A game that requires players to bludgeon Australian Aborigines has been removed from stores following mass outrage, and no we’re not even joking.
In one of those stories that crushes our faith in humanity, Survival Island 3: Australia Story 3D was found on Apple’s iTunes App Store and Google Play on Friday, prompting thousands to sign a change.org petition calling for its removal.
The Killing Indigenous Australians is not a game! petition is also demanding the makers of the app, NIL Entertainment, apologise for even thinking up the idea, let along actually going ahead and creating the game.
https://youtu.be/DeuaviVZtHA
“The game shamelessly promotes the fact that you will “have to fight with aboriginals” and uses warning messages like, “Beware of Aborigines!” when Indigenous people appear on screen,” the petition reads.
“The game portrays Indigenous Australian’s as violent and aggressive. As well as trying to promote the Indigenous characters as authentic representations of a diverse culture through the description phrasing, ‘Meet real aboriginals’.”
The game’s description promises users an “unforgettable experience”, which features white men armed with bows and arrows being told to “beware of Aborigines”, and instructed to shoot or beat Indigenous people to death in order to survive and earn points.
Further screenshots posted by gamer R2 Darksaber before the app was removed from app stores over the weekend depict a dead Aboriginal Australian lying on dry ground, a white arm wielding a stone axe over him.
“Your goal is to survive… You also have to fight with aboriginals … It will be an unforgettable experience, so just enjoy!” the game claimed.
The game is rated 12+ by Apple and was released last month, costing $4.49.
People the world over took to Twitter to share the now successful petition, and express their absolute shock and horror at the game:
Killing #Aborigines is a crime and it should be condemned by everyone. Ban this despicable #NIL Entertainment app https://t.co/lIlKVTXD1x
— Bianca Jagger (@BiancaJagger) January 15, 2016
I love Australia, its flora, its fauna and ITS 50,000 YEAR OLD CULTURE which deserves more respect than this. https://t.co/JnzYzGkCUJ
— Mike Fitzsimon (@MikeFitzAU) January 16, 2016
@AppStore @GooglePlay Murder of Indigenous Australians – simulated or otherwise – is not entertainment. Via @Change: https://t.co/1aidYtqzIk
— Kristen Amiet (@KrissiAmiet) January 16, 2016
Abhorrent and unacceptable. Killing Indigenous Australians is not a game. https://t.co/1vVwP7rE9H
— Courtney Thompson (@courtneyypearl) January 15, 2016
