Newgrounds Defends Hosting of V-Tech Rampage Game

Last week we reported a number of stories surrounding the controversial flash game V-Tech Rampage. The game and its content came under fire because it depicts an amateur video game surrounding the massacre at the university campus.

The game was programmed by an Australian man and is hosted by Newgrounds, a popular flash game repository. Until now Newgrounds has been quiet and stayed out of the coverage but yesterday afternoon Ross Snyder, a Newgrounds programmer, posted a note about why the company is and will continue to host the controversial game.

“We’re a place where you can find polished, professional-quality animations and games, as well as creations that are more coarse, more personal, more “anything goes” – and everybody’s welcome. While we do have some loose content guidelines, the site is still a haven for artists that might not have anyplace else to gain exposure for their work.”

Snyder goes on to say that Newgrounds is a home for content that is often considered “edgy” and that though he personally finds the game in bad taste that the communicty members will judge the merits and they should have the opportunity to do so.

Snyder’s full statement is copied after the jump, but to read the discussion that has flourished since his post click here.

“I think this is a good time to reflect on what Newgrounds is all about. When Tom first started the site many years ago, it was a place for his personal creations, some of which were too “edgy” for the mainstream (such as Assassin, Club A Seal, and Telebubby Fun Land). Many of his productions pushed (and occasionally pole vaulted over) the limits of “good taste”, but he published them nevertheless, and they found an audience. The number of NG visitors grew rapidly and soon other artists started sending Tom their Flash creations for him to post. It turned out that a lot of people didn’t really have an outlet for their not-fit-for-the-mainstream creativity – and Newgrounds evolved from a showcase for Tom’s work into a showcase for everyone’s work, free of the usual moral judgement and censorship.”

“Newgrounds found its niche and flourished, and today, we have one of the most unique communities on the Internet. We’re a place where you can find polished, professional-quality animations and games, as well as creations that are more coarse, more personal, more “anything goes” – and everybody’s welcome. While we do have some loose content guidelines, the site is still a haven for artists that might not have anyplace else to gain exposure for their work.”

“Speaking only for myself, I think V-Tech Rampage is in poor taste. In terms of gameplay, it’s decent, but tying it to this recent tragedy is a bad idea, in my opinion.”

“Still, it’s not any one person’s job to judge the Flash that people submit to The Portal. That’s left up to the Newgrounds community at large, which judges submissions with its votes. As the saying goes, I may disagree with what PiGPEN’s doing, but I’ll forever defend his right to do it. Telling him that his game should not be allowed on Newgrounds goes against the principles upon which this site was founded. You’re entitled to form any opinion you like about him and his work, but once we take away his right to put it here on NG, we lose track of what makes Newgrounds great.”