The Guardian’s games man, Nick Gillet, speaking on Phil Jupitus’ BBC6Music Breakfast show this morning, repeated last week's story about Atari being accused by the chairman of the UK's Anti-Graffiti Association (AGA) of encouraging vandalism in its plans to release Graffiti-inspired game ‘Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure’.
SPOnG sought a response from Atari on this matter today, as we feel this non-story really needs to be nipped in the bud, before it flowers into a full-on Daily Mail moral panic about the negative effects of videogames on our children.
Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, which is due out on PC, PS2 and Xbox next month, sees players taking on the role of a young graffiti artist who must use his spray-painting skills to help overthrow a corrupt local government, spread his graffiti art to build up a bit of a reputation and gain… Respect!
SPOnG is not sure if the Respect your player gains in the game is the same as the Respect which Mr Tony Blair is so keen to shoehorn into the UK’s national political agenda, but we do find this whole storm in a teacup issue over a videogame rather alarming. SPOnG doesn't go out and grab guns or nick cars each time we play GTA, and we don't, for that matter, try to emulate the behaviour of Tom or Jerry after watching that classic cartoon. Nor do we think we are incredible flying acrobats when we go to see the Moscow State Circus each Christmas... We could, of course, go on.
American Fashion Mogul, Marc Ecko, the visionary behind several of today's most respected youth lifestyle brands, has described the game as an homage the rich graf culture which started in New York City in the late 1970s, which is widely recognised as a valid art form and is a central feature of the now widespread global Hip Hop culture. The game is also to be developed into a movie, with MTV Films holding the film rights.
In a statement released to SPOnG today, in response to the AGA’s comments last week, an Atari spokesperson said: “The game environment and narrative present a unique setting and look based on the lifestyle and legend of graffiti artists and their chosen art form. The look and feel of the game reflect many aspects of this culture, including its music, fashion, and language, giving the player the ability to "experience" the graffiti art form in a safe and legal setting. The focus of the game is on expression through art; the hero is typically equipped with only paint, and never guns.”
The spokesperson went on to add: “Atari, Inc. prides itself on providing innovative entertainment experiences like Getting Up. Atari, Inc. does not condone or encourage the commission of any criminal act, or the wrongful suppression of the freedom of artistic expression.”
This is not the first time that controversy has surrounded the game - politicians in Florida and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg have both campaigned and made attempts to prevent Atari and Ecko from launching the game and from holding a party to promote the title. Do these politicians and campaigners for cleaner cities really think they are achieving anything through this type of activity, other than increasing the PR coverage about Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure?
Before the AGA and morally-upstanding parents across the land start player-hating on us, let us make our position clear. SPOnG is fully aware that graffiti clean-up operations costs Londoners over £100 million annually. Mindless tagging of buses, trains and public and private property makes our blood boil as much as the next commuter. It just makes our daily environment look worse and increases our already-high Council Tax bills. It is wrong and should be stopped and discouraged at every opportunity.
However, playing Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is not going to inspire the youth of our nation to go out and deface trains and buses with a permanent black marker. We would be as bold to go so far and suggest that the main contributor towards inspiring such vandalism could be summed up in two words – poor parenting.
Please let us know your thoughts on the matter in the forum below.
SPOnG sought a response from Atari on this matter today, as we feel this non-story really needs to be nipped in the bud, before it flowers into a full-on Daily Mail moral panic about the negative effects of videogames on our children.
Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, which is due out on PC, PS2 and Xbox next month, sees players taking on the role of a young graffiti artist who must use his spray-painting skills to help overthrow a corrupt local government, spread his graffiti art to build up a bit of a reputation and gain… Respect!
SPOnG is not sure if the Respect your player gains in the game is the same as the Respect which Mr Tony Blair is so keen to shoehorn into the UK’s national political agenda, but we do find this whole storm in a teacup issue over a videogame rather alarming. SPOnG doesn't go out and grab guns or nick cars each time we play GTA, and we don't, for that matter, try to emulate the behaviour of Tom or Jerry after watching that classic cartoon. Nor do we think we are incredible flying acrobats when we go to see the Moscow State Circus each Christmas... We could, of course, go on.
American Fashion Mogul, Marc Ecko, the visionary behind several of today's most respected youth lifestyle brands, has described the game as an homage the rich graf culture which started in New York City in the late 1970s, which is widely recognised as a valid art form and is a central feature of the now widespread global Hip Hop culture. The game is also to be developed into a movie, with MTV Films holding the film rights.
In a statement released to SPOnG today, in response to the AGA’s comments last week, an Atari spokesperson said: “The game environment and narrative present a unique setting and look based on the lifestyle and legend of graffiti artists and their chosen art form. The look and feel of the game reflect many aspects of this culture, including its music, fashion, and language, giving the player the ability to "experience" the graffiti art form in a safe and legal setting. The focus of the game is on expression through art; the hero is typically equipped with only paint, and never guns.”
The spokesperson went on to add: “Atari, Inc. prides itself on providing innovative entertainment experiences like Getting Up. Atari, Inc. does not condone or encourage the commission of any criminal act, or the wrongful suppression of the freedom of artistic expression.”
This is not the first time that controversy has surrounded the game - politicians in Florida and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg have both campaigned and made attempts to prevent Atari and Ecko from launching the game and from holding a party to promote the title. Do these politicians and campaigners for cleaner cities really think they are achieving anything through this type of activity, other than increasing the PR coverage about Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure?
Before the AGA and morally-upstanding parents across the land start player-hating on us, let us make our position clear. SPOnG is fully aware that graffiti clean-up operations costs Londoners over £100 million annually. Mindless tagging of buses, trains and public and private property makes our blood boil as much as the next commuter. It just makes our daily environment look worse and increases our already-high Council Tax bills. It is wrong and should be stopped and discouraged at every opportunity.
However, playing Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is not going to inspire the youth of our nation to go out and deface trains and buses with a permanent black marker. We would be as bold to go so far and suggest that the main contributor towards inspiring such vandalism could be summed up in two words – poor parenting.
Please let us know your thoughts on the matter in the forum below.
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Comments
vault 13 17 Jan 2006 19:27
1/6
Hooray for parents not taking responsiibility. Someone should make a Sims mod, make it like a parental test for the adults. See who can grow and nuture a normal child through successful parenting and good values. I bet alot of people would fail.
fluffstardx 18 Jan 2006 00:38
2/6
Wait... so, Tony Hawk's isn't being vilified? Even though it involves graffitti for cash purposes? What about Jet Set Radio?
Tell you what, let's just stop playing games. We can't do right by the masses. Next they'll be saying FIFA and Pro Evo are damaging to the youth for some reason, followed by Mario, and so on...
Tell you what, let's just stop playing games. We can't do right by the masses. Next they'll be saying FIFA and Pro Evo are damaging to the youth for some reason, followed by Mario, and so on...
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LUPOS 18 Jan 2006 15:13
3/6
fluffstardx wrote:
Next they'll be saying FIFA and Pro Evo are damaging to the youth for some reason
perhaps because they keep people inside using controllers instead of actually playing sports. course they say that about all games... sports games are just the most ironic.
_____
questworld 19 Jan 2006 04:46
4/6
As much as parental neglect being a factor in many cases, I don't particularly appreciate the quickie stamping of such labels as a fast excuse for gamers to use without considering other forms of influence towards people's behaviors. Media DO influence people's behavior (especially towards what is deemed "cool" - i.e. smoking, drinking, sex, etc.). And let's not forget how one's peers can be especially influential. Ever bullied or teased someone? Well, just because you think YOU can come out of it unscathed doesn't mean everyone can "take a joke." If you were ever relentlessly bullied someone (I'm sure you've seen news reports of how girls can behave towards other girls who aren't in the "circle") then don't be surprised if things can get nasty 'cause you just might deserve what you get (though hopefully nothing as fatal as school shootings). Ever wonder why school shootings seem so common now? Well, personally, I think it's how society "evolved" into, much like how a good neighborhood can turn bad. Society is just a larger version of a neighborhood. If you look at the factors that may have contributed to the rise of a bad neighborhood, well those might be the same things that can affect a nation or world. Think about that. With what we have now (tv, internet, chat site, phones, etc.) we're more connected than ever and we influence behaviors in a global scale (i.e. cyber bullying, flaming, etc.)
Something to think about.
Something to think about.
vault 13 19 Jan 2006 16:07
5/6
So basically you're saying to outlaw all violent, pornographic, harmful, etc. content. So every movie, video game, tv show, etc. should be banned? How far do we go and what measures can we employ?
If video games influence people so much, and seeing movies or tv shows is much easier (no 300+ price tag), I think the focus is in the wrong place. Start with the most accessible content first and work from there.
If video games influence people so much, and seeing movies or tv shows is much easier (no 300+ price tag), I think the focus is in the wrong place. Start with the most accessible content first and work from there.
questworld 4 Feb 2006 02:52
6/6
All I'm saying is that people should practice good judgement on what they put out there. I mean, just for the sake of analogy, why do you suppose we ban illegal drugs like cocaine anyway. I'm sure it has some medical benefits in certain cases right? If people sell them isn't that their right or freedom to make a living? People don't have to buy them and if parents are concerned then it's their responsibility to keep an eye on their children from ever using it.
In such an extreme analogy you can see that sure we don't have to use it or buy it and yet many believe that we should be more sensible and essentially ban its existence as a commercial product. Not that I'm implying that videogames and certain content are anywhere as dangerous but perhaps a little discretion is adviced. At the very least allow for measures that make it less accessible to those who we believe shouldn't be exposed to it, particularly if the general consensus is that they are not ready for it. You can't just go around saying it's all up to the parents. They can't simply be the last and only line of defense. They can't do everything. Parents, teachers, the goverenment, product manufactureres, and even you, their peers should be more aware of possible consequences.
In such an extreme analogy you can see that sure we don't have to use it or buy it and yet many believe that we should be more sensible and essentially ban its existence as a commercial product. Not that I'm implying that videogames and certain content are anywhere as dangerous but perhaps a little discretion is adviced. At the very least allow for measures that make it less accessible to those who we believe shouldn't be exposed to it, particularly if the general consensus is that they are not ready for it. You can't just go around saying it's all up to the parents. They can't simply be the last and only line of defense. They can't do everything. Parents, teachers, the goverenment, product manufactureres, and even you, their peers should be more aware of possible consequences.