The IGDA and Harassment

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) was something this organization had considered joining, possibly after the release of our first game (still under development). Their stated mission and resources sounded useful, and they appeared to be an established respected organization. However, with the recent hideous fiasco of their “anti-harassment” statements, joining the IGDA no longer appears to be a legitimate option.

Hagakura Enterprises was put on a Twitter blocklist of “some of the worst harassers online” (over 10,000 Twitter accounts) despite absolutely no evidence to support this. The reason we were placed on the blocklist? Because of certain people our Twitter account follows. That’s it, and it doesn’t make sense. The blocklist itself automatically generates names based on the followers of certain people on Twitter, so to suggest people block someone simply for following a certain person – that’s nonsense. You don’t have to agree with everyone you follow. Then to outright state that all of the people and companies on the blocklist are progenitors of harassment – that’s clearly defamation (in our case, libel). Hagakura Enterprises has never harassed anyone or endorsed harassment in any way, and this is easily verifiable. However, there we are; currently on page 6.

Even IGDA members were put on this blocklist. If a large organization like the IGDA can’t bother to use common sense or research their own resources, they’re not worth joining or contributing to.

The IGDA has removed the blocklist from their website, but that’s not good enough, particularly since they seem to be trying to cover up some things. http://imgur.com/NvvllCQ

Some more information on the IGDA mess:

http://imgur.com/6yd2J3p

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/11/22/Game-developers-association-calls-10-000-tweeters-harassers-including-Kentucky-Fried-Chicken

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sils94?new_post=true

http://blogjob.com/oneangrygamer/2014/11/igda-founder-responds-to-indie-devs-being-blocked-on-gamergate-blocklist/

Disclaimer: Hagakura Enterprises does not endorse any of the links posted above, nor do we even agree with all of the information contained therein. They simply contain some tidbits on the IGDA’s recent actions, which are rightfully being condemned along with the existence of the blocklist.