The fighting game community, commonly referred to as the FGC, has faced many controversies over the years. Controversies including sexual harassment, racism, and general toxic behavior have been pervasive, coming to a head last year with the removal of co-founder Joey “Mr Wizard” Cuellar from the EVO Championship Series and the cancellation of EVO 2020. A response from the FGC is now coming together, however, starting with an attempt to create a unified code of conduct.
Prominent FGC member, attorney, and voice caster David “UltraDavid” Graham, as well as over 25 FGC volunteers, have written what they are calling the Fighting Game Community Code Of Contact (FGCoC). The FGCoC is available online to read or share, with the writers requesting feedback and issuing revisions as necessary. The code of conduct’s goal is to prevent and expel predatory behavior, as well as emotional, sexual, verbal, and physical abuse not just at individual events but from the FGC as a whole.
What this document ultimately requires is for “backers,” which includes game makers, individuals, and event runners, to sign on and enforce the conditions on their own. That said, the FGCoC team says it will work with backers to investigate violations and offer recommendations regarding adjudication. FGC backers who fail to uphold the code of conduct will be revealed publicly, according to the organization.
Dozens of backers have already signed up to support the code of conduct. The most significant backer so far is Frosty Faustings, an annual event held in Chicago with a focus on Guilty Gear. This year’s Frosty Faustings will be held online due to the pandemic, but the team behind the event reportedly wants to dedicate itself to what the code of contact stands for. More backers are expected as awareness of the FGCoC spreads.
It’s currently unclear if big gaming companies in the industry will sign onto the FGCoC. Nintendo, Capcom, as well as other publishers and studios often hold their own fighting game tournaments and events, making them perhaps the most important signees. However, liability issues and legal expectations may make that difficult. Regardless, these companies will hopefully work with the FGCoC, even if they won’t officially sign to be backers.
It’s difficult to see the FGCoC as anything but a net positive in the long run. A third-party body willing to investigate and maintain a shared awareness of issues within the FGC is likely invaluable, especially when the FGC is so fragmented and disorganized. This should help a lot of people if it gets off the ground, and will probably help the FGC overall thrive.
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