technically the article never goes as far as arguing that people should boycott the game, though that is obviously the implied thesis. I don’t exactly disagree with you, I just think it’s a conversation worth having.
AdellcomdoisL@beehaw.org 2 months ago
This is a ridiculous article. People are not their government. The fact that Russia is a non-democratic government even makes it even worse. The russian people still deserve to earn a wage, to pay for their necessities, even if their taxes - unfortunately - support a warmongering dictator, and they’re suffering through a draft. How is this any worse than the US government that not only builds itself on constant foreign interference as well as flat out invasions? And their soldiers willingly enlist. Should we ask that every american citizen starve themselves because their taxes support the military? Should we call that companies stop employing US citizens and drive them into poverty because of the countless atrocities the United States support?
To call out a foreign country on not standing up against their leaders is absurd. They control the policemen and the army, they have the weapons, the finances, and the policies. Why didn’t americans - the supposedly defenders of democracy - not easily depose Trump if that’s all it takes? Why are they struggling with a bipartisan system in which both candidates openly support the Palestinian genocide? Why not make a call for the rest of the world to abandon them and just let them die out? Its almost like its not that easy to change your entire nation, huh?
theangriestbird@beehaw.org 2 months ago
Vodulas@beehaw.org 2 months ago
While I can’t say that Saber for sure works this way, but every studio I know of pays a salary, and the sales of the game don’t factor in (with the exception of bonuses and maybe shady practices around contracted QA). The article even states they are busy working on their next game, so those people are currently being paid.
I don’t believe anyone is calling out the employees in this situation. I think the difference is agency. I can choose whether or not to spend money on the game, thereby choosing whether or not to send money to the Russian government. A Russian employee does not have that choice, much like people in the US don’t have a choice to pay taxes that fund a genocide. People buying leisure items do have that choice, though.