Image from Daily Mail
The 2003 PC title Law and Order II: Double or Nothing has been pulled from sale. The removal of the game from retail is the result of regional news agency Mercury Press digging up imagery in the game relating to toddler James Bulger's kidnapping and brutal murder in 1993.
The image from the game to the right depicts a CCTV image of Bulger's kidnapping that was used as a clue in the game.
Reports of the scene, accompanied by demands from Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus, that it be banned, began circulating yesterday on Sky News. The game has now, literally overnight, been withdrawn from sale.
Law and Order II: Double or Nothing The game's distributor, Global Software, issued the following statement, "It has come to our attention that there may be a image in the game that causes offence. As such we have decided to cease selling the game until a full investigation is carried out."
Mrs Fergus said of the images, "To know that he has been turned into a clue in a game makes me very angry. The people who made this game have treated James as though he is public property. It is like they think he is some kind of fictional figure...”
She went on to add, "I don't want to stir up more interest in it and I wouldn't waste my breath on it if I did not have to... But I can't risk ignoring it for fear that the game makers will think I don't care and somehow take that as approval for the vile thing they have done... All copies in the shops should be scrapped and I would appeal to anyone who has got the game to destroy it or demand a refund."
What SPOnG's curious to know is why the image has come to Mrs Fergus's attention now. Law and Order II: Double or Nothing was released way back in 2003, so how has it taken four years for the story to emerge? Is it just a coincidence that this comes just a day after Manhunt 2 was refused classification by the BBFC?
The image from the game to the right depicts a CCTV image of Bulger's kidnapping that was used as a clue in the game.
Reports of the scene, accompanied by demands from Bulger's mother, Denise Fergus, that it be banned, began circulating yesterday on Sky News. The game has now, literally overnight, been withdrawn from sale.
Law and Order II: Double or Nothing The game's distributor, Global Software, issued the following statement, "It has come to our attention that there may be a image in the game that causes offence. As such we have decided to cease selling the game until a full investigation is carried out."
Mrs Fergus said of the images, "To know that he has been turned into a clue in a game makes me very angry. The people who made this game have treated James as though he is public property. It is like they think he is some kind of fictional figure...”
She went on to add, "I don't want to stir up more interest in it and I wouldn't waste my breath on it if I did not have to... But I can't risk ignoring it for fear that the game makers will think I don't care and somehow take that as approval for the vile thing they have done... All copies in the shops should be scrapped and I would appeal to anyone who has got the game to destroy it or demand a refund."
What SPOnG's curious to know is why the image has come to Mrs Fergus's attention now. Law and Order II: Double or Nothing was released way back in 2003, so how has it taken four years for the story to emerge? Is it just a coincidence that this comes just a day after Manhunt 2 was refused classification by the BBFC?
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Comments
Joji 20 Jun 2007 12:47
1/10
Once again its 'a videogame', the Sky news on tv present it like that which means nothing. They don't mention the image in the context of the game, Law and Order (where you play a police officer investigating crimes, to bring criminals to justice), which is based off of a long running. award winning tv series (only the Simpsons has been on as long in comparison), which Sky also show regularly on Sky One (how funny is that). In the Law and Order tv series, which is based off of real life cases, there was an episode based on the Harold Shipman case over here, which says to me they draw influence from criminal cases not just in the U.S, but elsehwhere like the U.K too.
Perhaps, yes the image shouldn't have been there, but in the context of the game, I could understand why it might have been included by an artist, to create a convincing world, where you are a police officer. This game has been out since 2003 but they should have seeked some permission (we haven't actually heard whether they have or not). Perhaps someone will dig up that info.
What no one has said yet is that not every game is made in the U.K. Resistance is a U.S product, as Law and Order might be too.
Perhaps, yes the image shouldn't have been there, but in the context of the game, I could understand why it might have been included by an artist, to create a convincing world, where you are a police officer. This game has been out since 2003 but they should have seeked some permission (we haven't actually heard whether they have or not). Perhaps someone will dig up that info.
What no one has said yet is that not every game is made in the U.K. Resistance is a U.S product, as Law and Order might be too.
headcasephil 20 Jun 2007 15:40
2/10
welcome to a world of big brother
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haritorihanzo 20 Jun 2007 16:05
3/10
This should not of been included from day one, i agree completely that the Resistance and Manhunt matters are completely stupid and shouldnt of been brought to the medias attention, but this is a picture of a little boy who was brutaly murdered and whos mother has every right to with hold this from anyone!! why a picture of jamie bulger!, could they of not used pics that an artist created?? why for the love of god should a game company decide to use a picture of a murdered child, rockstar and sony has my sympathy with whats happeneing but the creators of this game should rightly remove this game from sale and remove the picture that should never of been placed there! this isnt just someone trying to score points and money from a game company this genuinly is a mother who has had her sons memory used in vain.
hollywooda 20 Jun 2007 17:02
4/10
This is just a case of really, really bad taste, at some point the designers must of looked @ that photo & thought "is this right?", the obvious answer is NO, but it's brought some light on a game that's probably s**t & would no doubt fell off the charts & straight into the bargain bucket, but anyone with half a brain can see this photo should never of ended up in a game... Just puts another black mark on gaming & gamers, thanks guys....w@nkers.
Joji 20 Jun 2007 17:02
5/10
I hear you and don't agree with it and have a heart for the Miss/Mrs Bulger. I'm not made of stone and scorn. We are yet to find out if permission was sought after for it's use. If this Law and Order game came out in 2003, development of it would have been before that date. If no permission was sought, but the developer/artist added that image in the context of the game and the time and climate it was created in, for authenticity or otherwise and definitely didn't seek permission, they should have sought permission (it's possible if you check the dates, the Bulger case might have been all over the news in the U.K at the time, because it involved uniquely, only children).
By the way, here's a review of the game. Look at other reviews of it to make up your mind if it's as violent as the u.k media make out. You'll see what I mean by hacks not doing their job properly and keeping things like this in context.
http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/LawOrder2/LawOrder2.shtm
After reading that, I don't think the game deserved a ban. A warning and compensation to Miss/Mrs Bulger for all the time it's been on sale would have done the trick, as well as copyright stuff to stop it happening again.
However, in the context of its use it seems valid somewhat. If you disagree, here's the developer Legacy Interactive's website link, http://www.legacyinteractive.com/li/index.php
Complain if you must and feel so strongly about it.
By the way, here's a review of the game. Look at other reviews of it to make up your mind if it's as violent as the u.k media make out. You'll see what I mean by hacks not doing their job properly and keeping things like this in context.
http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/LawOrder2/LawOrder2.shtm
After reading that, I don't think the game deserved a ban. A warning and compensation to Miss/Mrs Bulger for all the time it's been on sale would have done the trick, as well as copyright stuff to stop it happening again.
However, in the context of its use it seems valid somewhat. If you disagree, here's the developer Legacy Interactive's website link, http://www.legacyinteractive.com/li/index.php
Complain if you must and feel so strongly about it.
Bob Fossil 20 Jun 2007 18:35
6/10
haritorihanzo wrote:
This should not of been included from day one.
TOTALLY and utterly agree. The designer who made this decision should be named and shamed! To draw any parallels between this and the Resistance and Manhunt debacles is a joke. This is clearly A Bad Thing with no artistic merit.
Ditto 21 Jun 2007 03:12
7/10
Bob Fossil wrote:
haritorihanzo wrote:
This should not of been included from day one.
TOTALLY and utterly agree. The designer who made this decision should be named and shamed! To draw any parallels between this and the Resistance and Manhunt debacles is a joke. This is clearly A Bad Thing with no artistic merit.
They have no justification for including this image. I agree. Foul trash.
soanso 21 Jun 2007 07:54
8/10
Using any footage or any photos from any real case is just plain stupid in my book.
It's almost always destined to land you in trouble, especially using the Bulger case.
I take it the developers of that game must not be British since I reckon a UK devco would have forseen and angry mob with burning torches gathering at their office doors...
...ah yeah. You get where that's going.
Sure the footage fits into the content of the game but c'mon folks. film your own!!!!
It's almost always destined to land you in trouble, especially using the Bulger case.
I take it the developers of that game must not be British since I reckon a UK devco would have forseen and angry mob with burning torches gathering at their office doors...
...ah yeah. You get where that's going.
Sure the footage fits into the content of the game but c'mon folks. film your own!!!!
king skins 21 Jun 2007 08:50
9/10
What's the betting on this game has sold more in the last couple of days than it has done in the last 4 years?
Andrew Bird 21 Jun 2007 08:57
10/10
The trouble is you don't know how and why this is a problem here in the United Kingdom. The Bulger case will never be erased by time and will haunt everyone who cares about the welfare of humanbeings for ever. When a toddler is killed by other children it's always going to be remembered.