DEATH threats, hacked accounts and a virtual war might sound like the plot of a futuristic video game.

But it’s the reality of life in the video game industry which is caught up in a raging culture war dubbed #Gamergate.

Overnight, games critic Anita Sarkeesian, who runs Feminist Frequency, a website that “critically explores the representations of women in pop culture narratives” was forced to cancel a speech due to take place at Utah State University because of fears for her safety.

Forced to cancel my talk at USU after receiving death threats because police wouldn't take steps to prevent concealed firearms at the event. — Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014

Multiple specific threats made stating intent to kill me & feminists at USU. For the record one threat did claim affiliation with #gamergate — Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014

It came after the director of the Centre for Women and Gender and others received an email threatening a “massacre style attack” if the speech went ahead.

“I have at my disposal a semiautomatic rifle, multiple pistols, and a collection of pipe bombs,” a copy of the email which the Standard Examiner claims to have obtained, read.

“This will be the deadliest school shooting in American history and I’m giving you a chance to stop it.”

Saarkeesian was made a target for her posts, which focus on the role of women as “background decoration” or sexual objects in the gaming world.

She had already been forced to flee her home after death threats before the latest email, which claimed to be from a student of the school who had their life “ruined” by feminists.

“We live in a nation of emasculated cowards too afraid to challenge the vile, misandrist harpies who seek to destroy them,” it read.

“Feminism has taken over every facet of our society and women like Sarkeesian want to punish us for even fantasising about being men.”

“One way or another, I’m going to make sure they die.”

#GAMERGATE

It’s the latest in a series of dark events that have dominated the gaming industry in recent months, making headlines around the world as a culture war “writ small”.

In the last week, developer Brianna Wu was forced to leave her home after trolls hacked her account and targeted her online with specific threats.

They even posted her home address to show they knew where she lived, after she spoke out about the role of women in the industry.

On the one hand are those who want the industry to be an inclusive place for women and independent developers, including more than 2000 people who signed an open letter taking a stand against hate speech.

On the other is a group of misogynistic trolls who have made sexually violent and aggressive threats against women under the guise of anonymity. Many of them claim to be fighting for freedom of speech and ethical journalism in the industry (more on that later).

this is the face of #gamergate. a young man wearing an anime t-shirt and a scarf, yelling into a webcam. pic.twitter.com/K2K7DKYoZE — Sam Biddle (@samfbiddle) October 15, 2014

Projection seems to be a theme with anti-#GamerGate They censor and them claim we do that. They've shown racism and sexism and blame us. — Jack King Ophe (@BlackIceSheep) October 15, 2014

Nobody supporting #gamergate in earnest has made violent threats. I cannot say the same for anti-#gamergate. — Irrelevant Megaphone (@GamerIrrelevant) October 15, 2014

At this point supporting #gamergate is implicitly supporting the harassment of women in the gaming industry. — Feminist Frequency (@femfreq) October 15, 2014

#gamergate makes me ashamed to be part of the games industry. Because why the hell am I making things for these people? #StopGamerGate2014 — Tatham Johnson (@tathamjohnson) October 15, 2014

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

The scandal began in August this year after indie game developer Zoe Quinn released a free game called Depression Quest — an interactive story that told of a young person’s battle with depression.

However its non-traditional style meant it received a mixed response from the industry.

While some loved its unorthodox message, others thought it shouldn’t have been called a game at all.

Shortly after it was released, one of Quinn’s ex-boyfriends wrote a blog post detailing how she allegedly cheated on him with several people in the gaming industry to gain exposure for her efforts.

The post claimed one of those men was Nathan Grayson, a writer for gaming website Kotaku, which featured a review of the game.

Both Grayson and Quinn denied they had an affair but by then tens of thousands of angry gamers who ‘were standing up for ethics in game journalism’ had already taken to Reddit, 4chan and Twitter to protest what they saw as corruption in the industry.

ENTER ADAM BALDWIN

The scandal really took off when conservative actor Adam Baldwin — (no, not one of the brothers) coined the hashtag #Gamergate on Twitter and claimed he was standing up for “social justice warriors” who are fighting corrupt ethics in journalism.

But while some claim they’re fighting corruption, the movement has a hard core fringe of trolls and anonymous hackers who have been relentlessly threatening women in the industry.

Before Saarkesian and Brianna Wu, Zoe Quinn was also forced to flee her home after nude photos, death and rape threats were posted online alongside her home address.

Now it’s developed into a full-scale culture war over gender, the internet and online bullying with the FBI called in to investigate death threats.

Gaming journalist Jenn Frank and game designer Mattie Brice have also announced they would leave the industry after being harassed for speaking out on the issue.

Hey gamergate explain the difference between the legit death threats in yr camp & "troll accts trying to make you look bad" — Beäşt of Disçörd (@TheQuinnspiracy) October 15, 2014

It's a mistake to think #gamergate is a few maladjusted teenagers. We can't solve this without the industry examining how it treats women. — Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 15, 2014

Big business is also involved, with Intel pulling advertising from Gamasutra in order to avoid upsetting potential customers

The company issued a statement saying it didn’t intend to take sides in the “increasingly bitter debate” but have stuck by their decision to pull the ad.

It’s unclear how the situation will be resolved or how many women will be forced to leave their homes. What is clear is that the entire issue represents a constant battle for inclusion - no matter what your industry.

What do you think about what’s happening in the gaming industry? Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ| @HarryTuckerr | @Victoria_Craw