Dear players,
we have followed the discussion and the controversial opinions regarding the "From Poland with Love" achievement closely. We understand that there are people from Poland who reported it as "hate speech", while many Polish players wrote (and some posted in our forums) it shall remain in the game, and that it made them laugh.
First of all, if someone really and honestly feels hurt and offended, I apologize.
Honestly.
And because we want to make people laugh and not cry, I decided to remove / change it.
Second, please keep in mind that EVERY SINGLE LINE that targets a specific minority is the idea from and has been written by a member of this minority / community.
Yes, the one who had the idea for this joke some of you complained about, is actually a regular citizen of Poland. I contacted him early morning to tell him about the complaints and about my decision to have the achievement removed. He now asked me to post a personal note he has written on that, and I feel I owe him that. As those who complained owe him to read it:
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Hello.
My name is Wiktor. I am a 38 years old IT specialist from Poznań, where I live with my wife and my children. I am working at a company IT department in Berlin, Germany.
I dont play many video games and I have never made my own game. I found the Into the Dark development project at very early stage when taking a look at mobile application software from TGC and offered my help.
I gave some textures and I did help optimize the health script and the collection script for the hentai pictures. I was surprised when Ivan offered me to implement an own achievement if I bring the idea because my work was really no big deal. It was my chance to be immortalized in a game, at this time I couldn’t risk being in credits because of complicated contract with my company.
I thought during a weekend and came up with the “thief” idea called “From Poland with Love!”
Why?
Because the parts I made for the game came “From Poland with Love”.
And because the thief and the stealing is an ongoing running gag I often hear here in Germany. We all know it’s a stereotype. We all know its also some little bit truth inside from the late 80ies and early 90ies. Sometimes it can be offending, but so can we.
We all laugh or grin when French people are drawn with ridiculous hat and moustache and giant baguette.
We nod and smirk when Russians in cartoon drink Vodka and ride bear into battle. (By the way, polish Vodka is better!).
We still depict Germans with Prussian spiked helmets 100 years after World War 1. We laugh about their habit of always complaining and occupying beach chairs with towels when on holidays. Its also a stereotype. AND its funny.
Sometimes, when colleagues at work miss their purse, cell phone or watch, someone jokingly says “ask Wiktor”. I am NOT offended then, I get it’s a joke and nothing more.
When Homegrown made their so-called “sanity check” before they released the game, they asked me once again if people wont find it “too offensive”. I honestly answered no. I believed in the sense of humor of my compatriots. I did not think anyone would be hurt.
Sad to see I was wrong.
Right now I feel kinda betrayed and backstabbed by my own people.
Homegrown Game promised me that I will have the chance to include something else in coming updates or their next game. So I guess all will be fine in the end.
Enjoy the game!
Greetings from Berlin,
Wiktor
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Again, we apologize to all of those who were really offended and / or hurt by this achievement. We already received several suggestions for a replacement, right now we switched it to something most of us can agree on ;)
However, good ideas are always welcome, the crazier, the better.
Best regards
Ivan Ertlov
Homegrown Games