Postal 2
Contents
Postal 2
Postal 2 is a first person shooter video game that was created by the videogame company Running With Scissors. It is the second installment in the Postal series. Postal 2 was faced with mass amounts of controversy due to the actions and violence the player can take part in, as well as the dialogue of the player character and other characters in the game perpetuating racial stereotypes. Because of the game’s high levels of violence, it was banned from New Zealand.
Storyline
The story of the game features the main character, “Postal Dude” running errands in the town of Paradise, Arizona. He lives in a trailer with his wife. The game follows Postal Dude as he sets out to perform a set of errands each day of the week, from Monday to Friday. Postal Dude is interrupted often by non player characters attacking him. Technically, the game is able to be finished without ever using violence, however it is difficult and the player character is repeatedly put into situations that one would assume would demand violence. Throughout the game, the player character encounters a variety of wacky and offensive characters that challenge their ability to accomplish each of their errands. The game has the player do tasks such as picking up their paycheck from work, cashing a check at the bank, and getting milk, as well as many others, which turn violent.[1] When the Postal Dude goes to pick up his paycheck, he is fired and protesters converge on the property to attack the workers. When he goes to the bank, robbers attack. Other tasks that the player must perform include peeing on the Postal Dude’s father’s grave, encountering homicidal anti-book protesters at the library when returning a library book, being attacked by Al Qaeda in a church, and curing a case of Gonorrhea, as well as other tasks. The game ends on Friday with the apocalypse taking place, and the player must survive as they make their way back to the trailer.
Ethical Issues
Violence
Postal 2 is an extremely violent game and faced mass criticism and controversy. Postal 2 features several weapon types, including melee weapons, handguns, shotguns, machine guns, fuel-based, projectiles, toxic weapons, snipers, launchers, and napalm as well as other various weapon types. This has led to Postal 2 being banned in New Zealand, with the reasoning being the high amounts of violence as well as violence against animals. The player is able to murder anyone they find on the street, including police officers. Despite the player being theoretically able to complete the game without being violent towards non player characters, the player is placed in situations where violence is encouraged and is the easiest solution to the problem.
Animal Abuse
The Postal Dude has the ability to pee on animals and kill animals such as dogs, cats, elephants, cows, monkeys, and dinosaurs. The player can use cats as a silencer for their guns by sticking the barrel of their gun into the cat’s anus. The player has the option to urinate on anything, including animals. The player has the option to set the elephant found in the game on fire. The player is highly encouraged to kill animals during a part of the game where they encounter hostile junkyard dogs. Animal violence has been cited as one of the reasons for the game being banned in New Zealand. [2]
Homophobia and Racial and Ethnic Stereotypes
Postal 2 has several instances of homophobia built into the game. The player can use an arcade machine that has a known homophobic slur built into the name; homosexual non player characters are put into the game as stereotypes, and are available for the player to kill. Henk Kroll, who is an editor of a gay newspaper in the Netherlands, proposed a ban on Postal 2, arguing for the game being problematic for presenting homosexual people as a stereotype that the player can kill. The player also has the ability to open fire on gay pride and minority parades.[3] There are examples of racial and ethnic stereotyping in the game as well. Middle eastern men can be seen perusing the library, looking at books about terrorism, before they open fire on the player.[4] The player is also attacked by Al Qaeda while at the church. There are Asian stereotypes presented in a Chinese restaurant the player must go to as well.
