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| Down Under |
| Australian made game 'Muslim Massacre' stirs outrage |
| 2008-09-13 |
| A VIDEO game made by an Australian man that encourages players to massacre Muslim people has caused international outrage. Muslim Massacre is promoted as taking place after the US "declares war" on the religion of Islam and encourages players to wipe out followers. "The United States of America has declared war on Islam!" the Muslim Massacre website says. "Take control of the American hero and wipe out the Muslim race with an arsenal of the world's most destructive weapons." The targets appear as bearded men wearing normal clothes or characters in black outfits with facemasks. Later levels include suicide bombers and a "boss" opponent resembling Osama Bin Laden. Mr Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the UK Muslim youth organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said the game was unacceptable, tasteless and deeply offensive. "When kids spend six hours a day on violent games they are more likely to go outside and commit violence," he said. "If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so." Muslim Massacre was developed by Eric Vaughn, known online as "Sigvatr", a 22-year-old from Brisbane. He first released it online in January this year. The game begins with audio from George Bush speeches, edited together to sound like a condemnation of Muslims. The graphics are similar to 1990s arcade shooter games, with a bird's eye view showing the protagonist, a tiny pixelated US soldier, running and shooting other characters. Mr Vaughn's website links to other projects such as a fictional sporting league for real-life massacre shooters and a webcomic. Muslim Massacre bears a resemblance to two other independently-developed "shock" games released online: V-Tech Rampage (2007), which recreated the Virgina Tech shootings and Super Columbine Massacre RPG! (2005), which was a recreation of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. Those who have played Muslim Massacre provided mixed feedback to Mr Vaughn. "I think it's brave, because it's the kind of satire that many people will misunderstand, especially in America and in Islamic countries," said a comment posted on Mr Vaughn's website. "Still, you can't be misunderstood any worse than the 'super columbine massacre' guy." The Ramadhan Foundation has asked the British Government to conduct an inquiry into the game and urged internet service providers to block access to it. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #14 DarthVader, you're spot on. |
| Posted by: tipper 2008-09-13 15:54 |
| #13 "If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so." *cough* |
| Posted by: Pewee 2008-09-13 15:29 |
| #12 Is it Mac compatible? LOL. 9.85 |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-09-13 14:55 |
| #11 Darth, given that it deliberately distorts and strings together Bush statements to sound like a condemnation of Muslims, it's pretty safe to say that it's not pro-American. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-09-13 13:54 |
| #10 What about the "Get Osama" game you could play on the internet? You know, the simple one where you blow up Osama pushing the shopping cart full of ordinance, using bombs, anvils, etc. Is that off limits? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-09-13 13:48 |
| #9 Outrage ! Seething ! Spittle ! Drool ! Demonstrations! Just standard procedure by the Cancer Within. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2008-09-13 13:41 |
| #8 Is it Mac compatible? |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-09-13 12:54 |
| #7 The fact is an Australian putting it together about Americans and Muzzies, makes me wonder if it is put out for a anti-American slant. If he really starts taking heat, expect this defense. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-09-13 11:35 |
| #6 The Ramadhan Foundation has asked the British Government to conduct an inquiry into the game And I'm sure the Ramadhan Foundation also wants an inquiry into "Special Force 2" a first-person shooter, where the player takes on the role of a mujaheed, or holy warrior, and scores points by killing Israeli soldiers, firing at tanks and launching missiles over the border into northern Israel.Bought to you by Hezbollah. |
| Posted by: Classer 2008-09-13 11:04 |
| #5 "If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans..." That's no game. It happens everyday. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2008-09-13 09:31 |
| #4 How quaint. It supplements the moslem games that kill Americans and Jews. |
| Posted by: newc 2008-09-13 05:48 |
| #3 The games website seems to be down for some reason... |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-09-13 01:24 |
| #2 Hold on a second... something is coming through... I'm getting something here... yes, yes... I see it clearly now... I'm purchasing my first video game since childhood and... and... yes... I'm enjoying it greatly. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2008-09-13 01:12 |
| #1 "If it was the other way around, with a game featuring Muslims killing Israelis or Americans, there would be uproar and rightly so." Ever play "Hezbollah"? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2008-09-13 01:01 |