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Why Steam Pulling Mass-Murdering Game Hatred is a Bad Thing

CraveOnline: "Back in October I wrote about a trailer that had debuted for an upcoming indie game called Hatred. I branded it “the most offensive video game trailer ever,” and that opinion wasn’t borne out of a desire to unleash yet more clickbait onto the World Wide Web, but because it was legitimately the most offensive game trailer I had yet seen."

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craveonline.com
dbjj120884175d ago

Guess what all these video games are in some form or another? How many seconds and minutes do you have to kill before you're a mass-murderer of everyone's time?

solar4175d ago

the game has a right to exist, and Valve has the right to not publish it. what is the big deal?

JonnyBigBoss4175d ago

I know people want to be able to enjoy whatever they want, but this game has no merit.

Zodiac4175d ago

How can a game which is all about running around murdering people and ending the lives of innocent people have no merit? /s /s /s

mixelon4175d ago

I think it might well have merit but the devs are doing a terrible job of showing that. I'm not prepared to judge it as a game until people have played it..

I still stand behind Valve's choice though.

Pintheshadows4175d ago

And you gathered that from 1 trailer and a synopsis you probably haven't read on the developers page.

They actually raise a quite intriguing question. What would make a real person go out and commit atrocities like this in the real world? They want you to ask yourself that as you play.

Asking that question to me has merit. Not even the mainstream media bothers to ask that. They blame it on everything else (video games being their favourite) and rubberneck relentlessly when the authorities tell them that is the opposite of what they should be doing.

It is similar to the questions that the torture scene in GTA5 were meant to raise. People do this in real life, why?

You might think I am stretching and that is fine, but I want to at least have the chance to play Hatred and see how much merit it has. At this point no one can say for sure as none of us have played it. It could well be an utterly tasteless pos. I won't deny that.

What worries me most is a large portion of us sound like Fox News anchors and Daily Mail columnists.

Dirtnapstor4175d ago

And by playing this game, it will answer that transcending question? How about a game about rape? Use your imagination and replace the theme with your curiosities.
Don't know why people try and rationalize and justify when it's pretty clear...

Pintheshadows4175d ago (Edited 4175d ago )

Read my the comment I posted below Dirtnapstor. I am simply playing devil's advocate here and challenging people on what they find acceptable.

And bear in mind that with the above comment I am addressing the potential merits of Hatred. It may have none whatsoever as I said. I don't need a game to think about these things and to suggest that shows a gross misunderstanding of what I typed, and more importantly why I typed it.

I mean without it even being released look at the discussion it has created.

I am under no illusions. This game has most likely been made for pure shock value, much like countless horror films in the past. However bringing up a question 'what makes people do things like this in reality' is valid in whatever form it comes. Just because you don't agree with a piece of media that may or may not choose to do that doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed to.

In fact the very existence of Hatred has brought an important discussion to fore. How much is too much. Some think Hatred is too far, others do not. Is anyone here wrong. Not really. A viewpoint is a viewpoint after all. Everyone has their lines set at distances that are entirely unique to them. I am not looking to change anyone's. Simply challenge them.

I think that is a very important thing to do whether it is in regards to a game or anything else.

Dirtnapstor4175d ago

Pin! It's you from the other day! Didn't realize it until now!
So...are you some sort of blogcasting journalist? Attempting to make out-of-the-box conversation? To me, some things are cut and dry with no gray. This is one of those moments. I just can't see how anyone can justify this particular theme for a game. Not right.

Mithan4175d ago

I agree with you. Steam can do whatever it wants.

These guys took a risk, it failed. Tough shit.

Don't make a game next time that pushes the envelope that much.

Pintheshadows4175d ago (Edited 4175d ago )

'Don't make a game next time that pushes the envelope that much'.

That is a rather disappointing sentiment. And before you respond, please bear in mind I am playing the devil's advocate here.

I have no real interest in Hatred beyond it being a morbid curiosity (something which I think the developers were aiming for) but I think that as long as you aren't breaking the law with the content there should be no such thing as pushing the envelope too much.

And I agree that Valve can do whatever they want, I am just curious as to how far we will allow that to go. After all, they are all to happy for absolutely broken products and pure scams to stay around on Steam.

And whilst games like Harvester and Postal may be very dated, it doesn't change the extreme content in both games. Yes, Hatred is a lot more, what is the right word...vivid. I'll go with vivid (imagine if it was in colour).

I just think discussions like this are very very important. And I will challenge peoples ideas on it. It doesn't mean I want to see a slew of ultraviolent videogames on the front page of Steam.

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Exies74175d ago

Meh, I have no interest in it but it seems silly to start censoring violence. Where do we draw the line?

SteamPowered4175d ago

I say let freedom ring. Censorship is for the Mothers Groups and others with too much time on their hands.

Rebel_Scum4175d ago

Where's the censorship? A business has the right to stock and sell what it wants.

SteamPowered4175d ago

Oh absolutely. But the censorship comes into play with fretful mothers denying their kid this product. Not rallying against the store for selling it. I call it "Active Parenting".

Testfire4175d ago

So I guess you'd be ok with a rape simulator? Child molesting simulator? How about a game where you kidnap, torture, rape and kill babies? There IS a line, and this game crossed it.

SteamPowered4175d ago

They already have all kinds of that sick stuff on TPB and have for years. While I dont agree with it, they have every right to develop whatever the hell game they want. As long as it has an ESRB rating.
How many people die annually from Rape simulators? Oh none? How many people die from Cigarettes. Millions?! Weird. We have cigarettes in every gas station ever made.
I think control measures should equal the risk. Dont you?

Testfire4175d ago (Edited 4175d ago )

And there you go, can't make any logical argument so you resort to TPB and cigarettes? First of all, we're talking about Steam, not TPB, stay on topic ok? Who is saying the devs have no right to create what they want? Nobody. Who is saying this game encourages violence? Nobody.

Stay on topic.

Testfire4175d ago

Btw SteamPowered, where is your concern for "letting freedom ring" when it comes to Valve removing this game. You all act like Valve is the end all be all of the PC market and that they HAVE TO allow anything to be on there.

SteamPowered4175d ago

You missed my point about the consequences of selected censorship in relation to cigarettes. My point about TPB is that THE GAMES WILL ALWAYS BE MADE NO MATTER IF THEY ARE "BANNED" OR NOT. Just so we are clear.
The only difference is that they hit the underground where there is no censorship whatsoever. So, Steam can either be the cypher and regulate these games through the Age verification process or they can be released for God and everyone to play for free on TPB.
And quite frankly, Valve may not be the only player in town, but just try to have a successful Pc experience without them.

Testfire4175d ago

Cause we all know age verification works right? /s

Maybe you missed my point, I never called got this game to be banned. In fact I haven't seen anyone here do that. All I'm saying is I support Valve in making a decision to remove it from their store.

It's their company, their rules.

CorndogBurglar4175d ago (Edited 4175d ago )

The funny thing is that no one is censoring this game.

People are just refusing to publish it, or allow it to be played on their systems. Those companies have that right, as they obviously feel like it could damage their reputation.

And with all the complaints and controversy this game is getting, its probably a smart move, to be honest.

After reading this comment I'm thinking you don't know what censorship is.

"But the censorship comes into play with fretful mothers denying their kid this product."

Not letting your kids play a game is not censorship. Censorship is when someone steps in and makes you change your final product for some reason or other. No one is doing that. They are free to make whatever game they want, and they have. But Companies don't have to support it. Not supporting a product is not censorship.

SteamPowered4175d ago

Censoring- any person who supervises the manners or morality of others.

The Mothers act as the minors Moral Guide until the minor comes of age to decide for themselves (18-21)

There may be many levels of censorship, but I think Mothers should have the final say over what their children do.
Valve may censor it with an age rating in line with the ESRB. They chose to Censor it by completely removing it from their library.

Censor- to examine and act upon as a censor.
- to delete in one's capacity as a Censor.

Many levels of Censoring is my point Corndog. It isnt just the final product.

All words courtesy of Dictionary.com

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mixelon4175d ago (Edited 4175d ago )

Not choosing to sell a game is not censorship.

There are other marketplaces. Try GOG. See if they reject it too. This is what happens when you push the decency envelope and act like things are open platforms when they aren't at all. Valve's shop, valve's rules.

With some sort of story or social commentary or anything people would be defending the game, the devs fish for controversy at the expense of everything else and it backfired comically.

This is hardly Apple-level gatekeeping. "Let's not accept this game that's tailor made to court controversy and risks blowing up on anyone associated with it. Which probably won't even be legal in multiple countries anyway and is likely to cause us all sorts of legal headache down the road." Yeah. Sensible.

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520°

Controversial "Adults Only" Murder Simulator Hatred Is Coming To Nintendo Switch

A game about killing people.

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nintendolife.com
NecrumOddBoy2230d ago (Edited 2230d ago )

This game was just gratuitous violence. I don't know why it was rated AO. It's no worse than a GTA killing spree, Hotline Miami, or even the 'No Russian' COD mission. Reminded my of a weaker Dead Nation except no zombies.

FlyingFoxy2230d ago

And we have highly sexualised Japanese games like Senran Kagura which are often either borderline, or practically straight up soft core.. and not even rated AO, some even rated lower age than GTA!

Makes you wonder what's wrong with the ratings systems overall tbh, potentially exposing kids to all kinds of nasty stuff.. but then that's more the parents fault anyways, and the upper age ratings are definitely nowhere near kid friendly, yet you still get little kids playing certain things they shouldn't be.

StormSnooper2229d ago (Edited 2229d ago )

Sex should not even be an issue. Violence, on the other hand, should have restricted access. I don’t know anything about this particular game, but sounds like the difference between this and GTA is that GTA is a game about mafia, so violence itself isn’t the lure of the game. It’s telling a story. But a game about murder, is a game centered on murder as the selling point. I Don’t know, I see a difference here.

2229d ago
StormSnooper2228d ago (Edited 2228d ago )

@genericgamer01
We are confusing a number of issues here:

1) I think we all agree that any outright censorship is bad.
2) violence does in fact have negative impact on young kids.
3) as a matter of public welfare, some things are not better left to the unchecked discretion of people, in this case parents. This is why we all obey traffic laws.
4) while the right to raise your children how you see fit is a fundamental right, not all parents know how/are able to raise their children in a proper way, and the rights of the child and society should also be considered. Unfortunately, while we get a manual with everything, and attend classes for things like driving, a child does not come with a manual and no classes are offered to parents about how to raise a child.
5) there is a strong interest in protecting those in our society who do not have a means of protecting themselves. This includes children who cannot protect themselves from bad parenting.
6) we do in fact have experts in every field, both inside and outside government, who have dedicated their lives to specific fields, and DO know more in that subject than the general public. (To argue otherwise is called anti-intellectualism, which is a major problem in our society today, i.e. flat earthers)

Therefore, we should have regulations that guide parents, and also prohibit them from allowing their young to engage in activities that are either damaging, or have the propensity to derail their development into functioning positive members of society.

Lastly, the issue of politicians using video games as a means to seem tough, is an altogether separate problem as these individuals should not be allowed to take the reigns from experts on matters of public policy without scientific support.

PurpHerbison2229d ago

I guess the biggest difference here is the goal of Hatred is to murder where as GTA isn't all about killing sprees, Hotline Miami is too cute to be taken seriously, and COD isn't all about wiping out Russians. Best comparison is probably Dead by Daylight where 50% of the game is being a serial killer trying to kill survivors in gruesome ways and it is only rated M.

Kostche2229d ago

shooting and killing people is shooting and killing... dont matter what form it is

2229d ago
CptDville2229d ago

Have you ever tried Manhunt? It was quite disturbing when launched.

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Tetsujin2230d ago

I'm surprised Switch is getting this and PlayStation/Xbox isn't. The game was basically Postal with better graphics and more realism.

LOGICWINS2229d ago

I'm not. Sonys the one that's been caught censoring anime bikini girls. Nintendo has been vocal about being against censorship.

https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.exclusivelygame...

REALAS2229d ago

Haha. Only with the switch, because money. Nintendo has censored more games than anyone.

Segata2229d ago

Nintendo will censor their games but not 3rd parties. That's what tey said since few will click any links.

MadLad2229d ago

@reals

So only with either company's most recent consoles? The ones most relevant here in 2020?

REALAS2228d ago

@ Ted
I just find it funny that people make it seem like Nintendo has always championed non censorship. They have only relaxed their stance to deliver to their shareholders. Good for them, I guess.

MadLad2228d ago

@reals

What I think you're noticing is people going at Sony, because they have been the censorship kings of this generation.

I've never seen people voicing Nintendo's anti-censorship stance, because they've obviously been bad with that in the past. But we're talking about now, and Sony is the one always seen censoring content nowadays.

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Activemessiah2230d ago

Brace yourselves for the incoming bitching about this by journalists.

NecrumOddBoy2229d ago (Edited 2229d ago )

Or more likely: "Best on Switch - 10/10"

QuePasa872229d ago

Hmm I wonder if some retail outlets will refuse to sell it

Kabaneri2229d ago

Every open world sandbox game is Hatred for me.

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200°

Ancestors Legacy Out Now For PS4 And Xbox One

Destructive Creations has today released its popular PC real-time strategy game, Ancestors Legacy to PS4 and Xbox One.

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northern-gamer.com
slayernz2475d ago

anyone played this? any good? been wanting a RTS on PS4 so might pick this up if its any good

rob-GP2475d ago

Reviews at 11pm (in 40mins) - embargo until then

Elwenil2474d ago

I've played it on PC, it's pretty good. Not sure how well it will play on consoles, the control scheme will make or break it.

rob-GP2474d ago

I can talk about it now :) - My review is on the site but the short of it is, it's a great game - very long with eight campaigns spanning four civilisations and time periods. Controls take a while to get used to, as there's no mouse and keyboard support and there's a lot of shortcut combinations, but once you've mastered it, it's really good.

rob-GP2475d ago

well, out tomorrow (13th)

Troyboi992474d ago

Still isnt even released yet... Smh...

rob-GP2474d ago

Really? Should be. It's the date I was given, as our reviews were embargoed until midnight this morning. Maybe EU is Thursday and it's America today (which would usually be in about three more hours or so)?

20°

Ancestors Legacy (Console Release) - Gamescom 2018

GameRVW met with the Destructive Creations team at Gamescom to discuss Ancestors Legacy and play the soon to be released console version.