Politicians, parents and Twitter alike are expressing outrage over a game set to launch next week, “Active Shooter.” In the game, players can simulate a school shooting by playing the role of the gunman, according to CNN.
The game will be published by Acid, a Russian gaming company, and plans to sell for $5-10 on Steam. Marketing materials reviewed by CNN revealed that gamers can chose between portraying the shooter of a member of the SWAT team responding to the shooting.
This is inexcusable. Any company that develops a game like this in wake of such a horrific tragedy should be ashamed of itself. https://t.co/jjp6LxNWhC
— Senator Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) May 28, 2018
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed on Valentine’s Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was one of the parents to actively speak out against the game. On Twitter, he called the game “one of the worst” things he’d seen since his daughter fell victim to a school shooting.
This company should face the wrath of everyone who cares about school and public safety and it should start immediately. Do not buy this game for your kids or any other game made by this company.https://t.co/LbkXy0upwc
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 27, 2018
USA Today reported on a petition against the release of “Active Shooter.” The petition is asking the corporation that runs Steam to pull the game, and it has over 95,000 signatures.
The petition has been promoted on social media by everyone from video game enthusiasts to survivors of mass shootings across the country. “How can anyone sleep at night knowing that they are profiting from turning deadly school shootings into entertainment?” said the petition, according to NBC News.
Hi!! I LOVE video games and your love for them.. But a School Shooter Video Game is NOT ok. Please sign this petition! Valve Corporation: Do not Launch Active Shooter – a School Shooter Video Game! – https://t.co/mL8CD4dEAf via @Change
— Carolina Ravassa @comicpalooza (@carolinaravassa) May 29, 2018
Since the controversy, the developers of “Active Citizen” have released multiple statements defending their game. “Please do not take any of this seriously. This is only meant to be the simulation and nothing else. If you feel like hurting someone or people around you, please seek help from local psychiatrists or dial 911,” says the game’s Steam page, according to CNN.
A recent update by the publisher added, “After receiving such high amount of critics and hate, I will more likely remove the shooters role in this game by the release, unless if it can be kept as it is right now.”