According to Polygon, Galactic Cafe will release an update to their adventure game The Stanley Parable that aims to rectify a set of images in an in-game video sequence that some players reported to be offensive. The sequence contained images of a character setting fire to an impoverished child.
If you haven't played The Stanley Parable yet, you can find the controversial content in one part of the game wherein you a presented an instructional video regarding choice. The first set of images depict a character "helping" impoverished citizens of a third-word country by lighting a cigarette for a young boy. Conversely, the other option to "set fire to every orphan" is presented through a sequence of images showing gasoline being poured over the boy and setting him on fire.
While The Stanley Parable creator Davey Wreden couldn't quite understand the complaint, he was nonetheless willing to change the sequence so that players would be comfortable playing the game.
"I'm not exactly married to the visual gag there," Wreden told Polygon. "It doesn't make or break anything about that particular section, and we always wanted the game to be something that could be played by anyone of any age. If a person would feel less comfortable showing the game to their children then I've got no problem helping fix that! It's really as simple as that," he added.
It is worth noting The Stanley Parable is mostly a tongue-in-cheek kind of game that sometimes even satirizes certain aspects of videos games. However, it is quite admirable how Wreden handled the complaint. He was not indignant about it even if a majority of players took no offense to the sequence. He could have just shrugged it off as trvial nitpicking and lambasted their lack of understanding like other developers, but he made sure every player was comfortable instead.
This was not the first time a game on Steam underwent changes to remove "offensive" content. Klei Entertainment's Shank had an update that censored graphic and inappropriate content that was previously in the game. There were numerous complaints from players online that objected to the censorship, but the developers decided to change it anyway on moral grounds.
The Stanley Parable is currently available on Windows PC platforms via Steam and it is priced at $11.99.
