An iPhone game called Survival Island 3 – Australia Story 3D has sparked outrage over claims that it glorifies genocide and is “horrific and disgustingly racist.”
A Change.Org petition, asking for the game to be pulled from major app stores, and for the developers to apologise, has gathered more than 45,000 signatures in a day.
At the time of writing, the game does not appear on Apple‘s App Store, however, numerous videos are circulating online. Per the description from the game’s developers:
“Your goal is to survive. Beware of angry animals, especially if you don’t have any weapon. At nights, there is really dangerous, (sic) try to hide somewhere … Hunt animals or grow plants — you have to eat something. You also have to fight with aboriginals (sic) — you invaded their home!”
Since the Change.Org petition spread, the game has come in for fierce criticism for “dehumanising” indigenous Australians. The petition’s author Georgia Mantle wrote that the app makes us “inhuman” and “reinforces racial violence”, adding:
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 game portrays Indigenous Australian’s [sic] 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”.
Indigenous Australians face daily racism and discrimination. Indigenous Australians are over policed and continue to die at the hands of the state. This app further perpetuates the denial of Indigenous Australians humanity. It associates us with flora and fauna of the Australian landscape.… The profiting of historical genocide and introducing these genocides as entertainment completely disregards the continual suffering of our people.
Developers Nil Entertainment have not yet issued a statement, and their official Twitter does not appear to be active.
Story: ABC News
Photo: Change.Org
