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Looks like some clergymen have a bit of an issue with Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles. They're calling it out for ruining the minds of youths, saying it's too violent and has ties to the occult.
“If we dabble in this area we open ourselves to influences and put ourselves at risk. I would regard any encouragement for children to be drawn into this behaviour with extreme horror.” - Bishop Bryant of Jarrow, Archdeacon Brian Smith and Rt Rev John Goddard
Capcom obviously responded to these claims...
“This is scaremongering and typical religious hysteria. You cannot blame society’s ills on video games. It’s just absurd. Most games (and movies) like Resident Evil show characters fighting evil not supporting it. Unfortunately the clergy is showing a lack of understanding of the video games industry and is too quick to splash the holy water and lump video games players into stereotypical boxes. Video games are entertainment and like horror movies or other scary films they are covered by a ratings system. Resident Evil for example is a 15 and not suitable for anyone under that age. Parents have to be trusted to adhere to these age restrictions and use common sense.”
What's your take on the topic? Does Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles take things too far?
Story Feedback
Major props for Capcom for calling them on that bullsh*t. "Typical religious hysteria" and "too quick to splash the holy water" cracked me up.
Also, I couldn't help but feel a sense of irony at the clergy's statements...
It truly was hilarious. Honestly, I WANT to see this turn into a flame war and see how the clergy counter with that, lol.
@Zeph
Lol, I laughed pretty hard at your comment.
2. I'd say that there is some truth in the church's statement. Yes, we should not allow CHILDREN to be exposed to so much violence, etc. However, the clergy need to realize that this is not for children nor can children purchase it by themselves.
3. Capcom's response seems a little inflammitory (ie: trying to start something), but I mostly agree with them.
"use common sense"
Why are children even playing this in the first place? Shouldn't their parents have enough common sense to see that the game has a mature rating?!?
And isn't the title of "bishop" almost entirely exclusive to Catholicism? The high ranks of that denomination love to stir things up that they know nothing about.
I do think that watching horror and supernatural thriller movies or playing such games can have a negative effect on young children. Just like lots of adult media.
@Eddie Green
Understandably, there is a time and place for everything. M rated games and R rated movies are clearly not intended for children, but they still find a way to view them regardless.
But things like this can be taken into better context when parents actually take a minute or two to explain "fantasy vs. reality" and "moral vs corrupt". But I don't think enough parents do.
We can hope that kids would have enough common sense to understand that the situations presented in these games and movies aren't going to happen, and learn to place some sort of "real world" context to that when they apply their imaginations to them.
Don't blame the entertainment outlet. Blame uninvolved parenting and the exaggerated media claims.
For a comment thread that I was a bit angry at in the first half, you really showed equality and calming in the second.
Yeah, the bishop is being stupid. He isn't doing his research, and he's attempting to say, "The media shouldn't exist at all," rather than, "The parents and stores need to educate themselves and not allow underage children to get this, JUST LIKE MOVIES."
With that said, I am a hardcore gamer. I like lots of games that have a totally different worldview than I do. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and religion isn't inherently evil. People come in all shapes and sizes, and Christian is one of them. Having a belief in God doesn't make me a sheep to be mocked, just like JRAICS not having one doesn't make him a heretic to be burned.
Even though my above statement was probably some of what they didn't want, I agree with RAWKERGIRL on every count. Just leave religion, or lack thereof, out of this.
The problem is the narrow-minded man, not his title.
Or close to that, whatever.
Capcom brought a tear to my eye with that statement, if only other developers would say that
They both have fanatics over fictional characters.
Agreed.
YOU MISTER, are awesome
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