London Mayor Boris Johnson (left) seems to have a love-hate relationship with games. Or, more accurately, hate-love. Johnson, you see, used to be a harsh critic of video games, but, suddenly, he's a supporter.
As GamePolitics reported in January, 2007, Johnson, who had not yet been elected mayor, equated games with illiteracy in this rant:
Millions of seven- to 15-year-olds are hooked, especially boys, and it is time... as a society, that we admitted the catastrophic effect these blasted gizmos are having on the literacy and the prospects of young males.
...in the six years following 1997, the numbers of young children who said that they didn't like reading rose from 23 per cent to 35 per cent... I refuse to believe that these hypnotic little machines are innocent...
And in June, 2008 as mayor he linked video games to a wave of stabbings in London.
But gamesindustry.biz reports that Johnson has experienced an apparent change of heart. The Mayor is backing Be The One, an EA event scheduled for later this month in London's Trafalgar Square. Of the scheduled goings-on, the suddenly game-friendly Johnson said:
I'm delighted that the London Games Festival is back in our city for its third year. It demonstrates the creativity and range of the gaming industry, which, as an important part of London's creative sector, makes a vital contribution to the economy as a whole.
With events across the capital, the festival has something for everyone and illustrates the popularity of this thriving form of entertainment. I am pleased to see EA's Be The One event is returning to Trafalgar Square. It was an undoubted highlight of last year's festival, which reinforces London's position at the centre of one the most fastest-growing creative industries in the world.
Comments
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Anyone outside of the UK should youtube Boris' guest appearances on "Have I Got News For You" to see what kind of person he is. No one takes him seriously as a politician and he's seen more of as a comedian here.
In fact it's hard to see this flip flopping as hypocritical because Boris is just such a blubbering idiot it's obvious he doesn't understand what he's saying even when he's saying it.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Yup, welcome to the wonderful world of Boris Johnson.
Oh Boris, you so crazy!
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I'm no subscriber to The Spectator, but anybody who underestimates Boris Johnson is a bigger wally than the media make Boris out to be.
The key element of the quote here is the word "economy". Britian is not going to be able to rely as heavily on the Financial Services industries as it has done in the past, if it is to weather the current global economic storm.
It is already being argued in Westminster that the UK ought to "go Green" - now based not on ethics or ecology, but as a valuable way of creating and sustaining new jobs (and follow Germany's lead by doing so).
I would not be surprised one bit if Boris Johnson has taken a look at how many British citizens the videogames industry employs, how much money it makes and how succesful British-made games are on the world stage (GTA, Fable, LBP, blah blah blah) and sees it as a sound economic investment.
But by all means bash the chap 'cos he has silly hair and a posh accent. Just realise you're not using your intellect by doing so.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
We all know that underneath he is a very intelligent person, the Conservatives would never have put him in a position where he may become London mayor if he wasn't, he is still upper-class twit of the year though, it's why we all love him so much.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I think this is appropriate, although what kind of flower Boris is...
...look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under't.
Gift.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
We're trying to determine his entire, presumably cxomplex set of opinions from a set of soundbites.
He thinks that games and other media galmourise crime. Well, GTA certainly does, but I disagree that this encourages crime. Stil, he's entitled to his opinion here.
He thinks kids spend too long playing games. I agree here. I love games. They're fun and stimulate mental activity. Doesn't mean I think it's a good idea to do nothing but play games.
He thinks it's good that the Games festival is back in London. Well, games are good fun. Not all of them encourage violence. Not all gamers spend too long playing games. They do provide jobs in the capital and Britain is a major producer of video games. Businesses making lots of money and providing jobs are traditionally core Conservative Party values.
So where's the flip flopping?
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Well judging by some of the comments made on this website in many different threads, I think he has a point about games affecting the educational standards of some children. Games are addictive and I and many others would be the first to admit that without them a few exam results would've been better.
I can't see how the comments actually contradict themselves anyway. One talks about educational standards of children playing games whilst the other talks about the profit made from them.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Go read the GP article from about two weeks ago featuring the blog post claiming that games hurt literacy. We JUST had this debate.
Bottom line: video games are quite capable of fostering education and a thirst for knowledge, and especially literacy.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
The only thing worse than someone who hops on bandwagons to gain popularity is someone who cares so little that he'll switch sides every fifteen minutes.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
um boris johnson is an ODD man. Here in the uk, nobody really listens to him!
They guy famously got in trouble for calling everyone in my home city 'thieves and liars'
lol.
Smart move to gain popularity by branding an entire city.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Well, he ogt voted Mayor of London, so I guess whichever city he said it about, no-one outside that city cared.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I believe SurrealBorisJOhnson has agreed to a cooperative treaty with me in order to combat the ridiculous personalities that have been in control for far too long.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Mwahaha the Mayor Brainwashatron 2000 claims another victim!
I'd build the jack thompson brainwashatron next but then he'd just turn into one of those 12 year old halo 3 deathmatch playing twats.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I love Boris.
Seriously, he's the only politician worth watching and listening to, the stuff that comes out of his mouth is just hilarious.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
It sounds like we have a replacement for JT.
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Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Boris is nowhere near as dangerous as JT, and certainly nowhere near as horrible a person, he's more like the crazy upper class person everyone likes to invite out because he's bound to do something barmy
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Yeah... and worryingly my fellow Londoners decided he'd be the best man for the job..
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Good old Igor, when he's not sacking the Police Commissioner, he's flip-flopping on his own comments.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I would say it once again, I would not trust a politician...
Not even if they started to like Videogames all of a suddern.
What they said in the past is still there haunting us more and more.
It is not about talking positive about Videogames that would get me on their side, it is more about accturley sitting down and playing Videogames and understanding that there can be allot of fun and enjoyment in Videogames like we have always known.
Sadly not matter how the Mayor of London says about Videogames, I am still not convinced until he has accturely played a few games of his own.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Ah yes, once they see the tax money they get from games it shuts them up good.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Not surprising. Texas did the same thing not long ago, remember?
Texas: Games are evil
Game Industry: We will take our 11 billion a year elsewhere then.
Texas: Did I say evil? I meant blessed by God, just like good ol' Texas. EA by the grace of God.
now..........
London: Evil little machines
Game Industry: Sorry, can't hear you over the large amounts of cash we are making.
London: I said, "I love you, video games."
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
When was the governor blasting games in Texas? Or are you just projecting what you think Texas is like?
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
EA itself doesnt have a studio in Texas.... They closed it in 2004... BioWare has one there, EA is going to close it, not official news yet, shhhh.
Sony Online Entertainment and many other game studios are in Texas though.
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Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
I thought Bioware's studio was in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada?
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James Fletcher, member of ECA Canada
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Generic Politician: Videogames are the cause of everything wrong on our society!!! Ban them all, lol111
Evil Videogame Company: Here, take this money, now support us...
Generic Politician: Yahoooo!!! I love money!!!
Jack Thompson: Hey, listen, DESU!!!
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Face palm.
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Facepalm indeed. Hipocresy to the max...
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Re: London Mayor Flip-Flops From Game Hate to Game Love
Not really, he is just so dipsy that he doesn't know where he stands.