Hit the *****: A Domestic Violence Videogame

[smithy1234]

How backwards can you get Denmark?

 

[CD-R]

I guess it helps to be able to speak Danish, so here's a little help.

The game starts with the girl supposedly coming out from a party, some music in the background.
She tells that she's had the time of her life talking and dancing with a bunch of people.
Silence as if the player is saying something.
She gets upset and says that you can't dictate who she wants to dance with.
First hit.
She calls you weak and a loser.
Second hit.
She continues calling you a bastard with a small dick and so on.
More hits. At one time she said "the only time you feel like a man is when you're taking me from behind while I scream "No"".
Game ends and a Danish rapper (can't figure out which) says you're an idiot and you should get help and 2 links pop up directing you to some counceling sites.

Personally I think it's great. It shows some very real consequences to a very real problem, without your body and brain completely numb by alcohol. I think the trick with this game is to get people's attention before it gets out of hand. The "I hit you because I love you"-mentality.

Is that really what she says? Wow. Jeez if you're trying to make a PSA about domestic violence don't make the victim someone people want to hit.

 

[Cliff_m85]

And "way to much for some Americans to comprehend"? Oh come off it.

have you read some of these comments? also i remember reading quite allot about a certain news station getting their knickers in a twist when ever any one did anything in a videogame, i did say some, not you.

Yes, but to portion out Americans when it also goes on in Germany, Australia, and plenty of even nuttier places is what makes me go 'whaaaa???'. I'd just go with "some people couldn't comprehend it". And yes, Fox News is a joke when it comes to video game news.....but then again so is the whole government of Australia.

 

[Cliff_m85]

How backwards can you get Denmark?

The game has you strike a woman repeatedly.
The game portrays the beating in a negative light.
The game's point was to stimulate discussion on the topic of abuse.
We are discussing the topic of abuse.


The game did what the programmers wanted it to. Yet again, I must repeat, it's just a game.

 

[aesshen]

I think that it's possible to fulfill the purpose of a marketing stunt like this - that is, to get people talking about domestic violence - and still to have fucked up pretty badly. It's on a pretty small scale, but the ends don't justify the means.

 

[dmccune]

Your post is precisely my reasoning for witnessing the content first hand. She in no way actually pleads for mercy nor is she at any moment sobbing. The only sense of significance is slight sniffs, akin to be on the verge of tears only after completion. During the abusive portion of the 'game' she is apparently insulting you as Haz88 explained.

Correct my assumption if I am mistaken however I am under the impression you are insinuating real life and curiosity upon a 'video game' are within the same wave length. If such be true that is a bold accusation and undoubtedly false. My argument is the message portrayed is limited, if not entirely lost. Few who believe abusing their girlfriends is wrong will hold any concern upon a website calling them an idiot. In all honesty this 'game' is tame by comparison to what something such as GTA allows.

Edit: My apologies, code error.

My playthrough must have been different, because I saw her crying. There are multiple loops after each hit, and I watched most of them before proceeding, so maybe thats it.

Anyway, no, that isnt my insinuation. What I'm trying to do is point out an analogy between what you do in the game and what abusers do in real life. Also, I don't believe this is directed at abusers, I think its more broadly directed at changing the cultural lifestyle which finds such abuse appropriate or acceptable (i.e. needing to control your *****).

The analogy is as follows.
IN THE GAME:
You start playing the game for whatever reason.
There is a pussy--->gangsta meter.
You beat up the girl and become more gangsta.
At some point, the girl is really beaten, has a bleeding nose, looks crying/near tears, overall pathetic (I actually found this hard to deal with... I found it extremely pitiful, your milage may very).
Yet, you continue to hit, because for whatever reason you want to see the gangsta meter hit 100%.

IN REAL LIFE:
People want to be gangsta for whatever reason. (Its cool I guess?)
Certain things are necessary to become more gangsta. (controlling your *****)
You control your ***** through physical violence.
You ignore the consequences of your actions as they relate to your girl.
You continue to beat your girl, because it is necessary to achieve the gangsta prestige you want.

In both cases, at some point, you're ignoring something profoundly disturbing, in pursuit of your goal (seeing what happens at 100% gangsta, being popular, etc). The game sets up an action-> reward system and lets you go, just like real life. And, just like real life, the value you place on the reward is entirely subjective. So, you value seeing what happens at 100% gangsta enough to continue to virtually participate in abuse. Just like in real life some people value being gangsta enough to commit real abuse. The problem is that being gangsta is percieved to include abuse... and therefore the gangsta culture needs to change/be destroyed.

 

[Treblaine]

It's a video game.

It's not like there is an option to make her a cup of tea, you either keep hitting her or quit the game.

And no, he did NOT do a horrible thing, absolutely no one was hurt, he only simulated doing what WOULD be a horrible thing if it were real, and only did it because the game practically explicitly told him to. Don't mix up fantasy and reality.

It's like saying if you're watching a horror movie "Why don't you just pause the movie, then the monster won't ever kill the woman" but that's not the freaking point.

He did a horrible thing *in a video game*. I'm not confusing fantasy with reality. He simulated a horrible thing in a video game.

Your movie/game analogy is flawed. The whole point of the video game is to give the player control. The PLAYER is the one acting. In a movie, there are characters making the decisions. You might not watch it happen, but it still does. Right, there is no 'cup of tea' option, but there is a 'quit the game' option. If the player quits, *they* are not beating the woman anymore.

And saying 'the game told him too' is a cop out. The game is called "hit the *****" and you're given a pussy-gangsta meter and told how to slap. YOU THE PLAYER assumed that the woman was the ***** and you were to hit her. You continued to do this EVEN AFTER SHE TELLS YOU TO STOP. The game is telling you to stop and that what you're doing is wrong, BUT YOU KEEP DOING IT. Why? Because you want to fill the gangsta meter up.

Christ, do a little self-relection now and then.

edit: and after seeing the Danish response above, I think I was pretty close-on in my analysis.

I do horrible things in video games ALL THE TIME, though mainly to "complete the mission" but I know where the game ends.

From what I hear about this incredibly shallow game it's pretty clear they would keep playing it to see how far the game would go. Don't be so naive as to think in real life someone would beat a woman about of curiosity and don't be so melodramatic as if this game is in any way equivalent to real life.

I'll admit I'd probably feel pretty shitty about myself afterwards but it is obvious the developer was manipulating us into a completely unreal circumstance.

Personally I think this is a terrible game, not simply because you are hitting a woman but for how ham fisted it tries to approach the issue of domestic abuse.

And the main issue with that is women who are beaten don't call the police, they don't leave, they even cover it up. The solution is not changing mens attitudes with shitty games like this but empowering women to take a stance and not let their partner get away with this.

That is why domestic abuse is such a serious issue, not simply because it happens in the home but due to the nature of relationships it is covered up and women even refuse to testify.

They should make a game where YOU play as the woman being hit and have to make the "right" decision to call the authorities even though the boyfriend is saying and doing everything to make it a very hard decision to pick up the phone and report the bastard.

Anther problem with this game is it dehumanises women... sorry but this game does, from the way it describes it there is no possibility of real human empathy you would have towards a proper character, just a 2D animation. Pitty for a crying woman is not the same as empathy. Interaction is needed, proper deep interaction or at least a better illusion of that.

Again, a better scenario would be to have men role play the woman in a relationship (bear with me) and they experience what it is like having a domestic abuser for a partner. Role playing a character creates a HUGE amount of empathy for them... walk a mile in their moccasins I guess.

That is a proper way to use video games against domestic abuse.

This game is just titillation and I don't mean titillation the way you are thinking.

 

[kannibus]

I think I can hear the bell tolling for the collective dignity of the human race.

 

[smithy1234]

How backwards can you get Denmark?

The game has you strike a woman repeatedly.
The game portrays the beating in a negative light.
The game's point was to stimulate discussion on the topic of abuse.
We are discussing the topic of abuse.


The game did what the programmers wanted it to. Yet again, I must repeat, it's just a game.

I think the point of the game was to show people that beating your wife/girlfriend is bad. Yet the game fails at this because at the end all you get is a "100% idiot" slap on the wrist. IMO it does a bad job of portraying it as negatively as it should be.

 

[el_negro]

Dear non-danish visitor,

Due to an extremely high amount of traffic "Hit the *****" has been limited to only allow users from Denmark.

However, domestic violence is a global problem, so please support the fight against it in your local country.

Thanks for your interest.

Kind regards
Children exposed to Violence at Home

Information in english about the organisation


pfff really intelligent xD

 

[PureChaos]

that seems a little bit weird

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

It's a video game.

It's not like there is an option to make her a cup of tea, you either keep hitting her or quit the game.

And no, he did NOT do a horrible thing, absolutely no one was hurt, he only simulated doing what WOULD be a horrible thing if it were real, and only did it because the game practically explicitly told him to. Don't mix up fantasy and reality.

It's like saying if you're watching a horror movie "Why don't you just pause the movie, then the monster won't ever kill the woman" but that's not the freaking point.

He did a horrible thing *in a video game*. I'm not confusing fantasy with reality. He simulated a horrible thing in a video game.

Your movie/game analogy is flawed. The whole point of the video game is to give the player control. The PLAYER is the one acting. In a movie, there are characters making the decisions. You might not watch it happen, but it still does. Right, there is no 'cup of tea' option, but there is a 'quit the game' option. If the player quits, *they* are not beating the woman anymore.

And saying 'the game told him too' is a cop out. The game is called "hit the *****" and you're given a pussy-gangsta meter and told how to slap. YOU THE PLAYER assumed that the woman was the ***** and you were to hit her. You continued to do this EVEN AFTER SHE TELLS YOU TO STOP. The game is telling you to stop and that what you're doing is wrong, BUT YOU KEEP DOING IT. Why? Because you want to fill the gangsta meter up.

Christ, do a little self-relection now and then.

edit: and after seeing the Danish response above, I think I was pretty close-on in my analysis.

And such is the idiocy of the apparent message and reason it fails to compute. This is a simulation as previously stated with no actual ramifications for your virtual actions. By closing the website I would not have been able to learn the full content, which by in large as mentioned prior is tame in comparison to television, video games and movies. In video games I may play the role of a human with a psychotic bloodlust who desires naught beyond the demise of an entire city. Fable, GTA, Saints Row all allow such action. Mass Effect, Jade Empire, Fallout 3 increase the significance by intentionally allowing the player the possibility to scheme the murder of an individual indirectly with dialogue options.

The difference? The aforementioned titles are perceived as fantasy because of their video game status. This website is attempting to showcase reality however a simulation cannot compare. Would I play it again? No, I have no reason now I have accurately reviewed the content. The movie/game analogy is an ideal comparison. I have full control of my avatar in any video game, and yet am rewarded for such evil actions.

Alter the gameplay every so slightly to include the terms ?Good? and ?Evil?, add a fire breathing dragon whilst offering a reward of some variation and suddenly it would be deemed acceptable humor because such is considered fantasy by this juncture.

Your post is precisely my reasoning for witnessing the content first hand. She in no way actually pleads for mercy nor is she at any moment sobbing. The only sense of significance is slight sniffs, akin to be on the verge of tears only after completion. During the abusive portion of the 'game' she is apparently insulting you as Haz88 explained.

Correct my assumption if I am mistaken however I am under the impression you are insinuating real life and curiosity upon a 'video game' are within the same wave length. If such be true that is a bold accusation and undoubtedly false. My argument is the message portrayed is limited, if not entirely lost. Few who believe abusing their girlfriends is wrong will hold any concern upon a website calling them an idiot. In all honesty this 'game' is tame by comparison to what something such as GTA allows.

Edit: My apologies, code error.

My playthrough must have been different, because I saw her crying. There are multiple loops after each hit, and I watched most of them before proceeding, so maybe thats it.

Anyway, no, that isnt my insinuation. What I'm trying to do is point out an analogy between what you do in the game and what abusers do in real life. Also, I don't believe this is directed at abusers, I think its more broadly directed at changing the cultural lifestyle which finds such abuse appropriate or acceptable (i.e. needing to control your *****).

The analogy is as follows.
IN THE GAME:
You start playing the game for whatever reason.
There is a pussy--->gangsta meter.
You beat up the girl and become more gangsta.
At some point, the girl is really beaten, has a bleeding nose, looks crying/near tears, overall pathetic (I actually found this hard to deal with... I found it extremely pitiful, your milage may very).
Yet, you continue to hit, because for whatever reason you want to see the gangsta meter hit 100%.

IN REAL LIFE:
People want to be gangsta for whatever reason. (Its cool I guess?)
Certain things are necessary to become more gangsta. (controlling your *****)
You control your ***** through physical violence.
You ignore the consequences of your actions as they relate to your girl.
You continue to beat your girl, because it is necessary to achieve the gangsta prestige you want.

In both cases, at some point, you're ignoring something profoundly disturbing, in pursuit of your goal (seeing what happens at 100% gangsta, being popular, etc). The game sets up an action-> reward system and lets you go, just like real life. And, just like real life, the value you place on the reward is entirely subjective. So, you value seeing what happens at 100% gangsta enough to continue to virtually participate in abuse. Just like in real life some people value being gangsta enough to commit real abuse. The problem is that being gangsta is percieved to include abuse... and therefore the gangsta culture needs to change/be destroyed.

Am I mistaken or have you admitted to playing the game yourself and yet you criticize my playing? Hypocrisy thy name be known. You seemingly offered no heed to my preceding rebuttal in a proper review of the content requires witnessing the aforementioned content. If this were a movie, critics would be required to view what is portrayed, much as if this were a fully developed video game, those hired to perform tests must do as told otherwise their job is no longer their own.

You may have found the imagery difficult to view however outside of exaggerated astonishment someone amassed the time to create this nonsense; it had no bearing upon I. Why? I have witness significantly worse in other forms of media than this website could hope to portray. In GTA I have performed murders in cold blood for my own amusement as the game essentially encourages you to do so.

Indeed I ignored the depiction of an abused young woman to view the conclusion however there is nary contemplation within lingering where I would consider assaulting an actual woman. A simulation does not amount to reality mate.

 

[Credge]

If anyone thinks this is effective you're an idiot. If anyone thinks this is a good idea you're an idiot.

This would be absolutely no different than a game where you shoot people and watch them bleed to death and, as you shoot more people, you get a Gangsta rating and then, once you fill the bar, you're a 100% Gangsta! Also, 100% idiot! OH THAT IS SO EFFECTIVE!

No, it's just meant to politicize something that doesn't happen as often as people would like to think. Like breast cancer.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

If anyone thinks this is effective you're an idiot. If anyone thinks this is a good idea you're an idiot.

This would be absolutely no different than a game where you shoot people and watch them bleed to death and, as you shoot more people, you get a Gangsta rating and then, once you fill the bar, you're a 100% Gangsta! Also, 100% idiot! OH THAT IS SO EFFECTIVE!

No, it's just meant to politicize something that doesn't happen as often as people would like to think. Like breast cancer.

Shall I offer you a medal, cookie or simply type [/thread]?

 

[Treblaine]

Your post is precisely my reasoning for witnessing the content first hand. She in no way actually pleads for mercy nor is she at any moment sobbing. The only sense of significance is slight sniffs, akin to be on the verge of tears only after completion. During the abusive portion of the 'game' she is apparently insulting you as Haz88 explained.

Correct my assumption if I am mistaken however I am under the impression you are insinuating real life and curiosity upon a 'video game' are within the same wave length. If such be true that is a bold accusation and undoubtedly false. My argument is the message portrayed is limited, if not entirely lost. Few who believe abusing their girlfriends is wrong will hold any concern upon a website calling them an idiot. In all honesty this 'game' is tame by comparison to what something such as GTA allows.

Edit: My apologies, code error.

My playthrough must have been different, because I saw her crying. There are multiple loops after each hit, and I watched most of them before proceeding, so maybe thats it.

Anyway, no, that isnt my insinuation. What I'm trying to do is point out an analogy between what you do in the game and what abusers do in real life. Also, I don't believe this is directed at abusers, I think its more broadly directed at changing the cultural lifestyle which finds such abuse appropriate or acceptable (i.e. needing to control your *****).

The analogy is as follows.
IN THE GAME:
You start playing the game for whatever reason.
There is a pussy--->gangsta meter.
You beat up the girl and become more gangsta.
At some point, the girl is really beaten, has a bleeding nose, looks crying/near tears, overall pathetic (I actually found this hard to deal with... I found it extremely pitiful, your milage may very).
Yet, you continue to hit, because for whatever reason you want to see the gangsta meter hit 100%.

IN REAL LIFE:
People want to be gangsta for whatever reason. (Its cool I guess?)
Certain things are necessary to become more gangsta. (controlling your *****)
You control your ***** through physical violence.
You ignore the consequences of your actions as they relate to your girl.
You continue to beat your girl, because it is necessary to achieve the gangsta prestige you want.

In both cases, at some point, you're ignoring something profoundly disturbing, in pursuit of your goal (seeing what happens at 100% gangsta, being popular, etc). The game sets up an action-> reward system and lets you go, just like real life. And, just like real life, the value you place on the reward is entirely subjective. So, you value seeing what happens at 100% gangsta enough to continue to virtually participate in abuse. Just like in real life some people value being gangsta enough to commit real abuse. The problem is that being gangsta is percieved to include abuse... and therefore the gangsta culture needs to change/be destroyed.

Now yon mention it I can't think of a single "gangsta" hitting a woman. Calling her a ***** and going on and on about how amazing (and big) her ass is but most of the violence is aimed at men, particularly gay men with homosexuality being used as the most potent insult.

I seem to remember some "growin' up in the hood" movie where a girl is beaten by the villain and the villain is the murdered by the girl's brother in retaliation and goes to jail for it.

To be honest the last thing I want is to be "gangsta" and the idea of filling a "pussy meter" sounds like a Leisure Suit Larry sex game. I'd like to run this experiment again with the meters just labelled A and B and I think as many people would play to completion.

I think people would only play the game out of curiosity... it is just a game after all. We do live in a liberal society, do we not? We should not be afraid of seeing things that will "corrupt our minds" or that "the commoner cannot be trusted with" as some old conservative censorship officer would likely say.

I have always associated domestic abuse with uptight, conservative and - to be honest - white families that are just too obsessed with appearances and are committed to the fantasy of the perfect family to fact the facts that the violent outbursts must stop.

In fact I've heard of so many crude "white trash" and "redneck" jokes about white men beating their white wives.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

This would make a great Wii game...

But seriously. This isn't how you solve domestic violence.

 

[The Hairminator]

I had no idea what I was playing (I'm a swede, so I understand danish), so i was smacking her just to see her reaction, and for the hell of it. I mean, she was a real ***** to me and said stuff like "the only thing smaller than your dick is your IQ". And then I raged when it turned from 100% gangsta to 100% idiot. I thought it was funny and a bit disturbing until I realized it wasn't pro beating up girls, but against beating up girls. I feel tricked.

 

[Fearzone]

Looks about as fun as a Japanese dating sim.