Resistance: Fall of Man

Last week on the news we saw the Manchester Cathedral in the limelight for being the backdrop of a new Sony Playstation 3 game entitled Resistance: Fall of Man.

The Church of England is considering legal action against entertainment firm Sony for featuring Manchester Cathedral in a violent PlayStation video game.

The Church says Sony did not obtain permission to use the interior in the war game Resistance: Fall of Man.

The game, which has sold more than one million copies, shows a virtual shoot-out in the cathedral's nave in which hundreds of enemies are killed.

Sony said it believed it had sought all necessary permission for the game.

The game in question is like any other first person shooter with the slight difference that some of it is held within the Church.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, described the decision to feature the city's cathedral as "highly irresponsible" - especially in the light of Manchester's history of gun crime.

The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, added the game was "undermining" the work of the church.

"We are shocked to see a place of learning, prayer and heritage being presented to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired.

"This is an important issue. For many young people these games offer a different sort of reality and seeing guns in Manchester Cathedral is not the sort of connection we want to make.

"Every year we invite hundreds of teenagers to come and see the cathedral and it is a shame to have Sony undermining our work."

After the Bishop aired his views, the BBC then went on to interview Patty Mackie from Mothers Against Violence, whose son Dorrie was shot dead in Manchester. She said it was time to stand up to the makers of violent games.

"I believe it's something that needs to be taken seriously first by the Church but also by parents.

"There's a war going on - not just in Iraq, but right here on our doorstep, in the minds of our children."

That is quite a profound thing to say. The Government’s war in Iraq has been likened to the battle of ideas here in the UK. My main concern with this news article is the fact that the blame for gang violence and shootings has been pushed upon the games industry.

Games have always been ultra violent. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s I remember tearing peoples legs off and proceeding to beat them over the head (Mortal Kombat fatality) and such. This did not create a generation of psychopaths who like to tear off people’s limbs.

This is an absurd claim to make. If the games industry were to only make games about fluffy bunny rabbits would this have stopped Miss Mackie’s son from being murdered or any of the victims. Of course not. Whether it is a game, a film, a song, it will not change the actions within this society.

Part of the problem with this society is this “blame culture”. Nobody is willing to take responsibility for their own actions. More importantly, the government does not even ask the most fundamental question of why. Why is gun crime or gang culture rife within our communities? Well, I have my own theory and I like to call it the “rat race”.

Everybody has heard of this phrase that encompasses British life. We live like mice in those plastic balls, constantly chasing money, riches, wealth, and happiness. We are brought up to believe that without the money, the car and the house then happiness cannot be achieved. This is our aim, our goal.

When you are told that money equates to tranquillity then you will resort to any means necessary in order to attain wealth. Whether it is through a university degree or selling drugs on the street corner, the aim is ultimately the same.

Maybe it’s time we re-evaluated what our goals are, or maybe it’s time for people to wake up and realise that money does not bring happiness.