Gaming

Ridiculously Homophobic Game Pulled From Steam Greenlight

Published

9 years ago

May 6, 2015

A point-and-click shooter has been pulled from Steam Greenlight just hours after it was uploaded. The game, titled “Kill The F*****” (censoring added) was about as terrible as it sounds. Based on the trailer, players would be tasked with shooting people as they run past. The game would award players for shooting gay or transgender people (who would be wearing pink clothes) while punishing them for shooting straight people. The game then celebrates by shouting at you such delightful slogans as, “Straight Pride!” or “AIDS carrier eliminated.”

The developer behind this monstrosity is Skaldic Games. Or, at least, that’s what the guy who made it, Randall Herman, is calling himself. On his website, he said it was originally going to be a minigame as part of his survival game, The Shelter: A Survival Story, but he decided to release it alone on Greenlight because he wanted to “see people’s reactions.” Apparently, Herman felt tired of “people being overly sensitive and how easily offended people are by every little thing, especially with LGBT issues.”

The game was so offensive, voice actors who contributed to the project have since announced they were not aware of what the game was about. Rachel Lally, one of the voice actors, wrote a lengthy but well-said message to Herman on her Facebook page about the game.

I have many LGBT close and dear friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances. I also work with young people, some of whom are struggling with the realisation that they may be LGBT. This is difficult in a society where they are in the minority, as a result the LGBT community globally are victimised, alienated, made to feel ashamed and suffer from depression and mental illnesses in far higher numbers than their straight friends. Gay people are seven times more likely to attempt suicide and according to statistics from the police in Ireland 70% of the LGBT community have experienced severe verbal harassment and violence.

Lally also indicated she was misled by Herman about the content of the game. She said she originally was led to believe there would be “artistic merit” to the game, since it came to Greenlight she found that she is “totally at odds with your (Herman’s) thinking and it seems what Skaldic games now stands for.”

Lally says she is waiting for an apology from Herman, to which Herman’s website already has a response: “As for an apology. Ain’t gonna happen. To everyone that got overly offended. Good, thats what we were going for. Just wait for our next game we are working on, it’s gonna be way more offensive as this one.” Herman has expressed at length on his website what a great idea he thinks it was to make a game for the purposes of “pissing off these people.” It’s not entirely clear what he means by “these people,” so I’m going to assume he just wanted to anger everyone. Fortunately, once the game came to light through game critic Jim Sterling’s Youtube page, Steam was quick to remove the game for violating its terms of service.

For those curious to see the game in action, here’s Jim Sterling’s video, although I don’t recommend it. It will only remind you of everything that’s wrong with this world. Obviously, this video is NSFW and comes with a major content warning.

Steam launched Greenlight back in 2012, and originally anybody could upload any game they wanted. To stop people from launching joking or fake submissions, they introduced a $100 fee for developers wanting to submit their games. There have been calls to further moderate Greenlight, mostly due to the amount of rubbish games it constantly seems to produce. But Herman’s game has highlighted the other problem with a near completely unmoderated store – seriously offensive content can get up. Ever since Hatred, a game in which the player must violently kill every human they encounter, was allowed to stay on Greenlight, it seems developers have been testing the store’s limits more and more. But at least Hatred is indiscriminate – it encourages violence towards everybody.

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Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.46 introduces an exciting addition to the roster of exclusive cars available in the PS5 and PS4 racing game

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

Zach Riley

Gran Turismo 7 has just received an exciting update to version 1.46 on both PS5 and PS4. This latest update introduces a unique addition to the game: the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo, a car that you won’t come across in any other game. Škoda makes its debut in the franchise with a visionary study of a single-seater, all-electric racing concept car, designed exclusively for the Polyphony Digital racer.

Once you’ve downloaded update 1.46, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive not one but two additional cars: the AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the iconic Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe ’70. Get ready for an exhilarating ride! Watch as they take to the track in the video above.

Additionally, the update introduces a new menu for players to tackle in the GT Café. At Collector Level 38, players have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Ferrari 12-cylinder engines, gaining knowledge and expanding their collection. In World Circuits, players can look forward to exciting new events such as the Japanese Clubman Cup 550, the American FR Challenge 550, and the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy. For all the avid fans of Photo Mode, there’s an exciting opportunity to explore the captivating city of San Diego in a brand new Scape.

What are your thoughts on the latest update for Gran Turismo 7? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.

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Gaming

ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games

Published

2 days ago

April 25, 2024

Zach Riley

Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.

In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.

According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.

In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!

Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Gaming

Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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