IGDA criticises Nintendo’s firing of Alison Rapp

The International Game Developers Association has attacked Nintendo for how it handled the dismissal of one of its employees.

Alison Rapp was recently sacked after Nintendo allegedly told her she was not “a good, safe representative” for the company. The platform holder has insisted the decision was based on her holding a second job, violating company policy, rather than the ongoing online hate campaign Rapp has been subjected to.

IGDA executive director Kate Edwards has now spoken out against Nintendo, International Business Times reports, saying that the firm’s reasons aren’t sufficiently addressing the full issues around Rapp’s dismissal.

“While Nintendo’s official statement on the matter of Alison Rapp’s firing strives to distance the company from anything related to the orchestrated online campaign of harassment and defamation that was raging against her, their timing in dealing with the issue is dubious at best,” she said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the company seems oblivious to the consequences of their actions, not realizing the perceived victory it handed to the online hate groups who are now pursuing the dismissal of other women game developers by derision and defamation to their companies.

“By now, we would expect that all game development and publishing companies would be fully aware of negative social media dynamics and be more discerning of online feedback, as well as more protective of their employees — especially their employees of diverse backgrounds. Many have become proactive and aware but this industry obviously needs to make more progress.”

The controversy around the firing of Rapp was enough to prompt one developer to cancel its Wii U game.