By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Sept. 13: Chinese speaking gamers have review-bombed a new video-game released last Thursday for inclusion of the Tibetan national flag at the entrance of its in-game shop named Treasures of Tibet. The video-game Life is Strange: True Colors of Life, a graphics adventure game received many negative reviews for what Chinese speaking gamers called was a politically motivated move by the game developers.
Despite receiving positive reviews overall, many Chinese-speaking left negative reviews, as one wrote, “Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet have been Chinese territories since ancient times. No matter how the obsolete think, they will eventually return to the mainland. I suggest that NEETs read more books, stop being stupid, and find a job to support themselves. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet is part of China forever.”
Another wrote, “The game contains elements of Tibetan independence, implying a split of China”. “The game advocates the independence of Tibet. Despite all its merits of sound, narrative, beautiful game scene or anything, I won’t give it a like. Because it is not allowed for any foreign studios to discuss or to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” another user wrote.
Chinese gamers earlier review bombed another video game Horror Devotion – developed by a Taiwanese team, resulting in Chinese censors banning the game as it included a reference to the Xi Jinping-Winnie the Pooh meme.
Chinese users online and consumers alike have aggressively shunned any product that does not tow the Chinese government’s narrative. References to Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and East Turkistan of late by international brands and companies have been met with fierce campaigns by Chinese consumers.
