Video games, despite mainstream acceptance, are far from universally beloved. To some, they are puerile playthings, incapable of tackling adult themes like copulation and drug use.  They seem to be vilified on a daily basis by influential individuals with ready access to the media.  In the past, films, music and books faced similar public scorn, but it appears that interactive entertainment is now the go-to scapegoat for narrow-minded scaremongers.

The pattern, of course, is that people are afraid of what they don’t understand.  Usually it’s a haughty politician sipping the haterade, but religious leaders can certainly toss some barbs as well.

As reported by print and online news service MCV,  United Kingdom clergymen Bishop Bryant of Jarrow, Archdeacon Brian Smith and Rt Rev John Goddard have condemned Capcom’s Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, claiming that it glorifies violence and promotes supernatural forces.  Goddard in particular offered a stern rebuke.

“If we dabble in this area we open ourselves to influences and put ourselves at risk,” he said. “I would regard any encouragement for children to be drawn into this behaviour with extreme horror.”

In defense of the game, Capcom spokesperson Leo Tan accused the men of spreading “religious hysteria,” and being ignorant of the games industry as a whole.  Tan said parents should filter the media that comes into their homes, thereby protecting their children from violent and unsuitable content.  The Pan-European Game Information age rating system is the standard in 30 European countries, including the United Kingdom, where it is backed by the force of law.

These stories are quite common nowadays, and it really doesn’t surprise me that such comments came from a trio of pulpit thumpers.  As I’ve said before, games are not wicked tools of Satan, but merely outlets for expression, similar to films, books and music.  In time, I expect the vitriol toward the industry to die down significantly.  There will always be loons and crackpots who circulate ignorance and fear, but as games penetrate further into the market, that group will continue to shrink.

Source: MCV via GamePolitics