Phediuk

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,329
I will offer 3 examples to start this thread:

1.On an individual level, I regret that Doug Tennapel is a right-wing, Trumpist, homophobic asshole, because The Neverhood is an awesome game, a real dada masterpiece, and I would prefer if its creator didn't totally suck.

2. Another individual example: John Carmack has done amazing work in game engines and the whole middleware scene is pretty much built on the foundation that he laid at id. Unfortunately, his politics are about the most stereotypical reactionary tech-bro shit imaginable.

3. On a company level, there is Nintendo with its union-busting activities, attack-dog behavior toward copyright infringement, and possible (probable?) yakuza ties. But Mario! Zelda!

What are your problematic faves?
 

The Quentulated Mox

Corrupted by Vengeance
Member
Jun 10, 2022
5,033
Jonathan Blow seems kinda like a prick at the very least. That doesn't stop The Witness from being one of the best games I've ever played.
 

toadkarter

Member
Oct 2, 2020
2,096
EDIT: Alright on second thought after reading through this thread I'm not gonna give that person further attention by posting about them
 
Last edited:
Apr 2, 2021
2,144
Feel like this topic is just going to be half people to bragging about how smart they are for separating art from the artist and the other half getting mad at them for that and highlighting the problematic elements of the game they love. Not gonna touch this one with a ten-foot pole (except for this post)
 

Noog

▲ Legend ▲
Member
May 1, 2018
2,947
I'm sure this thread will be locked soon and probably for good reason, but I do think it offers a unique way to talk about how none of us are ideologically pure, and certainly we support people, either with our time or financially, who do not align with our views. Certainly almost every dollar we spend in this industry goes towards people and/or companies that are deeply immoral.
 
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Phediuk

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,329
Feel like this topic is just going to be half people to bragging about how smart they are for separating art from the artist and the other half getting mad at them for that and highlighting the problematic elements of the game they love. Not gonna touch this one with a ten-foot pole (except for this post)

Haven't seen that happen so far. The point is to highlight precisely those cases where separating art from artist is difficult.
 

Kyuuji

The Favonius Fox
Member
Nov 8, 2017
33,267
*readies the baseball bat for the first clown to say harry potter*
 

Bengraven

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Oct 26, 2017
28,393
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This feels like it will be a dog whistle for those people who DM me every once and a while: "There's a few of us who feel Era is going too far left, but are too afraid to stand up and fight it! Don't you agree?"

No, I don't. Get off your soapbox and out of my inbox, chuds.
 

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
50,461
Looking at a game rather than caping for person with a history of problematic behaviour, I will say that as much as I love Barkley Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, it's still a product of its time, specifically a particular age of online irreverence which isn't necessarily hateful, but definitely lacking in empathy. The most obvious thing is the status ailments all being named after real world diseases.
 
Oct 27, 2017
9,051
This feels like it will be a dog whistle for those people who DM me every once and a while: "There's a few of us who feel Era is going too far left, but are too afraid to stand up and fight it! Don't you agree?"

No, I don't. Get off your soapbox and out of my inbox, chuds.
Wait people legit DM you out of the blue with that? Thats so wierd
 

Fat4all

Woke up, got a money tag, swears a lot
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
97,681
here
I will say that as much as I love Barkley Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, it's still a product of its time, specifically a particular age of online irreverence which isn't necessarily hateful, but definitely lacking in empathy. The most obvious thing is the status ailments all being named after real world diseases.
lets not beat around the bush, michael jordan gives hoopz barkley, charles barkleys son, type 2 diabetes
 
Oct 25, 2017
13,374
This feels like it will be a dog whistle for those people who DM me every once and a while: "There's a few of us who feel Era is going too far left, but are too afraid to stand up and fight it! Don't you agree?"

No, I don't. Get off your soapbox and out of my inbox, chuds.

That is hilarious because this place is center left at its best, it's still neo-liberal as hell and socially it's not amazing at times. Even if I'll give it a ton of points for being better than most places I've been in the web, but that's because of how crazy right wing or "libertarian" so much of it is.

But yeah shit thread that is going to be locked soon if I had to guess.
 
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Phediuk

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,329
Looking at a game rather than caping for person with a history of problematic behaviour, I will say that as much as I love Barkley Shut Up and Jam Gaiden, it's still a product of its time, specifically a particular age of online irreverence which isn't necessarily hateful, but definitely lacking in empathy. The most obvious thing is the status ailments all being named after real world diseases.

Barkley SUAJ feels quite steeped in 2007-era chan culture, with everything that implies.
 

Cheddahz

Member
Oct 25, 2017
908
i wish they hadn't replaced felix (from chapo trap house) and dasha (from red scare) in the final cut of disco elysium

edit: i misread the question - maybe not a problematic fave and it was a bit harsh, but the japanese games rant from phil fish at that one con was on point during that time
 

Bengraven

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Oct 26, 2017
28,393
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Wait people legit DM you out of the blue with that? Thats so wierd

OMG people DM'd you that?

Yep, happened at least two or three times. I don't know whether they saw I'm an older white dude or something, but I've had people DM after I've said more moderate views like I was some NeoGAF spy or something. Like they were trying to mount some anti-woke resistance against the FAR LEFT mods and needed support. lol
 

Kyuuji

The Favonius Fox
Member
Nov 8, 2017
33,267
This feels like it will be a dog whistle for those people who DM me every once and a while: "There's a few of us who feel Era is going too far left, but are too afraid to stand up and fight it! Don't you agree?"

No, I don't. Get off your soapbox and out of my inbox, chuds.
lmao @ people thinking they'd find solidarity for that stuff with you
 

Daniagatha

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Aug 31, 2018
617
Brazil
Congrats that you know how to separate art from the artists/company...

But this is a bad thread giving highlight for awlful people. And of course a lot of people (including me) are hypocrite for sometime to play something from someone/some company that is awlful. But we don't need to shout to rest of the world do we?
 

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
50,461
Yep, happened at least two or three times. I don't know whether they saw I'm an older white dude or something, but I've had people DM after I've said more moderate views like I was some NeoGAF spy or something. Like they were trying to mount some anti-woke resistance against the FAR LEFT mods and needed support. lol
The worst I've gotten is just someone thinking I'm into Funko Pops.

Which isn't offensive or anything, I'm just not sure why people would think get the idea that I'm into Funko Pops.
 
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OP

Phediuk

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,329
i wish they hadn't replaced felix (from chapo trap house) and dasha (from red scare) in the final cut of disco elysium

edit: i misread the question - maybe not a problematic fave and it was a bit harsh, but the japanese games rant from phil fish at that one con was on point during that time

The Fish rant at least lacked tact. I think Fish in general is a good choice for the thread, considering he seemed to be addicted to putting his foot in his mouth and stirring up drama. Not as bad as some others, but still problematic. Fez is a cool game though.
 

Yossarian

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
13,347
This feels like it will be a dog whistle for those people who DM me every once and a while: "There's a few of us who feel Era is going too far left, but are too afraid to stand up and fight it! Don't you agree?"

No, I don't. Get off your soapbox and out of my inbox, chuds.

Wait, that's a thing?!

Oop. Answered.
 
Dec 9, 2018
23,131
New Jersey
I couldve sworn we got several threads before about "problematic faves" that went nowhere and eventually got locked. Sometimes good art is made by shitty people. That's not a shocking observation to make lol.
 
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Phediuk

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,329
Congrats that you know how to separate art from the artists/company...

But this is a bad thread giving highlight for awlful people. And of course a lot of people (including me) are hypocrite for sometime to play something from someone/some company that is awlful. But we don't need to shout to rest of the world do we?

I don't think there's anything to congratulate here. If anything, it's about highlighting the discomfort we feel about certain games we like, knowing who is behind them.
 

Bengraven

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Oct 26, 2017
28,393
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That is hilarious because this place is center left at its best, it's still neo-liberal as hell and socially it's not amazing at times. Even if I'll give it a ton of points for being better than most places I've been in the web, but that's because of how crazy right wing or "libertarian" so much of it is.

But yeah shit thread that is going to be locked soon if I had to guess.

lmao @ people thinking they'd find solidarity for that stuff with you

It stood out to me and I remembered it because the same shit happens in real life. I've worked jobs or just stood in line at the grocer and you'll have some white dude next to you who will suddenly nod his head towards a POC or LGTBQ+ person and be like "can you believe this shit?".

Like fuck off with that. Era is supposed to be my bubble from that bullshit.
 

RedShift

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,124
Shadow the Hedgehog. I know he's fine with stealing candy from babies, but I can't help it, he's the coolest.
 

RaphaBE

Banned
Sep 19, 2020
779
California
"Can we not do this" and "Lock this thread" posts are the worst. Nobody is obligated to participate, and the mods don't need annoying demands to decide whether to lock the thread or not.

On topic, I generally do not dig into the personal life/beliefs of game developers, so I tend to be unaware of problematic elements until I read something on Era. As an example, I absolutely loved The Witness and I didn't know anything about Jonathan Blow until it was discussed here. Same with Jeremy Soule. Such knowledge is not mainstream (unlike, say, problematic movies) so it's pretty easy to miss.
 

Fossora

Member
Jun 14, 2023
1,259
Honestly, Valve.

I think they've carried PC gaming over the past 20 years, & any alternative timeline where someone else had taken initiative would've resulted in a worse experience for end users. Steam is incredible, they've pioneered in the VR/esports spaces, & have released some of the best games ever made.

But then there's gambling and Valve's turning of a blind eye to it. It should never be forgotten just how much harm Valve allows through the way their systems/items are designed.

(I have more issues with Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo/EA etc than I do Valve, but Valve is a company, as a whole, that I tend to hold to a higher standard/have more appreciation for, which is why they get my mention here).
 

Bengraven

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Oct 26, 2017
28,393
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The worst I've gotten is just someone thinking I'm into Funko Pops.

Which isn't offensive or anything, I'm just not sure why people would think get the idea that I'm into Funko Pops.

In fairness, that was just because you went to Gamestop.

Everyone who shops at Gamestop needs to preorder the latest Funko Pops and did YOU KNOW that they're currently buy 2 get one 50% off and they have the new exclusive SDCC ones and
 

Daniagatha

▲ Legend ▲
Member
Aug 31, 2018
617
Brazil
I don't think there's anything to congratulate here. If anything, it's about highlighting the discomfort we feel about certain games we like, knowing who is behind them.


ryan-reynolds-but-why.gif


We all know. How it will help to know that people LOVE to play Harry Potter? It will only lead to people being angry (and with reason) and peopl trying to defend why the like the thing they like.
 

Grain Silo

Member
Dec 15, 2017
2,616

Yes you are a dog. I know 'woof' is a term used to express second-hand "pain" these days but I still always just read it as a dog sound

As for the topic at hand, the world is full of shitty people, odds are a shitty person made something cool unrelated to why they are shitty, doesn't mean I feel the need to be public about my respect for that cool thing if the person is harmful.
 

HelloItsPulse

Member
Dec 14, 2017
2,153
Putting Nintendo in the same category as actually problematic people is kinda crazy when all they do is protect their business. Is it good for the consumer? Most of the time no. Is it problematic? Also no.
 

super-famicom

Avenger
Oct 26, 2017
25,735
"Can we not do this" and "Lock this thread" posts are the worst. Nobody is obligated to participate, and the mods don't need annoying demands to decide whether to lock the thread or not.

On topic, I generally do not dig into the personal life/beliefs of game developers, so I tend to be unaware of problematic elements until I read something on Era. As an example, I absolutely loved The Witness and I didn't know anything about Jonathan Blow until it was discussed here. Same with Jeremy Soule. Such knowledge is not mainstream (unlike, say, problematic movies) so it's pretty easy to miss.

A lot of these things make it to mainstream gaming news sites, though. Or they post their awful views on social media so people can see it.
 

Bengraven

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Oct 26, 2017
28,393
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ryan-reynolds-but-why.gif


We all know. How it will help to know that people LOVE to play Harry Potter? It will only lead to people being angry (and with reason) and peopl trying to defend why the like the thing they like.

Exactly. Something tells me that the people who post their "problematic faves" are not likely to want to discuss it. I don't think they're trying to get roasted. It feels like they just want solidarity and to have other people share their problematic choices so they can feel less guilty about it. "Oh thank god you all also love this game, because I've had this burden of guilt for months and now I'm free" or "Oh you loved the magic game? Awesome, now I feel less guilty about giving Jonathon Blow money" etc.
 

DaveB

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,562
New Hampshire, USA
I have learned to separate my ideological beliefs from my entertainment picks because I know if paid any attention to it (like if they support Trump), I would have to boycott a lot of bands, artists, or video games that I like.

If people want to condemn me for it, that's their prerogative.