December 14, 2007 -
Last week, GamePolitics reported on D.C. Smackdown, an online game which parodies celebrities, pundits and presidential candidates in a Street Fighter-like interface.In recent days the game has gotten a fair amount of mainstream media attention, including a piece from the Associated Press.
But Avi Green, an American-born gamer who now lives in Israel, finds D.C. Smackdown in poor taste. On his blog, Green writes:
Let's see what we have here:
A pantsless Bill Clinton chases a herd of Monica Lewinskys, Jesse Jackson hurls Hasidic Jews and Anne Coulter has a special "verbal diarrhea" attack.
What makes [the game developer] think that I find the idea of Jackson attacking Hasidic Jews impressive or even appropriate? It's not... And I don't like how they depict Coulter either...
Ugh, I hate to think of that this'll end up on all the major consoles... This is a truly tasteless game, and I'm not sold upon it at all. Poor taste like this isn't new to games, but it most certainly is getting worse and worse.
Comments
But that said, I haven't tried the game, so I don't know for sure.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
see this is where he went wrong. he assumes the game is made for him.
Why is it that whenever people disagree with something it's suddenly a sign of the cultural End Times?
I agree with EZK - it's parody, it's meant to be funny, it's meant to offend and if you can't consider what they're trying to do with at least some perspective then you don't have a sense of humor. Poor guy has a broken funny bone.
anybody able to explain it to me? Not that i'm offended I just don't get the joke--
I have a pretty good sense of humor myself, the Marx brothers and Monty Python being among my favorites, but this just isn't even remotely funny.
It is ill informed to think that it would end up on a console, but he does have a point about the abrasiveness of it.
It sounded vaguely like a joke going over someones head at about mach 3.
Anne needed a different attack, something that involves spewing acid, or maybe a hell bitch attack?
And you are... who?
What makes YOU think that -I- should find the idea of what YOU like should be what -I- like and vice versa?
So there! :P
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
My guess is that he is a fan of Coulter (one of the most racist people I have ever heard, but she loves Jews, he lives in Isreal.....take it from there). He must also be a fan of Jackson. You don't see him complaining about how they display Bill Clinton or any of the other people, just the few he likes.
This game is an equal opportunity offender. Of course you are going to have people who hate it and think its trash just because somebody they like is made fun of.
It is parody people, lighten up.
Today on the internet a lonely, conservative crackpot who no one had ever paid attention to made a blog post about the independently distributed fighting game, DC Conspiracy. The President and Vice President were immediately rushed to a secure facility and the National Guard was called into action. Within hours up to 9 people had read the article and within a day, that number doubled.
"The posts popularity is growing at a threatening rate," said Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who herself was parodied in the game, "and we are doing everything in our power to make sure this situation doesn't get out of hand."
Video to come.
I still agree there's no way that could happen, but it did come up in the context of the piece. Has anyone actually played this game yet? It seems like all the opinions I've heard have been based off other interviews, but nobody's done a proper review. Sort of like 95% of the Manhunt 2 news in October.
Fangamer
Which is really stupid since everyone knew he was a dick before. It'd be like people getting outraged that Howard Stern made a fart joke.
Ugh, I hate to think of that this’ll end up on all the major consoles… This is a truly tasteless game, and I’m not sold upon it at all. Poor taste like this isn’t new to games, but it most certainly is getting worse and worse."
ummm.....sometimes nothing extra needs to be said....(it went over their head in another world)
Sounds pretty realistic to me, actually.
Secondly, he's allowed to say anything he wants about the game. Just like the game is completely allowed to be made. "I may not agree with what you say..." and all that.
Thirdly, OH NO! IT'S A VIDJA GAME! OUR CHILDREN! OUR CHILDREN!
this could easily be put onto a console, just don't expect it to go anywhere.
LOL! Sounds like a brand of diaper! :D
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
He was perfectly fine with the show when they made fun of Jews, Christians, Blacks (even when he is black), Muslims, every other race/religion/difference. But then when they made ONE episode making fun of Scientology (his religion), he decides that's too offensive, and quits.
Like what William said, this game is an equal opprotunity offender, but some hypocrites and idiots (like the guy that played Chef) take some parts offensively, while not caring that other people are being made fun of.
lol hymie..
didn't he come out against micheal richards?
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hyppocrites in politics?
If you don't like it, don't play it. The end. If this had been a political cartoon in the New Yorker, no one would have batted an eye.
Actually in the Isiac case, it is a little difficult to figure out exactly what happened there. They story has been pretty muttled, but from what I gathered around that time he had a stroke and then someone described as 'not having the authority to speak for him' announced he was leaving. He still speaks well of the show in interviews so I'm not sure how real the link is.
...but, yeah, I disagree with the depiction of Coulter. The developers failed to accurately portray her vindictive, hateful, corporate-sucking, bible-thumping, racist, imperalistic, superstitious, freedom-hating, pathocentic, and insane personality.
No-one held a gun to his head and forced him to play it, BUT no-one held a gun to his head and forced him not to either.
He has every right not to like the game, but big deal. I'm not even certain this is news, 'Breaking: Some people take offence at satire' is hardly 'News', to quote Terry Pratchett, it's one of the ultimate 'Olds'.
Freedom is having the right to do a thing. Being responsible as an adult is knowing when not to do a thing.
In my opinion this game is wholly immature and doesn't bring a thing to the table except poop jokes and tired gags about Slick Willie's womanizing. All it is, from my perspective, is an excersize in immaturity.
The creator had every right to make it and put it online. Should he have? Well that's another debate.
No-one cares about yours either. He has the right to freedom of speech, just as you do. Why can't he exercise it?
I don't think it's sold, I think it's free.
No. It is a $4.99 download.
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
The sign of the end times is upon us... I just found myself nodding in agreement with one of your posts. I never thought this day would come! :)
Slow news day.
Doing that would take to much time.
Oh. well. It's one I couldn't pay for. I don't play fighting games on my PC with the exception of bible fight.
No really this is like the whole resident evil 5 racist ordeal except this person is NOT trying to get the game banned nor is he urging a boycott. All he is doing is expressing his distate in the game albeit for unjust reasons. He also moved to israel when he's 9 which means there's a good chance he doesn't understand what politics is like over here (i.e. extremists, attack ads, a general mistrust of the government etc.).
And of course this is ONE person's opinion and to pretend it represents the general consensus amongst even a miniscule faction of people is dumb.
I honestly see no point of posting this story. One man didn't see the satire and thought it was in poor taste. Big Whoop. This is nothing new (looks at A Modest Proposal).
That's because she IS an insane hateful individual. No really some kids were reading her book in class and they honestly thought it was satire.
True, but wouldn't MS/Nintendo have to greenlight the game before it could be posted/featured? Much like nintendo's 'Check Mii Out' channel, IIRC nintendo reserves the right to reject any 'offensive' Miis from being featured, right?