Video games are supposed to be fun to play, right? Well this one uses “fun” to instill a number of disturbing messages. German Public Broadcasting group created a video game that encourages the players to be violent against infectious children, people who don’t wear masks, and those who don’t social distance. The game? Corona World.

When you play Corona World, you become a nurse who ventures out into the scary world to the grocery store to buy hand sanitizer and toilet paper. Again, why the toilet paper? Whatever! The “good guys” are in lockdown and cheer her on for her bravery.  They clap for her at their windows because she dares to go out of her house.

On her way to the store, the nurse crushes the anti-maskers and those who don’t social distance. The player gets points for wiping out all who get in her way or could harm her. The violent nurse takes out those who jog, sunbath, gather in a group, or children who play or cluster. The nurse heroine takes on the “covidiots” who dare defy lockdown, mask wearing and socializing, especially those highly infectious children. And her method to deal with these bad guys is to stomp them to death, crush and destroy anyone who gets in her way.

“Corona World” is a sick play on our fears. It sends a disturbing message that opposition and dissent should be crushed. But the most disturbing message is that children should be killed because they can spread the virus, a lie not based in science. Psychiatrist, Dr. Carol Lieberman says, “This is deception, since children are least likely to transmit the virus, and fear- mongering when there are already far too many violent attacks.”

The creators argue that the video is only satire. However, their on-line information says their content is to ” inform, orient and entertain.” Inform and orient are not the same as entertain. There is nothing entertaining about killing children who might have a virus!

Sensible people know this is not the time to encourage violence of any kind. Tensions are high. Do we really want a game that calls for the virtual killing of children? In the game, children are treated as objects of hate and mistreated. This is perverse.

Like so many things that are disturbing, the purpose is to generate eyeballs and controversy. This is not controversial. It is irresponsible. So, let’s not give them the satisfaction of clicks or playing this horrific game.