Editing Custer's Revenge

{{Short description|1982 pornographic video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Custer's Revenge
| image = CustersRevenge.jpg
| developer = JHM Ltd.
| publisher = [[American Multiple Industries]]
| designer = 
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|November 1982}}
| genre = [[Action game|Action]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Atari 2600]]
}}
'''''Custer's Revenge''''' (also known as '''''Mystique Presents Swedish Erotica: Custer's Revenge''''') is an adult [[action game]] published by [[American Multiple Industries]] for the [[Atari 2600]], first released in November 1982.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Willaert|first=Kate|title=Porno Hustlers Of The Atari Age|url=https://kotaku.com/porno-hustlers-of-the-atari-age-1847622176|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Kotaku|date=September 6, 2021|language=en-us|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101015504/https://kotaku.com/porno-hustlers-of-the-atari-age-1847622176|url-status=live}}</ref> The game gained notoriety owing to its goal of raping a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] woman who is tied to a post.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|title=Rape, Racism & Repetition: This is Probably the Worst Game Ever|url=https://kotaku.com/rape-racism-repetition-this-is-probably-the-worst-g-5847507|website=Kotaku|date=October 7, 2011|access-date=May 14, 2023|archive-date=July 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716205505/https://kotaku.com/rape-racism-repetition-this-is-probably-the-worst-g-5847507|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/december02/shame/index4.shtml|title=Gamespy's Top Ten Shameful Games|publisher=GameSpy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426012823/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/december02/shame/index4.shtml|archive-date=April 26, 2011|accessdate=November 17, 2013}}</ref>

The titular player character is based on Lieutenant Colonel and Brevet Major General [[George Armstrong Custer]], a famous American cavalry commander who is most well known for his major defeat and death at the [[Battle of Little Bighorn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=282 |title=Custer's Revenge - Classic Gaming |publisher=Classicgaming.gamespy.com |accessdate=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416185618/http://classicgaming.gamespy.com/View.php?view=GameMuseum.Detail&id=282 |archive-date=April 16, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

Following the Christmas season of 1982, the rights to American Multiple Industries' games, including ''Custer's Revenge'', were sold off to the adult video game company [[PlayAround]].<ref name=":0"/> Under PlayAround's parent company, Castlespring Enterprises, ''Custer's Revenge'' was re-branded as ''Westward Ho'' for the European market and given slight modifications to its original gameplay. These alterations included simple aesthetic changes such as the darkening in color of the Native American woman's skin tone. PlayAround also made a gender-reversed version of ''Custer's Revenge'' named ''General Retreat''.

The game was universally panned by critics due to its offensive content and has been described as one of the [[List of video games notable for negative reception|worst video games ever made]].

== Gameplay ==
[[Image:S CustersRevenge 1.png|thumb|left|An example of gameplay in ''Custer's Revenge'']]
''Custer's Revenge'' is an action video game in which the player controls a mostly nude [[George Armstrong Custer|General Custer]], who must advance through the playing field and avoid arrows to rape the fully nude Native American woman Revenge, who is tied to a pole on the other side.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=1}} The game consists of four numbered modes of play; modes 1 and 3 are single-player campaigns, while modes 2 and 4 are [[Hotseat (multiplayer mode)|hotseat]] multiplayer modes.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|pp=2—3}} In modes 1 and 2, the player(s) must only avoid arrows, while in modes 3 and 4, [[cacti]] that appear and disappear at random intervals are added as obstacles.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=3}} Custer can move left or right if the joystick is moved in those directions, while shifting the joystick up or down will cause Custer to stop.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|pp=2—3}}

Custer begins the game with three [[Life (video games)|lives]], which are represented by small cacti on a black stripe at the bottom of the screen.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=1}} If an arrow touches Custer's hat or if Custer comes into contact with a cactus, he loses a life to the tune of "[[Taps (bugle call)|Taps]]". It is possible for Custer to stand in between two arrows and not get hit.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=3}} If Custer successfully reaches Revenge, the player must repeatedly press the fire button for Custer to rape her, which occurs to the [[Charge (fanfare)|"Charge" fanfare]]. Each penetration awards one point,{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=1}} and the player earns an extra life for every 50 points. The player(s) can accumulate no more than six lives at any given time.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|p=4}} For every 50 points scored, Custer returns to his original position on the field, and the speed of the arrows increases. The arrow speed can also be increased by flipping the difficulty switch on the Atari console.{{sfn|American Multiple Industries|1982|pp=4—5}}

== Development and release ==
''Custer's Revenge'' was developed as part of the "Swedish Erotica" series to capitalize on the lack of [[pornography]] available in the medium of video games. The development was deliberately sloppy and rushed because quality did not matter—they only needed a product on store shelves. The overtly racist and sexist themes were chosen to maximize outrage and generate free publicity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2021/12/custers-revenge-racist-sexist-trolling |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430043422/https://slate.com/podcasts/decoder-ring/2021/12/custers-revenge-racist-sexist-trolling |title=''Custer's Revenge'' Was Denounced, Protested, and Banned Even Before It Hit Stores |last=Paskin |first=Willa |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |publisher=[[The Slate Group]] |date=December 23, 2021 |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''Custer's Revenge'' quickly gained notoriety upon its release. Sold in a sealed package labeled "NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS"<ref>{{cite book |title=Obscene profits: the entrepreneurs of pornography in the cyber age |last=Lane |first=Frederick S. |pages=55–56}}</ref> and selling for $49.95 ({{Inflation|US|49.95|1982|fmt=eq}}),<ref name="google8">{{cite news |title=Atari Trying To Halt X-Rated Video Games |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19821017&id=2OsTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-wUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5332,427806 |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |page=8B |access-date=March 1, 2010 |archive-date=March 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309055235/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19821017&id=2OsTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-wUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5332,427806 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite book |title=Ego Trip's Big Book of Racism |last=Jenkins |first=Sacha |page=825 }}</ref> The makers elected to preview the game for women's and Native American groups, an act that many thought was a [[publicity stunt]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wise |first1=Deborah |year=1982 |title=Video-pornography games cause protest |journal=InfoWorld |issue=November 8 |page=1,7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EjAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430003052/https://books.google.com/books?id=EjAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Women's rights]] groups<ref name="mj19821226">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nwsdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QX8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635%2C1989311 |title=Stream of video games is endless |work=Milwaukee Journal |date=December 26, 1982 |access-date=January 10, 2015 |pages=Business 1 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312093025/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nwsdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QX8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3635%2C1989311 |url-status=dead}}</ref> such as the [[National Organization for Women]] criticized the game as "degrading, offensive and a blatant statement of racism and sexism [...] NOW cannot ignore any company which seeks to so blatantly portray acts of violence against women as a form of entertainment."<ref>{{cite news |title=NOW opposes ''Custer's Revenge'' video game |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/06/NOW-opposes-Custers-Revenge-video-game/9419407998800/ |work=[[UPI]] |date=December 6, 1982 |access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref> Native Americans also protested the game, with the executive director of the Tulsa Native American Coalition saying "It is very degrading to the Indian woman as well as all women in general," and "There's no other way we can take it other than a racial slur."<ref>{{cite news |title=''Custer's Revenge'', a home video game in which Gen.... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/11/15/Custers-Revenge-a-home-video-game-in-which-Gen/4969406184400/ |work=[[UPI]] |date=November 15, 1982 |access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref> Other groups that opposed the game included the Native American Political Action Committee, United National Indian Youth Inc., the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission, the American Indian Training and Employment Program, the [[NAACP]], the [[Urban League]], and the [[YWCA]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Coalition opposes ''Custer'' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1982/10/14/coalition-opposes-custer/62870131007/ |work=[[The Oklahoman]] |date=October 14, 1982 |access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=YWCA Doesn't Want Custer Getting Revenge |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1982/10/15/ywca-doesnt-want-custer-getting-revenge/62870032007/ |work=[[The Oklahoman]] |date=October 15, 1982 |access-date=May 14, 2023}}</ref> American Multiple Industries president Stuart Keston responded to criticism of the game by saying "There is a sexual act, but it is not rape. It never has been."<ref>{{cite news |title=National News Briefs |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/23/National-News-Briefs/3835409467600/ |work=[[UPI]] |date=December 23, 1982 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116105801/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/23/National-News-Briefs/3835409467600/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Los Angeles County]] voted 3–1 to ban ''Custer's Revenge'' alongside American Multiple Industries' other adult-only games ''[[Bachelor Party (video game)|Bachelor Party]]'' and ''[[Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=L.A. Supervisors vote to ban video sex games |url=https://archive.org/details/1982-11-15-people/1982-11-17-TimesStandardEurekaCalifornia-AssociatedPress/mode/1up |work=[[Times-Standard]] |date=November 17, 1982 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> [[Suffolk County, New York]] voted to ban all "X-rated" games within their jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web |title=X-rate video loses vote |url=https://archive.org/details/1982-11-15-people/1982-11-10-HeraldStatesman/page/nundefined/mode/1up |work=[[Herald Statesman]] |date=November 10, 1982 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> Multiple Industries subsequently pursued an $11 million lawsuit against Suffolk County and legislator Philip Nolan "because of a resolution authorizing the county executive to take action to halt sales and distribution" of the game.<ref>{{cite news |title=''Custer'' Game Is Subject of Two Lawsuits |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT7 |newspaper=Billboard |date=December 11, 1982 |page=8 |access-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> [[Oklahoma City]], home to a large Native American population, also unanimously passed a resolution condemning the game as "distasteful" and "not in the best interests of the community".<ref name="Oklahoman">{{cite web |last=Paschal |first=Jan |title=Council Slaps ''Custer's Revenge'' Game as "Distasteful' |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1982/10/27/council-slaps-custers-revenge-game-as-distasteful/62869021007/ |website=[[The Oklahoman]] |date=October 27, 1982 |access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> While both Ward 1 Councilman Bob McCoy and city attorney Walter Powell sought to block distribution within the city, and Multiple Industries did briefly halt distribution there, it was never officially banned by the city<ref name="Oklahoman"/><ref>{{cite web |title=''Custer's Revenge'' Game Selling Out |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1983/01/23/custers-revenge-game-selling-out/62859030007/ |website=The Oklahoman |date=January 23, 1983 |access-date=August 30, 2022}}</ref> as is sometimes erroneously reported.<ref>{{cite book |title=Recovering From Rape |last=Ledray |first=Linda E. |page=254}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |title=Rape, Racism & Repetition: This is Probably the Worst Game Ever |url=https://kotaku.com/rape-racism-repetition-this-is-probably-the-worst-g-5847507 |website=Kotaku |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=August 31, 2022 |quote=Suffolk County, New York was hit with a lawsuit by people demanding it be withdrawn from sale. Oklahoma City banned the game outright. |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716205505/https://kotaku.com/rape-racism-repetition-this-is-probably-the-worst-g-5847507 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Nevertheless, the focused media attention [[Streisand Effect|generated publicity]] for the game and it sold approximately 80,000 copies, twice as many as ''Bachelor Party'' and ''Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em''.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}<!-- Claim was made by User:Remurmur in 2006, closest source i could find was a Kotaku article reciting the claim of 80,000 copies in 2011. --> Atari received numerous complaints about the game however and responded by trying to sue the game's makers.<ref>{{cite book |title=Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames |last=Herman |first=Leonard |year=1997 |page=88}}</ref> Stuart Kesten, President of American Multiple Industries, 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 Martin, said Custer was "seducing" the maiden and that she was a "willing participant".<ref name="google8"/> By April 1983, the game was withdrawn from circulation.<ref>{{cite journal |editor-last1=Talbot |editor-first1=David |date=April 1983 |title=Pac-Man Kills Kids, Self: Video Horrors |journal=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |publisher=Foundation for National Progress |issue=III |page=7 |volume=VIII |publication-place=San Francisco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17 |access-date=March 22, 2023 |archive-date=May 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511151932/https://books.google.com/books?id=fOYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
In 1988, computer gaming magazine ''[[Ahoy!]]'' called ''Custer's Revenge'' "an [affront] to common decency", in contrast to more modern and 'tasteful' adult games.<ref>{{cite magazine |title = Centerfold Squares |date = August 1988 |url=https://archive.org/details/ahoy-magazine-56/page/n23/mode/2up |magazine = Ahoy! |publisher = Ion International |last = Katz |first = Arnie |issue = 56 |pages = 24–25}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s [[Seanbaby]] placed it as number 9 in his "20 worst games of all time" feature.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.seanbaby.com:80/nes/egm09.htm |title=Seanbaby's EGM's Crapstravaganza - #9: ''Custer's Revenge'' (Atari 2600) |website=Seanbaby.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060707174905/http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/egm09.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 8, 2007}}</ref>

In 2008, the [[University of Calgary]] professor Tom Keenan cited "the hideous ''Custer's Revenge'' game", 26 years after its release, in an op-ed piece about current video game violence issues for the ''[[Calgary Herald]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/story.html |title=Teaching kids to kill |publisher=Canada.com |access-date=November 17, 2013 |archive-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807014701/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year, the game was credited by Australian ''[[PC Magazine]]'' as being [[List of video games notable for negative reception|one of the worst games ever made]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/107909,violent-video-games--the-worst-of-the-worst.aspx |title=Violent video games - the worst of the worst - News - PC & Tech Authority |publisher=Pcauthority.com.au |date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |archive-date=April 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429035755/http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/107909,violent-video-games--the-worst-of-the-worst.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> while [[Games.net]] ranked Custer's victim as fifth on the list of top ten "disturbingly sexual" game characters.<ref>{{cite web |author=GamePro Media |url=http://www.games.net/article/netten/2/116901/top-ten-disturbingly-sexual-game-characters/ |title=Top Ten Disturbingly Sexual Game Characters &#124; Games.net |date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022627/http://www.games.net/article/netten/2/116901/top-ten-disturbingly-sexual-game-characters/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> In 2010, Custer placed eighth on [[machinima.com]]'s list of the top perverts in gaming.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4wPqsZqPQ Top 10 Perverts in Gaming], machinima, May 29, 2010 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610023203/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y4wPqsZqPQ |date=June 10, 2016}}</ref> [[UGO.com]] ranked it as tenth on the list of the most racist video games in history in 2010,<ref>[http://www.ugo.com/games/the-11-most-racist-video-games.html The 11 Most Racist Video Games | These eleven games are so seriously un-PC that it's amazing they ever made it to shelves.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619122915/http://www.ugo.com/games/the-11-most-racist-video-games.html |date=June 19, 2018 }}, UGO.com, November 30, 2010</ref> also ranking the game's General Custer as the second most unsexy video game character of all time in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meli |first=Marissa |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/20-unsexiest-sexy-video-game-characters-general-custer |title=General Custer (''Custer's Revenge'') - 20 Unsexiest Sexy Video Game Characters |publisher=UGO.com |date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108131353/http://www.ugo.com/games/20-unsexiest-sexy-video-game-characters-general-custer |archive-date=November 8, 2013 |df=mdy}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|1980s}}
* [[Cultural depictions of George Armstrong Custer]]
* ''[[RapeLay]]''
* ''[[X-Man (Atari 2600 video game)|X-Man]]''
* [[List of video games notable for negative reception]]

==References ==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |title=Custer's Revenge Instructions |publisher=[[American Multiple Industries]] |year=1982 |ref={{SfnRef|American Multiple Industries|1982}}}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20171103114356/http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=119 ''Custer's Revenge''] at AtariAge
*{{atarimania|id=12091}}

{{Video game controversy|state=expanded}}

[[Category:1982 video games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Atari 2600 games]]
[[Category:Atari 2600-only games]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of George Armstrong Custer]]
[[Category:Erotic Atari 2600 games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer hotseat games]]
[[Category:Mystique (company) games]]
[[Category:Native American-related controversies]]
[[Category:North America-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in video games]]
[[Category:Race-related controversies in video games]]
[[Category:Rape in video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in the American frontier]]
[[Category:Western (genre) video games]]