Photos of penises and personal attacks: the creators of God of War Ragnarok and Return to Monkey Island and the toxicity of networks

Sony’s God of War game is considered one of the best in the last 20 years. Its continuation god of war ragnarokIt has been in development for three years and should be released this year.

The game is several months late, which is logical in such a complex blockbuster and is a key game for Sony to achieve the highest quality.

Last Thursday presumably Sony was about to announce the release date of God of War Ragnarok, but that did not happen. Some fans took it the wrong way, and started sending pictures of the penis to one of the game’s producers, Estelle Tigani., “in exchange” for the release date. Game creator Corey Barlock blew up on Twitter, criticizing this behaviour:

Literal translation: Are you fucking kidding me now? I can’t believe I have to say this, but don’t send member photos to ANYONE on this team or anyone in this industry. They work their asses off to make some games for you. Show fucking respect“.

It can be said higher, but not clearer.

Another kind of persecution occurred with the mythical Ron Gilbert, Monkey Island saga creatorwhich returns to him 30 years later with “Return to Monkey Island”.

The first trailer has been shown for the game, and although it was developed by many of the original creators of the saga, its new graphical aspect was heavily criticized. You can see it here:

But one thing is an opinion, free, and another is another insults and personal attacks which caused Ron Gilbert to close comments on his blog and no longer comment on the development of the game.

As Gilbert himself explained:I turn off comments. People are annoying and I have to delete comments with personal attacks. It’s an amazing game and the whole team is very proud of it. Play it or not, don’t spoil others. I will not write about the game anymore, I have lost the pleasure of sharing information.“:

These are two different types of attacks on video game creators, but they have a lot in common: so-called “fans” who persecute, insult and despise those who make a game for them, because they don’t like something.

This is a problem that has many readings. Until recently, it was inconceivable that no one would tell Picasso how to paint Guernica, or send images of penises to Gaudí’s house, because three years have passed and the Sagrada Familia is still not finished…

The greatest geniuses of mankind were because went against the conventions of the time. That is why they are geniuses. Who has the right to tell Ron Gilbert what art to use in his game?

This is perhaps the first error of the system: that the creators are in direct contact with the fans. It would be enough to break this connection, but video games also depend on advertising, labeling, hype, and therefore it is not so easy.

On the other hand the role of social networks, which are still too indifferent to the fight against trolls. None of them need them, but they don’t want to lose users either…

the drama is the very best, smartest, most articulate, those who can contribute the most are leaving social media due to its toxicity.

And trolls, losers, worthless, populists are the ones who become the majority. How could we let them be the ones who set the pace?