Russian government to fund "patriotic" games

The Russian government has said that it will fund the production of "patriotic" games, while titles that "distort" history could be banned in the country.

"The main thing we expect from the producers of video games is the realistic and historically truthful representation of events," said Arseny Mironov, an aide to Russia's culture minister Vladimir Medinsky.

His comments came in a report from the Russian daily newspaper Izvestiya translated and reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

"A video game has to have not only an entertainment value, but it also has to teach and be conducive to patriotic education," he added, while also stating that a "negative image of the Russian warrior" in games is not acceptable.

The Russian Military History Society--led by Medinsky--is taking charge of the government's video game endeavors. The first project from the group will focus on the beginning of Russian military aviation during World War I.

According to the report, the Russian government is currently negotiating with "several" local developers for the game--expected to be released in 2014--though none were named. Further government grants for additional "patriotic" games will be introduced, the report said.

Russia's culture ministry has said it is concerned about the content of some foreign games, which "discredit the Russian soldier" and "distort historic facts." Such games could be banned in the country, the ministry said.

One example provided was Company of Heroes 2. Sales of the real-time strategy game were halted in Russia in August after numerous users expressed issues with the game's portrayal of the Soviet Union during World War II.