Gourt Home::Gourt :: Custer's Revenge
Custer's Revenge is a pornographic video game made for the Atari 2600 by Mystique, a company that produced a number of adult video game titles for the system. The game was first released on October 13, 1982 and is subject to significant controversy because of its crude simulation of rape with a physically-restrained Indian Squaw.
Criticism
Custer's Revenge gained notoriety for its particular plot. In the game, the player controls the character of General George Armstrong Custer, depicted as a naked man sporting a Cavalry hat, stylish boots, and a visible erection. Custer has to overcome various (not very difficult) obstacles to achieve his goal, which is to rape a crudely depicted, large-breasted Native American Squaw who is bound to a post.
The game prompted criticism women's rights groups who stated that the simulation of having sex with a tied-up woman was a simulation of rape, as well as anti-pornography activists, Native American spokespersons, and critics of the video game industry in general.
Aside from complaints over the game's sexual content, many found that the gameplay simplistic. People also found the pornography element of the game inadequate - the two characters' appearances have been compared to lego blocks or cardboard boxes.
Variations
Like many other video game manufacturers of the era, Mystique went out of business and sold the rights to their games to Playaround. Playaround continued to market Custer's Revenge as Westward Ho for a time. They made minor modifications to the game, which included making the skin of the "woman" darker and having her extend her arm and gesture to "Custer" to come over to her. They also made a version of the game called General Retreat. In this game it is the "woman" who has to overcome various obstacles to have sex with "Custer" - who this time is the one tied to the post. Instead of arrows, cannon balls are fired at the woman. General Retreat has often times been hailed as the better of the two versions, featuring slightly less questionable material.
There were rumors that a sequel to the game was to be released, entitled Custer's Return. It was supposedly the same game, but set in Mexico. This rendition was never released.
Impact
In an effort to avoid controversial, unauthorized titles like Custer's Revenge, Nintendo implemented the 10NES chip for their Nintendo Entertainment System console. This prevented the system from running software not officially licensed by Nintendo, which was once notoriously strict about keeping content family-friendly.
See also
External links
- AtariAge: Custer's Revenge, with box/cartridge scans and other information
- MobyGames' entry for Custer's Revenge
- Custer's Revenge: A Manly Game
- Seanbaby.com has two reviews of Custer's Revenge with screenshots and other images
1982 computer and video games | Atari 2600 games | Erotic computer and video games | Controversial computer and video games | Western computer and video games
"Custer's Revenge"