I wasn't really planning on writing more on this, but after some heated discussions, I felt like it was necessary. For those interested, I already talked about the Shadow Complex situation on the latest Drunkcast but I feel like there is more to say. For those of you new to the situation, Orson Scott Card is a board member for the
National Organization for Marriage, a group that fights against gay marriage equality. OSC has been cited on numerous occasions as being
homophobic and a bigot. He also happens to be involved in the making of Shadow Complex.
Like I said in the podcast, if he was just a homophobe and not involved in such an organization I would buy the game in a second. I have nothing against the game personally, it's just that OSC potentially could use profits from the game to fund anti-gay agendas.
What does need to be talked about is what we can do about this. From
heated discussions I've had over the last few days, it seems that some people feel like we should just accept the fact that he is homophobic and just buy the game because there isn't a damn thing we can do about it. This could not be further from the truth. There is plenty to be done.
Just take the word “homophobic” and replace it with “racist” and nobody would dare get away with such things. Look at Glenn Back from Fox News for example. More and more advertisers are pulling their support for his show because he basically called Obama a
racist on national television not to mention just a general nut job. If Microsoft simply pulled it's support for the game, wouldn't it yield the same result? I do not see how Glenn Beck's situation differs from this at all. Both are high profile individuals in the media spotlight and have a great influence on their target audiences. We need to get Microsoft in that spotlight and take the heat if they continue to support OSC and his intentions.
I don't blame people for buying the game, since it deserves rave reviews. Unfortunately I won't be buying the game because of OSC's connections with an anti-gay movement. The lines between racism and homophobia are intertwined and we need people to wake up and realize that. We cannot continue to have such double standards taint our society.
EDIT: Falinter brought up a good point: For those who have bought the game already, why not donate something to a LGBT organization to balance things out? Here are a few that I recommend:
PFLAG
GLAAD
Qmunity
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Good post. For me, the dichotomy that exists for gamers on this issue is the varying degrees of association. At which point is the project disassociated enough for a person's set of morality?
I purchased the game unaware of Orson Scott Card's involvement. Had I known beforehand, I likely wouldn't have. Now that I have... now what do I do?
I agree. In fact, I think anyone who doesn't agree with this simply doesn't understand the situation.
Him being involved wouldn't stop me from buying the game (if I had ever planned to in the first place), but I totally support people boycotting it for this reason.
Yeah, I'm not buying the game either for the same reasons. I'm not going to let any of my money help fund the idiotic asses in NOM.
Sometimes knowing so much about what goes on behind the scenes with games has a negative side.
I wasn't aware of this issue until after I bought the game but since have felt pretty bad about the potential money I gave him.
I suppose really if anyone really feels bad about it they can off set their potential donation to this man with a donation to a pro-gay marriage movement or something.
... actually thats not a bad idea!
Like most, I purchased the game unaware of Card's ridiculous stance on marriage. Had I known before...I don't know. When I first heard about the situation I immediately switched the subject to race and questioned how I would feel. If the stories are true and the level of his involvement are what is being reported, I think I would have still bought the game if he was a racist. The developers made a great game that would have been the same with or without this douchebag;s name involved in the title.
I understand your stance on the issue and you know I support you like crazy :). If I had a physical copy of the game, I would burn it for you :). I mean like torch, not burn a copy.
...I've said to much :).
good idea, Falinter! For those who've bought the game, donate an equal amount to a GLBT charity!
Arkhon: <3
hoygeit...since you have, try and enjoy it for it's gaming value i guess :P
Even though I bought the game (before I was aware of the whole sordid affair), I don't blame you at all for boycotting it. I know it's only like 50 cents that ends up in his pocket, but that still isn't cool.
What I think that no-one has touched upon yet is really that if we feel so strongly about these issues that we should write letters, organize fund-drives or donate time and money to local gay-rights groups, and also make sure that we speak with our votes when the opportunities arise. Game or no game. This controversy is actually a blessing in disguise in that it may force some gamers to really decide how they feel about the issue and take action.
Man, my face starts twitching just thinking about Glenn Beck. So I'll just change the subject and say nice post!
I agree 100%.
Fuck the bigots. I'm not letting a cunt like that earn one cent off me.
Just donated the games amount to glbt.
The game was worth twice its price anyway! I suggest everyone that bought it and feels strongly about it do the same.
National Organization of Marriage = NOM NOM NOM YOUR RIGHTS
This kind of reminds me of the whole Presidential Election.
The snaffu w/Acorn. (( Minus the Boycotting part. ))
/secret agendas
I don't see a giant problem. The idealogical values which you are using aren't wrong, but however if you never want any money to go to anyone who holds these or similar views, you are likely to never buy anything ever. In fact American tax payers are likely to already pay Card. With the game there are no homophobic references whatsoever.
With his views I can understand some of his beliefs that same sex marriages are wrong, this being that a marriage was originally a religious partnership, where most religions themselves are anti homosexuality.
DISCLAIMER: I share none of Card's or any other Homophobes views on this matter.
I'm just a guy who likes to play good videogames. I don't agree with Orson Scott Card's whole mindset, but I'm not letting that stop me from playing a game that so many other passionate people in the gaming industry worked hard on.
My cash is going to the guy who grew up wanting to make a new Metroid style game many people could play, thats for sure.
I think gay people should be able to do whatever the hell they want to. This guy is an asshat for going out of his way to impose on gay rights.
That said I could care less about this controversy. I'm sure someone at the Pepsi Company beats their wife, neglects their children, or does some other heinous act. I don't condone any of that kind of behavior but that won't stop me from buying delicious Mtn Dew.
@Phantomile
You said: "I agree. In fact, I think anyone who doesn't agree with this simply doesn't understand the situation."
Or perhaps "anyone who doesn't agree with this" just doesn't happen to share your beliefs and opinions? Political debate entails that there are at least two sides. Disagreeing with an opinion is not the same as not understanding it. You're implying that people who disagree with you are simply less intelligent and too backwards to understand why boycotting this game is such a great idea. Get off your high horse.
What? The author of Ender's Game is a huge homophobe? I had no idea.
@ Patters
I didn't say that I am against buying the game based on OSC's views. I'm not buying it because he is a board member for an anti-gay marriage organization. There are tons of bigots out there making quality games and I'm sure I will end up buying them anyway, that isn't what this is about, you've missed the point.
Buying a game that was involved with OSC =/= supporting an anti-gay movement.
Hell, it doesn't even count as funding an anti-gay agenda. He's still making money off of the Ender's Game series.
@Cataract
"He's still making money off of the Ender's Game series."
Not to mention Ultimate Iron Man.
In reply to DJDUFFY
More of What I am saying is that there is bound to be books, music, films and so forth which have had writers that not only support these movements, but also donate large amounts to this or similar organisations. Where Card is a prominent figure in said organisation, doesn't mean that he is the worst in any industry.
The amount of boycotts started in this day and age are ridiculous, boycotting something because of one person. I would like to direct you to a famous boycott of nestlé where there is a clear reasoning for boycotting their business, improper and frankly disgusting practices. Whereby all of the companies products were not bought by those participating. If one were serious about a boycott of those involved in the organisation Card is a member of not only does a boycott of media related to Card need to be implemented, but a boycott of all products made by or funded by board members and contributors.
Sorry I kind of went off on a tangent there.
I agree with you, mostly. But the Glenn Beck comparison only goes so far. When you talk about getting Microsoft to pull support for SC, who does that hurt more? Chair or OSC? The answer's pretty obvious, isn't it? And the fact is that Chair did put out a quality product, one that I enjoyed immensely. In the comparison to Beck, I think Chair is much more like the advertiser than the personality.
I think a more productive solution would be to buy the game (if you like Metroidvania games, that is) and write to Chair telling them that you bought and loved their game, but you're very troubled over the connection to OSC, and by extension, his views on homosexuality. And that you would love to purchase future games of this quality from them, but that you hope that they'd refrain from hitching their wagon to this particular author. It sends a more positive and constructive message than making one of their best games in a while a financial disaster.
I'm not sure I agree with the Glen Beck comparison as for it to be comparable, OSC's views would have to be visible in the games (just like Beck's were on TV) but I still support your general view, as I showed in my recent blog that got promoted.
Also, it certainly IS a good question whether companies should support people like Card, although I suppose that's really up to them, as much as I would like society to become as critical of anti-gay sentiment as it is of racism. If I was in a position to decide who was going to be creatively involved in one of my projects, I wouldn't go anywhere NEAR Card - no matter how cool an Ender's Game... uh... game could be.
Reading the comments, I am glad that there are a lot of people out there who do appreciate that this issue is, ahem, complex.
i dont get this. why do homos want to get married. Its a religious act, for religions that do not condone homosexuality.
I'm all for gays having equal rights but get off this married shit it doesnt make sense.
Also not buying this game, that is not anti-gay whatsoever, because of someone who participates in his own views on his own time is retaaarded.
And dont compare fagots to a race. you dont choose your race, its different. If this guy was in the KKK on his spare time i would also buy this game, because the game is good.