Considering that they're now "featured content" around here, I'm not certain I should link to the Game Theory episode that speaks about this game and how the controversy up to it was all exactly what the developers wanted in order to promote their game and push sales. Basically it compares the controversy over this game to the controversy over the game series that would eventually go on to become GTA.
And really, you'd kinda have to be blind to see that that's not exactly what was going on to begin with. Why else make a game that's so obviously deliberately trying to be "offensive"? You'll get people talking about your game, that's why. Brand Recognition and all that jazz. Doesn't matter if it's just a "meh" game after that, you've already sold your product and gotten the money, no need to be concerned with it beyond that point.
In short: this game was only ever meant to be a quick way for the developer to make a buck...I doubt they really gave a damn about it's artistic value (not going to say whether it has any or not...I'll leave that judgement to people who actually feel like arguing about it
).