This weekend saw the official release of the new Hogwarts Legacy video game. The game universe is based on the Harry Potter series created by British author JK Rowling. There were reactions after the author, among other things, in a tweet in 2020 joked about an organization that used the expression “people who menstruate” instead of women. Since then, JK Rowling has been a controversial figure. Many also believe that the criticism against Rowling is not justified. Culture commentator at news, Inger Merete Hobbelstad, said, among other things, that “the rage against Rowling is frightening” in a comment in Dagbladet. This is the reason why the big investment is now creating divided opinions among gaming enthusiasts. CAUSES DISCUSSION: New game Hogwarts Legacy sparks debate after author JK Rowling’s comments about transgender people. Photo: Warner Bros. Games – Would rather focus on the game than Rowling Rowling has not been involved in developing the game, but as creator of the Harry Potter universe she has financial rights. It gives game reviewer and project and marketing coordinator at Spillhuset in Bergen, Kenneth Flage, a taste. – Due to my role as a game critic and media person, I have to play it to get a reference from the game, but it’s not going to taste so good to buy the game, so I’d really prefer to buy it used. BISMAK: Project and marketing coordinator at Spillhuset Bergen, Kenneth Flage, talks about bismak for the game. A debate is organized at Spillhuset. Photo: Jonas Ørbeck Sire / news Gamer and volunteer at Spillhuset in Bergen, Benedicte Gigernes Rogn (21), has caught up with the controversies. – I understand the reactions, but I thought it was unnecessary to try to boycott a game that is made by a team that is concerned with creating a good game. NO BOYCOTT: Benedicte Gigernes Rogn understands the controversy surrounding Hogwarts Legacy, but she does not want to boycott the game. Photo: Jonas Ørbeck Sire / news At Spillhuset in Bergen, Rogn works in the cafe Red Tavern. Behind the counter, she plays the new game based on the Harry Potter universe. – It seems that the game has an interesting world and a good story. I haven’t come that far yet, but I think it can be good, says the 21-year-old. FOCUSING ON THE GAME: Benedicte Gigernes Rogn (21) plays Hogwarts Legacy at the gaming house. She wants to focus on the game ahead of the controversies. Photo: Jonas Ørbeck Sire / news Spillhuset i Bergen is an association that has developed a free gaming offer for young people in Bergen and the surrounding area. – My focus is rather to look at the fantastic world that has been created rather than what Rowling has said. Most of the money will go to those who made the game instead of Rowling, says Rogn. Arranging debate Against the background of the controversies, a debate was organized at Spillhuset about the ethical questions that have arisen in connection with the launch. – It’s a bit about the fact that people we at the house love and work with have been very hurt by Rowling’s statements about transgender people, says Flage. One of the participants in the debate was the leader of PKI – the Patient Organization for Gender Incongruence, Isak Bradley. He has read several of the Harry Potter books as a youngster. – We can have the conversation about separating the art from the artist when Rowling is dead, and no longer uses the money, power and influence against trans people. Before that, I want people to think about if you support her work, you also support her attitudes towards the trans community. There are so many other games you could rather play. – The game has distanced itself from Rowling Rune Fjeld Olsen is a game reviewer at news and runs the game collective Level Up Norway. He has played the game. In his review, he calls the game a “virtual pride party”. VIRTUAL PRIDE PARTY: Game reviewer Rune Fjeld Olsen believes that the developers’ trans-inclusive features can make it easier for Harry Potter fans to play the game. In his review, he refers to the game as a “virtual pride party”. Photo: Siri Vålberg Saugstad / Siri Vålberg Saugstad As a Harry Potter fan, Olsen found it difficult to relate to Rowling’s attitudes. Nevertheless, he chose to play and review the game. – Then you get the classic question of how you, as a private person and critic, relate to art vs. artist. I am a fan of separating these two in criticism. If you do it as a job, I mean in principle that I should be able to review anything, says Olsen, who took part in the debate at Spillhuset. The developer of the game, Avalanche Softworks, has among other things included a trans person as a supporting role in the game and made it possible to mix between masculine and feminine expressions in its character development. – Can’t you then say that the game is trans-inclusive? – The game and the developers have actively distanced themselves from the attitudes of Rowling. I would say this makes it easier for many to still be a Harry Potter fan and play this game. It is also an example that the universe Rowling has created is bigger than her as a private person, says Olsen. Can you play with a clear conscience? Kristine Jørgensen is media professor and game researcher at the University of Bergen. She understands that there will be reactions. – Those who loved Harry Potter are now young adults and have begun to create their own identity. Some of these are transgender, but they still love Harry Potter. It is up to each individual fan to decide whether they think the game is good or not. It is difficult to draw a conclusion there, says Jørgensen. DISTINGUISHING WORKS FROM ARTISTS: Media professor and games researcher Kristine Jørgensen understands the controversy, but believes that one must be able to distinguish works from artists. Photo: Jonas Ørbeck Sire / news – What do you think about mixing games and politics? – All forms of artistic expression play with politics. I see no reason why computer games should be exempt here. – Should people have a bad conscience for playing the game? – No, I didn’t think so. People have to set their own limits. Separating work from artist seems to me to be a valid argument in many cases, says Jørgensen. Hear more about the discussion around Rowling in the news podcast “Updated”:
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Bismak to the Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy after JK Rowling’s statements – news Vestland
