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Controversial mass murdering game Hatred appears on Steam Greenlight

UPDATE: Has returned after previously being removed.
By Jeffrey Matulef Published 17/12/2014
UPDATE 17/12/2014 3.58am: Aaaaand Hatred is back on Steam Greenlight.
Ostensibly Valve had a change of heart. After all, it was briefly the seventh most wanted game on Steam Greenlight, so perhaps that inspired Valve to offer it via popular demand?
We've requested comment from both Valve and developer Destructive Creations on how the game got reinstated, and we'll update should we find out more.
In the meantime, Destructive Creations CEO Jarosław Zieliński's auto-reply e-mail contains a FAQ posing the all-important question: "Where's the line?" The answer: "No killing children or animals."
This morning Destructive Creations' Facebook page published an image of what looks like an email sent by Valve boss Gabe Newel to the developer's CEO that explains the decision.
"Hi, Jaroslaw," it begins.
"Yesterday I heard that we were taking Hatred down from Greenlight. Since I wasn't up to speed, I asked around internally to find out why we had done that. It turns out that it wasn't a good decision, and we'll be putting Hatred back up. My apologies to you and your team. Steam is about creating tools for content creators and customers.
"Good luck with your game.
"Gabe."
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UPDATE 16/12/2014 1.50am: Hatred developer Destructive Creations has responded to Valve's decision to remove Hatred from Steam Greenlight.
The developer noted that in a span of a "couple of hours" Hatred shot up to number seven on Steam Greenlight's list of most wanted titles with a total of 13,148 up votes.
Destructive Creations noted that it "fully respect[s] Valve's decision" and this won't impact the development of Hatred at all.
Here's the developer's statement in full:
"Dear Hatred Fans,
"As you know today we've launched our Steam Greenlight campaign for Hatred.
"Unfortunately after couple of hours Steam shut it down giving the below as reasons behind their decision:
“'We wanted you guys to know that based on what we see on Greenlight we would not publish Hatred on Steam. As such we'll be taking it down.'
"Even though games like Manhunt or Postal are still available on Steam we of course fully respect Valve's decision, as they have the right to do so. In the same time we want to assure you that this won't in any way impact the game's development, game's vision or gameplay features we're aiming for. The game is still to be released in Q2 2015 as planned.
"Moreover we don't treat this as a failure because yet again this showed us a huge community support we're totally overwhelmed with. After only a couple of hours Greenlight campaign being live, Hatred gathered 13,148 up votes and ended up on a #7 on Top 100 list.
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"This is the best proof for us that there are diehard Hatred fans out there, waiting for this game to be released. And that we need to keep going to deliver them a game that offers exciting and challenging gameplay.
"The whole situation only pushes us forward to go against any adversity and not to give up. It also makes us want to provide our fans Hatred pre-orders sooner, as many of you have asked for them.
"At the end of the day you, gamers will judge if we were able to do a game that's simply fun to play."
UPDATE 15/12/2014 7.14pm Valve has removed Hatred from Steam Greenlight.
"Based on what we've seen on Greenlight we would not publish Hatred on Steam. As such we'll be taking it down," Valve's Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer moments ago.
That didn't take long.
ORIGINAL STORY 15/12/2014 6.28pm Back in October Polish developer Destructive Creations announced Hatred, an isometric action game about a suicidal mass murderer mercilessly slaughtering civilians. Naturally, the project drew a lot of controversy, which seemed to be the point. Now, Hatred has appeared on Steam Greenlight.
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Someone needs a hug.
With over 1300 comments appearing on its Greenlight listing in its first few hours, Hatred is certainly getting a lot of attention. Some of it is weary of the game's discomforting ultra violence aimed at innocent bystanders, while others support the developer's desire to make the game it wants to make.
"We receive[d] a tons of supportive e-mails and it totally blows me away," Destructive Creations CEO Jarosław Zieliński told Eurogamer when the project was first announced. "[I] didn't expect this. And to all of those people: We won't disappoint you!"
Meanwhile, fashion label Björn Borg has taken the piss out of Hatred by creating a parody of its trailer - below - that advertises its own upcoming promotional game, First-Person Lover.
Due on 28th January for PC and Mac, First-Person Lover will spread a "message of love and acceptance" as players "battle evil forces with the power of love."
We've requested comment from Valve about its decision to allow Hatred on Steam Greenlight and will update should we hear back.
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Now compare it to the original Hatred trailer.
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Comments (909)
  • We've requested comment from Valve about its decision allow Hatred on Steam Greenlight and will update should we hear back.
    Why shouldn't it be allowed?

    On a side note: Watch how the very same people that claim to be open-minded and tolerant will make it their mission in life to censor and hate on a game they have absolutely no interest in. These are also the same people that whine about how the gaming community tends to focus on negativity. These are, again, the very same people that take offense to Ian Higton for having the audacity to suggest that you might not want to pre-order The Order: 1886, but will have no problem whatsoever with Higton suggesting the same for this game should he so desire.

    There are bucketloads of other games out there that put you in the shoes of a criminal and glamourise that particular lifestyle. Try maturity on for size; Don't like it? Don't buy it and move on.

    EDIT:
    Valve has removed Hatred from Steam Greenlight.

    "Based on what we've see on Greenlight we would not publish Hatred on Steam. As such we'll be taking it down," Valves Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer moments ago.
    Good to know gamers can keep murdering pixels and polygons in other violent video games approved by the Valve Board of Censorship & Double Standards. t(-_-t)     Reply +100 /284 - + Edit Delete
  • I see hatred going down a storm in Australia after all the fuss with gta over there. Reply +12 /34 - + Edit Delete
  • @Frogofdoom Something tells me they've got bigger worries today. Reply +75 /79 - + Edit Delete
  • We've requested comment from Valve about its decision allow Hatred on Steam Greenlight and will update should we hear back
    Why should Valve act as a censor? The whole point of Greenlight is that it gives the community, their customers, the chance to say whether they would play a game or not. Personally, I wouldnt play this and I can understand the outrage coming from certain quarters of the gaming community, but I absolutely disagree with the people demanding that the game be banned.

    If Valves community says that they want to play the game, who are Valve to tell them that they cant?

    *edit* Apparently some people struggle to read between the lines, so for clarity: Im not saying that Valve have to sell every game that people ask for, just that Valve should not be under any obligation to censor/remove a game that makes it through a successful Greenlight campaign. If the community decides that they want to play a game, Valve should not then overrule that decision. Censorship is a BAD thing, regardless of what is being censored.     Reply +48 /118 - + Edit Delete
  • 2edgy4me Reply +2 /42 - + Edit Delete
  • I don't support censorship so good luck to them. Reply +37 /79 - + Edit Delete
  • Where is this "controversy"? I saw some gaming sites try to stir some up, and that was it. What did I miss? Reply +31 /39 - + Edit Delete
  • Games like this worry me Reply +19 /109 - + Edit Delete
  • The developers have some nasty far right links and beliefs according to a link that EG mod posted. Hopefully it was sell fuck all. Reply +31 /71 - + Edit Delete
  • Controversial mass murdering game...
    GTA, COD, BF: Hardline, Titanfall, Destiny, Assassin's Creed, Far Cry?

    It's kinda funny that you had to follow that with the name of the game, which rather serves to disprove the point of the article.

    The tone and executions aren't my cup of tea, but the gameplay looked like it had potential.
    I look forward to the review.

    EDIT: I LOVE the parody advert! <3     Reply +12 /62 - + Edit Delete
  • Meanwhile in Uncharted 4 our favourite cheeky mass murderer goes on another ego driven rampage killing hundreds of men in the name of treasure. 9/10.

    ;)     Reply +129 /207 - + Edit Delete
  • @Pandy I guess the difference is that it puts you in the shoes of a mass murderer. Which for me is tasteless. And I can't see the game challenging my pre conceptions of that either Reply +31 /59 - + Edit Delete
  • Cool intro, love the idea of wandering into a nursery and repeated stabbing babies in the face, as long it isn't some QTE event....WTF!?! /sarcasm off

    If ever there was a time for the gaming community to vote with it's feet and avoid, this is it.

    Have to chuckle at the main character, hard as nails vigilante? Mass murderers are never hard as nails, they're broken, they weak and their actions do not need to be glorified in videogames.

    Just because we can make a thing, doesn't mean we should.

    Imagine the headlines, teenager kills schoolmates, blames the Videogame Hatred.

    Games community rises to defend game designed to allow you to act out mass murder, for the sake of murder?

    This world saddens me sometimes.     Reply +58 /134 - + Edit Delete
  • Low-scoring comment hidden. Show Reply -17 /117 - + Edit Delete
  • Low-scoring comment hidden. Show Reply -15 /65 - + Edit Delete
  • It's quite simple really, just allow it and allow for people to "vote", if you will, with their wallets. If the game is just a boring, childish slaughter-fest then hopefully few will buy it and we will have more inventive titles created further down the line. Reply +7 /23 - + Edit Delete
  • This game bugs me. I don't have troubles with violence in videogames, I played most GTAs and tons of FPS, always enjoyed them. Fact is, there was always a meaning in these videogames. In GTA you're a gangster, so crime is obviously part of the picture, you kill people in your rise to power, fame and/or money. In most FPS you are trying to survive, or win a war, or whatever. Those are not good reasons for violence, mind me, but at least they're reasons. It's like you're playing for a meaning, and violence is a byproduct. You pick up a role, enter a character, and play accordingly. In this case it's all about violence, and you're actually playing to die yourself. Can't say I would censor this, but it makes me seriously wonder what the hell is wrong with someone who comes up with an idea like this. And who could ever want to ever try out what it means to be a psycho mass murderer with no scope in life except destruction and his own demise? Reply +12 /56 - + Edit Delete
  • I had no idea that "pure gameplay" means celebrating wanton and visceral slaughter of characters who appear to be designed to be nothing more than "going about their day". I always assumed pure gameplay meant something like TxK or Spelunky, but I imagine the gulf is thanks to me not being #angrywhitemale enough to bridge it. Reply +27 /59 - + Edit Delete
  • Nope, this is repellent. The Hatred guys are free to make the game they choose, doesn't mean they should. Just making the world a shittier place. Reply +36 /82 - + Edit Delete
  • @bad09 Would you expect anything else?

    I'm surprised they didn't ask if there was also a female player character. You know equality #gamergate. ;p     Reply +4 /48 - + Edit Delete
  • @bad09
    I'm gonna buy it just too add a sale to upset the moral police.
    Call me cynical, but I imagine that's what the developers are counting on. ;)     Reply +60 /68 - + Edit Delete
  • @dogmanstaruk Yeah not even mention Mario, that has been killing thousands of innocent goombas. Reply +12 /20 - + Edit Delete
  • Because I don't support censorship I don't want this game to sell well.
    the next time there's a school shooting or something similar video games will take the blame again
    And shit like this is just making it easy for the daily mail crowd to point the finger     Reply +12 /32 - + Edit Delete
  • Low-scoring comment hidden. Show Reply -13 /25 - + Edit Delete
  • Ah Hatred is back! Along with it's right wing developers!

    The people supporting this are highly deluded individuals, probably the same type of people who would also support gamergate!

    Shock! Horror for a quick buck and fifteen minutes of fame!

    Outraged? Nah! Bored and Anti fascist? Yes!     Reply +6 /76 - + Edit Delete
  • @dogmanstaruk

    LOL! It's next Saturday's article :)     Reply -7 /19 - + Edit Delete
  • Post deleted Reply +2 /2 - + Edit Delete
  • All these games mentioned in the comments and not a single reference to Postal. Reply +36 /40 - + Edit Delete
  • @bad09
    It is very selective, isn't it.     Reply 0 /14 - + Edit Delete
  • @bad09 He he yeah. Reply -6 /16 - + Edit Delete
  • Low-scoring comment hidden. Show Reply -19 /49 - + Edit Delete
  • It's a disgrace, how dare they.
    I wished I lived in America...so I could purchase a gun and shoot those idiots. ;)     Reply -2 /32 - + Edit Delete
  • @Dajji77

    Don't tell, people might start to notice.     Reply -6 /12 - + Edit Delete
  • Correct decision.

    This game is a pointless, vile pile of steaming poo.     Reply +4 /50 - + Edit Delete
  • If I wasn't so busy shooting and skinning animals for my new wallet in Far Cry I would be appaulled by this game.

    Anyone seen a Rhino?     Reply +36 /62 - + Edit Delete
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