This is my own list gathered from the many lists and sources of controversial video games:
10. BMX XXX
Released – November 2002
Platform – Originally XBOX Then for PS2 and Gamecube
The game was a continuation of the BMX series (Bicycle Motorcross). The series was generally known for poor quality and poor sales so with the hopes of generating more attention the game creators decided to add nudity. You rode bikes as topless women and you were able to load bonus FMV sequences of strippers performing for you after completing tasks in the game.
The game was banned in Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us; and professional BMX bikers publically stated their displeasure with the game and that they were not involved with it.
9. Custer’s Revenge
Released – October 1982
Platform – Atari 2600
The game plot was rather simple. You controlled General Custer and your mission was to rape a Native American woman tied to a pole on the other side of the screen. You earned points each time you fucked her and you had to keep on dodging arrows flying at you, deducting your points if hit.
Women’s Rights Organizations, Native American Organizations, and Parent Organizations were offended that such a game existed and called for its boycott. Aside from that, avid video gamers gave it a bad rep due to its repetitive nature and lack of anything interesting.
8. Thrill Kill
Released – Game was never officially released.
Platform – Originally set for PlayStation; released some years later on Internet file sharing.
Thrill Kill was a game so bad that its publishers backed out from releasing it weeks before it was due to come out. They wanted nothing to do with it.
Thrill Kill was a fighting game similar to that of Mortal Kombat. You played as condemned souls sent to Hell; serial killers, pyromaniacs, terrorists, insane asylum inmates… etc. It was known for its BDSM content, sexually explicit fatalities, people fighting with body parts cut off; things like that.
Years later, developers who worked on Thrill Kill released the game via the Internet.
7. JFK Reloaded
Released – November 2004
Platform – Internet
In JFK Reloaded you play as Lee Harvey Oswald and your task was to assassinate President Kennedy. You were scored by how much of your actions matched that of the Warren Commission Report.
Senator Edward Kennedy called the game despicable and a little underground game became the center of national attention for a while.
6. Manhunt 2
Released – October 2007
Platform – Originally for PS2. Then for PlayStation Portable and Wii
Manhunt 2 was the sequel to the already very controversial game Manhunt. You play as a mental patient who has to kill for his freedom and find out who he is.
The game was censored many times due to its very violent content and had to keep pushing its release back more than one occasion to appeal to the censors. Attorney Jack Thompson unsuccessfully called for the game to be banned and over in the UK the game was released in October 2008; a year after its US release.
5. Night Trap
Released – October 1992
Platform – Originally for SegaCD. Then available for the PC.
Night Trap was a FMV video game; meaning the game consisted of live actors (Full-Motion Video).
The game plot consisted of a bunch of college girls having a slumber party at the Martin Residence. The hosts were vampires and you had to save the girls by clicking the screen at the right time setting of booby traps to stop the vampires.
Congressional hearings used this game as an example to enforce stricter ratings on video games saying how the game was sexually explicit, offensive to women, not for children, and called for it to be banned.
Night Trap starred Diff’rent Strokes’ Dana Plato.
4. Mortal Kombat
Released – 1992
Platform – Originally for the Arcade. Then became available on almost every platform with its many sequels.
Mortal Kombat was a martial-arts fighting game where you play as characters from many nationalities, sexes, sometimes species, and from different fighting styles.
Congress used this game in their quest to call for strict ratings on video games and from this the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) was formed.
Mortal Kombat was controversial due to its finishing movies aka the “fatalities” which consisted of decapitation, impalement, spines being ripped out, head crushing, burned alive.. etc.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Released – October 2004
Platform – Orginally PS2. Then for the XBOX and PC
While Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was controversial due to its violent content it didn’t become as widely notorious until the infamous Hot Coffee Mod incident.
A freelance modder created a mini-game for GTA: San Andreas that allowed the main character to engage in sexual acts. As this became more and more available via Internet download it gathered the attention of Senator Hilary Clinton, Attorney Jack Thompson and the like to call for its banning and for stores not to sell it.
Also, the gaming company RockStar did not like this addition to their game and people who commit similar “modifications” to their releases face legal action.
2. Postal 2
Released – April 2003
Platform – PC
Postal 2 is full of senseless violence with little purpose, the more you destroy the better. It’s full of racial stereotypes, anti-gay, animal abuse; nothing is spared.
Gary Coleman appears in this game. He appears in a shopping mall signing autographs and you have the choice to peacefully get his autograph or decide to fight him in a boss fight. Regardless if you fight him, Coleman is “killed” by the police but he continues to make appearance throughout the game.
1. Death Race
Released – 1976
Platform – Arcade; then an enhanced remake made for the Nintendo in 1990
The very first video game to inspire public protest due to its violent content.
Inspired by the Death Race movie, you had to run over as many gremlins as possible who then turned into a tombstone. Unheard of for the 1970s this arcade unit caused a moral outrage and protest. Game units were destroyed in video arcades; thus it caused people to make more of them and the sales for it went up tremendously.
It also gathered attention to the arcade industry and allowed the dying industry to prosper some more.
10. BMX XXX
Released – November 2002
Platform – Originally XBOX Then for PS2 and Gamecube
The game was a continuation of the BMX series (Bicycle Motorcross). The series was generally known for poor quality and poor sales so with the hopes of generating more attention the game creators decided to add nudity. You rode bikes as topless women and you were able to load bonus FMV sequences of strippers performing for you after completing tasks in the game.
The game was banned in Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us; and professional BMX bikers publically stated their displeasure with the game and that they were not involved with it.
9. Custer’s Revenge
Released – October 1982
Platform – Atari 2600
The game plot was rather simple. You controlled General Custer and your mission was to rape a Native American woman tied to a pole on the other side of the screen. You earned points each time you fucked her and you had to keep on dodging arrows flying at you, deducting your points if hit.
Women’s Rights Organizations, Native American Organizations, and Parent Organizations were offended that such a game existed and called for its boycott. Aside from that, avid video gamers gave it a bad rep due to its repetitive nature and lack of anything interesting.
8. Thrill Kill
Released – Game was never officially released.
Platform – Originally set for PlayStation; released some years later on Internet file sharing.
Thrill Kill was a game so bad that its publishers backed out from releasing it weeks before it was due to come out. They wanted nothing to do with it.
Thrill Kill was a fighting game similar to that of Mortal Kombat. You played as condemned souls sent to Hell; serial killers, pyromaniacs, terrorists, insane asylum inmates… etc. It was known for its BDSM content, sexually explicit fatalities, people fighting with body parts cut off; things like that.
Years later, developers who worked on Thrill Kill released the game via the Internet.
7. JFK Reloaded
Released – November 2004
Platform – Internet
In JFK Reloaded you play as Lee Harvey Oswald and your task was to assassinate President Kennedy. You were scored by how much of your actions matched that of the Warren Commission Report.
Senator Edward Kennedy called the game despicable and a little underground game became the center of national attention for a while.
6. Manhunt 2
Released – October 2007
Platform – Originally for PS2. Then for PlayStation Portable and Wii
Manhunt 2 was the sequel to the already very controversial game Manhunt. You play as a mental patient who has to kill for his freedom and find out who he is.
The game was censored many times due to its very violent content and had to keep pushing its release back more than one occasion to appeal to the censors. Attorney Jack Thompson unsuccessfully called for the game to be banned and over in the UK the game was released in October 2008; a year after its US release.
5. Night Trap
Released – October 1992
Platform – Originally for SegaCD. Then available for the PC.
Night Trap was a FMV video game; meaning the game consisted of live actors (Full-Motion Video).
The game plot consisted of a bunch of college girls having a slumber party at the Martin Residence. The hosts were vampires and you had to save the girls by clicking the screen at the right time setting of booby traps to stop the vampires.
Congressional hearings used this game as an example to enforce stricter ratings on video games saying how the game was sexually explicit, offensive to women, not for children, and called for it to be banned.
Night Trap starred Diff’rent Strokes’ Dana Plato.
4. Mortal Kombat
Released – 1992
Platform – Originally for the Arcade. Then became available on almost every platform with its many sequels.
Mortal Kombat was a martial-arts fighting game where you play as characters from many nationalities, sexes, sometimes species, and from different fighting styles.
Congress used this game in their quest to call for strict ratings on video games and from this the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) was formed.
Mortal Kombat was controversial due to its finishing movies aka the “fatalities” which consisted of decapitation, impalement, spines being ripped out, head crushing, burned alive.. etc.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Released – October 2004
Platform – Orginally PS2. Then for the XBOX and PC
While Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was controversial due to its violent content it didn’t become as widely notorious until the infamous Hot Coffee Mod incident.
A freelance modder created a mini-game for GTA: San Andreas that allowed the main character to engage in sexual acts. As this became more and more available via Internet download it gathered the attention of Senator Hilary Clinton, Attorney Jack Thompson and the like to call for its banning and for stores not to sell it.
Also, the gaming company RockStar did not like this addition to their game and people who commit similar “modifications” to their releases face legal action.
2. Postal 2
Released – April 2003
Platform – PC
Postal 2 is full of senseless violence with little purpose, the more you destroy the better. It’s full of racial stereotypes, anti-gay, animal abuse; nothing is spared.
Gary Coleman appears in this game. He appears in a shopping mall signing autographs and you have the choice to peacefully get his autograph or decide to fight him in a boss fight. Regardless if you fight him, Coleman is “killed” by the police but he continues to make appearance throughout the game.
1. Death Race
Released – 1976
Platform – Arcade; then an enhanced remake made for the Nintendo in 1990
The very first video game to inspire public protest due to its violent content.
Inspired by the Death Race movie, you had to run over as many gremlins as possible who then turned into a tombstone. Unheard of for the 1970s this arcade unit caused a moral outrage and protest. Game units were destroyed in video arcades; thus it caused people to make more of them and the sales for it went up tremendously.
It also gathered attention to the arcade industry and allowed the dying industry to prosper some more.
:super_hap
