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Finding out about a game that has been released in a couple of European Countries has brought me out from my enforced hiatus to post my feelings about this:
Usually I’m the first person to defend “freedom of choice” and will stand up for a game/movie like GTA3/State of Emergency by saying “It’s a game, it allows you to do things for fun with no consequence”.
Except I’ve become aware of a game that has me genuinely concerned as to who would play it and why.
“Hooligans – Storm Over Europe”. A PC game about football hooligans.
Now it’s not cartoony, it’s very realistic and real-world like in appearance. The aim of the game? According to the website:
The object is to become the most notorious group of Hooligans in Europe. You must kill, maim and destroy the opposing Hooligan teams. You muster and control your faithful troops by administering drugs, alcohol and of course a good dose of violence every now and then. They must become true followers of your faction, for better or worse.
Not only good strategic skills are required but also a good political mindset and managing capabilities to keep your troops happy and violent.
Whoever is victorious and catches the publics attention in the media, will end up the most notorious Hooligans in Europe and the world! A title that every Hooligan with his heart in the right place loves to fight for!
You get bonus points for “attacking civilians to increase your wanted rating and bonuses for targeting minority groups”.
If you go to the website, you are greeted with a nice black and red image of a skinhead glaring out at you.
The forums are filled with racial hatred and “Firms” organising meetings and the most viscious racial abuse directed at other countries.
Some of the avatars you can choose are swastikas and other nazi symbols.
Game Ltd have refused to carry this game, and HMV and Virgin are coming under serious complaint from watchdog groups for stocking it.
It’s also not being released in Germany or America and Trading Standards are investigating the game to see if it contravenes the “Incitement to Racial Hatred” act passed since Sept 11th.
In Germany, it is illegal to have games displaying any symbolism of fascist iconography, and it is also illegal to use Nazi ideology as a basis for entertainment – rightly so but the UK has no such restrictions, we rely on public decency and morals.
Now I know this is just a game and all that, but what makes me unhappy is the reasoning behind the game. It’s one thing to play an undercover/ex cop trying to bring down a crime syndicate (GTA3), but it’s another thing entirely when the idea of a game is to commit racial murder and acts of hooliganism for the sole purpose of “Being the number 1 firm in Europe”.
And if I had any doubt about the intention or morality behind this game, then a visit to the forums for this game (I wont give out the URL as I object to Nazi propaganda) will indicate just where the game developer’s feelings lay. Several moderators have joined in the boasts about “the good old days” and making continued racial slurs and abuse towards people.
A game is a game, I understand that. And I’m not suggesting that by playing this game you will instantly become a nazi thug.
But seeing as we are in the 21st century, and especially since Sept 11th, I find it abhorrent that somebody still thinks it’s a good idea to bring out a game that rewards murder and racial hatred as if it were a noble thing.
If there was a game to be released called “Auschwitz Death Camp 2002: The Revenge” then there would be international outcry and, hopefully, condemnation from the world. But having investigated this game as best I can and as best as I can tolerate, I can see no difference between this game and tattooing a swastika on your head and “bashing p***s” as one poster proudly boasted.
The main game that caused contention last time was “GTA3”, but that had a strict moral guideline in it.
You could attack pedestrians if you wanted to, but you were working to bring down a criminal organisation. The wholesale slaughter was just there if you felt inclined to do so, and you would be arrested or shot after a few moments mayhem. You were working towards a goal that was pro-legal, you fought gangs etc to bring order and calm to Liberty City.
However, Hooligans exists solely to murder and cause violence for the sake of it.
You could say the same about State of Emergency, but they use the “Globol Corps” plot and you get penalised for attacking civilians, and if you look, all of your opponents are faceless white-people, there is no mission that involves attacking minority groups.
I’m not going to demand that Hooligans be banned, or that stores shouldn’t stock this game, I stand by personal choice and, unfortunately, that extends to allowing right-wing Nazis their say as well.
But I am extremely offended and unhappy about the notion that a game exists that promotes and actively encourages murderous, racist, thuggish behaviour for the sake of it.
The reward in commanding loyalty and devotions amongst your skinhead followers suggests that the feelings and emotions of the games developers involved in this game are not being ironic or making a comment about society.
This is bigoted, Nazi behaviour under the banner of “entertainment” and that is what I object to, not the game, but the ideology behind it.
Usually I’m the first person to defend “freedom of choice” and will stand up for a game/movie like GTA3/State of Emergency by saying “It’s a game, it allows you to do things for fun with no consequence”.
Except I’ve become aware of a game that has me genuinely concerned as to who would play it and why.
“Hooligans – Storm Over Europe”. A PC game about football hooligans.
Now it’s not cartoony, it’s very realistic and real-world like in appearance. The aim of the game? According to the website:
The object is to become the most notorious group of Hooligans in Europe. You must kill, maim and destroy the opposing Hooligan teams. You muster and control your faithful troops by administering drugs, alcohol and of course a good dose of violence every now and then. They must become true followers of your faction, for better or worse.
Not only good strategic skills are required but also a good political mindset and managing capabilities to keep your troops happy and violent.
Whoever is victorious and catches the publics attention in the media, will end up the most notorious Hooligans in Europe and the world! A title that every Hooligan with his heart in the right place loves to fight for!
You get bonus points for “attacking civilians to increase your wanted rating and bonuses for targeting minority groups”.
If you go to the website, you are greeted with a nice black and red image of a skinhead glaring out at you.
The forums are filled with racial hatred and “Firms” organising meetings and the most viscious racial abuse directed at other countries.
Some of the avatars you can choose are swastikas and other nazi symbols.
Game Ltd have refused to carry this game, and HMV and Virgin are coming under serious complaint from watchdog groups for stocking it.
It’s also not being released in Germany or America and Trading Standards are investigating the game to see if it contravenes the “Incitement to Racial Hatred” act passed since Sept 11th.
In Germany, it is illegal to have games displaying any symbolism of fascist iconography, and it is also illegal to use Nazi ideology as a basis for entertainment – rightly so but the UK has no such restrictions, we rely on public decency and morals.
Now I know this is just a game and all that, but what makes me unhappy is the reasoning behind the game. It’s one thing to play an undercover/ex cop trying to bring down a crime syndicate (GTA3), but it’s another thing entirely when the idea of a game is to commit racial murder and acts of hooliganism for the sole purpose of “Being the number 1 firm in Europe”.
And if I had any doubt about the intention or morality behind this game, then a visit to the forums for this game (I wont give out the URL as I object to Nazi propaganda) will indicate just where the game developer’s feelings lay. Several moderators have joined in the boasts about “the good old days” and making continued racial slurs and abuse towards people.
A game is a game, I understand that. And I’m not suggesting that by playing this game you will instantly become a nazi thug.
But seeing as we are in the 21st century, and especially since Sept 11th, I find it abhorrent that somebody still thinks it’s a good idea to bring out a game that rewards murder and racial hatred as if it were a noble thing.
If there was a game to be released called “Auschwitz Death Camp 2002: The Revenge” then there would be international outcry and, hopefully, condemnation from the world. But having investigated this game as best I can and as best as I can tolerate, I can see no difference between this game and tattooing a swastika on your head and “bashing p***s” as one poster proudly boasted.
The main game that caused contention last time was “GTA3”, but that had a strict moral guideline in it.
You could attack pedestrians if you wanted to, but you were working to bring down a criminal organisation. The wholesale slaughter was just there if you felt inclined to do so, and you would be arrested or shot after a few moments mayhem. You were working towards a goal that was pro-legal, you fought gangs etc to bring order and calm to Liberty City.
However, Hooligans exists solely to murder and cause violence for the sake of it.
You could say the same about State of Emergency, but they use the “Globol Corps” plot and you get penalised for attacking civilians, and if you look, all of your opponents are faceless white-people, there is no mission that involves attacking minority groups.
I’m not going to demand that Hooligans be banned, or that stores shouldn’t stock this game, I stand by personal choice and, unfortunately, that extends to allowing right-wing Nazis their say as well.
But I am extremely offended and unhappy about the notion that a game exists that promotes and actively encourages murderous, racist, thuggish behaviour for the sake of it.
The reward in commanding loyalty and devotions amongst your skinhead followers suggests that the feelings and emotions of the games developers involved in this game are not being ironic or making a comment about society.
This is bigoted, Nazi behaviour under the banner of “entertainment” and that is what I object to, not the game, but the ideology behind it.
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Armatige Shanks wrote:
>Wasnt that the idea of the original Streetfighter game?
No. In Street Fighter you fought against other willing combatants. You didnt just play as Ryu, wander over to Chun Li who was walking along shopping and suddenly fireball her ! The point is hooligan involves targeting innocent people as its aim and to progress you ahve to do this, whereas no other game has made this a central feature. Smae goes for the person who dragged up Streets Of Rage on the Megadrive, yes your opponents were of all different races and you fought them, but they were fighting you - so there was a reason to fight.
>Wasnt that the idea of the original Streetfighter game?
No. In Street Fighter you fought against other willing combatants. You didnt just play as Ryu, wander over to Chun Li who was walking along shopping and suddenly fireball her ! The point is hooligan involves targeting innocent people as its aim and to progress you ahve to do this, whereas no other game has made this a central feature. Smae goes for the person who dragged up Streets Of Rage on the Megadrive, yes your opponents were of all different races and you fought them, but they were fighting you - so there was a reason to fight.
Fogmaster wrote:
Maybe the game is set in an all Black city, most cities in New
> York are Black communities, tis true, you'd be lucky to see a white person
> walking around brixton (london) for example, it's not being racist it's being
> realistic.
--
A fair point, except the character you portray and the websites features white skinheads and a symbol consisting of two skins with fists raised in salute with a black/red/white flag behind them.
It reeks of fascist idealogy and the moderators on the boards and the posters engage in severely offensive racist comments with each other.
Maybe the game is set in an all Black city, most cities in New
> York are Black communities, tis true, you'd be lucky to see a white person
> walking around brixton (london) for example, it's not being racist it's being
> realistic.
--
A fair point, except the character you portray and the websites features white skinheads and a symbol consisting of two skins with fists raised in salute with a black/red/white flag behind them.
It reeks of fascist idealogy and the moderators on the boards and the posters engage in severely offensive racist comments with each other.
Armatige Shanks wrote:
"This post confused and scared me a little"
Yeah, it wasn't obvious. I had wrote "write" instead of "right" in the post below it. I was correcting my spelling, assuming that people would realise what I meant. When I posted it, I realised how odd it looked, and left it like that.
"This post confused and scared me a little"
Yeah, it wasn't obvious. I had wrote "write" instead of "right" in the post below it. I was correcting my spelling, assuming that people would realise what I meant. When I posted it, I realised how odd it looked, and left it like that.
Goatboy wrote:
Hooligans - The aim of the game is to attack other groups
> from different countries for no other reason than to be "number 1
> hooligan",
Wasnt that the idea of the original Streetfighter game?
Hooligans - The aim of the game is to attack other groups
> from different countries for no other reason than to be "number 1
> hooligan",
Wasnt that the idea of the original Streetfighter game?
Your missions are to kill other races? that sucks.
Thing is, it's only racist if you see it like that, unless the mission says "kill every white/black guy you see" then yeah it is.
Thing is, the game might not have been intended like that, the guy that made it might not have been racist, he might have been Black, all the people that might have been working on the game might have been Black,
Maybe the game is set in an all Black city, most cities in New York are Black communities, tis true, you'd be lucky to see a white person walking around brixton (london) for example, it's not being racist it's being realistic.
If every single criminal/person in the game was white you'd think it was racist for not having any half cast/Black people in the game, are there any Asians in it? and Ginger people? why don't they get beaten up too? i'm pretty sure there are quite a few in this world, why don't they ever get beaten up in games? are game designers scared of drawing them?
Thing is, it's only racist if you see it like that, unless the mission says "kill every white/black guy you see" then yeah it is.
Thing is, the game might not have been intended like that, the guy that made it might not have been racist, he might have been Black, all the people that might have been working on the game might have been Black,
Maybe the game is set in an all Black city, most cities in New York are Black communities, tis true, you'd be lucky to see a white person walking around brixton (london) for example, it's not being racist it's being realistic.
If every single criminal/person in the game was white you'd think it was racist for not having any half cast/Black people in the game, are there any Asians in it? and Ginger people? why don't they get beaten up too? i'm pretty sure there are quite a few in this world, why don't they ever get beaten up in games? are game designers scared of drawing them?
Wookie, let me try to explain my point one more time and then I'm leaving this be:
GTA3 - A living breathing city with all races of people. Your targets are criminals. If you choose to attack pedestrians, that's your call. It won't help you achieve your mission goals and you will get busted for it.
Yes, you can target blacks if you want but that's not the point of GTA3, it's a bias in your own mind that you choose to apply to GTA3 and play racist murderer. It's not the intention of Rockstar for you to murder ethnic groups, it's just a possibility if you so desire.
Hooligans - The aim of the game is to attack other groups from different countries for no other reason than to be "number 1 hooligan", with bonuses offered for specifically killing ethnic groups.
Is this making sense?
There comes a time when playing Devil's Advocate is the cowards way out.
You either land on one side or the other when it comes to Nazi computer games where you are encouraged and rewarded for racist attacks.
So, which is it?
For or Against a game that advocates ethnic violence and is the sole reason for the game's existence?
It really is that simple.
GTA3 - A living breathing city with all races of people. Your targets are criminals. If you choose to attack pedestrians, that's your call. It won't help you achieve your mission goals and you will get busted for it.
Yes, you can target blacks if you want but that's not the point of GTA3, it's a bias in your own mind that you choose to apply to GTA3 and play racist murderer. It's not the intention of Rockstar for you to murder ethnic groups, it's just a possibility if you so desire.
Hooligans - The aim of the game is to attack other groups from different countries for no other reason than to be "number 1 hooligan", with bonuses offered for specifically killing ethnic groups.
Is this making sense?
There comes a time when playing Devil's Advocate is the cowards way out.
You either land on one side or the other when it comes to Nazi computer games where you are encouraged and rewarded for racist attacks.
So, which is it?
For or Against a game that advocates ethnic violence and is the sole reason for the game's existence?
It really is that simple.
Grix Thraves wrote:
> ...right...
This post confused and scared me a little
> ...right...
This post confused and scared me a little
...right...
That's one slow double click, Shanksy. :0D
You're probably write to do so though, writing so much on here stuff is vanishing quickly.
You're probably write to do so though, writing so much on here stuff is vanishing quickly.
WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
"in GTA3, the individual can choose to target them."
Choose to, by far. What if GTA3 was full of white people? Apart from being unrealistic, it's also racist in itself. Probably more to due with lazy artists, though. :0)
Running over a white person, and running over a gay person. I bet they make the same *splat* noise, and that's all that matters.
"in GTA3, the individual can choose to target them."
Choose to, by far. What if GTA3 was full of white people? Apart from being unrealistic, it's also racist in itself. Probably more to due with lazy artists, though. :0)
Running over a white person, and running over a gay person. I bet they make the same *splat* noise, and that's all that matters.
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