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Columbine Game Kicked From Slamdance Festival
Imaria writes "A Kotaku post has the news that Super Columbine Massacre RPG! has been kicked out of the Slamdance Gamemaker Festival. After reaching the finals, the organizers were forced to remove the game from the running to appease mounting external pressure. According to the post, this is the first time in the Slamdance Festival's 13 year history that they have removed either a game or film due to criticism. From the article: '[Game creator] Ledonne said that he bears no ill will toward the festival, but that the decision to pull the game does raise concerns about freedom of speech and video game development. "I don't want to paint them as the villain in this," he said. "I don't think the real issue is a couple of guys at Slamdance who decided to reject my game, it's the larger pressures placed on them."'"
artists statement
http://www.columbinegame.com/statement.htm
excert
Somewhere between April 20th, 1999 and September 11th, 2001, America entered into a new, terrifying, and desperate era. Citizens can no longer afford to believe the necessary illusions of modern society. In an age when hastily-formed scapegoats and false dichotomies of "good" and "evil" run rampant, SCMRPG dares us into a realm of grey morality with nuanced perspectives of suffering, vengeance, horror, and reflection. In the words of Harris' friend Brooks Brown, there are "no easy answers" to such a socially indicting tragedy. As humanity teeters precariously on the threshold of collapse--politically, ideologically, and environmentally, the days of comatose media coverage and a subservient populace cannot remain. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, through their furious words and malevolent actions, can be understood as the canaries in the mine--foretelling of an "apocalypse soon" for those remaining to ponder their deeds. With 'Super Columbine Massacre RPG!,' I present to you one of the darkest days in modern history and ask, "Are we willing to look in the mirror?"
ERR 411[Max number of witty sigs reached]
Except you're dead wrong.
The title of the game is somewhat tongue in cheek. Google it, you'll find it actually has somewhat significant literary/artistic merit...
I'm confused. How is the decision by non-governmental entities that something is undeserving of their support or attention a threat to freedom speech?
Because the festival, where strange / challenging / non-mainstream titles are supposed to find voice, had to cut the title due to financial pressures from sponsors. Essentially, they were forced to either cancel the game's entry, or cancel the festival due to sponsorship withdrawl. That means that corporate interests get to decide what is shown to the public. Frequently this is the case anyway, but this is exactly the sort of situation an independent festival is supposed to prevent.
Threats to free speech don't just come from governmental organizations.