Church blasts Sony game

[SapphireStar]

Officals at Manchester Cathedral were meeting today to decide whether to take legal action against computer giant Sony over a violent game set in the 800-year-old church.

They have called for an apology and for the game to be withdrawn after interior images of the cathedral were used without permission.
The Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev Rogers Govender also demanded that Sony makes a "substantial" donation to the Church's education department to help its work with young people.

Called 'Resistance: The Fall of Man', the game features a bloodbath involving aliens and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Players use a machine gun in a gun battle in which Manchester Cathedral, is peppered with bullets and blood.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, said: "I do not believe they would have done this if it was a mosque or a synagogue. They obviously see us a soft target - but we are not."

... Its a computer game ... Its already sold over a million copies worldwide ... This article makes me ashamed to be a Manc. You chose your timing well I must say. Wait till its earned a fortune, they we run in and sue Sony's arse and get some of that income! Excellent idea sir!

Its a computer game, meaning its fictional and therefore no one gets hurt in the process.

Thoughts? Opinions?

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1008/1008758_church_blasts_sony_game.html

 

[Scrutator]

A hissy-fit over something that they very most likely don't have a fucking clue about, it's an argument based more on emotion than on knowledge.

 

[Warbsywoo]

I agree with Scrutator here.
Now, I've never been to England nor obviously have I been to Manchester, but hey, they know absolutely nothing about it whatsoever. And hasn't the game been out for a while, even the ads for it, why make something about it now?
They say they're not soft targets, but the fact that they fight back like this makes me think otherwise, caving in to such fiction.
Rarely does anyone take fiction truly seriously.

 

[SapphireStar]

Theyre fighting back now as the game has sold in its millions and they can try and take them to court.

 

[Jack's Smirking Revenge]

Exactly. They probably need money and/or publicity. The best way? Blame it on computer games of course

. If they were really bothered about it, they would've got onto Sony before it was even released.

 

[Scarlet]

Hrmm, I think Insomniac and Sony should have asked permission first. What done is done. There is no turning back but Manchester Cathedral should have respond to this sooner. Then again, they could have been waiting until the game sold millions to sue for millions.

 

[Big Casino]

its stupid!!! its only a f*****g computer game who really cares

i think its stupid that such big deals are made over over small things especially computer games, Its only a game why sue over something so stupid.

 

[dimmufan]

If this is the case then maybe New York or Los Angeles should start suing video game makers for the use of their cities in the games. If anything the Manchester Cathedral should be proud that they are getting recognition from a worldwide source. I've never heard of it till I read about it. I'm sure alot of people have never heard of Manchester Cathedral until they even played the game. BTW congratulations to United for being 9 time Barclays Premier League champions. Go Red Devils!

 

[Leki]

Well, I say Sony was in the wrong for using a church's interior without asking. It's a church, a place of worship, not bloodshed. I don't see it as bad as if buildings around were used, but not a supposed sacred place. If they wanted the interior so bad, they could have asked. If the church said no, they could go find another place.

But I also find it kinda bad that they waited UNTIL they started making millions. It does kinda seem like they don't care, just, for the money.

So, I guess there are bads to each side.

 

[Davey Gaga]

Hrmm, I think Insomniac and Sony should have asked permission first. What done is done. There is no turning back but Manchester Cathedral should have respond to this sooner. Then again, they could have been waiting until the game sold millions to sue for millions.

Why? It's completely fictional. The venue is the only realistic concept.

Destroy All Humans! allows you to level the White House. They weren't bothered. It's situations like this that make me think democracy has become far too inclusive. "Racism," "Discrimination," and "Offensive" are the only three words I here, getting.

 

[Daesy]

Oh yeah....get mad at sony for making a video game about blood. Dont point your finger at someone when your history isnt squeaky clean.

 

[Davey Gaga]

To be fair, it's because they feel offended that they'd use a holy place for a place of massacre; fictional or not. Sacriligeous, they said.

To tip it back on the realistic side, Religion is too touchy feely-nowadays. It's as if they feel that their beliefs will be destroyed if anyone can say anything 'offensive' or otherwise. Whatever happened to faith? All they have is publicity, to be quite frank.

 

[Archangel]

They do have right to complain and possibly sue. But it is all about timing and money. Sony does not have the right use such pictures in there games without permission. I understand free speech and its just a game and all, but what if all the enemies in the game where Jesus and your goal was to destory him and send him to hell in a bakset full of his body parts?? Where does the whole "free speech" thing stop. Plain and simple if your making video games, movies, ect... Get permission to use someone else property.

As far as the church in this case they really don't care. They are simply getting more attention and may even get a fat check, so there happy, greedy people.

 

[Daesy]

To be fair, it's because they feel offended that they'd use a holy place for a place of massacre; fictional or not. Sacriligeous, they said.

I understand it being sacrilegious. But how many children been raped in a church? How many have been tried and killed in a church? Again...dont point a finger when your record isnt sqeaky clean.

 

[Davey Gaga]

They do have right to complain and possibly sue. But it is all about timing and money. Sony does not have the right use such pictures in there games without permission.

They don't need permission if it's fictional. Would it be fair to say that J.K. Rowling needed permission from London to base part of Harry Potter there?

I understand free speech and its just a game and all, but what if all the enemies in the game where Jesus and your goal was to destory him and send him to hell in a bakset full of his body parts??

First of all, no one would play that game Secondly, it's just a game. If the Church doesn't like it, then fine. But like I say, that's where Religion diverts from the concept of belief and goes into publicity - what does a game do to their own faith? It couldn't have been very strong if they feel threatened by a fictional game.