Kiddie porn trumps video games
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Dec 6th 2006 at 6:55AM }
British Home Secretary John Reid addressed European Union members this week in Brussels regarding violent video games. He acknowledged that violent games are an issue in the gamut of problems that affect youth, tempering his statement by saying, "But I am also concerned about what more we can do to tackle the most extreme and harmful end of the spectrum. In particular I am concerned about child pornography." Reid said most games do not feature objectionable material and went on to propose numerous ways for the EU to fight child pornography.Reid's statements come following issues in the U.K. and Europe over the survival-horror game Rule of Rose, which features very sinister little girls and is considered by some to be "erotic." The game currently has no publisher in the U.K. Coincidentally, if London audiences want to get their creepy child fix on, 17 year-old Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame will perform Equus in London early next year, which has "a lengthy nude scene during which Strang (Radcliffe) blinds six horses with a spike." So, naked Harry Potter live on-stage stabbing out horses eyes is fine, but fully clothed little girls terrorizing a woman with live rats tied to sticks is too much -- interesting.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David @ Dec 6th 2006 8:27AM
Ah, but the age of sexual consent for us in the UK is 16, so there's less of a "isn't he too young" debate about it. It's also theatre and the audience member is involved as a viewer and not as a protagonist.
Dazz @ Dec 6th 2006 7:29AM
Alas, that be the state of the UK and most of Europe now >_>
the worm @ Dec 6th 2006 7:36AM
naked harry potter is above the age of consent, which is 16 in the UK so therefore not in any way illegal.
although why you would want to see that is a bit weird
:D
Alex @ Dec 6th 2006 7:52AM
Artless lot, aren't you?
jay @ Dec 6th 2006 8:07AM
Daniel Radcliffe is above the age of consent though.
logan @ Dec 6th 2006 8:08AM
Well, that's backhanded as all hell. How are video games and child porn part of the same "spectrum"?
Andy @ Dec 6th 2006 8:12AM
All this nonsense over a mediocre game. That play is quite awful, as well.
sploy @ Dec 6th 2006 8:28AM
Does this mean that there are some people out there who aren't playing Gears of War?
Spence @ Dec 6th 2006 8:42AM
If Bioshock gets canned because you can kill little girls I'm gonna lay the smack down on someone.
benjamin @ Dec 6th 2006 8:45AM
I just read Equus, oddly enough. It's a weird, weird play.
Bradfo @ Dec 6th 2006 8:56AM
@10
Well YEAH it's a weird play - word is there is a scene with a young adult nude male stabbing the eyes out of a few horses with a spike. I mean, clearly.
Doc Evil @ Dec 6th 2006 8:57AM
It's interesting that this game is causing so much of a stir in Europe because it --could-- be interpreted as having sexual undertones yet you can probably walk into any video store and obtain Kubrick's 'Lolita' which graphically depicts a man seducing then engaging in sex with a 13 year old over numerous scenes throughout the entire feature length including scenes where he forces himself on her and scenes where he pays her to have sex with him and even scenes where he strikes her for witholding sex but that apparently is perfectly fine. It's irony in its highest(or lowest) form. Hey even lesser known films that intricately depict pedophilia like 'The Woodsman' and 'Hard Candy' are easily pbtained in the mainstream.
This is just another case of two-bit, self indulgent, attention seeking, low-life politicians looking for easy publicity. I often place these particular politicians several tiers below ambulance chasing lawyers for their ability to capitalize on the stupid people of the world.
FatOprah @ Dec 6th 2006 9:06AM
Why couldn't it star that Hermione broad?
me @ Dec 6th 2006 9:03AM
Sadly, this lind of view is common in the uk.
Have you ever seen the south park episode "fun with weapons"? The parents end up being mad that cartman was naked on a stage, completely ignoring the violence being done and the danger posed by the kids playing with ninja weapons.
It was the same thing with GTA, no-one gave a toss when "all" that you could do was blow up cars, kill people, rob, sell drugs etc. But as soon as the press got hold of the whole hot coffee thing, well you know the rest.
mcewen @ Dec 6th 2006 9:12AM
I came to this site due to a search on 'spectrum' by accident. However, since I'm here, I'm surprised that anyone is surprised by this information [translation = statistic]. It's not surprising that the politicians are using this for their own agenda either.
Cheers
Duophonix @ Dec 6th 2006 10:33AM
the age of consent is 16, but its still illigal to expose yourself until 18. You cant pose nude until your 18 in the UK, hence no 16 year old page 3 girls etc
mokeyjoe @ Dec 8th 2006 1:43PM
Bear in mind that Rule of Rose hasn't been banned. It's just that there isn't a publisher. It just isn't worth publishing a mediocre game when there's controversy around it.
GTA and Bully both caused more of a stir and still got published.
In any case about nudity - there used to be 16 yo page 3 girls etc when I was in my teens - when did that change?
joe smith @ Dec 6th 2006 1:07PM
Equus is a pretty powerful piece of theatre -- and very much a work of art. So far, after 20+ years of gaming, I have seen VERY few games that rise to the level of being even bad art. Plus, Equus is not aimed at kids -- or even teens. It is an adult play for mature audiences.
crono141 @ Dec 6th 2006 1:28PM
Tell me how a naked harry potter poking out the eyes of horses qualifies as "art", and epic stories, music, and animation found in the likes of FF6, FF7, Chrono Trigger, and Zelda TP doesn't.
I'm with tycho on this. I fail to see how a soundtrack composed by Uematsu (by itself considered "art"), great drawing by Amano (by itself considered "art"), and the writings of Sakaguchi (by itself considered "art") when thrown together in a game somehow are no longer considered "art".
Mal F4cti0n @ Dec 6th 2006 1:46PM
One is nudity in art form while the other is suggestive eroticism in a game.
Big difference.
But wait, why are games not considered an art form while a play is?
Shit, I can write a play where all the actors just bang it out on stage and that would be praised as innovative and shocking. While if it is in a videogame it is filth and smut.
I hate people.
Andy @ Dec 7th 2006 11:42AM
Yes. I must not be mature enough to understand the brilliance behind that play. Must've gone over my head. Just like "The Fountain" and "Donnie Darko."
OtakuCODE @ Dec 7th 2006 8:55AM
I want someone to make Equus: The Game. I'd preorder it now for $200 if only to see the unbridled social chaos it would bring about.
James @ Dec 7th 2006 1:45PM
I'm so effing sick of people with their own little snobby sub-culture making "art" that consists of whatever they can think of to "shock" Joe Sixpack. Back in the 60s, it might have been genuinely innovative to Freak Out the Squares (, Man), but now you just looking fucking sad. Enough already.
And I can't put my finger on why, but I liked Donnie Darko.
James @ Dec 7th 2006 1:51PM
*look* fucking sad. Oops.