200°

Hatred Removed From Steam Greenlight; So What’s The Point Of Community Votes?

One Angry Gamer "Now here’s my question: if the opening dialogue from Mr. Killer was about how people had become infected with some zombie-mutating disease and he had to wipe it out of everyone, and the game was called The Diseased, would it still have been pulled?"

animegamingnerd3441d ago

Greenlight has been a god damn mess since it started so i aint surprised this happen.

poppinslops3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

Steam is for games...
But 'Hatred' isn't a game.
Games have meaning and purpose.
Even violent games like GTA provide context to 'justify' the bloodshed, whereas 'Hatred' is at best a Massacre-Sim...

Actually, I suppose you could classify it as pornography... at least until 'Intersnuff' becomes a word, but either way, it isn't welcome on Steam...

Qrphe3440d ago

If walking simulators like Gone Home can be considered games then Hatred can definitely be called one.

poppinslops3440d ago

But 'Gone Home' had a story and an objective to which you strove... It won Game of the Year because of it's innovation and artistry.

Even vague 'games' like 'Dear Esther' or 'The Vanishing of Ethan Carter' have artistic merit beyond the pretty pictures... Hell, even Minecraft is a 'game'.

'Hatred' is merely violent... There is no objective, no artistic merit or 'message'.

'Pornography' literally means 'bad art', but this project appears to be using shock-value as a means to cover the devs incompetence.
They probably wanted to make a 'game', but found themselves incapable and instead went for the 'easy' money, ala 'Goat-Simulator' (who's 'game' status is also debatable)...

It's not a game, it's not art, it's not even bad art... It's just bad.

creatchee3440d ago

Hatred is being made by people who support real-life hate groups:

http://fucknovideogames.tum...

Valve is right to distance themselves from it.

Shinuz3440d ago Show
Kurylo3d3440d ago

I agree with everything u say, but still though.. remember postal? That game got 3 or more sequels and still considered a game where if i remember correctly the entire purpose of the originals was just to kill everyone in the level..

Sadly, tons of games do this murder simulation a lot better then this stupid game lol... GTA comes to my mind. When u get bored u just start shooting people on the street.

So i guess my question is is it better to censor things? or better to have absolute freedom? I kinda prefer freedom. I'm sure no one would really buy a murder simulator anyway.. theres no actual fun in random killing after the first 30 seconds.. espeacially if they make it horrible and hateful. Might make u feel sick and turn it off. Censoring things is a slipper slope... look at austrailia.. they cant even play left 4dead.

Pintheshadows3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

Creatchee, just so you know, that was debunked. One of the developers gave an obscure Polish right wing FB page a like (equivalent of an English person accidentally giving Britain First a like), and someone misinterpreted a metal bands t-shirt as 'neo-nazi'. Tenuous would be an understatement. If anything the developers have grounds for a defamation lawsuit after some of the stories were run.

And poppinslops, just because you don't see the worth in something, it doesn't make you right. You don't have to buy it, and saying it has no place on Steam is ridiculous. I am guessing from your comments you have never played Postal. Or even the original GTA.

Same goes for you cgoodno.

I am not even saying that I am particularly keen on playing Hatred (although I will as it is certainly a curiosity) but saying it shouldn't be allowed on Steam is very narrow minded and whilst you may not see it, sets a very dangerous precedent. Especially when, inexplicably due to the law, Valve has a monopoly on the market.

creatchee3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

@Pintheshadows

If all of the references in the article were debunked, then I stand corrected.

In my personal opinion, people are letting their "I don't want to play/support this game because it offends me" and their "this game contains illegal content" streams crossed. Here's a simple list for people concerned about Hatred:

1. If you don't like it, don't buy it.
2. If you are a store or online distributor and you do not condone its content, don't make it available through your marketplace.
3. If you want it to go away or at least get less attention, stop talking about it.
4. Things we disagree with are not automatically illegal.

All that said, the game is reprehensible. But I support the developers freedoms to make and distribute it.

Brucis3440d ago

"Games have meaning and purpose"
The only thing required of a game is gameplay. 'Meaning and purpose' isn't required, much less one you seem to think you're in charge of deciding.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3439d ago
Christopher3440d ago

Based on this logic (the title, not animegamingnerd), N4G should not moderate and let users control everything.

Oh, wait, right. Valve has the right to not allow content on their site regardless of what users say. If there's a porn game put up and tons of users want it, they are full within their right to pull it.

WilliamUsher3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

So then why allow Postal up there? Both games are identical, literally. The whole goal in the first Postal was to kill civilians, police, etc., until you cleared the level.

Valve has a right to pull any game they want, but why the inconsistency?

If the game breaks the ToS, they owe it to the community to explain why given that the whole point of Greenlight was so the community could "green light" games.

Not only did they take away a freedom they expressly gave to the community, they did so inconsistently based on previous games made available on the exact same service.

More than anything, this fits into the slippery slope gamers have been fearing all along. Unfortunately if this keeps up the moral police will continue to use moral outrage to dictate how distributors should respond to games they don't like.

EDIT: I also like to add, anyone who believes Valve can make these kind of decisions and bypass consumer transparency because "Steam is their business and they can do whatever they want", that's a fine stance to take but then you are enabling anti-consumerism. There's nothing pro-consumer about taking away choice.

Christopher3440d ago

***So then why allow Postal up there?***

I don't know and it really doesn't matter. It's Valve's store. They do what they want.

***Both games are identical, literally.***

I disagree. But, that's just my opinion.

***but why the inconsistency? ***

Possibly a policy on using the site to help fund the development and not wanting to be associated in that way? Something that didn't happen with Postal or Postal 2.

***that's a fine stance to take but then you are enabling anti-consumerism.***

It's not anti-consumer. There are other services out there that can provide you the same games and services that you need/want.

mhunterjr3441d ago (Edited 3441d ago )

There's really no need to have this discussion, Valve is a private entity and can take any action they see fit in the name of the continued success of their business...

We can assume they chose to delist Hatred because of its objectionable content... But they could have done it because of something as trivial as the anti-hero's accent or the color palette, and the fact would remain: Steam is their service, and they can sell or not sell whatever they want for whatever reasons they want.

animegamingnerd3441d ago ShowReplies(8)
Pintheshadows3440d ago

I think a huge thing that many are missing here is the amount of crap that Valve happily allows to remain on Steam that has crept through via Greenlight.

Broken games, proven scams etc. But apparently Hatred is the thing that made them suddenly sit up, take notice, and slam their fist down. Despite the fact that all we know about the game is a trailer.

I mean for crying out loud people, Valve didn't seem to care about how much of a massive scam The War Z was when it was directly affecting their customers, but this is apparently too much for them.

Just because they run the service doesn't mean people who use it can't hold them to account over their poor decisions. And they are beginning to stack up. And it is even MORE important when they have a complete monopoly on the PC gaming market. Which in itself is suspicious considering the laws surrounding monopolies.

The 'it's their choice because it's theirs' is one of the most enabling statements of all. It is how companies like EA get to their sterling reputations.

mhunterjr3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

Whether or not this decision is 'poor' is purely opinion. Valve likely calculated that the negativity that would accompany the publishing of this objectionable title would outweigh any positive outcomes. And chances are those calculations are 100% accurate. In that sense, their decision isn't poor at all, and was the right decision for their business.

I'm also sure that not publishing this game will have a negligible effect on Valve's bottom line and overall customer satisfaction . Again from that perspective, it isn't a poor decision.

In fact, the only people who view this news as 'poor' are those who erroneously think Valve has threatened this games right to exist. Valve doesn't have a monopoly in any sense of the word, and this game an be distributed in any number of ways. It's funny, you bring up mention of Steam's 'Monopoly', when denying this game gives other distribution services an opportunity to exclusively carry a title that is becoming high profile. The decision is actually GOOD for competition.

Those other issues that you bring up, are ... other issues. Sure, they have room for improvement in terms of quality control. But just because they historically lack in that area doesn't mean they should publish a game that they think will harm their business.

Pintheshadows3440d ago

Sure, it is purely opinion. Everything is purely opinion, but it doesn't change the worrying precedent this sets. Let us not forget that Valve has hardly had the best track record when it comes to decisions they have made around Steam. Just because they are Valve doesn't make them infallible. They have to be accountable in some semblance of the term and currently they just aren't.

They don't need to be as they currently have an ever tightening strangle hold on the PC gaming market. If you can't see that then you are blinded. I am not sure why you want to be. They have a monopoly in every sense of the term. That isn't a debatable point. That isn't an opinion. Their biggest rival is piracy.

And that is the point. Nothing will harm Steams business as there aren't any other places to go. Unless you consider Origin and GOG genuine competition. And if you do, I will laugh at you heartily, because neither of them are even close.

NuggetsOfGod3441d ago (Edited 3441d ago )

Valve is awsome!!

Its valves store they can sell what they want get over it...
Don't like it? Go to another store.

Qrphe3440d ago

I have been, it's called GoG and doesn't have DRM .

DaleCooper3440d ago

Love GoG. I wonder if they'll sell this game?

Also the description to this game says you play as the "antagonist", yep, you play as the bad guy. While playing as the bad guy, I'd expect you do some bad things in this game. Like murder innocent people, something bad guys in games have been doing for ages.

Klonoa-dreamtraveler3441d ago (Edited 3441d ago )

animegamingnerd@ iv played gta since the first game and got uninterested in it after gta3 though iv tried san andreas they usually have a story about a gangster or someone in the mafia usually its about them trying to make it on top shooting other gangs or mafias take down boses blah blah blah whatever probably just explained every gta ever which is probably why i got uninterested with it being that same story either way not based souly on killing innocent people just being a simulation of that yea you could kill random people in gta based on if the player chooses to but the game is not based only on that gta has a plot and story hatred does not you get a gun and just go on a hell spree killing (innocent people) not any form of enemies just people begging for there lives its f**king sick and disgusting. also i cant make any more posts after this so i cant really debate on it being the limited posts.

JohnathanACE3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

@Klonoa-dreamtraveler

Do we know if Hatred follows any sort of story or narrative? No we barely know anything about the game. There could be some twist at the end that gives a reason why the characters doing this, it could have some sort of message against violence or heck the whole game could just be in the characters head and he was just a mental patient all along. The point is we don't know.

JohnathanACE3441d ago (Edited 3441d ago )

I must admit after reading what the devs had to say about this ordeal I can see they're taking it quiet well. I see a lot of people accusing this dev for being "neo-nazisn when the only reason they're making these accusasions is because one of the devs liked the Polish Defence League’s Facebook page which is a group trying to stop the Islamification of Europe which they have a huge problem with Islamic immigrants committing crimes. They are not a Nazi or white supremacist group and the political views of the devs should play no part here.

Activemessiah3440d ago

Poland is like 98% White poles... who are they defending against exactly.. talk about paranoia

JohnathanACE3440d ago (Edited 3440d ago )

They are? I'm not really familiar with the situation in Poland but other European countries have been overrun by immigrants. I mean just look at Sweden. Maybe they're just scared of that happening.

Activemessiah3440d ago

The ironic part is, i'm from the UK and over the years there has been an influx of polish people coming over and they are to England what Mexicans are to the U.S

Spinal3440d ago

Loool very true, I'm from London, UK and the Polish definitely do the jobs english people won't do.

Show all comments (61)
520°

Controversial "Adults Only" Murder Simulator Hatred Is Coming To Nintendo Switch

A game about killing people.

Read Full Story >>
nintendolife.com
NecrumOddBoy1495d ago (Edited 1495d ago )

This game was just gratuitous violence. I don't know why it was rated AO. It's no worse than a GTA killing spree, Hotline Miami, or even the 'No Russian' COD mission. Reminded my of a weaker Dead Nation except no zombies.

FlyingFoxy1494d ago

And we have highly sexualised Japanese games like Senran Kagura which are often either borderline, or practically straight up soft core.. and not even rated AO, some even rated lower age than GTA!

Makes you wonder what's wrong with the ratings systems overall tbh, potentially exposing kids to all kinds of nasty stuff.. but then that's more the parents fault anyways, and the upper age ratings are definitely nowhere near kid friendly, yet you still get little kids playing certain things they shouldn't be.

StormSnooper1494d ago (Edited 1494d ago )

Sex should not even be an issue. Violence, on the other hand, should have restricted access. I don’t know anything about this particular game, but sounds like the difference between this and GTA is that GTA is a game about mafia, so violence itself isn’t the lure of the game. It’s telling a story. But a game about murder, is a game centered on murder as the selling point. I Don’t know, I see a difference here.

1494d ago
StormSnooper1493d ago (Edited 1493d ago )

@genericgamer01
We are confusing a number of issues here:

1) I think we all agree that any outright censorship is bad.
2) violence does in fact have negative impact on young kids.
3) as a matter of public welfare, some things are not better left to the unchecked discretion of people, in this case parents. This is why we all obey traffic laws.
4) while the right to raise your children how you see fit is a fundamental right, not all parents know how/are able to raise their children in a proper way, and the rights of the child and society should also be considered. Unfortunately, while we get a manual with everything, and attend classes for things like driving, a child does not come with a manual and no classes are offered to parents about how to raise a child.
5) there is a strong interest in protecting those in our society who do not have a means of protecting themselves. This includes children who cannot protect themselves from bad parenting.
6) we do in fact have experts in every field, both inside and outside government, who have dedicated their lives to specific fields, and DO know more in that subject than the general public. (To argue otherwise is called anti-intellectualism, which is a major problem in our society today, i.e. flat earthers)

Therefore, we should have regulations that guide parents, and also prohibit them from allowing their young to engage in activities that are either damaging, or have the propensity to derail their development into functioning positive members of society.

Lastly, the issue of politicians using video games as a means to seem tough, is an altogether separate problem as these individuals should not be allowed to take the reigns from experts on matters of public policy without scientific support.

PurpHerbison1494d ago

I guess the biggest difference here is the goal of Hatred is to murder where as GTA isn't all about killing sprees, Hotline Miami is too cute to be taken seriously, and COD isn't all about wiping out Russians. Best comparison is probably Dead by Daylight where 50% of the game is being a serial killer trying to kill survivors in gruesome ways and it is only rated M.

Kostche1493d ago

shooting and killing people is shooting and killing... dont matter what form it is

1494d ago
CptDville1493d ago

Have you ever tried Manhunt? It was quite disturbing when launched.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1493d ago
Tetsujin1495d ago

I'm surprised Switch is getting this and PlayStation/Xbox isn't. The game was basically Postal with better graphics and more realism.

LOGICWINS1494d ago

I'm not. Sonys the one that's been caught censoring anime bikini girls. Nintendo has been vocal about being against censorship.

https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.exclusivelygame...

REALAS1494d ago

Haha. Only with the switch, because money. Nintendo has censored more games than anyone.

Segata1493d ago

Nintendo will censor their games but not 3rd parties. That's what tey said since few will click any links.

MadLad1493d ago

@reals

So only with either company's most recent consoles? The ones most relevant here in 2020?

REALAS1493d ago

@ Ted
I just find it funny that people make it seem like Nintendo has always championed non censorship. They have only relaxed their stance to deliver to their shareholders. Good for them, I guess.

MadLad1492d ago

@reals

What I think you're noticing is people going at Sony, because they have been the censorship kings of this generation.

I've never seen people voicing Nintendo's anti-censorship stance, because they've obviously been bad with that in the past. But we're talking about now, and Sony is the one always seen censoring content nowadays.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1492d ago
Activemessiah1495d ago

Brace yourselves for the incoming bitching about this by journalists.

NecrumOddBoy1494d ago (Edited 1494d ago )

Or more likely: "Best on Switch - 10/10"

QuePasa871494d ago

Hmm I wonder if some retail outlets will refuse to sell it

Kabaneri1494d ago

Every open world sandbox game is Hatred for me.

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290°

5 Titles That Critics Hated but Gamers Loved

A look at five games that gamers loved but most critics hated.

Read Full Story >>
8bitdigi.com
iofhua2341d ago

Advent Rising is another good example. It got panned by critics but it has a good story and I enjoyed playing it. The graphics are dated, the enemies all look the same, but it was made in 2005 so what do you expect? I wish they made the sequel so I could finish the story but I think the critics killed it off.

2341d ago Replies(1)
Aaroncls72340d ago

I don't trust critics.
I'd value more the feedback from a random user.

nommers2340d ago

I seldom trust gamers or critics anymore. A lot of times high scores just mean how likely you are to enjoy something from the game, but rarely anything about how much you would enjoy said things, or whether the highly preferred type of qualities in a game you’re looking for are even in it. My initial gut feeling of the premise of a game is usually all I need.

quent2340d ago

Silent Hill: downpour another example

Show all comments (20)
130°

Shock Value Alone Won't Sell Sh*tty Games

Joanna Mueller writes: "Since the 1980's, video game advocates have been arguing for the protection of games as a medium of free speech. Frankly, I consider myself in that camp, but just because a game can push against the boundaries of common decency doesn't mean it should. Especially if the developer is just hoping to ride the wave of pearl clutching controversy to the bank."

Read Full Story >>
newnormative.com
garyanderson2809d ago

Nothing wrong with pushing for controversy, but the game still has to be worthwhile. Lots of games in the 90s showed that.

ShaunCameron2809d ago

Because the novelty will eventually wear off and the audience will eventually wise up.

2809d ago
Cy2809d ago

So what? If there's a market for something then why should anyone care if it gets filled, as long as it's not something illegal? You can dislike so-called "edge lord" games all you want (in fact, you can like or dislike whatever you want, full stop) but even if games like Hatred are just trying to take advantage of anti-SJW backlash to make a quick buck, the fact that they exist at all is important in a culture that's becoming increasingly puritan and censorship orientated. Art is supposed to push the envelope. It's supposed to make you think. And even if all a game makes you do is think about why certain people are so desperate to ban it.

Enigma_20992809d ago

Yeah, it makes me think WTF is this s***?

Skankinruby2809d ago

Sure seems to be working for gta

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