Tony Blair comments on Church of England's Sony issue
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Jun 13th 2007 at 6:55PM }
Make some popcorn and grab some drinks because Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has now publicly commented on the Church of England's issue with Resistance: Fall of Man. During the Prime Minister's questions (which is fantastic television viewing BTW) the MP for Manchester Central asked, "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?"Mr. Blair's response? Quite "meh" in tone and execution. Blair said, "I agree with my honourable friend. I think it's important that any of the companies engaged in promoting these types of goods have some sense of responsibility and also some sensitivity to the feelings of others ... I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits." So, that means what exactly?
We wish we could get a better idea oh how this kerfuffle is really going down in England. Any Brits want to comment? So far, what we know is that Sony is handling the situation through their Europe branch quietly. Meanwhile, developer of Resistance, Insomniac Games, is keeping their mouth shut and not saying anything either. This whole situation is becoming very Alice in Wonderland. Alice might say, "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
Update: Changed Blair from PM of England to PM of United Kingdom. Please pardon our oversight citizens of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eastern Bavaria.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Corrin Avatan @ Jun 13th 2007 7:01PM
I seriously don't understand what the heck is going down... if this lawsuit goes through, next thing you know New York City will be suing Treyarch for depicting their sewers as lizard-ridden tunnels of pustulence that is connected to their subway system.
What's next? Will Britain itself sue the developers/publishers of Hellgate: London?
Tony Blair @ Jun 13th 2007 7:01PM
Feel free to ask me for my Xbox live gamertag.
Prime Minister out.
jay @ Jun 13th 2007 7:02PM
Thing is, Manchester does (did?) have a gun problem. Think of Manchester as a giant American school, would the US media and school board take well to an FPS based in a school?
I say did, because, as living in the outskirts of Manchester, the gun problem isn't as big as it used to be. The big thing now is knives in London and guns in Nottingham.
GeordieSteve @ Jun 13th 2007 7:07PM
Its been highlighted on some popular radio shows such as Talk Sport with people just bashing it and not having a clue what the hell theyre going on about, just the fact that it 'promotes gun violence'.
Tom Hands @ Jun 13th 2007 7:07PM
I'm a teen from England at college and we all think it's mental that the CoE are getting so worked up over it. I'm yet to meet anyone that can decide what the fuss is about to be honest, it almost seems like the Church is just trying to make a quick buck off Sony, and hell, I follow this church. If there's one way to draw my generation into Manchester cathedral, it's to stick a gunfight in there. Shame none of us can afford a PS3 :-P
Neil Christie @ Jun 13th 2007 7:16PM
There is no such thing as "The Prime Minister of England" - Tony Blair is The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which includes Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Ashley Allen @ Jun 13th 2007 7:10PM
I'm an Englishman and basically, no-one gives a s**t.
The only people who are even slightly offended are the people who go to church, which in the UK is a very very small minority as the Hollyoaks omnibus is on sunday mornings, and we'd all rather stay in and watch the hotties than go to church and do borg impressions.
When it is bought up the whole violence in video games isn't an issue because our game ratings are legally enforcable, you can't sell an 18 rated game to anyone under 18.
For Prime Minister's Questions you can always gauge how important something is by when the question was asked. The important stuff is asked at the beginning (Iraq and that sort of stuff) then it goes down to silly stuff like "will the prime minister come to our village fair?". Judging from the coverage in the papers and on the news this is somewhere between the Fantastic 4 premier and the effect global warming is having on chavs.
CakeOrDeath @ Jun 13th 2007 7:18PM
It was a nice fluff piece for a few days. Now it is a complete non issue. The game simply isn't violent enough for the crazys to get behind this one.
Religion isn't really a big deal over here either.
Thiassi @ Jun 13th 2007 7:34PM
As I've seen mentioned elsewhere, the CoE should probably shut up given the recent revelation of them NOT informing the Police for EIGHT YEARS about known child abuse going on in their churches.
The Church of England supports child abuse but does not support the use of one of their churches in a game.
fragglefart @ Jun 13th 2007 7:31PM
I'm a Brit, and frankly; nobody cares.
Joshua Marketis @ Jun 13th 2007 7:35PM
I still think its hilarious the church only noticed this after the game was out how long?
Joshua Marketis @ Jun 13th 2007 7:36PM
@ fragglefart
Oh yes, and nobody really gives a toss.
ThornedVenom @ Jun 13th 2007 7:41PM
Church, you might seemingly start to win, but the million-year battle for Earth has just begun!
I may be a Nintendo fan, but this is NOT how I want Sony to go down. =( (I grew up with a PS1 goddammit!)
Kung Fu Russ @ Jun 13th 2007 7:43PM
HI. UK here.
Prime MInisters questions is a forum for elected politicians of all 'ranks' to publicly air their opinions by 'asking a question' of the prime minister.
While it is often a good way to bring up important issues, many lesser regional politicans use it to bring up petty, unimportant issues that the PM will politely dismiss as trivial.
Paviel @ Jun 13th 2007 7:55PM
"I may be a Nintendo fan, but this is NOT how I want Sony to go down."
I agree. Nor do I think that Sony will go down like this. Apparently they're showing more tact and discretion to the Church of England than they did to... say, kotaku.com. Whether they're learning their lesson or simply being politically correct, I'm not sure...
Anyway, since they DIDN'T try to bully or blackball the Church of England, this isn't exactly a nail in their coffin...
csc @ Jun 13th 2007 8:07PM
Brit here.
no one cares
The question for me is did they get adequate permission? if so then CoE should shut it, if not sony should apologise, end of story.
On another note, I would LOVE to see an american version of the PMs questions, having your political leader answering to the questions of most of the government is a good way of keeping them in line and making sure they know what theyre talking about. I just want to see how bush would stand up to such.
Jon @ Jun 13th 2007 8:07PM
Regardless he is going out so soon we do not care what he thinks anymore. Goodbye Bliar. You would be next CoE!
Craigo @ Jun 13th 2007 8:29PM
17: While I like the idea in general, there's no way in hell it could pass muster in our constitutional system.
I'll just check it off on my list along with abolition of the filibuster and senatorial holds, and a proportionate Senate as good ideas that the lords of the status quo will never allow in American politics. There's a lot to be said for separation of powers, but today the executive is too powerful and the legislature too gridclocked.
And yes, Bush would last roughly three questions if he had to face Congress himself.
Po0py @ Jun 13th 2007 8:27PM
Right then.
Firstly, Tony Blair is the Prime Minister of Great Britain, not just England. Soon to be replaced by Gordon Brown.
Secondly, British media are going a bit potty over young people and gun violence at the moment. Thats why there are several groups of people foaming at the mouth and wanting to capitalise on the video games scapegoat at any chance they can get.
Thirdly, I wholeheartedly agree that Prime Ministers Questions is brilliant television. All Americans should check it out if they ever get the chance if only for the sake of seeing what your own president lacks in terms of accountability and transparency. I mean, can you ever imagine G.W. Bush taking questions froms senators for an hour on live tv every week or so? I think not.
Fourthly, I've got haemeriods.
That is all.
dawmdt @ Jun 13th 2007 8:37PM
I'm from England and the quick response is I couldn't care less. A quick poll taken yesterday of everyone seated around me in the office says they couldn't care less either.
Church and religeon aren't that big here anymore anyway particularly in major metropolitan areas like Manchester and London
ed @ Jun 13th 2007 8:47PM
I think the church are just trying to be noticed, they haven't had a representative on a news show for a long time it seems. but as people have said a few times, everyone over here isn't particularly bothered (apart from the news show who get to make a nice little cultural feature about it) ... "church moaning about something, violent videogames... *yawn* has someone actually been killed and are there any photos? no, ok then please give me more non-news about princess diana"
csc @ Jun 13th 2007 8:51PM
@19
too bad, I thought the american constitution was all for the accountability of politians, being a country founded on rebellion, what with all the fifth amendment stuff people are allowed guns incase the government goes bad but you cant put the president in the hot seat.
Its a good idea for any government that empahsises democracy as it gives a good deal of transparency to the men in charge. Maybe bush wouldnt last 3 questions, well maybe he'd have been booted out quicker.
Plus I cant get enough of the clips they put on the daily show of bush with a bad question.
JimyD @ Jun 13th 2007 8:55PM
Sense of responsibility? Sensitivity to the feelings of others? Wider social responsibility? What a joke! This is the same criminal who lied about how dangerous Iraq was with its fictional WMDs and backed an illegal invasion.
All of these hypocrites in political office need to shut their frickin pie holes about video game violence since most of them have "real" blood on their hands.
playclever @ Jun 13th 2007 8:55PM
I agree with the above. No one cares. My gameplaying friends haven't even brought it up. My non-gameplaying friends probably didn't even notice.
"The only people who are even slightly offended are the people who go to church, which in the UK is a very very small minority as the Hollyoaks omnibus is on sunday mornings"
So true :D
Joshua Earles-Bennett @ Jun 13th 2007 9:10PM
I think this is a PR stunt by the church. Any video game journalist in England should ask the church if this is a PR stunt to bring attention to their church. Then ask how many donations they received after they broke this story. I bet they are getting a good chunk of change from donations from sympathizers.
Spitkicker @ Jun 13th 2007 9:26PM
This is sad. Headlines like this and bullshit video game legislation is one of the reasons I will not vote for politicans such as H. Clinton. Tony Blair? Get the f outta office. He should be more concerned with the situation he helped to create in Iraq.
Don't anybody tell me to leave politics out of this blog because it is pure political grandstanding. And shouldn't the church be focusing on important issues? While faith is a wonderful thing, religion is being twisted once again for political reasons.
guises @ Jun 13th 2007 9:30PM
"Please pardon our oversight citizens of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eastern Bavaria."
-----------------------------------
Eastern Bavaria, like the rest of Bavaria, is under German rule isn't it? Have I missed something?
I'm not really up on current events, but I'd think that I'd have heard of something like that...
Rod Munch @ Jun 13th 2007 9:35PM
As an Englishman, I don't give a poop that the cathedral was used as a setting for a shooting game. But I do think they should have gotten permission beforehand. But come on, that would have been refused and this way the game gets loads of publicity and there's little the CoE or anyone else can do about it.
hvnlysoldr @ Jun 13th 2007 9:43PM
I feel the slight need to correct an error in an above post. The second amendment is the right to bear arms. The fifth amendment is the right to lawful searches.
Matt B @ Jun 13th 2007 9:51PM
WOW!
This is the most intelligent list of replies that I have ever read on Joystiq. Makes me realize how stupid most of us americans really are.
Ashley Allen says:
"The only people who are even slightly offended are the people who go to church, which in the UK is a very very small minority as the Hollyoaks omnibus is on sunday mornings, and we'd all rather stay in and watch the hotties than go to church and do borg impressions."
I couldn't have ever said it better myself. You are my hero of today. :)
Sidepocket @ Jun 13th 2007 10:07PM
@ Matt B
On the question of stupid Americans...you never met a Chav did you?
csc @ Jun 13th 2007 10:08PM
@29
sorry, You'll have to excuse me on the grounds of not being american and thus can get away with such mistakes.
Dale @ Jun 13th 2007 10:41PM
It's funny how the Church don't raise any objections when in political speeches designed to encourage support for military action (you know, REAL gun violence), politicians talk about god and religious purpose.
Nor do they seem to mind that the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is extremely graphic in its portrayal of violence.
Meh.
Matt B @ Jun 13th 2007 11:18PM
@ 31 Sidepocket
In america, we call them wiggers.
Matt B @ Jun 13th 2007 11:21PM
Though your analogy may be more PC than mine.
Banners @ Jun 14th 2007 1:02AM
I only know one friend who has "Resistance". He's an evangelical type and works very high up at the world's biggest Christian charity here in the UK. More importantly, he loves the game - and its use of Manchester Cathedral never even registered with him.
Vidikron @ Jun 14th 2007 2:18AM
So is the CoE trying to say that if their churches were invaded by alien-like evil beings they wouldn't want the military to come and remove them?
ssuk @ Jun 14th 2007 4:18AM
As an outspoken brit, it must be said that no one other than our blood thirsty media really cares about this. It's not in the headlines, it's not a big talking point... It was over the radio a bit on the day the Church decided to flail their arms in the air in outrage about the thing, which was poorly researched, poorly reported and biased towards the church. BBC haven't been reporting from a nutral ground either, the articles about Sony Vs The Church have been all one sided and it's not Sony's corner they're backing...
Poisoned Al @ Jun 14th 2007 4:26AM
@Matt B: No, chavs are a super annoying offshoot of wiggers. While trying to act like black gangsters they are all raciest f**k-tards. Try to cross a NASCAR dad with a wigger, add a scoop of annoying and you have a chav.
And to echo other's posts, this question to the prime minister came from the back benches. Like in class at school. All the important people sit on the front bench and ask all the sensible questions. At the back of the class sits all the dip-shits and nobodies. As such the teacher will ignore the egere arm-raising at the back until he has no choice, because he knows the question will be stupid and will only serve as a "LOOK AT ME" statement by some boring MP for somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
As for how serious we take the Church of England, Eddie Izzard summed up how toothless they are with one statment:
"Cake or death?"
MikeStan @ Jun 14th 2007 4:31AM
#6; Best reply ever...
I'm from the UK and am kinda curious as to how exactly this game 'glorifies gun violence'?
I'd have to say that the army 'glorifies gun violence' an no-one's tried to ban those cunts yet!
Joe @ Jun 14th 2007 5:08AM
Wait a minute! East Bavaria isn't a part of the United Kingdom. Joystiq, you're a bunch of tricksters, aren't you!
mandrill @ Jun 14th 2007 5:02AM
The legal situation in Britain is this, if I understand it correctly. Sony did not need the church's permission to use the cathedral as a setting for resistance as there is no copyright on buildings, its made even less favourable to the church's case that the church is basically a public building. Its muddy and the CofE hasn't got a hope in hell of getting anywhere in court. My opinion is that its a publicity stunt, either to garner more support for a dying institution, or to distract from the fact that they covered up incidents of child abuse.
The Church just can't handle the fact that people are playing games in one fantasy world and not living in theirs.
Wai_TungLeung @ Jun 14th 2007 7:23AM
Hi! Another Brit here.
Just want to repeat what my fellow countrymen are saying, it's flying over most people's heads. Only the media, church fanatics and people outside the UK are taking an active interest in this.
Actually I'm quite honoured to see that the game makes it all the way up to Manchester, cus us Mancs are sick of London always taking the spotlight. Really I think we should be more offended that despite it taking place in Britain it's from the eyes of a non-British character. :-/
bob hoskins @ Jun 14th 2007 8:34AM
To reiterate what my fellow countrymen have said, I haven't heard anything about it on the news apart from on Joystiq and I couldn't give less of a toss.
Oh and bye bye Blair! :P
Jams @ Jun 14th 2007 9:57AM
Another Brit here, agreeing with all the other Brits here atm. No one gives a crap. Although Manchester does still have a gun problem, no-one in the media (or the public for that matter) really cares about this.
Twitchylady @ Jun 14th 2007 1:11PM
Wildly ashamed, thank heh, "God", I'm Scottish/ Europian, anything but English at this pont in time. Let's all play America shall we? I sue you.
RCM @ Jun 27th 2007 6:08PM
I personally am getting tired of people/organizations/countries demanding apologies every time their little feelings get hurt. It has become a pathetic epidemic in this day and age. It seems as though these cry babies are constantly scanning the entire world just waiting for someone to offend them. Well guess what Church of England? Life isn't a bowl cherries; It never has been, except obviously in your own narrow little minds. Grow up and get a life, preferably one that doesn't include self richeous whining about supposed indignities. Considering how many people were murdered back in the good old days when you held power in England, a little fake violence in a make believe church shoudn't be such a big deal.
veritaas @ Jun 24th 2007 2:06PM
Needless to say . . . passions run high on this one. As to the reasons for distress over all this violence and religion . . . Yes, the world is violent. Yes, We have made it that way. No, it's not going to stop. God, gave this world to Satan when he was cast with a third of the angels down here. It is his to roam until Christ's return. (check out the book of Job) Don't expect it to get any better before then. Further, before His return it will become horridly worse than any game you or Sony could ever imagine. After His return, if you or your progeny survive, there will be 1000 years of peace. Read Revelations if you've got the courage. The point is not to "change the world" the point is to save as many from it before it is judged and condemned.
Good Luck on all this,
veritaas
P.S. I used to be like you. I thought it all was prattle for naught. Now, I know it is a real battle for good and evil each day. Further, I don't have to play it with a joystick or a TV screen. Once you have your eyes opened to the Truth games seem tiny and fruitless. If you really want to experience power and battle . . . Join the side of Good in a world of Evil and witness all your so called friends walk away leaving not but Jesus when Satan comes to your door.
Now there's a battle for . . . YOU.
Remember . . . "Satan Only Needs You".
The deceiver doesn't care about your friends, he's got them and all the rest of the world.
Satan Only Needs You!
May Jesus be on your side or, more to the point . . . may you be on His.