Church of England attacks use of cathedral in PS3's Resistance

By Tom Bramwell Published 11 June, 2007

Will demand apology.

The Church of England will this week call upon Sony Computer Entertainment to remove from sale or modify the contents of PlayStation 3 first-person shooter Resistance: Fall of Man because of its anger over the inclusion of Manchester Cathedral as a backdrop.

Church officials are concerned that the cathedral is being used as a backdrop to gun violence given Manchester's history of gun crime and the cathedral's role in campaigns against guns, and those concerns are mingling with a potential legal row over whether Sony sought permission to use the famous building. The Church says no. Sony says yes.

"We believe we have sought and received all permissions necessary for the creation of the game," Sony explained in a statement. The BBC reported that Church officials contradicted this and threatened a lawsuit. However, the wording of Sony's comments is open to interpretation - with the word "necessary" perhaps quite significant.

According to the BBC, Church officials will now meet to draft a letter demanding an apology, the withdrawal of the game from sale or else modification of the section of the game featuring the cathedral interior, a substantial donation to the cathedral's education department, and support for other groups in Manchester fighting gun crime.

The reaction to the row among gamers has been mixed, although there has been condemnation of tabloid journalists and others "sensationalising" Resistance's content. The British press certainly has "form" in this regard, having previously driven Rockstar Games' Manhunt off store shelves after the mother of murder victim Stefan Pakeerah claimed his attacker had been obsessed with the game, ultimately calling for violent games to be banned. The police subsequently denied any link with the game, while the judge placed sole responsibility with Pakeerah's attacker, Warren Leblanc.

But while Manhunt's themes were certainly dark and sometimes uncomfortable, in Resistance's case the game - set in an alternative history where a weird, alien-esque race sweeps across Europe and has to be fought back in the streets of England - is reminiscent in places of a World War II shooter, but its enemies are unlikely to be confused for humans, and its graphics are certainly not "photo-realistic" - a label applied to them by the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, in the Times' original report, leading to suggestions that the Church has been baited into a reactionary stance without investigating the material involved sufficiently.

"It is well known that Manchester has a gun crime problem," McCulloch had said. "For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible." The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Reverend Rogers Govender, said officials were "shocked" to see the cathedral presented "to the youth market as a location where guns can be fired".

It's also not clear whether Church officials realise that Resistance: Fall of Man, which carries a 15 certificate in the UK, has been on sale across Europe since 23rd March, and in the USA since November 2006.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • space_ace #1 5 years ago

    madchester!

  • magnemar #2 5 years ago

    Sony need to sort it - if they'd put a Mosque or a Sikh Temple in there, there'd be protests in the street by now.

    Big slip up...

  • ZuluHero #3 5 years ago

    I heard this on the radio on my way in - it’s hilarious.

    Did St Paul’s cathedral complain when it was used in TR:AoD? Or what about Paris when the Eiffel Tower appeared in Twisted Metal: World tour? Or the White House in Jungle Strike WHICH you could destroy on a whim….

    It just gets worse and worse…

  • Scientist #4 5 years ago

    This is totally retarded. It's a sci-fi shooter not a gangster game (and even then, so what. Let's ban all police/gangster drama series and films which take place in named cities).

    Will Ken Livingstone now ask SCEE not to make another Getaway game in London as it portrays a violent city?

    NEXT!

  • SeesThroughAll #5 5 years ago

    See? This is how you really stir things! Also, kudos to the Church for going straight to the point (that being extortion).

    Jack Thompson is such an amateur...

  • souljacker2000 #6 5 years ago

    Jesus Allah Buddha, I love you all

  • AcidSnake #7 5 years ago

    Indeed...
    The Church should stop meddling with this stuff...

  • mkreku #8 5 years ago

    I hate people.

  • moggsy #9 5 years ago

    I'd just like to add one point. The church in question has been used for memorials for victims of gun crime. It's understandable that basing a shooter in such a location would cause upset.

  • Guff-Pipe #10 5 years ago

    In history hasnt the church not people out on crusades murdering REAL PEOPLE?

  • Steroyd #11 5 years ago

    It's funny that out of ALL the movies and games, that involve shooting stuff in a church over the many many years, they pick Resistance after it has sold 1 million copies.

  • sickpuppysoftware #12 5 years ago

    There was a vicar on the telly saying it was terrible how you could shoot people in the church in the game.

    Cue video footage of the player clearly shooting little alien scorpion type creatures.

    ZOMG photorealistic!

    Have you ever seen a little alien scorpion creature in Manchester? They've all been wiped out by gang members aping what they see in games.

    Ban this alien crushing filth.

  • Have_to_Speak_Up #13 5 years ago

    Honestly, if the church are worried about presenting the wrong impression to the UK's children they should have refrained from bumming large numbers of them.

  • CyberClaw #14 5 years ago

    Let's not jump the gun on the Reverend Nigel McCulloch comments. While Resistance Fall of Man graphics may not be "photo-realistic" (with aliens and all), the man did not claim they were neither.

    He said they recreated the cathedral with photo-realism, which sounds much different - after all, they most likely used photographs in their textures applyed to their model.
    Gears of Wars is not "photo-realistic" either, but it's gothic architecture is most definitly photo realistic. Same thing probably applies to Resistance cathedral, specially when it is the recreation of a real place.

    I dunno about you, but I kind of understand their point of view. They don't want their church to be a setting for violence (WW2 soldiers shooting aliens is violent - realistic or not).

    Would you be happy if someone made a game with a level inside your house portraing actions you did not support or agree with (while I'm guessing most of us is confortable with video-violence, we can paralel, let's say, 2 men having sex in your bedroom).

  • ZeroAX #15 5 years ago

    how about inspect of wasting money to ban games that make the citys/places look dangerous they actually make the city safe huh? but nooooooooo. that takes actual work and time while this can get you votes.

  • Syrok #16 5 years ago

    We are sorry for trying to save your church from being completly destroyed by aliens.

  • afray #17 5 years ago

    CyberClaw:(while I'm guessing most of us is confortable with video-violence, we can paralel, let's say, 2 men having sex in your bedroom).

    o_0

  • Steroyd #18 5 years ago

    @Cyberclaw

    The church is all over the place in condemning this game, at one point the news is saying that hundreds of dead bodies are being killed in the level (the BBC had a figure of 300 somehow), then they move on to say about not getting permission to create the church level, and they're also saying that they want the game off the shelves because of the "ultra-violence" regardless it being against Humans, aliens or monsters.

    And thanks to the Church complaining I'm now aware that "The Cathedral" part in Resistance has a real life counter part called the Manchester Cathedral, rather than just a Cathedral in the Manchester level of Resistance good job guys.

  • lance.carter #19 5 years ago

    How 'safe' is this article? Not Eurogamer's usual opinionated musings (which we enjoy). Tsk tsk, you big softies...get off them egg shells!

    Flaming religious nuts. Always with the knee jerk reactions. Is it me or does the Church only make friends by finding other people's enemies and aligning themselves by putting the long arm of the Church around their new buddy's shoulders.

    Also, I wonder if Sony already PAID to have permission to use the church (do you think they photographed it for reference pictures?)

    Be strong Sony...your customers, in the main, aren't stupid enough to listen to the Church anyway.

  • magnemar #20 5 years ago

    I suspect, Zero AX, (although correct me if I'm wrong,) that the churches of Manchester have done rather more for the poor and needy of their city than you have...?

    Lets not get stuck into the same old 'Isn't the church rubbish' tirade - the debate is whether it's ok to recreate a location in a videogame without prior permission.

    Sony didn't get it, they are in the wrong, they need to sort it.

    End of.

  • Guff-Pipe #21 5 years ago

    I wouldnt be surprised if sony contacted the church, Told em, "look! shooting the holy guff out of aliens in your church! Ace eh?
    Church goes bloodymental
    Media all over it
    Front page/headline news
    Game sells more copies.
    Job Done.

  • ZuluHero #22 5 years ago

    "Have you ever seen a little alien scorpion creature in Manchester?"

    yes - they're called Manchesterians :p

    (sorry guys, its a terrible joke)
    Edited by 1 at 11/06/07 @ 09:37

  • zuljin #23 5 years ago

    Personally I do think it is another case of political correctness gone mad. I don't really think it matters how realistic the church is modelled, since they would probably have hissy fits anyway had it just been labelled Manchester Cathedral.

    To shoot other gang members in a videogame in that church, or re enacting them, yes I can see that being very bad taste.

    But they are fictional weapons (those that aren't are 50 yrs old), in a fictional setting, with fictional characters. The only thing thing real is the location, and I think most people realise that.

  • reprev #24 5 years ago

    I'm with the church on this one too. Situating a shootout in a recognisable church was an insult to what they see as a fair game, soft touch target, without any respect for the people who worship there. I know it's not the first time (didn't Max Payne have a similar scene?) but that's not the point.

  • zuljin #25 5 years ago

    @magnemar
    "...whether it's ok to recreate a location in a videogame without prior permission. Sony didn't get it, they are in the wrong, they need to sort it.
    End of. "

    Do you think George Bush gave the Hitman games permission to recreate the White House? And to dress up in various uniforms shooting guards and innocents? I doubt it somehow. This is a case of: Aren't certain things open to artistic license?

    To film me in public, anyone that wants to broadcast it needs my permission. Tony Blair doesn't need to give permission because he is deemed in public profile, which means pretty much fair game to the paperazzi.

    The question is, is it fair to recreate landmarks, whose appearance, like celebrities, is so public? I think this'll be a long case, and I don't think its an easy Sony/the Church is wrong, end of.

  • MBar #26 5 years ago

    Developers are doing this shit on purpose now. Rockstar started the whole "No publicity is bad publicity" thing for games, and everyone is jumping on the damn bandwagon because it works. These twats are pulling everyone else in the industry down with them.

    I mean, who didn't think that the church would take offense at being a location for gun fights and violence? Who pitched the idea that staging a war inside a well-known church would be an awesome plan?

    Has Sony any feet left after shooting itself in them so often recently?

    Edited by 1 at 11/06/07 @ 09:45

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #27 5 years ago

    This is even worse than the time Sony had to withdraw The Getaway due to having a BT van used to deliver a bomb.

    Sony Global Studios really need to sort out their legal depatrment. Or maybe they've already sacked them all.

  • homerramone #28 5 years ago

    They don't want their church to be a setting for violence
    Bearing in mind how many wars religion is responsible for I think the church should have a coke and a smile etc etc

  • AcidSnake #29 5 years ago

    Sony didn't get it, they are in the wrong, they need to sort it.

    I understood from the article (the 'necessary' bit) that Sony stated they already had all the licenses that are required...So until facts surface Sony are not in the wrong...

    Innocent until proven guilty....

  • Lonestar #30 5 years ago

    Can't they just... y'know... forgive?

    Besides I'm waiting to see if the Church says "little alien scorpions are Gods creatures to".

  • muftak #31 5 years ago

    "I'm with the church on this one too. Situating a shootout in a recognisable church was an insult to what they see as a fair game, soft touch target, without any respect for the people who worship there. I know it's not the first time (didn't Max Payne have a similar scene?) but that's not the point. "

    but the point is its not REAL its fiction , its made up its a freaking story. heres an idea lets sue all books publishers for publishing books set in real places or filmss tudios for setting films in real locations.

    this here is why the church is dying or even dead , old fashion idiots with old fashion views.
    Edited by 1 at 11/06/07 @ 09:54

  • The-Bodybuilder #32 5 years ago

    Fall of man? In a church?

  • Scientist #33 5 years ago

    "yes - they're called Manchesterians"

    Mancunians, surely.

  • ZuluHero #34 5 years ago

    Well, you still knew what I meant ;)

    I nearly wrote "Manchurians" so imagine my embarrassment if i wrote that? Atm I only feel slightly stupid ;)

  • CyberClaw #35 5 years ago

    Every game is a work of fiction. Realistic shooters, fantasy shooters, futuristic RPGs. They are all work of fiction. It's not an excuse to not be accounted for. Violence is still violence, be it with humans or aliens.

    The church problem is that they campaign against gun violence. Having gun violence in a work of fiction inside that church can be seen as insulting, both for the priests, as well as the worshipers.

    Common sense people, if you want to have gun shootings inside a church, at least make sure you make up the church yourself, instead of using a real one... I mean it IS fiction, why on the heck do you need a real landmark only the worshipers will recognise (and be pissed at) anyway?
    If devs want to have a game where you puke inside a chain of foodstores, they'll use a substitute name (McBowels for example). They should have done the same with this church, and it's architecture. Create a generic church, instead of one that can be recognised... Most of us will never see the damn church anyways. But then again, it is a time saver to have all the design already made, and the textures there for you to photograph, instead of having to imagine it yourself...

  • Steroyd #36 5 years ago

    If devs want to have a game where you puke inside a chain of foodstores, they'll use a substitute name (McBowels for example).

    Your post had a good point up until here, the Cathedral in question is just called... "The Cathedral" it's not labeled Manchester cathedral.

    So is it okay to make an accurate representation of a Mcdonalds food chain, rename it McBowels have people puke in it and everything is rosy?

  • manic_mouse #37 5 years ago

    "Every game is a work of fiction. Realistic shooters, fantasy shooters, futuristic RPGs. They are all work of fiction. It's not an excuse to not be accounted for. Violence is still violence, be it with humans or aliens.

    The church problem is that they campaign against gun violence. Having gun violence in a work of fiction inside that church can be seen as insulting, both for the priests, as well as the worshipers. "

    It's a game set in an alternate reality where aliens are invading Britain. I think some people need to get a grip of reality. This is so far abstracted from reality that the church is just looking ridiculous.

    28 weeks later blows up London with an air-strike. But guess what, it's not real. People live in London, people have been blown up in London. What's the difference?

    People need to realise that public places are just that, public, and can be used in fiction in away way whatsoever. Unless there are serious taste issues (and I wouldn't call saving humanity by killing aliens one) then there isn't a problem.

    The Church doesn't seem to even understand what videogames are. It's just an easy target. They're being blamed for societies ills at the moment, as music and video have been before, by an old generation who don't understand them, as music and video before.

    WW2 games are far worse than this, in terms of taste and decency. Millions died in WW2 and we play games about it. Complaining about a fictitious reality in which aliens are being killed is pretty petty IMO. It's a bit of cheap publicity for the Manchester Cathedral, nothing more.
    Edited by 2 at 11/06/07 @ 10:32

  • spongebob #38 5 years ago

    I don't get it either how all sorts of institutions and individuals attack videogames on using real places for fiction. At the same time movies and tv get no flak at all for doing the exact same thing over and over again. I'd have to guess it's just that the phenomena is still relatively new and in time these weird outrages will pass.

  • kangarootoo #39 5 years ago

    @Have_to_Speak_Up

    I think you will find that accusation is more often levied at the Catholic church... but you still made me lol :)

  • Og #40 5 years ago

    Oh yess! Church rallies against shooting aliens in a fictional game. Save the Aliens!

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #41 5 years ago

    28 weeks later blows up London with an air-strike. But guess what, it's not real.

    It's all a matter of context. If that had been due for release on the 14th of July 2005, you can bet a large number of people would be offended. The film would have been postponed or possibly recut.

  • Ravenboy #42 5 years ago

    Did the Church people actually play this game? Because, how else do they know about it?

  • zuljin #43 5 years ago

    @Mentalist(air)
    "It's all a matter of context. If that had been due for release on the 14th of July 2005, you can bet a large number of people would be offended. The film would have been postponed or possibly recut."

    You're right. The similarity is what people would be offended by. So tell me, what is similar between a a church in a city that has gun crime (which quite frankly - no disrespect - every major city in the world has), and shooting greenish/brown aliens with weapons unavailable in todays world?

  • Arcadiian #44 5 years ago

    @Ravenboy

    You'll find most people who criticise games, don't actually play them. o_O

  • login_name #45 5 years ago

    Sony didn't develop the game, Insomniac Games did. Surely they should be their moral target. Sony's responsibility lies with the legal issues of including it, which they apparently obtained.

    If this is about responsibility and the moral impact of including the cathedral, then attack the developer. If this is nothing more than a cheap tactic to gain more funds and publicity, then by all means, go for the publisher and purse holder (and current industry punch bag). Just be honest about it.

  • Quine #46 5 years ago

    In other news, Sodom, Gomorrah and Egypt have requested that unfavourable references to them found in the popular work of fiction 'The Bible' be removed and are considering taking legal action against alleged defamation...

  • Calgon #47 5 years ago

    Hmmm I think Sony will be quite happy about this... doubt it will sell any consoles though, as soon as they play it in store or at a friends they will be thinking "oh thats it... they made it sound alot better on the news ". Who knows maybe Sony will start taking the Rockstar approach.

  • SharkVLion #48 5 years ago

    Frankly I hope Sony tell the church to go fuck itself on this; money grasping, kiddie fiddling bunch of hypocrits that they are.

    There's been more slaughter on this planet over the years caused by religion than anything else; including oil, and alien invasion.

  • YourMessageHere #49 5 years ago

    Does "desperate struggle for survival" come under "gun violence"? Seems worlds away to me. Also, is the inside of a church public?

    Personally, I'd far rather play a game set in somewhere modelled on the real location it claims to be than one with a made-up location that's supposed to be a real place. More real places in games, please. Even crap ones to get people used to the idea.

    I'm with Sony, Insomniac and co. Mostly on the grounds that the church needs to realise that, thanks to hypocracy and stubborn idiocy, nothing they say has the least bit of authority, value or relevance any more, and the sooner they shut up and fuck off the better.