Boris Johnson changes mind about games

By Ellie Gibson Published 15 October, 2008

They're not so bad after all, it seems.

Well, there's a turn-up. Boris Johnson has come out in full support of the London Games Festival, despite previously blaming videogames for falling literacy rates. Not to mention "ignorance, underachivement " and "poverty", and for turning us into "blinking lizards".

That's what he wrote in a Telegraph article published in December 2006, titled, 'The writing is on the wall - computer games rot the brain.'

Apparently, however, the London mayor is happy for EA to rot the brains of everyone passing through Trafalgar Square later this month. That's where it'll host the Be the One event as part of the London Games Festival.

"I'm delighted that the London Games Festival is back in our city for its third year," Johnson told a press release. "It demonstrates the creativity and range of the gaming industry, which, as an important part of London's creative sector, makes a vital contribution to the economy as a whole.

"With events across the capital, the festival has something for everyone and illustrates the popularity of this thriving form of entertainment," he added.

But that's not all! "I am pleased to see EA's Be the One event is returning to Trafalgar Square," Johnson went on. "It was an undoubted highlight of last year's festival, which reinforces London's position at the centre of one the most fastest-growing creative industries in the world."

To be fair, Johnson never mentioned EA specifically in his original article. It was Nintendo he said we should "just say no" to, adding that it was time to "garrotte the Game Boy and paralyse the PlayStation". There was no mention of Xbox 360, either, so perhaps he's a secret Microsoft fanboy?

Be the One will take place in Trafalgar Square from October 31st - November 1st. You'll be able to take part in gaming challenges, try out new titles and watch celebrities doing things. Boris Johnson breaking a Mirror's Edge time trial record, perhaps.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Articulate-Troll #1 3 years ago

    Moral of the story - videogames are bad unless they hold expensive festivals in the city you're mayor of.
    Edited by 1 at 15/10/08 @ 16:52

  • kenbrilliant #2 3 years ago

    You floppy haired TWAT

  • Retroid #3 3 years ago

    Bloody clueless arseface.

  • SEVQA #4 3 years ago

    "It demonstrates the creativity and range of the gaming industry,” WHATEVA As long as it comes under EA’s banner and a sandwich sized packet of cash! INIT!

  • Arwin #5 3 years ago

    I'm betting his knowledge of gaming was patched in a recent firmware update.

  • Triggerhappytel #6 3 years ago

    I fucking hate Boris Johnson, he's such a bumbling fool.

    I also agree with the comment from the Troll who is surprisingly Articulate.

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #7 3 years ago

    Interesting example of how money buys politicians opinions.

  • bdaggers #8 3 years ago

    suggested next headline for EG : "bdaggers does not change mind about Boris Johnson - the mayor of London is a STILL a knob faced cnut" (sic)

    /case closed

  • miiiguel #9 3 years ago

    "perhaps he's a secret Microsoft fanboy?"
    nah..., old folk are stuck in the 90's - Gameboy and Playstation...

  • Krelle #10 3 years ago

    @bdaggers:
    learn to spell lol (:

  • 8bitMofo #11 3 years ago

    I bought Army of Two off Ebay the other day, and the return address was the House of Commons no less...

  • Collymilad #12 3 years ago

    BJ is a shithead.

  • Lebowski #13 3 years ago

    He's just discovered SimCity then?

    "Right ahhhh, right we need to build the Olympics don't we? 'Not enough cash' - that's a pickle, isn't it. And now the roads are clogged-up and, ahh, crime's going up ... Blimey, crumbs, Granny Butter etc."

  • Razorus #14 3 years ago

    Jeez, what a n00b Boris is.
    Games have educated me on a great many things. I don't boast that my power level is OVER NINE THOUSAAAAAAND for no reason. It's all thanks to games.

  • mcmonkeyplc #15 3 years ago

    Dont care what the TWAT says.

  • Ninja_Tino #16 3 years ago

    And anime no doubt Razoras!

  • MrScruffier #17 3 years ago

    "perhaps he's a secret Microsoft fanboy?"
    You don't want to know how high up this goes

  • firefly #18 3 years ago

    Right. Well now that Boris has seen the light I demand he participate in the game character cosplay record attempt they're doing on the saturday of London Expo.

  • bdaggers #19 3 years ago

    @ krelle

    Note the "sic".

  • GreatUncleBaal #20 3 years ago

    "perhaps he's a secret Microsoft fanboy?"

    He probably burnt himself out thinking of alliteration for the other ones, or is so fucking clueless he didn't know Xbox existed - "excise the Xbox" perhaps? Regardless, I just hope the stupid, ignorant clown stays as far away from the event as possible.

  • Optyk #21 3 years ago

    Boris Johnson for PM

  • Gartt #22 3 years ago

    Boris Johnson for President.

  • makeamazing #23 3 years ago

    Boris is a muppet.

    Lets be honest were all gamers here, how many years have we tried to say gaming isnt bad for you and its fun, enjoyable and just like any other hobby. Its been pretty difficult with such bad press to try and convince people that gaming was normal.. Now we have DS's and Wiis and some of the biggest business around some of these bashers are changing their spots.

    But this type of muppetry is scary... "Games are bad and evil", except when a business decides to spend money in London. EA or who ever is holding the festival, should have said were moving the festival to somewhere else as Boris thinks games are bad.. it would have been funny just for the sound bites. Its about time the games industry with its growing might started to put these people in their place.

  • Monkey #24 3 years ago

    Boris for Fraggle Rock!
    :)

  • Nithron #25 3 years ago

    See, I normally like Boris. But this has definitely reduced my respect for him by quite a way.

  • bad09 #26 3 years ago

    "Interesting example of how money buys politicians opinions. "

    Why Pac-man ate my wife, are you saying our democracy is broken and pointless thanks to money, greed and corruption?

    If not, you should be! :)

    As for Boris I voted for him sadly (anything to get Ken out!), kinda wish I hadn't now though, he's been a plank ever since he got in!

  • ChrisS #27 3 years ago

    He's clearly just played Fable 2 and changed his mind about videogames.

  • MARKIV #28 3 years ago

    To be fair to him, his original statement does still sound true if in a minority of cases ( even 1% of the UK's 65 million population is still 65,000 people ), so if your from a less well off background or like hanging around street corners in your youth, games like GTA IV are only going to influence some people, possibly in a bad way. It would be good if some of these people were to voice their opinion’s here, but I guess they've got something better to-do..

    So if you ever get mugged or stabbed, ask em what video games do they play when they run off :(

    I question any video game maker of the GTA genre to see how far they can push it. Watch the film SALO Note BBFC 18 Certificate ( so no youngsters ! ), although it will stay with you for life of just how bad humanity can go. Please note it's extremely disturbing. Governments must act, just like they have with the bankng crisis otherwise history will repeat itself in a modern format.
    Edited by 2 at 15/10/08 @ 20:03

  • timberwolf #29 3 years ago

    good old boris.

  • Fab4 #30 3 years ago

    I heard he changed his mind because he bought a modded controller for CoD4

  • mrblackett #31 3 years ago

    I, for one, would like to congratulate Londoners for giving such a fine, upstanding hypocrite the job of London mayor. He's a credit to your great city.

  • Kyle #32 3 years ago

    "You floppy haired TWAT!"

    WINTERNET!

  • imamazed #33 3 years ago

    What a pompous, tory idiot.

    Bring back our Ken

    *wipes a tear*

  • cawley1 #34 3 years ago

    Christ it's a bit red in here...

  • Tomo #35 3 years ago

    Jesus.

    Just Jesus.

    I have never read that piece before. It's completely cemented for me what an utter cunt that man is. I'd love to know if he's ever played a computer game, and I'd bet if he has it hasn't been for more than say 30 minutes maximum, from which he gauges his sweeping generalisations.

    You've made me very angry for posting this story Ellie. Thanks.

  • Discalceaterabbit #36 3 years ago

    So its London's third installation? I guess they won't be able to host it again then.

  • SEVQA #37 3 years ago

    I live and work in London and had no joy whatsoever with Ken as Mayor and he was a slimy public figure and looked like dam a troll. Boris is certainly a pompous buffoon but he entertains me! I must admit, Boris Johnson over Ken Livingston any day.

    But Boris you blatantly picked up a brown envelope from EA.

    I say one free game for every Londoner.

  • RedSparrows #38 3 years ago

    To be fair to him, his original statement does still sound true if in a minority of cases ( even 1% of the UK's 65 million population is still 65,000 people ), so if your from a less well off background or like hanging around street corners in your youth, games like GTA IV are only going to influence some people, possibly in a bad way. It would be good if some of these people were to voice their opinion’s here, but I guess they've got something better to-do..

    So if you ever get mugged or stabbed, ask em what video games do they play when they run off :(

    I question any video game maker of the GTA genre to see how far they can push it. Watch the film SALO Note BBFC 18 Certificate ( so no youngsters ! ), although it will stay with you for life of just how bad humanity can go. Please note it's extremely disturbing. Governments must act, just like they have with the bankng crisis otherwise history will repeat itself in a modern format.

    There are so many things wrong with this in several different ways that I wouldn't know where to begin. Doesn't mean it's all wrong, just most of it >:D

  • Oh-Bollox #39 3 years ago

    So its London's third installation? I guess they won't be able to host it again then.

    Truly worthy of applause. BoJo is celebrating the last install London can have before bribing, er, buying a new one from EA.

  • BlackKraken #40 3 years ago

    Wow, a politician whose a hypocrite! Whatever will they think of next?

    Its such a shame hes changed his mind about video games being bad. Because of what he said before i stopped them immediately and took up setting kittens on fire and throwing them at old people.

    And yes, I am a sarcy bastard.

  • Mr_Bison #41 3 years ago

    Maybe we should start reacting to blubbering fools comments like Boris the Nazi.

    Attacks of mail to newspapers making sure idiotic remarks are clarified....Thats how other pressure groups do it

    Not that any gamers acctually read the Telegraph

  • RexRunti #42 3 years ago

    I wish EG and GI.biz would stay away from politics. It's so bloody obvious which party they support. I mean essentially this article is "Tory politician supports games industry" but instead EG are reporting "Tory politician had a go at games industry two years ago". They could at least put a positive spin on the article "person against games now for them, yay". Now if Kieth Vaz changed his position that really would be news worthy.

    PS Boris may be a baffoon but he is not an idiot. Anyone who thinks so is probably too stupid to understand him or so red that they probably don't own a game because "you like, can't own a video game man, they, like, belong to everybody".

  • canIdoyabombsforya #43 3 years ago

    "jesus. Just Jesus. I have never read that piece before. It's completely cemented for me what an utter cunt that man is. I'd love to know if he's ever played a computer game, and I'd bet if he has it hasn't been for more than say 30 minutes maximum"


    Boris's Sons " Dad come and play Forza 2 or Gears, the graphics are so realistic"
    Boris " Na fuck that kids, lets go and thrash the Gallardo up the M6"

  • SEVQA #44 3 years ago

    " Na fuck that kids, lets go and thrash the Gallardo up the M6"

    What a cool dad!

  • m0thr4 #45 3 years ago

    I think the problem is that we've had a (godawful) Labour government for so long, you've all forgotten what Tories are like. Where there's a profit, there's justification... that's pretty much the Tory motto.

  • SpyroViper #46 3 years ago

    I wonder why it's mainly the old people moaning about games.. Maybe they are jealous that we get to play games and don't get whipped by daddy when we don't say sir at the table!

    Or mayube they should stop making assumptions based on what evidence? A bunch of clueless scientists who 'study' games.. one phychotic stupid child who goes and kills someone because of GTA4 OFMGZZZZZ! Does not make the rest of us illiterate or stupid or just mentally unstable.

    what a n00b Boris is..

  • sneetch #47 3 years ago

    @SpyroViper
    "I wonder why it's mainly the old people moaning about games.."

    The man is in his early 40s, I wonder at your definition of "old people".

  • Krun #48 3 years ago

    Maybe his lizard masters have re-wired him and now he's realised that in a world where almost all jobs are being replaced by machines and computer programs, where the monetary system is beginning to become irrelevant, we must have games to play or we'll all be rioting in the streets.
    Or it could be he got a nice kick back from EA. You decide.