[Dabhand16]

Cathedral row over computer game

The Church of England is considering legal action against entertainment firm Sony for featuring Manchester Cathedral in a violent computer game.
Sony Playstation's 'Resistance: Fall of Man' uses the interior of the cathedral's nave without permission.

The game, which has sold more than one million copies, shows a virtual shoot-out in the cathedral's nave in which hundreds of soldiers are killed.

A Sony spokesman said that permission had been sought where necessary.

However, the Church said Sony did not ask for permission to use the cathedral and it has demanded an apology and the removal of the game from shop shelves - otherwise legal action will be considered.

Sony has not returned calls from Church officials.

'Beyond belief'

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, has described the decision to feature the city's cathedral as "highly irresponsible" - especially in the light of Manchester's history of gun crime.

"It is well known that Manchester has a gun crime problem," he 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.


"Here in Manchester we do all we can to support communities through our parish clergy. We know the reality of gun crime and the devastating effects it can have on lives. It is not a trivial matter."

The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, The Very Revd Rogers Govender, also hit out at Sony's decision to feature the cathedral, claiming it was "undermining" the work of the church.

"We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired.

"This is an important issue. For many young people these games offer a different sort of reality and seeing guns in Manchester Cathedral is not the sort of connection we want to make.

"Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work."

No-one from Sony was available for comment.

However, David Wilson, a Sony spokesman, told The Times newspaper: "It is game-created footage, it is not video or photography.

"It is entertainment, like Doctor Who or any other science fiction. It is not based on reality at all. Throughout the whole process we have sought permission where necessary."

Source: BBC

[Steve]

I think this is a stupid claim by the Church. In their own words...

For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality

Sony has re-created, not photographed or filmed the location and so from what I understand even though it may look the same its not actually infringed on any copyright issues. this will be a very interesting case (from a legal point of view) if the church follow through their threats.

Regardless, I personally believe that the church has lost touch with society if they believe that anyone playing this game really thinks that its ok to go into a church and start using guns.

Maybe the church are just after the free publicity?

[Markulous]

"Sick" and "sacrilegious" is what the church are claiming. Oh, and surprise surprise, they've now got their hand out for "compensation"

As has been universally acknowledged, the cathedral is public property on public property, so there appears to be little legal recourse by the church - possibly ethical?

Must say that the whole thing smacks of laziness by the developer. Rather than come up with a generic building they've used photos to reproduce it. OK, arguably still not very subtle but at least it would've defused the specific complaint

[daveyuk]

mmmmm
At the end of the day it's a game....
everyone has the choice you can play it or you don't play it.... Simple

I'm pretty sure that Sony the publishing house in this case aren't going to be to worried about the C of E. If the finger is going to be pointed at anyone then it should be pointed at the developer "Insomniac" as they are the ones who created this game.

As I've already said it's just a game........