Ethnic Cleansing (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Ethnic Cleansing


developer = Resistance Records
publisher = Resistance Records
designer = N/A
engine = Genesis 3D
released = 2002
genre = First person shooter
modes = Single player
ratings = N/A
platforms = Microsoft Windows
media = 1 CD-ROM
requirements = N/A
input = Mouse and Keyboard

"Ethnic Cleansing" (2002) is a controversial computer game developed by Resistance Records, an underground music label specializing in Neo-Nazi and white supremacist bands. In the game, the protagonist (the player can choose either a skinhead or a Klansman) runs through a ghetto killing black people and Latinos, before descending into a subway system to kill Jews. Finally he reaches the "Jewish Control Center", where Ariel Sharon, former Prime Minister of Israel, is directing plans for world domination. The player must kill Sharon to win the game.

The game was developed using Genesis 3D, an open source game engine.

Controversy

In what was perhaps a deliberate attempt to create controversy, the game was released on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2002.

The Anti-Defamation League publicized the existence of the game and unsuccessfully lobbied the developers of Genesis3D to change their licensing conditions to prohibit the use of the engine to develop racist games. [http://www.adl.org/videogames/letter_videogames1.asp] They have also lobbied the Interactive Digital Software Association to encourage their members to adopt such policies. [http://www.adl.org/videogames/letter_videogames2.asp] The game itself was largely ignored by the gaming community and the specialized press, leaving the game with virtually no official reviews.

Stuff Magazine named Ethnic Cleansing the 40th most controversial video game of all time in January 2003.

A news report about the game appeared on the ABC News Magazine Primetime.

equels and similar games

A sequel called "White Law" was released by the same developer in June 2003 with a similar premise, where the player assumes the role of a police officer going postal. It, however, attracted much less attention than "Ethnic Cleansing". Both 'White Law' and 'Ethnic Cleansing' can only be ordered directly from Resistance Records.

Another racist game, ZOG'S NIGHTMARE was made by Jim Ramm A former NSM member. Both Ethnic Cleansing and ZOG's Nightmare 2 have similar premises. Zog's Nightmare 2 however, is much larger: (8 levels instead of Ethnic Cleansing's 2.

Initially, Resistance Records intended to create a similar line of games based on the events of the "Turner Diaries", however only 'White Law' has been released so far.

Technical aspects

"Ethnic Cleansing" is often cited as a milestone in the use of "the latest videogame technology" for propaganda or recruitment tools; however, technically the game was nowhere near exceptional for the time of its release, and is incomparable with most of its contemporary games regarding graphics engine performance and visual quality, controls and gameplay and even audio. The game itself was coded with the aid of a game creation tool and with a combination of Visual Basic and C++ components, thus being closer in quality to budget software than commercial games.

Also, while the game's box and adverts claimed "realistic negro sounds recorded on the spot with REAL niggers", these turned out to be ape and monkey shouts. [cite web |url= http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Internet_75/4042_72.htm|title= ADL Report: Growing Proliferation of Racist Video Games Target Youth on The Internet |accessdate= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= Anti-Defamation League|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [cite web |url= http://www.wired.com/news/culture/1,50523-0.html|title= Games Elevate Hate to Next Level
accessdate= |last= |first= |authorlink= Julia Scheeres|coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= wired.com|pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

References

External links

* [http://www.resistance.com/ethniccleansing/ The official site]
* [http://www.resistance.com Resistance Records]
* [http://www.adl.org/videogames/default.asp ADL article]
* [http://www.zogsnightmare.com Homepage for Zog's Nightmare Videogames]
* [http://www.popmatters.com/multimedia/features/040226-whitesupremacists.shtml Popmatters commentary on the game, hinting at a review]