Kill the F*ggot removed from Steam Greenlight (TRIGGERS)

Obviously, all the trigger warnings for this post.

“Fag down.”

“Transgender kill.”

“You killed that faggot.”

“Straight pride.”

“AIDS carrier eliminated.”

These are just some of the gems from the game Kill the F*ggot, which was removed from Steam Greenlight earlier today. This is the short trailer for the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEi2lLMCGXU

Even redditors and some GGers are saying this game goes too far, and they support Valve removing it from Steam. Of course, there are the typical cries for free speech here and there, but most all agree that this terrible-looking game is ridiculous, offensive, and has no merit. It has raised some interesting questions, however.

Is a game that depicts violence also advocating for it?

This seems to be a common question when examining this game and others like it. Just because a game depicts violence, doesn’t mean that it’s saying that violence is ok, right? Well on the surface, this seems like a reasonable argument. Destiny isn’t making me feel morally obligated to kill aliens. Mario Bros doesn’t make me feel morally obligated to kill gumbas. Red Dead Redemption skirts the line between depicting violence against Native Americans in a historical and critical way and glorifying it. This can be gauged through the level of prominence given to the occurrence and the level of complexity with which it is presented. You are part Native American in RDD, and the narrative complicates the killings. The way a prostitute is getting raped on the periphery of the game, with the gentleman saying “Shut up, Bitch, before I cut you a new whole,” is presented as natural, uncritical, and part of everyday life.

Does a game always advocate for the violence it depicts, no. Does Kill the F*aggot? Obviously yes. The entire purpose of the game is to eliminate gay and transgendered people, who are visible only through stereotypical language and clothing. The game literally rewards you for killing gay people while your narrator says homophobic things. I think we can stay away from the philosophical debate with this particular game, because it’s pretty obvious. Is this going to lead games like GTA to be banned because it depicts and thus advocates killing prostitutes? I doubt KTF has that much power. Plus it, along with lots of games, have been banned. So it’s not like this is a new post-GG thing.

Are bloggers gatekeeping game content through outrage?

Again, when you make a controversial game, people are going to respond in many ways to it. When you violate the terms of service, you may get kicked out of Calgary Expo or get your game removed by Valve. That’s the other side of the “freedom of speech” thing that GGers seem to forget. Free speech is a pretty particular thing that keeps you from being persecuted by the government. That does not mean you get make a game called Kill the F*ggots and Valve has to keep it on their company site. Dems the rub. Bloggers get to write bad reviews, demand games be removed, and be outraged. Companies may not listen, and they will face the consequences. Or they will listen, and they will face a different set of consequences.

But let’s be clear: This shit is disgusting. It’s not a some zombie game or cartoon with aliens. Gay people are continually harassed, murdered, and incarcerated all over the world. It’s not a fucking joke, nor is it a game. This is not free speech, nor is it even veiled hate speech. This depicts are ridicules a very real violence being done to very real human beings. This incites and advocates for very real violence being done to very real human beings.

Most responses to this pathetic excuse for a “game” seem to be in agreement with the previous points. I doubt the removal of Kill the F*ggots from Steam will be the new rallying cry against censorship for GGers. A game, an incident, or a person will be the new rallying cry, though. This will likely be just as offensive, but much more veiled and systemic. It’s easy to dismiss this game but turn a blind eye to sexism and homophobia that is hidden within the games we love. Let’s all agree this shit should be burned and buried, but let’s not forget that there are many games pushing this same message exist, and those are the discussions we need to have.

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