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{{for|the type of ant|Gamergate}}
{{for|the type of ant|Gamergate}}
'''GamerGate''' refers to a 2014 [[video game culture]] controversy<ref name=CinemaBlend/> centered on the [[journalistic ethics|ethics]] of [[video game journalism]], especially accusations of use of personal relationships to obtain favourable reviews and awards in gaming industry, alleged dominance of left-leaning gaming journalists, and counter-accusations of [[misogyny|misogyny]] by [[feminism|feminist]] cultural critics of video games and critique of the pejorative use of the phrase "Social Justice Warrior".<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=GuardianKS/><ref name=Ars/><ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/03/gamergate-corruption-games-anita-sarkeesian-zoe-quinn Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all]</ref>.
'''GamerGate''' refers to a 2014 [[video game culture]] controversy<ref name=CinemaBlend/> centered on the [[journalistic ethics|ethics]] of [[video game journalism]], and the [[misogyny|misogynistic]] response to [[feminism|feminist]] cultural criticism of video games and critique of the pejorative use of the phrase "Social Justice Warrior".<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=GuardianKS/><ref name=Ars/>


==Background==
==Background==
In August 2014 personal, private and sensitive information of the video game developer [[Zoe Quinn]] was released to the internet by an ex-boyfriend. Some of the information alleged a level of impropriety in her relationships with a video game journalist from [[Kotaku]] and other game developers, leading to accusations of violations of journalistic ethics due to close relationship between development studios and games critics, and domination of video game journalism by left-wing ideology, which led to more focus on social issues such as feminism and representation of various minorities in games, rather than then the content of games itself<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/03/gamergate-corruption-games-anita-sarkeesian-zoe-quinn Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all]</ref>.
In August 2014 personal, private and sensitive information of the video game developer [[Zoe Quinn]] was released to the internet by an ex-boyfriend. Some of the information alleged a level of impropriety in her relationship with a video game journalist from [[Kotaku]].<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/03/gamergate-corruption-games-anita-sarkeesian-zoe-quinn Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all]</ref> However, Kotaku stated that the writer had not written anything about Quinn after beginning the relationship and had never reviewed her games.<ref name=KotakuRefuted>[http://kotaku.com/in-recent-days-ive-been-asked-several-times-about-a-pos-1624707346 In recent days I've been asked several times], Stephen Totillo, [[Kotaku]], August 20, 2014</ref>


Counter-accusations from Quinn and supporters consisted of accusations of [[misogyny]] and slut-shaming.<ref name=dot/><ref name=Forbes/> Quinn and her family were subsequently targeted by campaign of harassment,<ref name=beast/><ref name=dot/> as were supporters such as game developer [[Phil Fish]], internet commentator [[John Bain]].<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=BI/><ref name=BF/> Notably, Fish found himself "[[Doxing|doxxed]]" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry,<ref name="gs fish"/>
Counter-accusations from Quinn and supporters consisted of accusations of [[misogyny]] and slut-shaming.<ref name=dot/><ref name=Forbes/> Quinn and her family were subsequently targeted by campaign of harassment,<ref name=beast/><ref name=dot/> as were supporters such as game developer [[Phil Fish]], internet commentator [[John Bain]].<ref name=Forbes/><ref name=BI/><ref name=BF/> Notably, Fish found himself "[[Doxing|doxxed]]" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry,<ref name="gs fish"/>

Revision as of 15:26, 7 September 2014

For the type of ant, see Gamergate.

GamerGate refers to a 2014 video game culture controversy[1] centered on the ethics of video game journalism, and the misogynistic response to feminist cultural criticism of video games and critique of the pejorative use of the phrase "Social Justice Warrior".[2][3][4]

Background

In August 2014 personal, private and sensitive information of the video game developer Zoe Quinn was released to the internet by an ex-boyfriend. Some of the information alleged a level of impropriety in her relationship with a video game journalist from Kotaku.[5] However, Kotaku stated that the writer had not written anything about Quinn after beginning the relationship and had never reviewed her games.[6]

Counter-accusations from Quinn and supporters consisted of accusations of misogyny and slut-shaming.[7][2] Quinn and her family were subsequently targeted by campaign of harassment,[8][7] as were supporters such as game developer Phil Fish, internet commentator John Bain.[2][9][10] Notably, Fish found himself "doxxed" after speaking in support of Quinn, with many of his personal details and documents relating to his company Polytron exposed, making him opt to sell off Polytron and leave the gaming industry,[11]

Subsequently the harassment expanded to include the feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian after the release of the next episode in her Tropes vs. Women in Video Games series coincided with the initial allegations towards Quinn.[12] Sarkeesian reported receiving death threats that forced her to temporarily leave her home.[12] At the same time, involvement from social media, sites such as 4chan and Reddit, and involvement from figures such as Adam Baldwin eventually expanded the issue over Quinn and Phil Fish into the ensuing umbrella movement.[2][13]

Responses

Writing in Time, Leigh Alexander described the campaign as "deeply sincere" but based on "bizarre conspiracy theories," stating that there is nothing unethical or improper about journalists being friends and acquaintances of those they cover. "Surely these campaigners understand that no meaningful reporting on anything takes place without the trust—and often friendship—of people on the inside," she said. She attributed the controversy to a growing gulf between some traditional video game fans and the increasingly diverse nature of the industry, noting that the maturing and ever-more-mainstream nature of video games opens the genre to longstanding cultural critiques and new perspectives.[14]

David Auerbach of Slate argued for that the case was a example of a fair number of gamers who hate the journalists who cover videogames, and the journalists hate the videogame-players.[15] In similarity with Alexander, Aurbach promoted the culture of video-games was changing, but it was the ordinary video-game journalist that were being phased out.

The online harassment of Quinn and the death threats against Sarkeesian prompted an open letter to the gaming community by independent game developer Andreas Zecher, who called upon the community to take a public stand against the attacks. The letter subsequently attracted the signatures of more than 2000 professionals within the gaming industry.[16][17]

Zoe Quinn has stated that GamerGate was manufactured by members of 4chan operating on a private channel specifically to attack her and her followers for her feminist views, releasing numerous screencaps on Twitter. [18] This has been denied by 4Chan.[19]

References

  1. ^ Peter Haas (2014-08-31). "GamerGate: Everyone Hates Each Other And I'm Really Tired". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  2. ^ a b c d Erik Kain (2014-09-04). "GamerGate: A Closer Look At The Controversy Sweeping Video Game". Forbes. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  3. ^ Keith Stuart (2014-09-03). "Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  4. ^ Casey Johnston (2014-08-29). "The death of the "gamers" and the women who "killed" them". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  5. ^ Gamergate: the community is eating itself but there should be room for all
  6. ^ In recent days I've been asked several times, Stephen Totillo, Kotaku, August 20, 2014
  7. ^ a b Romano, Aja. "The sexist crusade to destroy game developer Zoe Quinn". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  8. ^ Marcotte, Amanda. "Gaming Misogyny Gets Infinite Lives: Zoe Quinn, Virtual Rape, and Sexism". Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  9. ^ Karyne Levy (2014-09-02). "Game Developers Are Finally Stepping Up To Change Their Hate-Filled Industry". Business Insider. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  10. ^ Joseph Bernstein (2014-08-28). "Gaming Is Leaving "Gamers" Behind". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  11. ^ Maiberg, Emanuel (2014-08-23). "Phil Fish Selling Rights to Fez After Being Hacked". Gamespot. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  12. ^ a b Rawlinson, Kevin (2014-09-02). "Gamers take a stand against misogyny after death threats". BBC. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  13. ^ VanDerWerff, Todd. "#GamerGate: Here's why everybody in the video game world is fighting". Vox. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  14. ^ Leigh Alexander (2014-09-05). "Sexism, Lies, and Video Games: The Culture War Nobody Is Winning". Time. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  15. ^ http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/bitwise/2014/09/gamergate_explodes_gaming_journalists_declare_the_gamers_are_over_but_they.html
  16. ^ Todd Martens (2014-09-06). "Hero Complex: Gamergate-related controversy reveals ugly side of gaming community". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  17. ^ Kevin Rawlinson (2014-09-02). "Gamers take a stand against misogyny after death threats". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  18. ^ Aja Romano (2014-09-06). "Zoe Quinn claims 4chan was behind GamerGate the whole time". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2014-09-07.
  19. ^ http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/137293-Exclusive-Zoe-Quinn-Posts-Chat-Logs-Debunking-GamerGate-4Chan-and-Quinn-Respond
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