Super Columbine Massacre RPG!
The Columbine tragedy is in the news again, but it’s making headlines in a very peculiar way.
Game designer and independent film director Daniele Ledonne created his own game, Super Columbine Massacre RPG!, whose story centers around the horrific exploits of Columbine High School classmates Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
The game was originally entered into the Slamdance Film Festival’s Guerrilla Gamemaker Competition but was subsequently removed.
Slamdance’s organizer Brian Baxter is credited with removing the game from the roster of competing entries.
Baxter cites moral grounds and unfavorable public reactions as reasons for the removal of SCMRPG!.
He also claims the festival does not have enough money to sustain any legal ramifications that he thinks may result from including the game in the judging.
As a result nearly half of the games entered into the contest have been pulled by their creators in protest of Baxter pulling SCMRPG! out of the running.
One developer, Jonathan Blow, stated that while he felt the game is compassionless in its portrayal of the Columbine massacre it still retains more artistic merit than most games because of the questions and concerns it raises.
Baxter had, according to the March 2007 issue of Game Informer, at one time offered Ledonne’s game its own award in the form of best documentary game, or some variation of that theme.
Ledonne agreed to this, but Baxter recanted. He just can’t seem to make up his mind with what to do with this game.
I believe Baxter’s justifications are weak and easily debatable.
Baxter obviously does not know how to handle having a controversial game in his show.
The man should realize that by allowing SCMRPG! to compete, and possibly win an award, he would be doing the game industry a great service by furthering the legitimacy of video games being considered art.
First and foremost video games serve the purpose of entertainment, but if Super Columbine Massacre RPG! is any example games can also be used to educate, express opinions (even if they happen to offend us) and deliver social commentary just like any other good piece of art.