Okay, this is just getting plain ridiculous. The Church of England, after initially threatening legal action against Sony if it didn't pull Resistance: Fall of Man from store shelves, is now complaining about the game's recent nomination for an award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
You might remember that Insomniac spun the church into a tizzy when it included the Manchester Cathedral as a playable level in Resistance. Why is this such a big deal? We really don't know, but The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Rev Rogers Govender said they were disgusted "at the virtual desecration of Manchester Cathedral."
Of course, the church wants Resistance pulled as a nominee for the PC World Gamers' Award and has said the bad publicity has actually helped the game's sales. That's funny, because when you think about it, who's ultimately responsible for the game's bad press, and according to Govender, the game's increased sales?
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At some point, Govender just needs to shut up. I realize he's trying to be significant in some way (I say that because European church's are generally empty on Sundays) and just get over it. At what point does a complaint just become totally ridiculous? I guess I can answer my own question...when that complaint is because a game is nominated for an award.
This is the church that devastated Pagans and stole all religious festivals was it not?
Jesus wasnt born on christmas, you just stole the festival.
Sit back church, we want some freedom and no more of this religious overview of everything.
I don't care whether that religion complains about the award or not, it's their right, and their actions will speak volumes about their religion.
As far as legal action from using their building, I do think they have ground for concern there as it can put bad publicity on the building. Legally I don't know if they can do anything, as I don't know if there are rules reguarding stealing architectural designs that are over 100 years old. But using that church as the back drop for something the church is opposed to seems to be in very poor taste by Insomniac.
Compare it to this extreme situation: Let's say a movie used your house as a safehouse for pedophiles. Don't you think you should have some kind of say in that? That could make your house a target to ignorant people.
A little more extreme would be portraying a house in a city as a KKK safehouse in a largely black community.
Granted these are extreme circumstances, but hopefully they can make you realize that having the church in a game could possibly have ill effects. And I wouldn't call "complaining" a tirade. Just a new spin on this story.
True, you do have a point in that harmonica. We being gamers are a bit biased in this story too. I'm sure if you got a very religous person they'd be on the churches side, but then again thats hard to say. There original complaint i thought warranted merit to a point, not to the point of pulling the game though. But wanting them pulled from an award i think is a bit ridiculus cause those game designers and programers worked hard to make that game and i wouldn't want to take that away from them.
I think its a fair complaint, but if there is no legal implications then I don't see what the point of continually complaining about it is. It should be clarified that this isn't just a "religious" thing. There are many instances of real world buildings not being allowed in videogames. Why do you think none of the real Las Vegas casinos were used in Rainbow Six Vegas? Or GTA: SA? In Splinter Cell: DA they wanted to use the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai for a mission, but they were not permitted to use the design and had to make up their own building. Even licensed cars in racing games are not permitted to be damaged significantly.
Why Insomniac was allowed to use this church in Resistance I am unsure, but there are many groups who do not wish their buildings to be desacrated in a virtual world, so its unsurprising to me that it could come from those who use said building as a place of worship.
I can see why none of the casinos were used in Rainbow Six: Vegas, Thats not about desicration thats more about security, If someonewas actually serious about robbing a casino they would be able to use that game for walkthroughs....if it was the acutal design.
I don't care whether that religion complains about the award or not, it's their right, and their actions will speak volumes about their religion.
As far as legal action from using their building, I do think they have ground for concern there as it can put bad publicity on the building. Legally I don't know if they can do anything, as I don't know if there are rules reguarding stealing architectural designs that are over 100 years old. But using that church as the back drop for something the church is opposed to seems to be in very poor taste by Insomniac.
Compare it to this extreme situation: Let's say a movie used your house as a safehouse for pedophiles. Don't you think you should have some kind of say in that? That could make your house a target to ignorant people.
A little more extreme would be portraying a house in a city as a KKK safehouse in a largely black community.
Granted these are extreme circumstances, but hopefully they can make you realize that having the church in a game could possibly have ill effects. And I wouldn't call "complaining" a tirade. Just a new spin on this story.
I'm glad video game developers aren't going by your strict interpretations, because if that was the case, then we'd have some very bland games or everyone and their brother would be suing over what locations were in video games. The church was trying to be a whore and extort cash from Sony when this whole issue came to light, and now their pounding their chest again in order to seem relevant.
Maybe the church should be more concerned with people's souls then a video game. 
The church was trying to be a whore and extort cash from Sony when this whole issue came to light, and now their pounding their chest again in order to seem relevant.
Maybe the church should be more concerned with people's souls then a video game.
Did anyone consider they are worried about people's souls/lives? What if this church became a target for attacks? It's hard to worship/live beneath piles of rubble/ash.
You are assuming their reasons for raising the fuss is only money related and stating it as truth. I happen to believe it is more about image, and if money was threatened by a lawsuit perhaps that was the means they chose to attempt to get Sony (or whoever) to listen.
Sadly, people are greatly influenced by the media. This day and age Religion is a popular group/culture to attack, much like minorities were 50 years ago (at least in the US). The media/culture has done a good job of discrediting religion by only focusing on the bad it has caused. Generalizations have been made and now a blanket image is cast over it. "Religion is a mask for greed, corruption, war, and vile acts. They've never done a good thing in the world."
I don't care for unadulterated religion bashing.
I don't care for unadulterated religion bashing.
Maybe that's the issue then. The church is not always right and the church does not have infallibility.
This kind of runs along the lines of Catholic bishops in the US denying politicians communion because of how the politician votes on a particular issue or think about something.
Why hasn't this same church official come out against violent movies and the awards they are up for? I mean isn't that just as bad and don't they taint our moral fiber? The church wanted money from Sony and I don't believe they got any, so now they are complaining because they're own complaints have made this game more popular in Europe and are pissed off that it's been nominated for an award.
If you feel we're bashing the church, then why don't we go to Off Topic and create a thread and we can go from the beginning of the church to present day and talk about all the GOOD and BAD that the church has done. That way we can get out the facts.
I can see why the Church is mad, because usually in wars, you do not fight in a church. but Sony already apologized for that, and this award doesn't even affect the Church so I don't see why they are getting mad yet again.
What I'm wondering, is how did resistance get nominated for awards? Is that seriously still the best game the PS3 has to offer?
And I do think the argument has some grounds...but not enough to warrant this crap... but yeah...maybe they shouldn't' have put in a cathedral, or at least a specific one?
The Church of England is full of knobs... As well as majority of churches for that matter...
"We don't like something, let's do our best to dictate how people think and feel"...Religion can blow a scabby cock.
If you feel we're bashing the church, then why don't we go to Off Topic and create a thread and we can go from the beginning of the church to present day and talk about all the GOOD and BAD that the church has done. That way we can get out the facts.
Why don't we discuss humanity in general? Overall it's been terrible for the earth, so lets just wipe it out... Are these appropriate topics to discuss in a gaming forum? I doubt it. So you can say you think the church is being rediculous, but it's best to avoid any slanderous comments as it's all just opinion.
Oh, and gft77, try to send me a pm. I want to verify the ignore function.
Why don't we discuss humanity in general? Overall it's been terrible for the earth, so lets just wipe it out... Are these appropriate topics to discuss in a gaming forum? I doubt it. So you can say you think the church is being rediculous, but it's best to avoid any slanderous comments as it's all just opinion.
Oh, and gft77, try to send me a pm. I want to verify the ignore function.
practice what you preach... that's all I have to say about it.
You know they'll win the award if they keep getting this publicity, the church is just making it easier for them......i know, sony is paying off the church to complain..........
I think just there comes a point when you have to forgive and forget. Yes the church was upset about RFOM, but that's over. I'm not sure why they want to drag it on. Like blue pointed out, all this is doing is helping out the game.