Marc Ecko's getting in trouble

By Ellie Gibson Published 4 January, 2006

With anti-graffiti types.

A group of Florida politicians has slammed Atari for planning to release Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, claiming the game could encourage children to become graffiti artists.

City officials in Hollywood, Florida are urging Atari to cancel the game's release, which is scheduled for February 14. Aware that Atari is unlikely to take heed, they are calling on the publisher to establish a campaign against real-life graffiti, and are also encouraging consumers to boycott the game.

Speaking to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Atari spokesperson Ryan Barr denied the officials' claims, stating: "By no means is Atari encouraging vandalism or criminal acts."

"Just as films depict fictional worlds, this game is amusement and escape into a fantasy world."

Mayor Mara Giulanti responded to accusations that the city was attempting to enforce censorship, saying: "What we are doing is purely making commentary and educating the public that we don't believe a game that glorifies criminal activity through graffiti or... violence needs to be perpetrated on the kids of America."

"If parents want to do it, fine. We're not banning it from stores in Hollywood. We're not the moral police."

This is not the first time the game has hit the headlines. In August, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted to prevent Ecko from holding a party with graffiti artists demonstrating their work to promote the game. Bloomberg claimed that the event would encourage vandalism, but a judge ruled that the party could go ahead - stating that Bloomberg's objection was the equivalent of suggesting that "a street performance of Hamlet would be tantamount to encouraging revenge murder".

Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure is due out in Europe on PC, PS2 and Xbox next month.

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 (15) Latest comment 6 years ago

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

  • Blerk #1 6 years ago

    It appears that 'controversial' content sells, even if the game itself sounds rubbish.

    Wonder if now's the right time to pitch my urban-style "litterbug" game where you have to chuck left-over McDonalds out of car windows without the cops seeing you? The fly-tipping sub-games are absolutely unique in gaming!

    Or maybe... just maybe... we're even ready for the "let your dog crap on the pavement and then get away without cleaning it up" game?

  • NoCodeNed2 #2 6 years ago

    I'm working on a 'jump the queue' flash game which is going to turn society inside out.

  • Markusdragon #3 6 years ago

    "they are calling on the publisher to establish a campaign against real-life graffiti"

    Good move!

  • Hog-lumps #4 6 years ago

    So will this game allow you to draw a crude picture of a phallus on the back of a toilet door? Or even write 'Jess loves it firm and fruity' on a bus seat with a felt tip? :p

    I doubt the game will glamorise this aspect graffiti so whats the prob? I mean some graffiti (such as Banksi) is even considered art these days.

    So I'd personally rather 'the kids' were getting 'down and dirty' being creative with a graffiti art game, than exposing themselves to games like Manhunt et al!
    Edited by 1 at 04/01/06 @ 12:32

  • jellyhead #5 6 years ago

    oh no! Has this bloke not gone away yet?
    The game isn't even released and i'm sick of hearing about it and it's "controversies".

  • smoothpete #6 6 years ago

    'Bloomberg's objection was the equivalent of suggesting that "a street performance of Hamlet would be tantamount to encouraging revenge murder"'

    Now that there is a top notch come-back line :p

  • regmund #7 6 years ago

    Graffiti?! And i thought 'Getting Up' was about erectile dysfunction

  • davyuk #8 6 years ago

    Graffitti's bad, but these things are ok? http://www.greggayden.com/europe/Piccadilly%20Circus %202.jpg
    Edited by 2 at 04/01/06 @ 14:32

  • jellyhead #9 6 years ago

    yes davyuk, those wonderful machines of corporate brainwashing are good because they help people stay on the path of glorious capitalism by reminding them that they must spend, spend, spend!1
    :)

  • Bitkari #10 6 years ago

    "a street performance of Hamlet would be tantamount to encouraging revenge murder"

    most amusing judicial response since Dredd.

  • Pho-Zoon #11 6 years ago

    I'm spending I'm spending!

  • captain-future #12 6 years ago

    I wonder if games like NFS:U and NFS:MW don't fall in the same category because they feature gameplay that's against the law?

    /ah ok, it's EA of course.

    And why some people don't realize that games NOT EQUAL reality.
    Edited by 1 at 04/01/06 @ 21:27

  • EggyDeth #13 6 years ago

    1. It's not censorship, it's criticism and quite justified.

    2. Hamlet only intentionally killed one guy, and Claudius was a murderer. Totally justified.

    3. Game devs getting their name on the box is as common as winning the lottery, but some "street style" millionaire comes along and gets to tell us how it's done? I ought to spraypaint his tacky Escalade. Justified.

  • TedBaker #14 6 years ago

    @regmund: Hell yeah. Whoever thought up that tagline has a future with labeling porn films -

    Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure

    That rolls right off the tongue...

  • jellyhead #15 6 years ago

    "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure" - sounds more like a euphemistic porno title doesn't it?