Should we hate 'Hatred'?

Hey everybody. This is usually the part of the column where I make some kind of silly, zany remark to grab everyone’s attention. This week, for reasons that will soon become very apparent, I’ve decided to take a more serious tone.

I’ve never been one for trigger warnings. I’ve always thought they mute a conversation before it ever gets a chance to happen. But in today’s case, because of the sensitive nature of what I’ll be discussing, I’d like to make an exception. So here goes:

Today, I’ll be talking about an upcoming video game called "Hatred."It is a game that is slated for release on Microsoft Windows in 2015, and centers around the concept of mass killings. The player takes on the role of a nameless murderer, and is tasked with killing as many innocent bystanders and police officers as possible before they are gunned down by the police. Advertisements from the game’s creators describe it as a “genocidal crusade.”

The game has recently attracted a lot of attention because of an extremely graphic teaser trailer that was posted online by the developers, a company called Destructive Creations. It depicts the game’s protagonist preparing an arsenal of weapons while narrating about his hatred for the world, and how he wants to “put in the grave as many as [he] can.” It then proceeds to gameplay footage, which shows scenes of the player character stalking victims in public places and then graphically executing them.

Many online video game reviewers and blogs (both professional and amateur) were quick to condemn the game’s trailer. Complaints included the grisly subject matter of the game and an overreliance on shock tactics, as opposed to any innovation in the game’s design. One blogger noted that beyond the controversy and the excessive bloodshed, there is little to distinguish "Hatred" from any other isometric shooter on the market.

Destructive Creations has stated that "Hatred" is intended to serve not just as a game, but as a political statement, too. Specifically, they intend to use it to comment on the recent trend towards political correctness in games development, and to rebut the polite, colorful tone that the gaming community has begun to adopt because of the increasing recognition of video games as a legitimate art form.

Now I would like to state, for the record, that this company is entirely within its rights to publish this game. While it is true that freedom of speech isn’t as absolute as most people believe (do a quick Google search on “obscenity laws” to find out more about that), this game clearly falls under the category of artistic expression. It is as legal to make a game about mass killings as it is to make one about the war in the Middle East, or World War 2, or invading Aliens.

But the question we should be asking here is not if the game should be legal. It doesn’t have to be illegal to release this game, for us, as consumers, to make it go away. Part of living in a society that guarantees freedom of speech is accepting that the same laws that protect progressive, world-changing ideas also protect hateful, disgusting schlock. But in that same vein, part of living in a free market means that we, the masses, can dictate what does and does not succeed economically.

This game is going to get made. We can’t, and shouldn’t, legally stop that. But we can send a strong message with our wallets. Don’t buy "Hatred." Don’t give them ad revenue on YouTube by watching the trailer. Just let this game fade into obscurity. Destructive Creations want to use "Hatred" to send a message. Show them that you don’t support it.