In what actually seems like more of a slight than a good-willed apology acceptance, the Church of England's Very Reverend Rogers Govender was quoted as saying "we do
forgive Sony for
what they have done, even though they still believe they have done nothing wrong." The Dean of Manchester Cathedral's comments came after Sony failed to take home a British Academy Video Game award last night for Resistance: Fall of Man, a game which adopts the cathedral's likeness as one of its settings. Referring to a supposed traditional code of ethics in the industry, Reverend Govender went on to say that "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." So yeah, it doesn't look like the Church will be sending Sony any Christmas cards this year, but on the upside, Manchester Cathedral is apparently doing a booming business among the younger crowd as a result of the controversy.
posted October 24th 2007 9:53AM
Complaining to the licensee of the development technology was a perfectly appropriate thing to do *if* you want to bring pressure to bear. Sony have seen their whole marketing landscape sullied by this story - I bet you all your free McDonalds vouchers that they watched the PR spin up on this *very* carefully indeed.
However, do they have a legal recourse to Sony? I think not. So it's a bit moot.
So what about the people who respect video games as an art? Who's respect is worth more?
Yes, but would Sony BMG forgive Manchester Cathedral for copying their music?
I wonder what the lord thinks of the rootkit fiasco?
I wonder if that's why he carved his media on slabs of stone?
"Hack that fuggers"!
I am the divine mediator to settle disputes between multinational software companies and multinational churches.
God himself chose me.
Please join my church. You can take any photos and develop any derivative software you like as long as it includes our loverly bildins. We could do with all the promotion.
With love,
Church of Loverly Bildins
-----
"new times call for new faith promotionz"
Virtual violence against aliens in a house of God (Resistance) vs. Violence in the name of God (Crusades)... Sounds like somebody needs a few alter boys to keep him busy.
Wow this REALLY struck a chord with you guys!
I think the church of england deserves a little kickback here. I mean, if you used MY house in a video game, I sure as hell would expect a little lettuce for my salad...
Beyond that, being offended is for wimps and politicians. People who actually have to work for a living have no time to be offended.
why would you expect money? pretty soon you wouldn't be able to render ANYTHING real life and use it in a game or a movie(because you'd need ask permission from everyone).. how about that?
sure, you'd better ask them for the money when you were letting them into your house to take photos to accurately render it.
it would be more allright if they were up front about it, like saying "look, we let you come in and did this and this to provide a possibility for you to take photos inside and gave you these and these blueprints, could we have money for the trouble we did?". but no, they're not doing that. they're just doing the old "GIMME MONEY FOR FREEEH!", which was what they were after, not an apology. and really, what would there have been to apologize? that the church is impressive looking enough to include in the game? that there's shooting in a church? that would be something to apologize in general to church going folk, but really it's a setting used in hundreds of entertainment titles for all kinds of stuff from shooting to f**king.
hunchback of notre dame anyone ?
"hunchback of notre dame anyone ?"
Now now! There's no reason to bring Balmer into this!
I would want some money if a video game used my house as well, assuming I was the architect that designed it. Manchester Cathedral was built in 923 AD. So unless they plan on digging up the chief architect and stuffing his coffin full of British Currency, I don't see the point. Anyhow, UK copyrights protect the architects drawings, not the building itself. Assuming a thousand year old copyright could even be in effect, you could still recreate the building in real life using photographs, but not drawings and blueprints.
So, you want money for doing absolutely nothing but happening to exist and being in a videogame? Let me ask you this: if you were a developer, publisher, licensor, etc., would you want to pay people who didn't actually do anything to finish the end product? Worse yet, when the people who want money from you for doing nothing receive any form of money, they have been known to boast about how much better and/or holier they are than thou, and have special absolution powers...Sounds like my younger brother. Annoying, constantly needy, and did I mention annoying?
Really strange, Why would a church notice it was there church ? Did someone point it out or were they really playing the shoot em up game themselves ?
Just wondering how they found out.
Funny how no-one complained about the RTCW level where you fight zombies, skeletons, Nazis and a big fat demon - in a church!
The Church plays this game? Amazing!
hmm, since sony have buckets load of cash to spend on these games who on earth do they think they are?
would you let sony come and make a replica of your bedroom without your permission?
You'd better believe I want compensation for something all those developers / progammers / talents all make fat $$ on. I don't want the pie, I just want a slice.
Consider this: If the church had come out and asked for a check, would you stop your assault on the greedy, moneygrubbing church?
Not likely.
You do have a point though, I would ask for that check when they showed up at my house, not once the game came out (reminds me of the Borat movie fallout, when all those people wanted a bigger cut once it became a hit).
Additionally, I would say that if they didn't want to pay for it, it must not be worth much and then they should be able to find a different structure against which to base their levels!
I don't see how this is so strange to you guys. I own my own business, and you'd better believe that anything I rely on to make money I have to pay for first, and I have NEVER been handed anything by anyone (for business purposes). It's the nature of business, and this move by Sony / game 3rd party developer was bad, bad business and now they're paying for it in bad PR.
Consider it a lesson learnt (the hard way).
Yea, I'm sure there are a lot of Mosques in Manchester, why didn't they use one of those?
Andre,
I doubt there were that many mosques in Manchester's City Centre during WWII (when Resistance is set). I take it your comment is meant to stir up some "Christianity always get a raw deal compared with other religions" type of sentiments. Nice try, but better luck next time.