"Muslim Massacre" developer retracts game and offers apology

 

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Posted on 15 Sep 2008 at 16:01

The creator of a free online game that has caused outcry from the Muslim community has removed the game from the public domain. Eric Vaughn - who goes by the handle Sigvatr - said the game was made as a satirical statement aimed at the way Muslims are perceived in the US, but as it was not understood the way it was supposedly intended, decided to take the game off its website.

"I would like to make a public apology for any offense that I might have caused through releasing this game, and to Muslims in particular, Vaughn said in a statement posted on the the game's website, where the game no longer resides.

"My intentions when releasing this project were to mock the foreign policy of the United States and the commonly held belief in the United States that Muslims are a hostile people to be held with suspicion. I would like to make it clear that I have never shared such a belief and my intention was to mock those who actually do believe these things."

He said that the strongest statement he could make in his defence is removing the game from the internet, and added that he is "truly apologetic" for the offence cause by the game.

"It quickly became obvious to me that releasing this game did not achieve its intended effect and instead only caused hurt to hospitable, innocent people. I believe removing this game and website will do much more to attain my desired effect than leaving it on the internet, so I am doing just that."

"I would like to ask for the forgiveness of Muslims around the world and to make it clear that I did not release this game with ill intent. So without further ado, I would like to say that I am truly apologetic for what I have done and will take full responsibility for all offense that has been caused. I can only hope that any further misgivings can be laid to rest."

Author: Dawinderpal Sahota