Custer's Revenge
Encyclopedia
Custer's Revenge is a controversial video game made for the Atari 2600
by Mystique
, a company that produced a number of adult video game
titles for the system. The main character was based on General George Armstrong Custer
.
The game was first released on October 13, 1982, and has received significant criticism because of its crude simulation of a rape
of a Native American
woman.
It is regarded as one of the worst video games of all time. In 2010, UGO
ranked it #10 on the list of the most racist video games in history.
In the game, the player controls the character of General George Armstrong Custer
, depicted as a man wearing nothing but a cavalry hat, boot
s, and a bandana
, sporting a visible erection
. Custer has to overcome arrow attacks to reach the other side of the screen. His goal is to have sex
with a naked, large-breast
ed Native American woman named Revenge.
Like many other video game manufacturers of the early 1980s, Mystique went out of business. It sold the rights to its games to Playaround
, which continued to market Custer's Revenge as Westward Ho for a time. Playaround 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. It 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. Instead of arrows, cannon balls are fired at the woman.
.
The game did prompt criticism from women's rights
groups who stated that the game was a simulation of rape
; the back of the packaging states "she's not about to take it lying down, by George! Help is on the way. By God! He's coming." Other groups such as Women Against Pornography
, Native American spokespersons, and critics of the video game industry in general protested the game. Andrea Dworkin
claimed the game "generated many gang rapes of Native American women." Activists tried pressuring legislators to outlaw the game, which Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
did. Multiple Industries pursued an $11 million lawsuit against Suffolk County, New York
and legislator Philip Nolan "because of a resolution authorizing the county executive to take action to halt sales and distribution" of the game.
Aside from complaints over the game's sexual content, the game was poorly received due to poor gameplay and graphics. However, the focused media attention caused the game to sell approximately 80,000 copies, twice as many copies as Mystique's other Adult-Only games, Bachelor Party
and Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em
.
Atari, only the platform for the game and not the maker, received numerous complaints about the game, and responded by trying to sue the game's makers. Stuart Kesten, President of American Multiple Industries (Mystique), stated "our object is not to arouse, our object is to entertain [...] When people play our games, we want them smiling, we want them laughing." The game's designer, Joel Miller, said Custer was "seducing" the maiden and that she was a "willing participant." Ultimately, the game was withdrawn from circulation.
In 2008, the game been credited by Australian PC Magazine
as being one of the worst games ever made. In 2010, UGO
ranked it #10 on the list of the most racist video games in history.
In the South Park
episode "You're Getting Old
" (season 15), an arcade machine for Custer's Revenge appears in the background during Randy's musical performance at the bowling alley.
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
by Mystique
Mystique (company)
Mystique was the name of a company that produced a number of pornographic video games for the Atari 2600, such as Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em, Bachelor Party and Custer's Revenge. It was one of several video game companies that tried to use sex to sell its games...
, a company that produced a number of adult video game
Adult video game
An adult video game is a video game which has significant sexual content , and are therefore intended for an adult audience. Adult games can fall into many genres and have diverse gameplay.-PC and console:...
titles for the system. The main character was based on General George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
.
The game was first released on October 13, 1982, and has received significant criticism because of its crude simulation of a rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
of a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman.
It is regarded as one of the worst video games of all time. In 2010, UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
ranked it #10 on the list of the most racist video games in history.
Gameplay
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
, depicted as a man wearing nothing but a cavalry hat, boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
s, and a bandana
Bandana
Bandana can refer to:*Another name for a kerchief*Bandana *Bandana *Bandana, Kentucky, a small town in the United States*Y Bandana, a Welsh alternative rock band.**Y Bandana , their self-titled debut album....
, sporting a visible erection
Erection
Penile erection is a physiological phenomenon where the penis becomes enlarged and firm. Penile erection is the result of a complex interaction of psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors, and is usually, though not exclusively, associated with sexual arousal...
. Custer has to overcome arrow attacks to reach the other side of the screen. His goal is to have sex
Sex
In biology, sex is a process of combining and mixing genetic traits, often resulting in the specialization of organisms into a male or female variety . Sexual reproduction involves combining specialized cells to form offspring that inherit traits from both parents...
with a naked, large-breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
ed Native American woman named Revenge.
Like many other video game manufacturers of the early 1980s, Mystique went out of business. It sold the rights to its games to Playaround
Playaround
Playaround was formed from the ashes of Mystique, the first Atari 2600 adult videogame company. Playaround purchased the rights to Mystique's titles and released them as "double-enders" - extra-long cartridges that had a different game on each end...
, which continued to market Custer's Revenge as Westward Ho for a time. Playaround 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. It 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. Instead of arrows, cannon balls are fired at the woman.
Reception
Custer's Revenge gained notoriety for its plot. Sold in a sealed package labeled "NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS" and selling for $49.95, it acknowledged that children might nonetheless see the game. The game's literature stated "if the kids catch you and should ask, tell them Custer and the maiden are just dancing." The makers elected to preview the game for women's and Native American groups, an act which some thought was a publicity stuntPublicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
.
The game did prompt criticism from women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
groups who stated that the game was a simulation of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
; the back of the packaging states "she's not about to take it lying down, by George! Help is on the way. By God! He's coming." Other groups such as Women Against Pornography
Women Against Pornography
Women Against Pornography was a radical feminist activist group based out of New York City and an influential force in the anti-pornography movement of the late 1970s and the 1980s....
, Native American spokespersons, and critics of the video game industry in general protested the game. Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Rita Dworkin was an American radical feminist and writer best known for her criticism of pornography, which she argued was linked to rape and other forms of violence against women....
claimed the game "generated many gang rapes of Native American women." Activists tried pressuring legislators to outlaw the game, which Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
did. Multiple Industries pursued an $11 million lawsuit against Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
and legislator Philip Nolan "because of a resolution authorizing the county executive to take action to halt sales and distribution" of the game.
Aside from complaints over the game's sexual content, the game was poorly received due to poor gameplay and graphics. However, the focused media attention caused the game to sell approximately 80,000 copies, twice as many copies as Mystique's other Adult-Only games, Bachelor Party
Bachelor Party (video game)
Bachelor Party is an adult-themed video game for the Atari 2600 developed by Mystique.- Gameplay :The game is a simplified version of Breakout where the "ball" is made to look like a nude man and the "bricks" are made to look like nude women and the man bounces back and forth horizontally rather...
and Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em
Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em
Beat 'Em and Eat 'Em is a pornographic video game developed for the Atari 2600 by Mystique. It was released in 1982. Although the game sold poorly upon release, its graphic nature has earned it a cult following and much infamy...
.
Atari, only the platform for the game and not the maker, received numerous complaints about the game, and responded by trying to sue the game's makers. Stuart Kesten, President of American Multiple Industries (Mystique), stated "our object is not to arouse, our object is to entertain [...] When people play our games, we want them smiling, we want them laughing." The game's designer, Joel Miller, said Custer was "seducing" the maiden and that she was a "willing participant." Ultimately, the game was withdrawn from circulation.
In 2008, the game been credited by Australian PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
as being one of the worst games ever made. In 2010, UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
ranked it #10 on the list of the most racist video games in history.
In the South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode "You're Getting Old
You're Getting Old
"You're Getting Old" is the seventh episode and mid-season finale of the fifteenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 216th episode of the series overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on June 8, 2011...
" (season 15), an arcade machine for Custer's Revenge appears in the background during Randy's musical performance at the bowling alley.
See also
- X-Man (Atari 2600 video game)
- RapeLayRapeLayis a 3D eroge video game made by Illusion, released on April 21, 2006 in Japan. Compared to Illusion's previous games, the main story is shorter, it features an improved 3D engine, and is mainly played through mouse control. The game centers on a male character who stalks and rapes a mother and her...
- Video games notable for negative reception
External links
- AtariAge: Custer's Revenge, with box/cartridge scans and other information
- Seanbaby's Custer's Revenge page