Hate groups are increasingly using racist and anti-Semitic computer games to recruit young people, according to a report released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Titles such as Ethnic Cleansing, Shoot the Blacks, and Concentration Camp Rat Hunt were among those studied by the ADL. The primary objective in these first-person shooter games is to kill as many non-whites, Jews, and other targeted groups as possible.
The proliferation of these so-called "white power games," which can be purchased or downloaded online, is a strategic effort by extremists to recruit younger members. Abraham Foxman, the national director of the ADL, stated that these games leverage modern technology to "seduce young people who are attracted and addicted to games, into bigotry, prejudice and anti-Semitism." He further described them as a "perversion of a well-meaning entertainment vehicle" that capitalize on the popularity of gaming.
The Game "Ethnic Cleansing"
One of the most sophisticated of these games is Ethnic Cleansing, produced by the National Alliance and sold on CD-ROM for $14.88. It was promoted by the group as the "most politically incorrect video game ever made." Developed using the Genesis 3D open-source software, the game is set in an urban environment where the protagonist eliminates Black and Latino characters on city streets before proceeding to a subway to kill Jewish characters and, ultimately, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
The game incorporates offensive audio cues: when a dark-skinned player character is killed, a monkey sound is played, and Jewish characters exclaim "oy vey" when shot. The soundtrack features racist rock music with hate-filled lyrics, and virtual walls are adorned with National Alliance posters displaying the group's URL. Notably, the game was released on January 21, 2002, coinciding with Martin Luther King Day.
Brian Marcus, an ADL Internet researcher, commented that Ethnic Cleansing was the first game he had encountered that utilized such sophisticated technology specifically for spreading a message of hate. William Pierce, chairman of the National Alliance, viewed computer games as another advertising vehicle for his group, which originated from publishing racist tabloids. He asserted their intention to "utilize whatever means we can to achieve our goals and bring new faces to our church."
Gameplay and Depictions
In Ethnic Cleansing, players assume the role of a Nazi skinhead or a Ku Klux Klan member, engaging in a violent rampage through urban settings. The objective is to murder Black and Latino characters, who are portrayed with offensive stereotypes. Black characters are depicted as "Gang-Bangers" making monkey and ape noises when killed, while Latinos are dressed as "banditos" and utter phrases like "I'll take a siesta now." Jewish characters are presented as Hasidic Jews who shout "oy vey!" when shot.
The game's boss battles include encounters with a character referred to as the "Big Nig" and Ariel Sharon, who is depicted as orchestrating a plot for Jewish world domination. The game extensively utilizes over-the-top racial stereotypes to convey its developers' message. However, much of its gameplay content is described as rough and unpolished, with numerous bugs, AI issues, and graphical errors, leading to unfavorable comparisons with other games.
The game's developers, Resistance Records, a label owned by the white supremacist/neo-Nazi group National Alliance, released Ethnic Cleansing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2002, a deliberate choice to coincide with the civil rights leader's holiday. Shaun Walker, the chairman of the National Alliance, stated that the game's sole purpose was to be "racially provocative" and it was advertised as the "most politically incorrect video game ever made."
Ethnic Cleansing was developed using Genesis3D, an open-source 3D game engine, and its Reality Factory tools. This allowed for the game's creation with minimal source code modifications. D. Bryan Ringer designed and programmed the game using Visual Basic and C++, with Bob Hawthorne contributing video and sound elements, including voice work for Jewish characters. The game was released by Resistance Records, which is owned by the National Alliance.
Related and Successor Games
Resistance Records released a spiritual successor to Ethnic Cleansing in 2003 called White Law. In this game, players control a white police officer who becomes enraged by multiculturalism, which the game portrays as transforming his city into a "Gangsterland." Following White Law, Resistance Records released ZOG's Nightmare 1 and 2, where players are tasked with "taking America back" from alleged Jewish domination.
Other games associated with extremist ideologies include:
- Shoot the Blacks: A game with a direct and explicit title targeting Black individuals.
- Concentration Camp Rat Hunt: This game involves players shooting Jewish characters depicted as "rats" within the Auschwitz death camp.
- The Great Rebellion: Developed by Kvlt Games, this game pushes extremist, racist, and pan-European ideology, while intentionally obscuring its messaging with satire and pop culture references to evade moderation.
- Heimat Defender: An earlier game by Kvlt Games that was more overtly extremist and subsequently removed from gaming platforms.
- KZ Manager: An early extremist game from the 1990s in Germany and Austria, which simulated running the Treblinka concentration camp and involved simulated killing of Jewish prisoners.
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The Broader Context: Extremism and Gaming
The use of video games by hate groups is part of a larger strategy to recruit younger members. These games employ modern technology to attract individuals who are drawn to gaming, thereby seducing them into embracing bigotry, prejudice, and anti-Semitism. Extremist organizations recognize the appeal of video games and are adapting them to spread their ideology and reach new audiences.
Nisos researchers noted that newer extremist games, such as The Great Rebellion, intentionally sacrifice overt political messaging for more obscure satire, pop culture references, and memes. This approach aims to avoid detection and moderation by gaming platforms. This contrasts with earlier extremist games, which were characterized by graphic violence and overt hate speech, making them more straightforward to identify.
The National Alliance, for instance, has a history of using games to promote its ideology. William Luther Pierce, the group's founder, claimed that Ethnic Cleansing had a positive reception, with a significant portion of its sales attributed to "white teenage boys." He viewed it as a "medium for the message" that could influence teenagers before they were old enough to join the National Alliance.
Academic writers have observed that video games, coupled with popular culture, serve as an effective recruitment tool for young people. Some games even incorporate elements that subtly reinforce extremist ideologies. For example, in Ethnic Cleansing, the collectable life rune, which doubles as the National Alliance's logo, restores the player's health, potentially leading players to associate the symbol with positive effects.
The trend of extremist organizations using video games is not new, with examples dating back to the early 1990s. However, the sophistication and methods of delivery have evolved. The availability of open-source game engines like Genesis3D has made it easier for extremist groups to create and distribute their own games or modify existing ones. This has led to concerns about the increasing ease with which hate-filled content can be spread online.
The use of gaming platforms for extremist recruitment and communication has been observed across various platforms. For instance, the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen utilized Discord for sharing bomb-making manuals and plotting violent acts. White supremacists have also been identified on platforms like Roblox. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant increase in online gaming, providing a larger captive audience for recruiters.
Furthermore, there is a growing concern about the intersection of cryptocurrency and extremist gaming. As payment processing and credit card companies have ceased servicing white supremacist groups, cryptocurrency has become an important form of exchange. The rise of crypto-gaming presents another avenue for these groups to operate and potentially fund their activities.
Despite efforts by gaming platforms and anti-hate organizations to identify and remove harmful content, the evolving tactics of extremist groups, including the use of satire and pop culture references, make detection and moderation increasingly challenging. This highlights the ongoing need for vigilance and adaptive strategies to combat the spread of hate ideologies within the gaming community.