Protests in LA over the release of the video game ‘Dante’s Inferno’ (based on Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (one of the books at least – Purgatory and Paradiso probably presented a less dynamic scenario for trigger-happy gamer) are bemusing on many levels.
Based on the trailer of the game, the developers have done a little bit of research into the classic. That our hero has been transformed from a 30s-something robe wearing poet, into a plate-mail clad warrior in his 20s, fighting demons across the 9 circles of hell, is to be expected. I recall Dante meeting lots of Italians in hell and the odd demons – who weren’t that menacing, more like the bureaucrats you’d meet in an Italian post-office.
EA has acknowledged it was behind the protest group. The so-called SAVED group’s objections relate to the portrayal of Christians in the game. Which is a bit of a stretch – but had me and some newspapers and bloggers fooled.
Normally it is concerned parents and politicians expressing their concern about violence in video games. Reading some of the gaming blogs it seems that gamers are utterly delighted by the protesters. It is good to see that Christian group CatholicInsider.com have a sense of humour about this form of PR:
It’s been clear for a while now that the entertainment industry views Christians on the whole as priggish, thin-skinned fun-killers. (That swipe about our Web design skills might be most hurtful of all.)
Which is worse?
A real religious group producing unintended PR for video game they dislike? Or a video game company artificially creating a low-grade PR stunt to attract media to a story?
Real debate about content of video games is actually needed. Parents feel out of touch with the technology and are concerned about violence. Governments feel pressure to ‘act’ in some sort of way.
I seldom play video games and only when visiting my nephews in Melbourne (the experience of losing to teenagers is quite frankly humiliating). I am however, interested in how an industry so large (it dwarfs the music industry for example) is not actually subject to public scrutiny in relation to content. When Eminem produces sexist or racist song lyrics, you hear the thunderclap of the world’s special interest groups and media. Yet the games industry gets away with all sorts of material. See ‘Manhunt 2′ – probably the most violent mainstream video game ever to hit consoles).
The drinks, alcohol and tobacco industry today are all actively involved in engaged with their critics and a broader base of stakeholders. There is no evidence that the games industry is engaging with parents, governments in response to concerns relating to games. Gamers and developers don’t quite see what the fuss is about. The industry knows there is a lack of coordination amongst console manufacturers, developers and the supply chain.
However, I still wonder whether it is wise to simulate ’stakeholder anger’ with a pretend interest group. Ridiculing your critics, or aping them indirectly, might please your customers, but it could have unintended consequences.
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