Gay Gamers Offset Hate from New Video Game

Gay gamers are torn about boycotting a popular new game, Shadow Complex, that is set in the world of novelist Orson Scott Card’s Empire series. While gaming enthusiasts agree it’s an excellent game, they do not want their patronage to ultimately support Card, who is a staunch Mormon and was a large contributor to the effort to pass the antigay Proposition 8 in California.

Certainly, consumer spending is the number 1 way to send a message. Why buy a game that will ultimately fund antigay legislation?

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple for some dedicated gamers, who think it’s unreasonable to boycott a fantastic game because “the author of the novels that inspired the game is a homophobe. Card himself admitted that he did not contribute heavily to the game other than the Empire universe,” according to a report on Neoseeker.com.

 

Well, GayGamer.net has suggested an impressive solution for conflicted gamers. They suggest users who want to buy and enjoy the game “offset the hate” by donating a token amount of just $5, $10, or $15 to an LGBT charity when they purchase the game. They ingeniously point out that Card won’t see nearly that much money per sale.

GayGamer.net goes on to urge offended parties to speak up about Card’s hateful prejudices. “In message boards or user reviews, in blogs or tweets, if it comes up, let people know exactly what Card has said on the matter… damn him with his own language,” the site recommended.

While profit is obviously paramount, Card himself and history will be far more concerned with his legacy. The author resents being labeled a “homophobe,” and making sure to voice disapproval of his hateful comments and increase knowledge of his sordid agenda and despicable beliefs will tear down his reputation as the esteemed author of science fiction works such as Ender’s Game and expose him for what he truly is: a hateful bigot.

It’s the perfect combination of consumerism and activism for a meaningful cause. Now go gayme with a clear conscience.

Tell us: Will you play Shadow Complex?

Comments

[Martin Carlos]

I am a big gaymer and I won't buy Shadow Complex! We need to send out a message that we won't stand for homophobia! I know that my only recourse is to not buy the game. Money talks and haters need to be educated!

[JD]

I agree, use your money to send a message: profit is power. it's a great idea to get every gamer and gaymer to donate to a gay charity & send a strong message too

[Will I am]

I'm a big gamer too.

HELL NO!

And I will state it to other game sites.

[O Cowart]

This article is abhorrently reported.

" Certainly, consumer spending is the number 1 way to send a message. Why buy a game that will ultimately fund antigay legislation? "

issue "number one' - if it's three letters, one is supposed to spell it out.

Secondly, consumer spending is NOT the number one way to send a message. I find the fact that this article was approved for even online print ridiculous. Pathetic. Not-consuming is a mode of expression which is awfully limited. Perhaps the game features too many rabbits - and one belongs to the Anti-Rabbit Societal Expression group (A.R.S.E. for short). One might try... oh say... sending an actual message... but hey. Not-doing things works too.

Unfortunately, not buying is not the same as saying, 'this is harmful.' And if companies don't care, well... you're going to have to dig a little bit shallower than your feelings.

[duh]

I have a better idea, buy it used. Not only will it be cheaper, but Card won't get any money from that transaction.

[tony]

Best thing to do in my opinion is to hit the distributers and makers of this "game" hard by 1.voting with your money. Don't buy it, Boycott stores that sell it. Boycott Internet sales by blocking them. Thats a job for Techies. Whenever you see this game, hide it, steal it, smash it. break a piece of it that no-one will find or know about.They want bigger sales by getting the Gay and Gay Friendly Community all vocal, and that is millions od dollars in Free Publicity.Best to do this Gorrilla War -Style, Stealth. Go to stores that sell it and demagnetize it. Get a Magnet and go from store to store. Bankrupt them.

[tony]

Go from store to store with a magnet and demagnetize every box that carries this dis-ease. Gorrilla Warfare always wins.It is how America gained independance from Oppression. Learn from it and get busy with those magnets.

[craig]

but the problem is that not that many good games come out, I agree with buying it used, and donating funds against him

[BOB]

DON'T BUY IT, unless you think your freedom as a Gay person is less important than a few hours' fun. Maybe those saying "why miss out on the game?", if not TOTALLY STUPID, are afraid they will have to out themselves to straight members of the gaming community (if they did not own this game, and the others did).

HOW ABOUT, if you are in a gaming community, telling everyone that you prefer that royalties not go to this man?
THEN you will find out who your friends are, by the quality of response.

BUT DON'T LISTEN to the asses that tell you to go to stores and commit a crime, unless you are over 18, fully aware it's a crime and willing to take the consequences.

[Frank]

Boycott.

Plain and simple.

Fundies do it to business that support the LGBTQ community, like Pepsi.