Church Versus Sony: Tony Blair Slams ‘These Games’
PM backs Church of England in Resistance row
The row between Sony and the Church of England continues, despite SCEE’s best efforts to contain and diffuse it, with none other than the soon-to-be-ex-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Right Honourable Mr Tony Blair speaking out against Sony and in favour of the Church in Parliament yesterday.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s question time, Tony Blair told Parliament that there was a need for large corporations such as Sony to have “some sense of responsibility and some sensitivity to the feelings of communities”.
Obviously Mr Tony Blair, this is true. But apparently it does not extend to large corporations such as BAE Systems who bung princes a billion pounds Stirling to ensure that an arms deal can go through - that's real, not virtual arms... the kind of arms that kill and maim real life communities not fictional crab-like alien creatures in computer-generated cathedrals. And fancy cancelling an enquiry into that large corporation? Who would do that, Mr Tony Blair? It's this level of snivelling, twitching, self-serving hypocrisy that encourages gamers to go and fight crab-aliens in cathedrals.
Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, addressing Mr Blair, said, "When large organisations like Sony find their copyright has been breached, they're very quick to use the law. Would the Prime Minister agree with me then that when Sony used images of Manchester Cathedral as part a game which extols gun violence, this was not only in bad taste but also very, very insulting to not simply the Church of England, but people across the land who think it's inappropriate that big corporations behave in this way?"
The Prime Minister responded, “I think this is an immensely difficult area, the relationship between what happens with these games and its impact on young people. I've no doubt this debate will go on for a significant period of time, but I do agree. I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits."
BAE Systems? Billion pounds Sterling? 'Social responsibility' Corporations!? Bring on the crab-aliens! Let's immerse ourselves even more deeply into gaming in order to avoid this oily, nine-faced cynicism!
Meanwhile, the Dean of Manchester, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender claims, in a report in today’s Times, that Sony had made no formal contact since the dispute arose late last week, claiming “On Monday we sent a letter to Sony outlining our concerns and making some key demands. Today I want to report that since sending that letter we have had no formal response from Sony.
“We believe a silent response on the issue is not acceptable behaviour for a responsible large corporate body. Today I want to appeal directly to the people of Japan to help us to put pressure on Sony to respond. So I speak directly to those citizens who share our concerns. For a global manufacturer to recreate the interior of any religious building such as a mosque, synagogue or, in this case, a cathedral, with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have gun battles in the building is beyond belief and in our view highly irresponsible.”
Sony has declined to comment, other than to say that it has contacted the cathedral to discuss the matter.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s question time, Tony Blair told Parliament that there was a need for large corporations such as Sony to have “some sense of responsibility and some sensitivity to the feelings of communities”.
Obviously Mr Tony Blair, this is true. But apparently it does not extend to large corporations such as BAE Systems who bung princes a billion pounds Stirling to ensure that an arms deal can go through - that's real, not virtual arms... the kind of arms that kill and maim real life communities not fictional crab-like alien creatures in computer-generated cathedrals. And fancy cancelling an enquiry into that large corporation? Who would do that, Mr Tony Blair? It's this level of snivelling, twitching, self-serving hypocrisy that encourages gamers to go and fight crab-aliens in cathedrals.
Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, addressing Mr Blair, said, "When large organisations like Sony find their copyright has been breached, they're very quick to use the law. Would the Prime Minister agree with me then that when Sony used images of Manchester Cathedral as part a game which extols gun violence, this was not only in bad taste but also very, very insulting to not simply the Church of England, but people across the land who think it's inappropriate that big corporations behave in this way?"
The Prime Minister responded, “I think this is an immensely difficult area, the relationship between what happens with these games and its impact on young people. I've no doubt this debate will go on for a significant period of time, but I do agree. I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits."
BAE Systems? Billion pounds Sterling? 'Social responsibility' Corporations!? Bring on the crab-aliens! Let's immerse ourselves even more deeply into gaming in order to avoid this oily, nine-faced cynicism!
Meanwhile, the Dean of Manchester, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender claims, in a report in today’s Times, that Sony had made no formal contact since the dispute arose late last week, claiming “On Monday we sent a letter to Sony outlining our concerns and making some key demands. Today I want to report that since sending that letter we have had no formal response from Sony.
“We believe a silent response on the issue is not acceptable behaviour for a responsible large corporate body. Today I want to appeal directly to the people of Japan to help us to put pressure on Sony to respond. So I speak directly to those citizens who share our concerns. For a global manufacturer to recreate the interior of any religious building such as a mosque, synagogue or, in this case, a cathedral, with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have gun battles in the building is beyond belief and in our view highly irresponsible.”
Sony has declined to comment, other than to say that it has contacted the cathedral to discuss the matter.
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Comments
RiseFromYourGrave 14 Jun 2007 09:26
1/5
did these people not get the memo about god not existing? someone fill them in quick, before they look even more ridiculous
mr kyptonite 14 Jun 2007 09:44
2/5
blair is a snivelling little rat of presidential bitch. his opinions count for nothing
have you heard what he's had to say about internet press? looks like jonny liar doesn't like a bit of independant thought and free press.
have you heard what he's had to say about internet press? looks like jonny liar doesn't like a bit of independant thought and free press.
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shutupblair 14 Jun 2007 10:32
3/5
Does context count for nothing these days? I'm truly sick of this level of ignorance and idiocy that our government shows. I mean these guys are trusted to run a country and they can't even deal with an issue like this in a balanced and mature way. I think our country is run by a government that has the unbalanced opinions of a tabloid newspaper. Sony probably haven't responded because they are too busy on the floor laughing.
spudgun 14 Jun 2007 11:37
4/5
Sony should make a deal with Tony. Pull out of Iraq (REAL guns, REAL war, REAL deaths) and Sony pull the Cathedral mission.
Sony and Tony. Tough on the causes of WAR.
Sony and Tony. Tough on the causes of WAR.
Joji 14 Jun 2007 13:00
5/5
LOL! It's bit rich, Mr Blair putting his MPs worth in this. The government has to learn that, while to church goers it might be a problem, to the man in the street its nothing. People are dying for real and the grubby church of england can only worry about something creative that's not even real. Save your money for the homeless.
Like I said previously, I hope this goes to court because CoE are gonna look stupid and I can hardly wait. Them trying to link this whole thing to gun violence is a cop out, to try and add more circumstancial weight and sympathy, to an already flawed case.
Pressure on japan? That's should be interesting. Games feature japanese shinto temples, castles etc and I don't see them kicking up a fuss about any of this. Why is that? Because the most videogame saturated nation on earth, can tell the difference between what's real and what's not and leave it at that, like the most of us.
Until everyone knows the context that you (the soldier), are actually in the church in the first place in Resistance, this ball is gonna keep rolling. Wait for the eureka moment when it stops.
Like I said previously, I hope this goes to court because CoE are gonna look stupid and I can hardly wait. Them trying to link this whole thing to gun violence is a cop out, to try and add more circumstancial weight and sympathy, to an already flawed case.
Pressure on japan? That's should be interesting. Games feature japanese shinto temples, castles etc and I don't see them kicking up a fuss about any of this. Why is that? Because the most videogame saturated nation on earth, can tell the difference between what's real and what's not and leave it at that, like the most of us.
Until everyone knows the context that you (the soldier), are actually in the church in the first place in Resistance, this ball is gonna keep rolling. Wait for the eureka moment when it stops.