Violence debate continues
It seems that it’s not just controversial titles like GTA and Manhunt that are attracting the wrong sort of attention in today's paranoid world. Gun, the wild-west action shooter from Activision is now in the spotlight.
The Association for American Indian Development are boycotting the game in a protest against the stereotypical way in which American Indians are portrayed. They also want to see the violence in the game removed.
It seems that the historically accurate content of GUN has been overshadowed by the game’s overuse of violence by the American Indians.
Gamer God have ran an interesting article regarding the news and provided an interesting insight as to where the association may be coming from,
“GUN puts the player in a raw, violent Wild West setting. In the second opening scene labeled with the date “1542,” Indians, presumably from the Apache tribe, are portrayed with monstrous, animalistic expressions as they slaughter missionary travelers. A defenseless missionary with a large cross falls in submission, and the Indians ruthlessly murder him. The scene ends with blood splattering over the large cross.”
On a separate subject the article states, "Side quests involve killing sacred white animals for an Indian hunter for $5 to $20 each. Eventually, the content routes back to the second opening scene of the game. Part of the cross is found by killing the Reverend Reeds. The second half of the cross must be found through Many Wounds. Soapy, whom Colton earlier saved from hanging, helps Colton as well. “I've seen the other half of this cross. The Apache Chief has it. If I can put the pieces together, then I can beat Magruder at his own game.” Magruder has been searching for Quivira, a Lost City. During the process of getting the second part of the cross and finding Magruder, it turns out that Colton is also Indian, which supposedly makes his past acts of violence acceptable.”
Any game developed that depicts a section of society or race in bad light is bound to stir up trouble, but surely Activision couldn’t have expected this publicity.
Check out the full article here
