of the game Arma 2 claiming
it was shot by the IRA.
Is this lazy reporting? Or are games just looking so good these days that anyone could
make this mistake? With next-generation consoles right around the corner, I imagine news outlets
will have an even tougher time identifying computer graphics.
Let me know what you think. And for more on everything video games, stay tuned to IGN.