Virginia Tech Massacre Flash Video Game

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

Ok, well I heard about this on my local TV news station. It's kind of sickening to hear that some guy has made an internet game based on the VA Tech massacre. Many people on the internet are outraged and want him to remove the game but he'll only do it if he gets $3000 in donations. But it seems that his website (googumproduce.com) has been taken down until he decides to remove the flash game (from what he has said on the game's newground page, which is still up).

WLTX-TV News, Weather, Sports for Columbia and the Midlands of South Carolina

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- An Australian man who created a game based on the Virginia Tech shootings is offering to pull it off the Internet only if he receives donations on his Web site.

Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Lambourn of Sydney posted a game called "V-Tech Rampage." That's a Philadelphia-based portal that allows amateurs to upload games they have created, play them and discuss them in forums.

In Lambourn's game, the player manipulates a character carrying a handgun around a campus. There are clear references to the Virginia Tech killings and to the student who shot to death 32 people and himself on April 16th.

The game has generated a furious debate online, with many posters in forums and newsgroups demanding that it be removed. Others have supported the game.

Local media report that Lambourn has received no donations.

V-Tech shootings retold as a flash game :: DESTRUCTOID :: Hardcore video game blog

We knew it would happen sooner or later ... and here it is. Newgrounds just published a flash game based on the student shootings at Virginia Tech. This crude third person flash game allows you to play through the events as Cho Seung-Hui, navigating through campus to carry out the massacre methodically. Take a deep sigh and give it a go.

So who made it? Background info on the game designer and quotes from his blog that will make your blood boil after the jump.

The flash designer is Ryan Lambourn, an Australian living in Sydney who goes by the name "PigPen" and runs a site called GooGumProduce.com. After posting the image above named "Go Cho" he wrote the following on his blog:

"I've been working on a game based on the VTech Massacre! ...yeah, yeah, im a horrible person, i know."

At least he knows what he's getting himself into. It gets worse. This exchange between him and the FlashPortal operator (that refused to post the game) is also notable:

FP: You should be shot for making that game! Go ***** off and die b*tch!"

PP: ORLY? THEN ITS TIME FOR A BARBEQUE! I'll bring the meat, negroes bring the koolaid!

So yeah, he's approximately 48 hours away from getting his head kicked in by somebody. Nice MegaMan shirt, though.

Although the game isn't as polished as the others it will be compared to (Namely I'm OK and Super Columbine Massacre RPG), PigPen's game is just short of awful. In its defense, it's short and has structure. If you don't follow the plan accordingly, the cops capture you early. If you walk into a classroom, the game engine makes the walls transparent. When you fire shots near pedestrians, they'll freak out and start screaming and running. It's amateur but not too bad for a Flash platform.

The icing on the cake is definitely the soundtrack -- Collective Soul's 1994 single "Shine" plays on a constant loop in the background. The song's uplifting lyrics juxtaposed to the shooting is just about the creepiest thing in the game. Why that song? Ryan notes:

"It was one of Cho's favorite songs."

When you add this all up, it seems like the V-Tech shooting are secondary to the details put into the game. Although it's never stated, I can't help but feel that this his tribute to Cho. What a waste of talent.

Here is where you can find the game if you want to make your own judgement on it:

V-TECH RAMPAGE

It didn't work for me on IE7 but I got it to work on FF. If the admins think that providing a link to the game is a problem, feel free to remove the link.

[Pyramid_Head]

Yea man thats pretty messed up for someone to create such a game based off those events

[emwearz]

People only create games based on such events because of the fact it will get news coverage, etc.

EDIT: Gave the game a play, its honestly pathetic, the kids a loser who wants some fame no matter who's feelings get hurt.

[Holic]

If i was that bloke I would be afraid to step out of the house.
But that is sick and very insensitive.

This game will have some sort of cult following from certain messed up groups.
But is he really doing it for media spotlight though?
I mean its bad media and he will just be frowned upon.

[TheCloudOfSmoke]

Ever hear of the saying, "Any publicity is good publicity"? He's just trying to get his name out there. Whether it be for attention or something else, I don't know. There is already a whole bunch of people praising him on the newgrounds page of the flash game (and on the newgrounds forum) throwing that free speech crap around and they keep making up reasons to justify it. There are more of those type of comments than the hate ones.

Listen to what this idiot has to say:

First of all, I praise the author on having the guts to make such a bold statement, and congratulate him on how big of an impact this game has made.

As a statement, the game is just about as 'in-your-face' as it gets. The game is short, blunt, daring, and very stylized.

As a game, it's pretty fun. It's challenging without being frustrating, and talking to the victims really gives you a cold chill down your spine before you shoot. The graphics are cool, and so is the music. Definitely a great game all around.

What a sick ****. Sadly to say, there is many more crap comments like this there.

Reviews for V-TECH RAMPAGE

[Player-X]

I am pretty sure Jack Thompson will blame the game for causing the massacre, other than that I think he has a right to do that game but I also think I have a right to think he is an ******* for doing it.

[StriderVM]

Wow, sadly, both sides have a point, first it's immature to make a game that simulates what happened, and actually conforms (partially) to what Jack Thompson about video games......

There's the other side that points about freedom of speech. Which is also a point.

[Holic]

This is not the first time something like this has happened:Super Columbine Massacre RPG

based on this event.

[doggieiscool]

All I can say it's made in bad taste. I think you should remove the links, only encouraging more hits for this moronic insensitive wanker.

[jonc2006]

the author of that flash game has also done games based on the death of steve irwin and some other dumb crap that should be left alone. i cant believe he actually put on his site that he will apologize if donations made to him exceed $2000 or something and he will take the game down if people give him around $1000 in total. this kid is just a textbook attention whore and for all i care he can feed himself to the wolves when they come for him.

there is a huge difference between this and SCMRPG, that game was made by someone who actually had a connection to the events and was more of a so called documentary type thing more than a mockery of the events, so it has some merit. it was sort of tounge-and-cheek but at the end it shows that despite what the shooters had been through (bullying and stuff), they still had to pay for their actions (in hell as the game shows).

but one the only thing that is actually good in v-tech rampage is the song in the background, i actually have that cd the song is from in my car right now. other than that the game is craptastical.

Originally Posted by Player-X

I am pretty sure Jack Thompson will blame the game for causing the massacre, other than that I think he has a right to do that game but I also think I have a right to think he is an ******* for doing it.

he is leaning more towards counter-strike, which imo is even more baffling. the thing about this game is that it is not a commerical product, therefore it has no real connection to the industry or the community, its a stand alone project done by some assclown who thinks he is funny. it cannot be rated by the esrb because it isnt a product being sold for profit or whatever and is being marketed to the public like most games. i dont know if thompson is aware of this but im sure at some point he will as it is quite obvious. as much as i despise thompson, i have to admit, he would be a powerful ally to the community. i have never seen someone so devoted to a cause and someone who is so persistant even after countless failures. he still needs his head checked though.

[Player-X]

What I find funny is that he is blaming Microsoft for CS and I am pretty sure no xboxes were involved.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by Player-X

What I find funny is that he is blaming Microsoft for CS and I am pretty sure no xboxes were involved.

was counter strike ever even ported to the x-box?

[Homicide]

God, what a crappy game. Honestly though, the moral outrage is a bit silly. I mean, has anyone here ever played Postal? Or that game where you play as Lee Harvey Oswald and snipe JFK? Games are a medium for expression. From what I saw, the game didn't make light of the situation at all. Hell, it was emo enough to make me want to shoot somebody myself... and Let Your Light Shine Down wasn't helping either.

This reminds me of the Columbine RPG someone made that got denied entry at either an exhibition or something to that effect at the last second, even after the author was told that he would have a spot on the floor.

Oh well.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by Homicide

Games are a medium for expression. From what I saw, the game didn't make light of the situation at all. Hell, it was emo enough to make me want to shoot somebody myself... and Let Your Light Shine Down wasn't helping either.

you might want to consider taking that back. this is a quote from a gamepolitics article about an interview done by a news station with the author.

"WRC-4, Washington D.C.’s NBC affiliate has a video report on the V-Tech Rampage controversy, including footage of Ryan Lambourn, the game’s creator, who said:

You do it for some negative reaction to laugh at.


like i said, he is a little punk who thinks he is funny.

[Coolsvilleman]

Omg this is so stupid. This guy just wants attention and sure is getting it. Oh and just cause you have freedom of speech doesn't mean you should be a ******* about it.

[sigmax]

Yeah i'm killing americans lol what a stupid game.

[industrian]

V-tech just kicked in yo.

[Player-X]

Jonc: yes it was but it didn't sell well, out favorite lawyer for some insane reason recently sent a letter to Bill Gates telling him to shut down all CS servers.

Industrian: I had a feeling someone would say that.

[industrian]

Originally Posted by Player-X

Industrian: I had a feeling someone would say that.

I couldn't resist.

[Cid Highwind]

I'm sure my grandparents would respond the same way when they'd see me play Wolfenstein 3d

Let's not get overly emo about a bad joke, remember, don't feed the trolls.