Gamergate
Overview
Gamergate is a controversy that originated in the video game industry and has since expanded to encompass a wide range of issues related to sexism, misogyny, and ethics in video game journalism. The controversy began in August 2014 and has been characterized by online harassment campaigns, including threats of rape and death, directed primarily at women in the video game industry.
Origins
The origins of Gamergate can be traced back to a blog post published on August 16, 2014, by Eron Gjoni, the ex-boyfriend of independent game developer Zoe Quinn. In the post, Gjoni accused Quinn of having a relationship with a journalist for the video game website Kotaku, implying that this had led to favorable coverage of her game, Depression Quest. These allegations were widely circulated and discussed on various online platforms, including 4chan, Reddit, and Twitter, leading to widespread harassment of Quinn.
Harassment Campaigns
The harassment campaigns associated with Gamergate have been primarily directed at women in the video game industry. These campaigns have included doxxing (the publication of private or identifying information about an individual on the Internet, typically with malicious intent), threats of rape and death, and other forms of online harassment. The primary targets of these campaigns have been Quinn, feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian, and game developer Brianna Wu. The harassment has been coordinated in part through the use of the hashtag #Gamergate on Twitter.
Ethics in Video Game Journalism
One of the main issues raised by supporters of Gamergate is the perceived lack of ethics in video game journalism. They argue that there is a close relationship between video game developers and journalists, leading to conflicts of interest and biased coverage. Critics of Gamergate, however, argue that these concerns are a smokescreen for the harassment campaigns, and that the real issue is sexism and misogyny in the video game industry.
Impact
The impact of Gamergate has been significant and far-reaching. It has led to a widespread discussion about sexism and misogyny in the video game industry, and has prompted many in the industry to take steps to address these issues. It has also led to changes in the policies of several major video game websites, including Kotaku and Polygon, which have implemented stricter ethics policies in response to the controversy.