Well, maybe descend isn’t quite the right word. It’s more like they were peacefully standing outside the convention center waving signs with slogans like “EA = Electronic Anti-Christ,” and “Hell Is Not A Game.” Although, for the record, Hell totally is a game; it came out on the 3DO, no less.
So what is it about Dante’s Inferno that got these protestors, The Saved Group, so riled up? According to member Cherry Adams, it’s because they feel it “disrespects [themselves], the Bible, [and] the Christian belief.” Specifically, they don’t like that Dante can leave Hell, his usage of a crucifix as a weapon, and all the violence in general. She affirms that “we don't need this right now in our society.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa, right now? These people do realize that the game is based -- however loosely -- on prior source material, right? They do, actually, but as with most moral outrage theirs’ stems from an urge to protect the chilluns: "Our youth today live in a fantasy world to begin with,” she continues, “and they don't need any encouragement to follow in the sins that are laid out in the levels of hell."
I will grant that it’s probably far more likely for a kid to pick up and play a copy of Dante’s Inferno (coming this fall!) then read a copy of The Divine Comedy, but even so, I think it’s a bit silly to get all worked up because a videogame uses Hell as a setting. Especially since other mediums can do it without causing a ruckus.
[Update: Some matlocking in the comments shows that this may actually just be a PR stunt. Props to EA, if so.]
Contest:
11:22 PM on 06.03.2009
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Yeah. There's all kinds of crazies in the world. Who let those morons in, anyway?
I don't understand how even they can take themselves seriously when they say things like that.
They are saying that WE are living in a fantasy world, when they are the ones who believe in some invisible spirit-ghost who died for our sins on a cross and that the universe/world was created 4000 years ago in 7 days.
We may play a lot of videogames, but that doesn't mean that we actually believe what happens in them is truth.
Where were these guys several hundred years ago?
Trying to stop the Enlightenment?
I mean c'mon, there were a zillion video games that had Hell and Christianity in them before Dante's Inferno.
What really surprises me is that they didn't have anything to say about the dozens of other violent games that are currently playable on the E3 show floor. I guess those are all ok because they don't feature Hell. Or they just didn't know about em', which is probably more likely.
http://wearesavedgroup.org/
hahahahahha. truly priceless.
Now that you mention it... this supposed group didn't exist as far as I can tell until today, same for that website... Could of super clever viral marketing. In that case Bravo EA.
That sounds judgmental. Ahhh, mighty hypocrisy, where would these groups be without you.
I beg to differ.
witchcraft.
Oh and guys it's JUST as ignorant to say horrible things about Christianity as it is to try to ban a game. It's the same rule: If you don't like it. Shut The Fuck Up
Except that it's not.
Yes, Ok, yes it is. You you have any idea how insulting it is when you go on a website and the mention of Christianity imediately results in "Given that these people believe in nonsense like virgin births and resurrections" "Since they're so brainwashed at an early age, THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE but to respond that way." or "They are saying that WE are living in a fantasy world, when they are the ones who believe in some invisible spirit-ghost who died for our sins on a cross and that the universe/world was created 4000 years ago in 7 days"
It does offend people and I'm not easy offended. I wouldn't even care if you guys were kidding around but things like this are just plain offensive and have a total disregard of anyone's feeling or views. It's not wrong to be a christain or atheist. It's wrong to be an asshole about it.
Are you serious?? I don't know if you've read comments here before, but people are quick to poke fun at all sorts of things. And according to the TOS, religion isn't on the list of things not to touch.
You need to be more comfortable with your own religious beliefs if a few comments on a videogame website insult you. Either sit there smugly knowing we're all going to hell, or question what it is that makes you uncomfortable.
Thanks for saying what you did. It bugs me when people deliberately exaggerate and misrepresent what Christians believe. I became a Christian later in life, as a personal choice. It wasn't how I was raised, it was a concious choice.
LOL. Are you seriously getting offended by someone's comments on the internet, Destructoid of all places at that? Go back to youtube commenting, they will like you better there.
Other than the exact number of years, is there anything inaccurate about the quote?
If that's what you believe, it's what you believe. You shouldn't take offense to it.
If you don't believe that, then they weren't talking about you.
I never actually got really pissed off till it seemed people didn't get how saying "Some christians don't like video games ALL christians are bad" is just as retarded as saying "Some part of the video game has religion in it this video game is the Devil".I'm actually quite comfortable with with my religion and although some people wish to mock it I usually don't care but all I wanted to do was tell people they may have crossed the line a bit there between joking around and being a little bit of a dick. If no one ever corrects anyone and says yes people will find this offensive everyone will just countinue to do it and no one will stop it because everyone's so used to it.
And I was saying you're pushing shit up hill by worrying about it. I don't think many people worry about who it is they're going to offend by commenting here, they just do it.
Basically, people post things that may offend people and may be factually inaccurate every day, what makes religion a no go subject??
high 5