I just want to state, for the record, that my upcoming game, Downtrodden is anti-Patriarchy. Full stop.
Many folks have (understandably) voiced their concerns that the alt-right will see the game as a how-to guide or a source of inspiration for subjugating women and the LGBTQ community. That's a fair concern, to be honest and it makes me proud that my friends, fans and industry peers are on the lookout for such things.
As I've mentioned, Downtrodden is a cautionary tale that reflects the bottom end of the slippery slope that the United States now stands at the top of. It represents an extension of what we've been experiencing, what with Roe v. Wade being demolished, the Don't-Say-Gay issue coming into play, the public bathroom debacle becoming a thing for trans folks' safety and so on.
Right now, we *need* cautionary tales; something to open people's eyes about what all this could lead to if something isn't done. As a staunch egalitarian, having any semblance of a voice to create a cautionary tale is important to me.
Yes, the game's setting is disturbing and, yes, seeing the details of it can make one uncomfortable. That's the point. I want to shake people from their doldrums, make them see where we're heading and make them aware. Cautionary tales *are* disturbing. They *are* uncomfortable. But they rather *have* to be.
Right now, all folks are able to see are the snippets I've been sharing online and I can absolutely see why individuals might think that the game might glorify patriarchy. Believe me when I say that the Downtrodden rulebook will make it abundantly clear that the PatriarQs and their supporters are very much The Bad Guys. There's no wiggle room, there's no ambiguity and there's certainly no "matter of interpretation" to it.
If any of the alt-right folks read the game's rulebook (even if only a quick perusal of it), they'll certainly find themselves in unfriendly territory. They'll find that we're painting them to be exactly what they are: villains.
I also need to address the fetishistic nature of some of the laws in the United States of this game world. Those elements are there. There's no denying it. But they're present by design. Here's why. Throughout history, whenever a society is totally dominated by one specific class, their sexual excesses tend to come to the forefront. Look at the Roman empire! This was the pattern I sought to bring to light in Downtrodden. Many of the lawmakers have these sexual fantasies and used the Traditional Values Act to turn those fetishes into law. The women have to wear high heels and other clothes that men often find attractive, women can be placed into the Do-Over program, effectively forcing them to become adult babies and so forth. These aspects are in place and it's no accident. I feel it adds to the realism and harkens back to the past. Moreover, it makes the PatriarQs all the more deplorable as villains.
While I'm rambling, I also want to state that while the game is assuredly anti-Patriarchy, it's not anti-male. Most of the men in the setting are against the laws that remove the rights from women and LGBTQ folks. The laws came into effect due to fear-mongering and manipulation of economic tragedy and of the system.
I hope this helps clear some things up.
Many folks have (understandably) voiced their concerns that the alt-right will see the game as a how-to guide or a source of inspiration for subjugating women and the LGBTQ community. That's a fair concern, to be honest and it makes me proud that my friends, fans and industry peers are on the lookout for such things.
As I've mentioned, Downtrodden is a cautionary tale that reflects the bottom end of the slippery slope that the United States now stands at the top of. It represents an extension of what we've been experiencing, what with Roe v. Wade being demolished, the Don't-Say-Gay issue coming into play, the public bathroom debacle becoming a thing for trans folks' safety and so on.
Right now, we *need* cautionary tales; something to open people's eyes about what all this could lead to if something isn't done. As a staunch egalitarian, having any semblance of a voice to create a cautionary tale is important to me.
Yes, the game's setting is disturbing and, yes, seeing the details of it can make one uncomfortable. That's the point. I want to shake people from their doldrums, make them see where we're heading and make them aware. Cautionary tales *are* disturbing. They *are* uncomfortable. But they rather *have* to be.
Right now, all folks are able to see are the snippets I've been sharing online and I can absolutely see why individuals might think that the game might glorify patriarchy. Believe me when I say that the Downtrodden rulebook will make it abundantly clear that the PatriarQs and their supporters are very much The Bad Guys. There's no wiggle room, there's no ambiguity and there's certainly no "matter of interpretation" to it.
If any of the alt-right folks read the game's rulebook (even if only a quick perusal of it), they'll certainly find themselves in unfriendly territory. They'll find that we're painting them to be exactly what they are: villains.
I also need to address the fetishistic nature of some of the laws in the United States of this game world. Those elements are there. There's no denying it. But they're present by design. Here's why. Throughout history, whenever a society is totally dominated by one specific class, their sexual excesses tend to come to the forefront. Look at the Roman empire! This was the pattern I sought to bring to light in Downtrodden. Many of the lawmakers have these sexual fantasies and used the Traditional Values Act to turn those fetishes into law. The women have to wear high heels and other clothes that men often find attractive, women can be placed into the Do-Over program, effectively forcing them to become adult babies and so forth. These aspects are in place and it's no accident. I feel it adds to the realism and harkens back to the past. Moreover, it makes the PatriarQs all the more deplorable as villains.
While I'm rambling, I also want to state that while the game is assuredly anti-Patriarchy, it's not anti-male. Most of the men in the setting are against the laws that remove the rights from women and LGBTQ folks. The laws came into effect due to fear-mongering and manipulation of economic tragedy and of the system.
I hope this helps clear some things up.
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