Church of England Threatens To Sue Sony Over Cathedral Images in Resistance
By Ron on Saturday, June 9th, 2007 at 9:11 AM PST In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Sony, Sony
The Church of England is up in arms over Sony’s use of the Manchester Cathedral in Resistance: Fall of Man. Church leaders says Sony’s use of the images amounts to “desecration” of the cathedral.
The objectionable scene is a shootout between rival gunmen in the cathedral that results in hundreds dead and lots and lots of blood. Church of England officials have said that this use of the images of the building is “sick and sacrilegious.” The Church also says that Sony did not request permission to use the cathedral in the game, and they are demanding an apology from Sony and removal of Resistance from store shelves. The Church says that if Sony does not take these steps, they will consider legal action. The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, said, “For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great Cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible.”
Thus far Sony has not returned any calls from Church officials.
Honestly, I think the Church is overreacting on this one. How many people playing Resistance will even notice that it’s the Manchester Cathedral? Even if they do, images from famous places appear in games all the time. It doesn’t equate to anything.
I have the game and to be honest I think the church is being pathetic. The Bishop/Priest on BBC News states it is about people killing people when in fact it is humans PROTECTING themselves from creatures trying to take over…I think God would allow us to use a church if it meant our survival it just seems pathetic that the Church can’t see the fun side of games it’s a bit of fun Sony isn’t planning to use the Cathedral for mass murder in reality.
KEEP RESISTANCE ON THE SHELVES
Has the church even played the game? Violence in Cathedral? Gun rival? Resistance is about SAVING humanity against the monsters! Hundreds dead? The whole point of the game is to get rid of the monsters so that less people will have to die. You are not randomly killing people! Saving mankind in a place of God, I believe it is a perfect match.
too many dumb people in this world… continue the production, ignore these dumb zealots that don’t know anything about games like this one.
this is ridiclulous, they’re sueing sony for HALF A LEVEL where humens are PROTECTING THEMSELVES againsed ALIENS with MADE UP GUNS. god i hate rich snobs trying 2 ruin our games.
I think it’s the idea that any sort of violence occurs in a religious place. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t happen often. Not even in War of the Worlds (the original) was the church destroyed, little bit damaged yeah, but not destroyed. They used it as a hope of God to allow them to somehow survive (the film had many religious underlays) but the point is, if people believe that their site of religious prayer is tainted, I think they have a right to be angry. Take Resistance off the shelves? No. Re-edit the level, maybe using DLC to change the level slightly to offend less people? I think it’s possible.
People may see this as an over-reaction and without playing the game, I can’t know myself, but if there is a way to go around not-offending people who have what is a legitimate claim, then I think they have a right to say so. Getting rid of the game is OTT.
Personally, I agree with Chris. Protecting man-kind in a church does work rather well.
Every year the Cathedral has a service for the families and friends of those who have been killed in real gun battles. For this reason alone it is not on to do this. Many of them are between the ages of 18-24. Manchester has a real gun problem and for Sony to make a link between the cathedral and a gun fight (even a virtual one) is also not on. This sort of game is very real to those who play them; they are sold as being realistic. No Mosque, Synagogue or as in this case a Cathedral settings appropriate for gun battles.
David
You’re stupid, David. They are fighting Aliens. Not people.
I think it is pathitic that the church is sueing and also the charcter you play is purging the church of evil so it is what god would will so i think KEEP IT ON THE SHELVES in etc we don’t moan at the church for crap they do
Ok if you read it the main point is “Sony did not request permission to use the cathedral in the game” without that who cares what you people think in this world if its not written down legal action is taken. Churchs used to rip people off for money so just let them sue so they can get there stupid money because they have no other way due to the fact no one cares about god anymore they just act like it.
LOL. More wars have been started by churches than any other thing. whats going on in iraq? the people in iraq are fighting each other because of…. RELIGION.
blood is most commonly spilt in the name of religion, and each time, in the name of the respective church. and also, many famous places are used in games, if the game companies had to pay for the usage, all games would take place on mars. but then im sure NASA might sue.
the church needs to get over them selves. i also agree with chris. i may not believe in god, but fighting for the human race in a church just really works.
and one more thing, this is a FICTIONAL game, which takes place in a FICTIONAL version of the EARTH(tm) in a FICTIONAL future.
(Earth is a registered trademark of the English Language Co. ™)