Video games are great entertainment and come in many different packages. There are high-flying adrenaline-rushing shooters, puzzle games that make you think, peaceful RPGs, and anything else you can think of. But Geneva Convention violations can come from all sorts of games and media. Such was the case with Stardew Valley, an easy-playing RPG with positive vibes. The Stardew Valley Geneva Convention violations required a patch that may be one of the oddest in the history of video games. Read next:Military Recruitment Marketing: Using Video Games to Recruit Troops

How Did Stardew Valley Violate the Geneva Conventions?

@max0falltrades #greenscreen there's so many of them how am I supposed to keep track of all of it #gaming #fyp #trivia #gamingtrivia #stardewvalley #stardewtok ♬ Stardew Valley Overture - ConcernedApe

For those unfamiliar with Stardew Valley, it’s a widely beloved, highly-rated open-ended RPG that allows players to become immersed in a fun, peaceful universe. Heavily influenced by the highly-acclaimed series Harvest Moon, players find themselves taking care of a farm sharing the same name as the title after inheriting it from their deceased grandfather. You’ll spend your time doing farm chores and advancing your land to renew Stardew Valley back to its glory days. This is why it may be surprising that a Stardew Valley Geneva Convention violation patch was necessary due to this unassuming adventure violating one of the most critical sets of guidelines in the international community. The controversy comes from the usage of a red cross on a white backdrop found within the game. While not a heinous war crime, it’s still a violation. Usage of a red cross on a white backdrop signifying anything other than The Red Cross is against the Geneva Conventions, and while it’s not always a big deal, legal action can be explored. You’re also not allowed to misuse the red crystal or a red crescent on a white backdrop for anything else other than medical service in war, either, as each is a protection symbol.

Geneva Convention Violations in Other Video Games and Pop Culture

It doesn’t take much time to find plenty of Geneva Convention violations in video games if you want to be critical about things, but some are more harmless than others. For the inquisitive, there's even a Twitter account tracking Geneva Convention violations in video games, which was birthed out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some interesting examples from the page and other pop culture references that would be war crimes if they were committed in real life:

Grand Theft Auto V

Again, there are probably countless ways to go about things here, as the streets of Los Santos are a long way away from Stardew Valley. But a particular scene during story mode broke the rules, at least theoretically. The franchise came through with many innovations in GTA V, but none were more prevalent than a story told through the eyes of not one but three protagonists. Trevor was one of them, and he was a loose cannon at best and a complete psychopath at worst. So, it should come as no surprise that there comes the point in which Trevor will get an opportunity to torture a man for information, thus symbolically violating Article 32 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (though this isn't a literal real-life violation like Stardew Valley). [embed]https://twitter.com/ViolateGeneva/status/1253517677932556290[/embed] Interestingly enough, how far you take things is not up to Trevor; it's up to you, as you can inflict more or less damage depending on what you decide.

Super Mario 64

Admit it; when no one was around, in the heat of the moment, you chucked Tuxie off of Cool, Cool Mountain. We’re not here to judge you for your crimes; we’re just simply pointing them out. [embed]https://twitter.com/ViolateGeneva/status/1253398534482735106[/embed]

Enema Of The State

This isn't a video game, but chances are if you remember throwing a penguin off of a fake mountain while playing Nintendo 64, you also remember this classic pop-punk album from Blink-182. Yes, the group has done plenty of childish and immature things during their run, but it’s none of that. Similar to the Stardew Valley Geneva Convention slip-up, the album cover featured a red cross on a white background, which we now know is a big no-no.

The Sims

Have you ever had enough of your Sim being annoying, so you trap them? Well, while imprisonment isn’t against the Geneva Conventions, doing so in a manner that causes them to die is. We hope they made it out, or you may be facing war crimes.

Does the Geneva Convention Apply to Civilians?

We can’t stress enough how much this isn’t legal advice, so consult a lawyer. With that being said, the Geneva Conventions do not apply to civilians during peacetime. It’s also important to note that civilians can also be charged with war crimes. Civilians are permitted to act in self-defense, but outright attacks and violations of international documents can land you in hot water.

Stardew Valley Geneva Convention Violation Is a Unique Gaming Misstep

We’re thankful that the Stardew Valley patch notes brought these “heinous” crimes to our attention. As you can see, even in a world filled with odd violations, the farming RPG sits in a unique situation that shows an innocent oversight. The Stardew Valley Geneva Convention violation is thankfully the kind that humanity can live with, and if these were the biggest of our worries, we’d be in a much better place as the collective human race. Suggested read:How Military Video Games Peek Into the Future of the Armed Forces