Fate of Cthulhu game creators have caused a stir on Twitter by outing Lovecraft as a racist.
When adapting works from years ago it can be difficult to navigate some of the more unsavoury aspects of the writer or artist’s background, and H.P. Lovecraft is no different. Evil Hat Productions began work adapting the works of H.P. Lovecraft for their table top game but without excusing the racist elements of his work such as the racial slur he used to name a cat, in real life and in a short story Rats in the Walls.
Despite the ingrained racism of Lovecraft’s politics, Evil Hat Productions are still interested in using the world that Lovecraft created to deal with “deeper human and societal struggles.”
The company took to Twitter to explain to fans why they were inspired to use Lovecraft, and how they want to use the worlds he created but without the racism. As the company’s Creative Director mentions: if you are the type of person to be more offended by racism being acknowledged than by actual racism then you are part of the problem.
Warning- there is strong language from the outset.
Since the predictable edgelords and apologists have now shown up, a quick reminder:
— Evil Hat Productions (@EvilHatOfficial) January 20, 2020
If you don't like the politics included in our games, don't buy them.
We literally do not want your money.
We are committed to diverse and inclusive gaming.
We're not perfect, but we're trying.
Let me get this straight. In Fate of Cthulhu we specifically pointed out the racism of HP Lovecraft because well, he was a racist motherfucker, and we couldn’t in good conscience ignore that.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
I don’t know about you but if I’m tying my name to a racist motherfucker, I kind of want to make sure people understand why.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
Racist motherfucker or not he sparked a world that has endured and grown by a lot of much better authors.
One of the first things we agreed on was Lovecraft Without Racism.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
Which I think is a pretty worthy goal. I give a flying fuck who plays this game but I want to make sure it doesn’t alienate anybody.
So this appears to have caused a bit of a ruckus.
Seems a lot of people (probably white people) have a problem with us having done this.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
YOU GOT POLITICS IN MY GAME!!!!!
Evil Hat’s stance is you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
I back that 10000%.
If you have a problem with racism being called out in a game you’re probably the kind of person who really should have racism called out to you period.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
Now the funny thing to me are all the responses of “If you want people to buy your game, you shouldn’t tell them to fuck off.”
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
Oh, snowflake, if I want to tell you to fuck off I will tell you to FUCK OFF.
Happily. Repeatedly. With a bullhorn.
So as the *looks at credits page* Creative Director (whatever the hell that means) of the game allow me to say to those of you who have a problem with us pointing out that Lovecraft was a racist motherfucker.
— Stephen Blackmoore (@sblackmoore) January 23, 2020
Fuck off.
Can you imagine being the person who said “I usually buy everything Cthulhu but as you have pointed out his racism I won’t buy this!”?
Some people are just out and proud racists, I guess.