Church Forgives Sony Over Violent PlayStation 3 Game
Earlier this year, not long after Sony's PlayStation 3 launched in the U.K., Sony found itself on the receiving end of some stiff words from Church of England representatives thanks to a battle sequence in 'Resistance: Fall of Man.' The specific battle takes place in a virtual rendition of Manchester Cathedral. The Church took offense and Sony was quick to semi-apologize, saying it really hadn't done anything wrong, but was sorry just the same. Now, months later, and a day after the game was snubbed at the British Academy Video Games Awards, the Chuch of England is saying that it forgives the company ... sort of.
Seeming to relish in the game's failure to win an award, the Dean of Manchester Cathedral issued the following statement, which we wouldn't say is any more forgiving than Sony's apology was apologetic:
"I think some important lessons have been learnt. So we do forgive Sony for what they have done, even though they still believe they have done nothing wrong. In an industry that is breaking new frontiers, it is important that long held traditions of film and television are maintained. These traditions include having courtesy, respecting the dignity of your subject, and admitting when mistakes have been made. In so many ways Sony have failed to live up to these standards by disrespecting people of faith and the victims of gun crime here in Manchester."As we pointed out earlier, many other games, like 'Call of Duty' and 'Hitman' have featured spectacular gun battles in churches without raising the ire of any religious figureheads. With the Dean extending the scope of the story to include television and film, well, we don't even know where to begin, but we're guessing the Dean has never seen flicks by Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez, nor any episodes of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' for that matter.
From BBC News
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tiffiny Whitney said 4:38PM on 10-24-2007
I do not know anything about the video game mentioned in this story other than that it's violent. I don't even know that much about other Playstatyion 1, 2, or 3 games...except that many of them are violent.
Knowing that the Playstation 1 has existed for some time, and I KNOW there have been violent PS games...can I ask what is so horrific about this particular PS3 game that it was cause for condemnation against Sony? Why in the world did the Church of England not voice outcry so publicly at other PS1, 2, or 3 games? Or X-Box games? Halo is pretty darned violent...
In essence...I just think the criticism from the Church of England is ridiculous. If there's a huge problem with violent games for them, then maintain consistency.
Tiffiny
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Tigre said 5:34PM on 10-24-2007
I still don't see the big deal the church is trying to make. Does the church get blown up in the game? If not shut up. Instead of the church worrying about video games how about they focus on the homeless, the poor, people with disease, and other problems that people have. I think it's time for people to get their priorities straight.
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dave said 5:53PM on 10-24-2007
Tiff....Halo3 doesnt take place in the church though...which is kinda the point.
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