American Indians Protest GUN
From LoveToKnow VideoGames
Activision and Neversoft's free-roaming wild-west video game GUN was released to a very warm reception by gamers. The Association for American Indian Development (AAID) have a slightly different opinion, however. The organization has called for a boycott of the game and is petitioning the makers to remove the offensive content toward American Indians. Activision has responded to the allegations and requests for a recall or release of edited versions of the video game.
About The Game
GUN is a wild-west themed video game developed by Neversoft, the studio famous for the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding games. The company spent years developing a game that would capture the open environments, the feeling of free-roaming exploration, and the danger of living on the frontier. Players mount horses, chase bandits, fire their six-shooters, and seek revenge for their father's death in true wild-west fashion.
Our review has more information for the game.
The Offensive Content
According to the statement on the petition's website, GUN not only allows the killing of American Indians, but encourages and even requires it in order to progress. Other acts of violence, racism and borderline genocidal elements are also found in the game, all aimed toward the same group of people.
The AAID says the slaughtering and near genocide of the American Indian people is an unfortunate chapter in our history, one that should never be portrayed in a video game, just as a Holocaust simulation or a slavery game would never be released.
The Petition
The AAID has created a petition that urges for the boycott of the offending video game and all products distributed by Activision. AAID calls for edited versions of the title to be released that remove the derogatory aspects aimed toward American Indians. If an edited version is not possible, the AAID wants a worldwide recall of the video game.
Activision Responds
Shortly after the petition and concerns of the American Indian organization were made public, Activision released a statement to the press. In it, the company formally apologized for the offensive content and said they do not condone any of the atrocities that occurred in the history of the American West. GUN was intended to reflect the harshness of frontier life. The killing featured in the game is not directed solely at the American Indian population, but against a variety of opponents -- pioneers in the west were forced to protect themselves at the time. Activision concluded the release with an apology to the American Indian people who may have been offended.
This page has been accessed 590 times. This page was last modified 20:44, 7 June 2006.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
