I recall being impressed with the jury at the annual Slamdance indie festival late last year when the finalists for their game of the year category were announced. Way down at the bottom, apparently below anyone's radar, was the hugely controversial title Super Columbine Massacre RPG, a game - to paraphrase the developer's stated intentions - aimed at sparking debate, engendering understanding in the violence and videogames issue and exploring the boundaries of the interactive art form.
Unfortunately, it looks like someone has developed cold feet.
Water Cooler Games and Kotaku both report that the game has been removed from the list due to pressure from festival sponsors. However, a follow-up post at WCG suggests that the decision to remove the game was a personal choice on the part of the organiser rather than due to corporate demands.
The froth which is unfurling is covered in detail at WCG, including links to intelligent analysis and updated information. Raph points to a Newsweek article which highlights the hypocrisy in the decision, as the festival has previously shown Gus Van Sant's Elephant, a film which deals with the same subject.
As of Monday, at least one other finalist has pulled his game out of the competition in protest. Slamdance begins 18 January.
