Does ‘Muslim Massacre’ game show a need for Internet regulation?
By Dave Parrack
Do you want a totally censorship-free Internet or one with guidelines and regulations in place? A new Web-only game called Muslim Massacre could help you make your mind up.
As a gamer, I defend the rights of adults to play what the hell they like. Even if it’s a video game that sees the player shooting people for no apparent reason or even hacking them to death, I will defend the fact that it’s merely a videogame and not real life. However, games released on consoles such as the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii are subject to regulations ensuring they aren’t offensive or harmful in any way.
Playable games on the Internet are another matter altogether, with absolutely no limits against what can be put on the Web for anyone and everyone to sample. This issue has been brought back in to the limelight by the release of a Web-only game called Muslim Massacre which, as the title suggests, sees the aim of the game being to wipe out the Muslim population.
The game, which has its own website, puts the player in control of an American soldier on a mission to kill every Muslim on earth. There is debate over whether the game is intended as a hate-filled anti-Islamic effort or merely a parody of American foreign policy, but either way, the game is out there, and available to play by absolutely anyone with an Internet connection.
According to The Guardian, Muslim Massacre sees you assume the role of an American soldier who uses machine guns and rocket launchers to kill Muslim people. These range from civilians to terrorists, and even includes Osama bin Laden, Muhammad, and Allah.
The game was created by a freelance programmer called Sigvatr, who posted a link to the game on the Something Awful forums. He also defended the nature and subject matter of the game:
Ultimately it’s just a game where you blow the gently caress out of Arabs…I don’t even know how to interpret it myself any more. The bottom line is that I enjoyed making it and it’s fun to play.
The Muslims represented in the game aren’t meant to be based on actual Muslims. If I was to try and come up with a meaning for the game at this moment, it would probably be something along the lines of metaphorically destroying the stereotypical depiction of a Muslim.
Which sounds like backtracking to stop the vitriol against the game to me.
This game is only the thin end of the wedge when it comes to the subject of Internet censorship. Laws still govern what can and cannot be put on to the Web, so child pornography is rightly illegal and the purveyors of it tracked and arrested, but there is a line where laws don’t intervene but something can still be very offensive to many people.
I am an advocate of Internet freedom, which means I have to accept that things such as Muslim Massacre are going to exist and will be lapped up by a certain section of society. It’s just a shame that there is always someone sick enough to produce this type of thing and make it available on the Internet in the first place.
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Stumble It!
September 12th, 2008
If we as gamers, fight to keep such things as Super Columbine Massacre RPG from being filtered, or that Torture 2 game, via a website. Then we also must do the same for this. If you don’t like the game, don’t play/buy it.
Morne
September 13th, 2008
This game goes over the line. It’s racial vilification.
>puts the player in control of an American soldier on a mission to kill every Muslim on earth.
It’s just dumb and sick and shouldn’t be allowed.
September 13th, 2008
I would highly suggest having a play of the game (if you can find it, the site’s been replaced). Within about 60 seconds you discover it’s as offensive as South Park and clearly a parody.
Also, I completely agree with your points on censorship and the freedom on the net.
I wont defend the game, but I will defend it’s right to exist. I will also point and laugh at people who don’t really understand as they condemn something they have clearly not touched.
September 14th, 2008
In reply to Fair Justice, I would like to point out that Muslims can be found in all races and all nations. Similarly, Christians can be found in all races and in all nations.
Therefore it is completely incorrect to regard anything anti-Islamic as racist, just as it is equally wrong to regard anything anti-Christian as racist.
For the record, the same logic applies to bigotry surrounding the Jewish faith. No matter how obscene anti-semitism is, is it simply wrong by definition to label it racist, because like Muslims and Christians, Jews can also be found in different races and nationalities.
Just to be sure that you get it, Islam is a RELIGION, and those who follow that faith are called Muslims.
There…do you get it now?
September 24th, 2008
Muslims are out raged over a computer game kill a muslim? Question where was the out rage with the musims when there was a computer game called kill an infidel, or how about muslims using a disney charater called mickey mouse to promote to their kids hatred and violence towards jews, christians and other non muslims. But I guess if the game is against us non muslims its perfectly ok, but when there is a game towards the muslims all of a sudden they are out raged and want it banned and in most cases as the world has seen they resort to violence like rioting. Which further proves our point about islam.