ModDB Shuts Down School Shooter Mod

[Stammer]

That may be so, but I doubt that even those other media that you've listed that cover school shootings show the shooter as the protagonist. A protagonist who only does it because he thinks it's fun and wants to see how far he can go before he's killed, no doubt.

That's where the line is drawn. If you're watching a documentary on television that's portraying a school shooting, that's not at all what I'm talking about. Unless that other medium is actively stating "Hey, check out how cool and fun this is", then I rest my case because that's EXACTLY what's going on with this mod.

As I stated before: This isn't censoring the premise because of the medium (because yeah, I would stand up for it then), this is censoring the premise because the premise is absolutely horrifying.

 

[Nouw]

I don't think it'd be fair to compare Rapelay, after all it is more culturally influenced.

Oh and fleeing at first sight of controversy makes me sad >.>

 

[RMcD94]

So here we have a game that basically acts as a release mechanism for people who want to go shoot up a school, but are trying to restrain themselves due to their morals or whatever. Let's take that away from them. Leave it pent up inside till they have to kill real children.

 

[gyroscopeboy]

"Anyone who wants to be a school shooter, but is too big of a pussy to actually do anything."


thats the deciding factor, right there.

Im pretty sure if Al Quieda had training programs on the site, they would take those down as well. Free speech or not....

I'm pretty sure people confuse "free speech" with "being a fucking dick" these days.

 

[constantcompile]

The spectrum of free speech versus security ticks towards the latter.

I respect and agree with this decision; that said, no one should be surprised that there are proponents of both sides stating their opinions.

Personally, I think it's realistic to think of some material as objectionable while accepting that such material will always find its way into the hands of those who seek it; so long as no harm is done to any living things, that's fine.

There's a difference between removing a book from the library and banning its production. Given the circumstances I think this is a reasonable compromise.

 

[moppop]

First and foremost, I want to say this is nothing but a troll mod from a known troll. If this was actually to show that games can tackle taboo issues, I'd be all for it. This isn't designed for that. It's designed for lulz by people who enjoy watching the world burn over something they orchestrated. That's all there is to it.

Can school shooters be the subject or an important plot point in a game that tackles serious issues and moves the medium forward? Yes. Is this it? Hell no. It's, simply put, a large troll that is meant to purposefully stir up as much controversy as possible and dump it on someone else's doorstep (like crapping in a paper bag, setting it on fire, ringing the door bell and running) while the creators laugh at them and everyone else.

ModDB just became roped into this controversy not out of the desire to defend freedom, but because they merely hosted it and forced into the position by a troll and his merry band of minions. I don't understand how any of you are pissed at ModDB for "crumbling" when it wasn't suppose to or had any obligation to stand up for this mod in the first place. Responding to fucking morons about this mod isn't ModDB's cross to bear. If they wanted to launch an offensive against the ignorant media, they will do it on THEIR terms, and not on the terms of some shithead trolls that WANT to see ModDB go down in flames.

To all of you idiots chest thumpin the Fist Ammendment and Freedom of Expression, here's a little clue. I can support your right to say whatever the hell you want, but that doesn't mean I have to give you my property to do so. That Voltaire quote people trumpet has nothing to do with the location.

 

[Bwown]

If the film industry can turn out stuff like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_films and this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampage_%282009_film%29, than the video game industry can as well, and if you don't like that, don't play the game.

 

[moppop]

If the film industry can turn out stuff like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_films and this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampage_%282009_film%29, than the video game industry can as well, and if you don't like that, don't play the game.

But does that mean I have to host it? No, it doesn't.

 

[DeadAccountMoveAlong]

I'm looking at this from a different angle:

It's easy to have a go at the person who made the mod for being a prick who did this for nothing more than a reaction.

It's also easy to have a go at the website and say that somehow them removing something from their website which they've been getting shit for is apparently caving in

To be honest I think we all should be questioning the gaming news sites that gave this thing the pointless publicity it doesn't even deserve

Why do I think this?

Well very simply, mods like this are a dime a dozen. Hell games like this are a dime a dozen (there's tonnes of them on the internet for fuck sake), what exactly is one more on the fire going to do?

Nothing should be the answer to that question but that's the joys of publicity for you, without the publicity it would have existed, a couple of people would have played it and that would be that, just like almost every other game of its kind that exist on the internet that are there for one thing and one thing only - to get a knee jerk reaction from people.

And anyone who's been paying attention knows now that its not just the gaming press who are now circling this corpse.

Oh joy. I guess I should have learned this by now but I cant get away from sensationalist bullshit.

I spent awhile trying to find the right words to say about the subject, but I should have just browsed a little while. This says everything I could, and I don't know why more people aren't seeing this.

 

[moppop]

I'm looking at this from a different angle:

It's easy to have a go at the person who made the mod for being a prick who did this for nothing more than a reaction.

It's also easy to have a go at the website and say that somehow them removing something from their website which they've been getting shit for is apparently caving in

To be honest I think we all should be questioning the gaming news sites that gave this thing the pointless publicity it doesn't even deserve

Why do I think this?

Well very simply, mods like this are a dime a dozen. Hell games like this are a dime a dozen (there's tonnes of them on the internet for fuck sake), what exactly is one more on the fire going to do?

Nothing should be the answer to that question but that's the joys of publicity for you, without the publicity it would have existed, a couple of people would have played it and that would be that, just like almost every other game of its kind that exist on the internet that are there for one thing and one thing only - to get a knee jerk reaction from people.

And anyone who's been paying attention knows now that its not just the gaming press who are now circling this corpse.

Oh joy. I guess I should have learned this by now but I cant get away from sensationalist bullshit.

I spent awhile trying to find the right words to say about the subject, but I should have just browsed a little while. This says everything I could, and I don't know why more people aren't seeing this.

It's the simple reason the controversy = clicks = comments = money gained on ads. People want to bicker or defend an opinionated author. That isn't to say a troll known for trolling didn't shop this story out to places like the Escapist for the publicity under the guise of someone totally offended. You blast enough e-mails about this "outrageous" mod, and the article writer will start seeing green.

 

[DeadAccountMoveAlong]

It's the simple reason the controversy = clicks = comments = money gained on ads. People want to bicker or defend an opinionated author. That isn't to say a troll known for trolling didn't shop this story out to places like the Escapist for the publicity under the guise of someone totally offended. You blast enough e-mails about this "outrageous" mod, and the article writer will start seeing green.

What you say makes sense, and I agree with it all. Just what gets me is the amount of patting oneself on the back going on here on top of the money gained here. He even says "I first brought the School Shooter mod to the attention of the world." This article is 1% news and 99% Escapist circle jerk.

He might as well have compared himself to Woodward and Bernstein.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Once again, gaming flinches at the first threat of controversy.

I agree it was in poor taste, but there are plenty of films that are in poor taste, yet they reinforce the artistic freedom of the medium. (I'm looking at you, Inglourious Basterds.)

Yep, disgusting and craven actions on their part. Oh you got some threatening emails, oh noes, cave, cave quickly!. If gaming doesn't have some steel and conviction it will never be something of real importance in the world, or be taken seriously and respected. Censorship, removing content, this is not a step forward.

And I think the mod will be actually fun when I get round to playing it. Probably fun in the same way craziness in the hitman series was fun.

 

[AngryFrenchCanadian]

Way to keep your integrity, ModDB. I guess you're going to cave in every time someone doesn't like one of the mods hosted on the site from now on.

 

[AndyFromMonday]

Creative freedom is all good and well until you offend someone.

 

[Nurb]

In other words:

Some guys drew a picture of muhammud, people shouted rightious outrage at them, and the owners dropped it.

 

[Nurb]

Creative freedom is all good and well until you offend someone.

I hope you're being sarcastic.

 

[Reece Stevens]

this is truly great news, now we need to stop it being hosted anywhere else!

also to all of you treating it like the game being banned is unfair, this is not like the controversy over GTA or manhunt, this is extremely serious and needs to be delt with quickly and efficiently, if this game is released it WILL and I mean WILL cause school shootings, especialy after what he said about the intended audience

 

[Bwown]

If the film industry can turn out stuff like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_films and this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampage_%282009_film%29, than the video game industry can as well, and if you don't like that, don't play the game.

But does that mean I have to host it? No, it doesn't.

No you don't, but still it's kind of a wuss move. "Let's put this mod on our site. Oh people are sending us angry letters lets stop". It's the Six Days in Fallujah incident all over again just smaller.