I wonder how many of the "activist" in this thread play Call of Duty?Infinity Ward is a very conservative republican studio who donated a bunch of money to the McCain/Palin campaign in 2008 and Republicans hate homosexuals because they are against gay marriage right?Isn't that the logic being used here?Don't play the Call of Duty games because they are made by a bunch of homophobes.Man this shit is redonkulous.

The whole notion of buying the game and then donating to charity to "offset the hate" reminds me exactly of this: Trippin'

I'm super interested in the opinions of everyone here, and thanks to you guys for a lively debate (keep it coming, I've got popcorn)! It doesn't really matter to me in this case, as Shadow Complex isn't my type of game (I did try the demo, too), but it does make me wonder what I would do if, say, I find out that a game I was looking forward to had even more concrete ties to stances that I also don't particularly care for. I actually hope that the guys talk about this in some fashion on the Bombcast.
 

I dont want someone who hates gays to have any of my money.
Difficult for me to see beyond that. Regardless of the content of the game, that sick fuck profits and any success he has reinforces his idea that his beliefs are acceptable.

....people aren't buying Shadow Complex because Orson Scott Card is slightly related to it, and he doesn't like gay marriage? 
 
 
Also: I never knew there were gay charities.

" That's right. There's an anti-semite at the locally run cafe getting some joe and people are boycotting the cafe. And I'm utilizing my freedom of speech to let them know how stupid and backwards that is. Buying the game and donating is fine (but I should think you would want to donate on your own regardless of some video-game if you support the cause) but boycotting a developer for its tenuous link to a Mormon is fucking stupid from every possible angle. You're free to do it, and I'm free to comment on it. "

That's right. There's an anti-semite at the locally run cafe getting some joe and people are boycotting the cafe. And I'm utilizing my freedom of speech to let them know how stupid and backwards that is. Buying the game and donating is fine (but I should think you would want to donate on your own regardless of some video-game if you support the cause) but boycotting a developer for its tenuous link to a Mormon is fucking stupid from every possible angle. You're free to do it, and I'm free to comment on it.

oo that's interesting. I think people should play nice and respect other people's beliefs, wants, and desires. And also give me cheetos.

" It doesn't matter to me at all.  I'd never go out of my way to support gay marriage or to ban it.  If people want to boycott the the game, it's their business.  If you really feel strongly about something, you have to put your foot down somewhere.  I'd argue that if you're honestly upsoet by Card's involvement in the game but feel that not buying a XBLA is too big of a sacrifice to make, you probably don't care to much about the issue to begin with. "

" It doesn't matter to me at all.  I'd never go out of my way to support gay marriage or to ban it.  If people want to boycott the the game, it's their business.  If you really feel strongly about something, you have to put your foot down somewhere.  I'd argue that if you're honestly upsoet by Card's involvement in the game but feel that not buying a XBLA is too big of a sacrifice to make, you probably don't care to much about the issue to begin with. "

Gays aren't real people though, so I don't see any problem ?

It doesn't matter to me at all.  I'd never go out of my way to support gay marriage or to ban it.  If people want to boycott the the game, it's their business.  If you really feel strongly about something, you have to put your foot down somewhere.  I'd argue that if you're honestly upsoet by Card's involvement in the game but feel that not buying a XBLA is too big of a sacrifice to make, you probably don't care to much about the issue to begin with.

Democracy--especially our representative democracy--is not some attempt to to satisfy the wants of a majority of the people. That is an oversimplification of the ideals behind democracy not the implementation of it. That system is called Utilitarianism. Under that system, if a majority of the people wanted blacks, whites, Christians, atheists, muslims, brown-eyes, or people with long toenails not to have equal rights, it would be so. We do not live under that system. Sometimes it is fortunate, sometimes it is not. Equal rights is one instance it is wonderful that we don't have a system such as this. The majority of the majority will either not care or will actively want to maintain their superior position by holding down the minorities.
 
In a representative democracy, citizens have the opportunity to select their decision-makers by voting. They cannot decide that a group based on some differentiating factor does not have the same rights as another.
 
Also, it is never a state government's right to deny a group their rights. The Constitution has an amendment that addresses this specifically called the Equal Protection Clause.

Hate the artist, not the art, that's what I always say.

Sweep's blog has attracted 1,000+ views.  That truly says something about the quality of his blogs...or the dedication of his friends... 
 
I'm not sure which...but you write good blogs anyways, so whatever.

I've been reading over all the comments in this thread and wanted to touch on a few things  : 

1. I believe what Card was referring to when he made the statement about "gay marriage destroying democracy" was that there are far more people in this country that oppose gay marriage than there are people who are for it and if it were to be made a law then it would be against the majority of American's wishes.
2. To assume that he "hates" homosexual people simply because he does not agree with homosexuality is not right,I know someone who's best friend is homosexual but yet this person has made it completely clear that she does not agree with his lifestyle,and he understands,and they have been best friends for over 20 years.I don't agree with obesity,but I don't hate overweight people either.
3. This guy really made laugh because he calls the other guy "insensitive" right before calling him a "webtard",I lol'ed,hard.
   
4. People are such pussies nowadays,always worried about "offending" somebody,quit being such whiny bitches all the time.
5. People always act so holier than thou,like they've never said something derogatory about another human being,at some point everyone has said something negative about another person,that's called being human.You can't always label someone a homophobe,racist,etc.,just because of one view or opinion,it's just not always that cut and dry.
6. As for the guy that made the comment about groups of people who holler about "equality" and then do there best to seperate themselves,and used gaygamer.com as an example, I'm thinking of starting a website called "straightwhitemalegamer.com",it's gonna be the shit,we'll be the most hated website on the web : )
   

It's not like buying this game is going to transform Orson Scott Card into a giant robot that flies from state to state reversing gay marriage laws...OR IS IT?!

Boycotts are usually fucking stupid.

While I support your cause here, I hardly think this is worthy of consideration simply because gaming personalities have absolutely no power in the real world--especially this one.

I don't think that Cliffy B or the good folks at chair are homophobes, so I'm okay with buying the game.

Saying things like, "We all support people we might not want to, without knowing it."  Is, kind of, burying your head in the sand.  In this one case you know and in this one case you can make a small difference.  If he the things Card has said and done bother you, and the idea of Chair collaborating with him doesn't sit right, then all you can do is speak with your wallet.  
 
Otherwise, don't worry about it and enjoy the game.

I don't care what the dude's beliefs are. I don't even care if the entire dev team thinks like him, if the game is good, and I know I'll have fun playing it, I'm buying it. People are allowed to think differently, I guarantee that more than half of the stuff, virtual or physical, you spend money on, involves someone who you wouldn't agree with.

" @Nate: I am all for educating people on the issue if they want, thats fine. But it just stood out as weird to me why do they need peoples money to do so? I mean you can educate people through conversation and debate or whatever, whenever you want for free. You could do it through befriending people, teaching them better that way. Or with your deeds or any number other methods maybe. I don't really know because I have never sort to do it myself because I am simply no invested in it and as far as 'causes' go I'll be honest and say it's not high on my list of things to care about. Whats the money going towards to aid them to do it better?   I only ask because I would be generally interested to see what these gay charities A) Did with their proceeds and B) How thats proven to be effective. I may have a different idea to other people about why a charity should exist but I am failing to see where it should for the gay community. Because educating people on how you live your life is one thing. Campaigning for people to change their minds under the guise of a charity is another. Because even though I have no objection to how people live their lives I don't necessarily see people thinking a homosexual lifestyle as bad is terribly evil either. The way I see it people are entitled to that opinion as long as it isn't used as the basis for denying someone something they would be right to expect as a human being.   I know this isn't exactly in line with the original topic, but its something that just stood out in whats been said. "

this game is good, fucking great even, whether O.S.W. is a homophobe or not is no matter to me.

" @natetodamax said:

" I don't get it... "

One of the games designers publicly speaks out against homosexuality. People don't want to buy his game.   What's not to get? "

" I think what Anthony Gallegos said on the Rebel FMcast, He was saying that if you knew the back story between 90% of the games you bought you'd want to boycott them too. "

I think what Anthony Gallegos said on the Rebel FMcast, He was saying that if you knew the back story between 90% of the games you bought you'd want to boycott them too.

I don't understand why it is dumb to have this discussion.

I have a friend who's parents are very conservative and they won't go to movies starring outspoken liberals (Sean Penn was the only example I can remember although in all honesty it seems like most actors are quite liberal).  I kind of thought that was ridiculous and boycotting this game also seems a bit ridiculous, but hey we each have to stand up for what we believe in in different ways.  I am in favor of gay marriage and believe we need to push for greater equality, but I bought the game and don't feel any guilt about it.  I reward developers who make great games by buying those games.

" This is dumb. A guy is entitled to what he says just as much as gays are entitled to thier rights. This is america. "

The whole offset the hate thing is ridiculous. Firstly I have no understanding of what a worthy gay charity is, why it would exist. Someone may like to explain it to me some time because when I think charity I think of giving the homeless another shot or feeding starving children somewhere. I also think about things like curing cancer or some other crappy disease trying to turn your money towards a positive outcome. Why exactly are we raising money for a gay charity here? Are we trying to feed them or cure them of their gayness of something? I would like to hope not and I really don't get it. 
 
Also just the idea that a gay person, or anyone with some sort of investment in gay rights would boycott the game is futile. Is it going to change his mind? No. It is going to change the minds of the other people paying for the game? No probably not either. If anything it fuels publicity to it and probably sells more copies. I'm sorry gay community (personally I got no issues with your life style) but feeling bad for kinda liking some game with some connection to a guy who doesn't like the way you live your life is fucking stupid. 

Wow the fact that this is even a big topic is just hilarious.

What actually happened is the writer who's material the game is loosely based on is homophobic, therefore reactionaries immediately decided that the appropriate course of action is to punish the entire development team that has nothing to do with outspoken homophobia for views that are not necessarily theirs by boycotting this seemingly innocuous game.

People like Card are holding back society.  And people that think L4D2 is unjustified are also idiots.  Valve can make any game they want, why would you want to hinder their freedom?

I'll pay money for a quality product. If the KKK decided to sponsor Modern Warfare 2, I'm still buying the game. It's a great game. Theres no anti-gay things in Shadow Complex, so I don't see the problem. The money Orson Scott Card makes off the game is his to do what he wants with. It's America. I do't agree with the view, but it's his opinion and he's entitled to think that way if he wants to.

" sigh more gay fervor "

sigh more gay fervor

" @natetodamax said:

" I don't get it... "

One of the games designers publicly speaks out against homosexuality. People don't want to buy his game.   What's not to get? "

We seem to agree on many points sweep, and we make similar points...our blog names are similar as well. Well shit...I think were wearing the same out fits as well. Damn.
 
Haha Great read though sweep