| − | '''GamerGate''' refers to an controversy in the [[video games]] industry on the ethics of video game journalism, accusations of using personal relationships to obtain favorable reviews and awards in the industry, and a debate over the increasing number of critiques of video games from [[feminist]] and predominately [[left-leaning]] perspectives. | + | '''GamerGate''' is a consumer revolt by the players of [[video games]]. The original focus of the movement was on the investigating the ethics of video game journalistic, including accusations of using personal relationships to grant favorable reviews and awards in the industry. The journalists responded by accusing the gamers of misogyny and harassment. This tactic allowed the journalists to distract attention and evade the issue of journalistic corruption. In particular, many gamers were outraged by a group of articles published on August 28 that proclaimed that "gamers are dead." The articles urged the industry to use politically themes to recruit female and transgendered gamers. An episode of ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' aired in February depicted a fictionalized version of the affair, based on the views of the journalist involved. The episode features gamers driven to misogyny and violence by the games they play. |
| − | In 2013, '''Chelsea Van Valkenburg''' or better known as '''Zoe Quinn'''<ref name="ebin1">Milo Yiannopoulos, [http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/09/01/Lying-Greedy-Promiscuous-Feminist-Bullies-are-Tearing-the-Video-Game-Industry-Apart "Feminist Bullies Tearing the Video Game Industry Apart"]. [[Breitbart]], 1 Sep 2014.</ref>, made a game called ''Depression Quest'' in which the player role-plays the life of a individual suffering from depression, and eventually got it green-lit on Steam.<ref>, [http://www.ausgamers.com/news/read/3465218/depression-quest-now-available-on-steam-for-free "Depression Quest Now Available on Steam for Free"]. AusGamers, August 16, 2014.</ref> Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend published a WordPress blog called ''The Zoe Post'' showing evidence of infidelity, using sex with game journalists and developers as a means to gain favorable coverage for herself and her game amongst mainstream sites.<ref>[http://thezoepost.wordpress.com/ ''The Zoe Post'']</ref>. In addition to sites like 4chan, [[Reddit]], and Tumblr (all which are also drastically different politically and culturally<ref name="ebin2">William Usher, [http://www.cinemablend.com/games/-NotYourShield-Hashtag-Shows-Multi-Cultural-Support-GamerGate-67119.html "#NotYourShield Hashtag Shows Multi-Cultural Support For GamerGate"]. Cinema Blend, 1 Sep 2014.</ref>), calls from individuals such as ''Firefly'' actor Adam Baldwin and even people of diverse backgrounds and members in the LGBT community had rose to support change and unite under umbrella movements such as #gamergate and #NotYourShield.<ref name="ebin2">William Usher, [http://www.cinemablend.com/games/-NotYourShield-Hashtag-Shows-Multi-Cultural-Support-GamerGate-67119.html "#NotYourShield Hashtag Shows Multi-Cultural Support For GamerGate"]. Cinema Blend, 10 Sep 2014.</ref><ref name="ebin3">Todd VanDerWerff, [http://www.vox.com/2014/9/6/6111065/gamergate-explained-everybody-fighting "#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting"] [[Vox]], 6 Sep 2014.</ref> | + | In 2013, Chelsea Van Valkenburg or better known as '''Zoe Quinn'''<ref name="ebin1">Milo Yiannopoulos, [http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/09/01/Lying-Greedy-Promiscuous-Feminist-Bullies-are-Tearing-the-Video-Game-Industry-Apart "Feminist Bullies Tearing the Video Game Industry Apart"]. [[Breitbart]], 1 Sep 2014.</ref>, made a game called ''Depression Quest'' in which the player role-plays the life of a individual suffering from depression, and eventually got it green-lit on Steam.<ref>, [http://www.ausgamers.com/news/read/3465218/depression-quest-now-available-on-steam-for-free "Depression Quest Now Available on Steam for Free"]. AusGamers, August 16, 2014.</ref> Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend published a WordPress blog called ''The Zoe Post'' showing evidence of infidelity, using sex with game journalists and developers as a means to gain favorable coverage for herself and her game amongst mainstream sites.<ref>[http://thezoepost.wordpress.com/ ''The Zoe Post'']</ref>. In addition to sites like 4chan, [[Reddit]], and Tumblr (all which are also drastically different politically and culturally<ref name="ebin2">William Usher, [http://www.cinemablend.com/games/-NotYourShield-Hashtag-Shows-Multi-Cultural-Support-GamerGate-67119.html "#NotYourShield Hashtag Shows Multi-Cultural Support For GamerGate"]. Cinema Blend, 1 Sep 2014.</ref>), calls from individuals such as ''Firefly'' actor Adam Baldwin and even people of diverse backgrounds and members in the LGBT community had rose to support change and unite under umbrella movements such as #gamergate and #NotYourShield.<ref name="ebin2">William Usher, [http://www.cinemablend.com/games/-NotYourShield-Hashtag-Shows-Multi-Cultural-Support-GamerGate-67119.html "#NotYourShield Hashtag Shows Multi-Cultural Support For GamerGate"]. Cinema Blend, 10 Sep 2014.</ref><ref name="ebin3">Todd VanDerWerff, [http://www.vox.com/2014/9/6/6111065/gamergate-explained-everybody-fighting "#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting"] [[Vox]], 6 Sep 2014.</ref> |