I think that it´s rather sad when game developers have to compromise with their visions and creativity in order to keep the social justice warriors and feminists happy. Or when game devs really want to speak up about either #GamerGate or the games industry (the dark side of it). Simply because their afraid of the consequences that they might face by doing so. This time it´s Michael Hartman (CEO of Frogdice, Inc and game developer) that wants to speak up about “things”. But Hartman rather not do that, as he would like to avoid controversy within (and outside) his company’s walls (Frogdice. which would be the devs behind games such as “ReignMaker” and “Dungeon of Elements”and “No Loot Left Behind“).

I can understand where Hartman is coming from though. As he would want to avoid an internal war within his company at any cost. However, I got somewhat curious when I saw Hartman ´s tweet earlier today:

Or to be more exact, these parts of Hartman´s tweet:
“One in particular is very vocal “indie darling” the press always sucks up to and whose games always win those rigged “game festivals”

“He´s someone with a history of playing dirty pool and using his press contacts to fuck with people who dare to have a different opinion”

And who could that person possibly be? So you might wonder. Well, my money is on either Phil Fish (Fez) or Brandon Boyer (Venus Patrol). But only Hartman knows for sure. But this once again proves that there’s a little minority group that tries to shut people up if they hold different opinions then they do. And the same thing goes if they don’t like a certain aspect of a game, movie, book or whatever.

Then they (most of the time it´s either feminists or SJW´s) want to either change it, censor it or have it removed completely from their sight. No matter if it´s internet, or something which you can buy in a digital (or retail) store. Because that´s how they work by default. As they scream like oversized crying babies until they get what they want (in this case, until the game dev in question caves in to their demands).

And this is both sad and tragic at the same time. As it cripples the creative freedom for game devs all over the world. As they will always have to worry about “will I offend anyone with my creation?” and “what kind of consequences will i face if someone get´s offended by my creation?”. And because i´m not a big fan of censorship, bullies and so-called “professional thinkers and opinion builders”. As for mr Michael Hartman.

I hope that Hartman will speak up some day. As it might make the games industry a “little” less toxicated.

Credit:
Wtf Mag Zidane

Resources:
When game developers tries to speak up they get silenced

The Women Of #GamerGate – Female Gamers and devs speaks up

Robin “V-Act” Ek
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround

More by Robin Ek:

• Das Humankapital has released a playable demo for “Atomic Butcher: Homo Metabolicus”
• Blizzard removes Tracer´s behind pose from Overwatch, as it´s “too sexual”
• You can now pat boobs in “Headpats, Please!”
• Athene is getting sued by TwitchAlerts (aka Vulcun and StreamPro)
• System Shock 1 Remastered, what I hope and expect of the remake

Tags: #GamerGate, Frogdice, Game developers, Michael Hartman, Social Justice Warriors