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Zim · #1 06-11-2007, 09:50 AM

Cathedral to demand Sony apology

Sony Playstation scene of the interior of Manchester Cathedral

'Stranger than fantasy'
Church of England officials will send a letter to Sony demanding an apology over the use of Manchester Cathedral as a backdrop for a violent computer game.

They will ask the technology firm to remove images of the building from the game, and to provide backing to anti-gun campaigns in the city.

A cathedral spokesman said the Church had received many e-mails of support.

Sony said it had "all permissions necessary" to develop the Playstation game, entitled Resistance: Fall of Man.

But Church officials dispute that, and earlier threatened legal action against the firm.

The cathedral's David Marshall said Church leaders would meet on Monday to draft a letter and discuss what other action to take.

He said the letter would make four demands:

* An apology for using the cathedral

* Withdrawal of the game, or modification of the section of the game to remove the cathedral interior

* Sony to make a substantial donation from the games' profits allowing the cathedral's education department to target more effectively those aged 18 to 30

* Sony to support other groups in Manchester fighting against gun crime.

Community groups and MPs have expressed support for the Church's stance against the game, which has sold more than one million :popcorn: copies so far.

Sony said it would contact the cathedral authorities on Monday "to understand their concerns in more detail".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6739575.stm

Its just a game where your fighting aliens, :wacko:

JasonSmithy · #2 06-11-2007, 11:02 AM

thats just stupid. i just went through that part of the game and didn't give a shit about the church lol...

i didn't even think it was a real place!...the church, not manchester lol

NightCougar · #3 06-11-2007, 12:50 PM

the sodding church always complains these days, we shud get thousands of us in fancy dress as chimera and storm the place,lol, then they will wish they played the game

JasonSmithy · #4 06-11-2007, 01:04 PM

haha! yeah and we could have a mini war going on...

but lets not get into a religious argument about this, i will agree with you though couger...the church(es) allways moan these days. since when did they not?

Siege890 · #5 06-11-2007, 01:06 PM

i say **** any church there jsut a bunch of bullshit church+any idot=Me with a gun to my head

P.S. i still belive in god jsut not god made by men

Pav · #6 06-11-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightCougar

the sodding church always complains these days, we shud get thousands of us in fancy dress as chimera and storm the place,lol, then they will wish they played the game

LOL!! What an absolute master stroke!! But seriously, not once in the game does it refer to the place as Manchester cathedral.

JasonSmithy · #7 06-11-2007, 04:10 PM

it does mention A cathedral in manchester though...

i never thought the devs actually used real buildings in the game though! =O

Zim · #8 06-11-2007, 04:12 PM

Update on things :

The real-life battle between the Church of England and Sony over a violent computer game proves the theory that reality is often stranger than fantasy.

Will the corporate giant be forced into a grovelling apology for using Manchester Cathedral as the setting for the computerised gun game?

Will the Church end up with a multi-million pound windfall in compensation?

Or will clergy at the cathedral be forced into an embarrassing climbdown?

The answer should become clearer after the two sides talk for the first time later this week. To work out the likely winner of this unusual duel, the competing arguments need to be explored in detail.

'Sick' game

The Church says to base the Sony PlayStation 3 game Resistance: Fall of Man in a virtual cathedral - identical to Manchester Cathedral - is grossly insensitive.

It is not just the use of holy ground for the bloodthirsty game which has upset the clergy; it is the fact that Manchester has been so scarred by gun violence in recent years.

In fact, the cathedral has hosted memorial services for some of the victims. This is why the computer game has been branded "sick" by the Church.

Sony are insisting they have done nothing wrong, and in a statement said: "We have sought and received all permissions necessary for the creation of the game."

Sony PlayStation scene of the interior of Manchester Cathedral
The Church says using the cathedral is "irresponsible"

Church officials claim no permission was sought from them, never mind granted. The obvious conclusion, therefore, is that Sony did not believe it needed any specific approval to re-create a similar computerised cathedral.

So how did it manage to produce such a close replica?

One theory is that the company simply accessed the "virtual tour" of Manchester Cathedral which is freely available to anyone on the internet.

At this stage, Sony have yet to explain how the striking similarities between their game and the Manchester place of worship came about.

What they have said is that the gun-toting game is not based on reality, and in any case, the targets are alien invaders not humans.

Emotive issue

Within the Church of England there is public anger - and private disappointment.

In some quarters, there is a feeling that more people in authority should have rallied to their support by now, rather than leaving them to fight a lone battle against the might of one of the world's commercial giants.

One Church source told me: "If this computer game had been set in a mosque, you can be sure there would have been more of a public outcry.

Sony game from You Tube/Sony PlayStation 3
The game shows a virtual shoot-out inside the cathedral

"Somehow the Christian church is seen as a 'soft touch'. Almost as if we're fair game. But we are determined to stand our ground on this."

In the end, this row could end up being settled by lawyers. However, given that the guns issue is such an emotive one, it may be in the best interests of both sides to find a quick and honourable solution.

Indeed, it could be argued that this messy confrontation will result in a "win-win" for both sides.

Whatever happens, Sony has just gained nationwide publicity for its PlayStation 3, at a time when it is trying to boost sales.

As for the Church, it has defied the critics who say it is spineless and irrelevant. At the same time, it has managed to highlight concerns over violent computer imagery.

This episode has not just confirmed the theory that truth is stranger than fiction; it may also prove that all the best dramas need a happy ending.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6738309.stm

I wonder if sony planned this all along, good publicity for them.

NightCougar · #9 06-11-2007, 04:54 PM

it would be an amazing day out tho, it wud just crack me up to see a preists face as 1000 chrimera charge at him, wot wud he do, knowing us we wud get struck down or something,

i've never been to the actual place, does it even look the same???

Siege890 · #10 06-11-2007, 05:35 PM

i'm sue sony because of a house in GTA look jsut like mine if i chagned a few thing come on most old owrld churchs all look the same

NightCougar · #11 06-12-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siege890

i'm sue sony because of a house in GTA look jsut like mine if i chagned a few thing come on most old owrld churchs all look the same

lol,im gonna sue them too, they based the chimera on my brother without our permission

Pav · #12 06-12-2007, 11:06 AM

LOL... I'm gonna sue them..... Oh, wait.... No, I'm not sueintg anyone.

Callmege · #13 06-12-2007, 04:39 PM

This is ****ing retarded. Way to go Church of England! I didn't think you could lose any more respect from me but you did it!

They have no chance of winning this in a court. Not only can Sony afford better lawyers, they have also done nothing wrong. This in no way "makes light of" Manchester's gun crime and not once when playing that level did I make any links between the gun I had and Manchester. And it's not like you're killing other people, it's more like your fighting to rid the goddamn church of aliens.

And thats interesting...in their press release, Sony said you were killing aliens.

JasonSmithy · #14 06-12-2007, 05:01 PM

i want to see the chruch ashamed....=]

filmpie · #15 06-13-2007, 01:06 PM

i really think it's a move to boost the sales of the game.

I don't think anyone with a normal working brain could be upset about the use of a building in any kind of virtual game.
It's not like we get ideas of busting the gates open and start shooting with real guns. And as i recall most people who would do such things are religious.

religion is a hobby, some play football on sunday, some go to church
and some stay home and shoot some chimarians while eating sandwiches and cake.

why can't we just respect each other, as long as we don't do anyone any real harm what's the problem?

asking for an apology is not respectfull cause no harm was done.
but it will boost sales through the roof!

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