Ontario Govt. Slammed for Funding Violent Games in Ubisoft Deal
Ontario Govt. Slammed for Funding Violent Games in Ubisoft Deal
July 13, 2009
The unprecedented $263 million grant with which the Ontario government enticed Ubisoft to open a new game development studio in Toronto has drawn its share of fire since it was announced last week.
Most of the criticism has focused on the economics of the deal and the idea of giving away so much taxpayer money to an already-profitable, foreign company.
This morning, columnist Andrew Dreschel of the Hamilton Spectator takes a few shots at the money angle, but also slams the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty for essentially funding the creation of violent video games:
If using tax dollars to assist a foreign private-sector company is an iffy proposition, the thread becomes even more frayed when you look at some of the games in Ubisoft's roster.
Assassin's Creed enables players to experience the thrill of murdering people in Renaissance Italy. Red Steel allows you to feel the power and freedom of slaying your enemies with bullet and blade.
Call Of Juarez lets you use your gunslinging skills and arsenal of deadly weapons to kill anyone who stands in your way. America's Army: Rise Of A Soldier thrusts you into the role of a sniper assigned to kill enemy officers...
The McGuinty government's investment is offering concrete support and official blessings to amoral games that both glorify and trivialize violence and, arguably, contribute to anti-social behaviour -- all in the name of business.
GP: In the pic, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty (right) and Ubisoft CEO Yannis Mallat seal the $263 million deal...
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Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
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ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
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Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
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DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
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Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:33pm
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JDKJ: C'mon, Zip. You already touch yourself way too much. Spread the love. Before you go blind.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
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JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
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ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
JDKJ: But thanks for the memory. MIB's a classic. *sings* "Here come the Men in Black. Galaxy defenders. Here come the Men in Black. They won't let you remember."
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
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Posted 11/20/09 at 04:07pm
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:47pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
ZippyDSMlee: JD:I know they are intimate friends of yours...
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:44pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Neil and Bob?
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Comments
I don't mind the fact that it's violent video games. Kids shouldn't even be playing them.
But taxpayer money? That much?
wat.
I consider this dude uninformed/biased as hell if only because they don't even explain the context in which the actions are performed. i mean, "you murder people in middle age time jerusalem, damascas and acre"...the reader thinks: well that's violent and unneccessary.
"you murder various religeous and political figures seeking to profit on a war between the christian and muslim forces (the crusades i believe...it's been a while since i played it), and in doing so, helping your master in his efforts to keep peace."
still violent, but now it's got meaning, like any blockbuster movie or such.
that being said, ubi doesn't really need the money. i'm pretty sure they're relatively rolling in it compared to a lot of other companies.
Well, generally it is profitable companies that you want to entice to your cities. Philly has a whole pile of such deals that coaxed companies like Comcast to set up here.
Though even within this deal.... Ubisoft is putting more money into the local economy then the tax breaks they are getting. So the deal is a net gain for the city period.
If the government helped a company that made violent movies would there be such an outrage??? I think not. Irony.
You mean the Ontario Production Services Tax Credit that offers foreign filmmakers a 25% tax credit on all costs incurred while filming in the province, including labour?
I don't think they'd complain if it was a foreign film company that was setting up shop there because of tax breaks.
"Assassin's Creed enables players to experience the thrill of murdering people in Renaissance Italy."
Wow, Assassin's Creed 2 is out already? Awesome, where can I buy it?
Pfft, who cares? If the government is trying to appeal to get constituents' votes they are out of touch. I doubt enough constituents are worried about fake problems like this.
They are clearly not doing it for the children because children cannot vote.
GameSnooper
But there's no escaping the fact the McGuinty government's investment is offering concrete support and official blessings to amoral games that both glorify and trivialize violence and, arguably, contribute to anti-social behaviour -- all in the name of business.
Self-righteous idiot. That´s all I can say.
The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/
Bitch Bitch bitch bitch bitch. Even if it helps Canada for even A LITTLE BIT it's worth the risk. Besides Ubisoft is a solid company and has 2 of the MUST PLAY games of the year. Assassin's Creed 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction. Ubisoft and Canada will be fine and people like this will do nothing but do what they only know how.... Bitch.
Funny, those two games you mentioned are both Canadian made.
If you cherry pick games like that then yes it would be bad. I mean they forgot Raving Rabbit, which is a sweet game thats not too voilent.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
They really are quite Xenophobic in Ontario, that's twice I've seen the fact that Ubisoft are 'foreigners' being held up as though this should be considered the same as 'lepers'.
And Douchebag McColumnist goes on to say: "And in other news we are really extremely super happy that director Quentin Tarantino is coming here to make one of his thought provoking movies. The buckets of blood and dismemberment really touch on mankind's struggle with himself. So bring the kids!"
Note: This is sarcasm.
-Ultimately what will do in mankind is a person's fear of their own freedom-
Oh piss off. All that bullshit you claimed aside, what about the ADULTS who enjoy this stuff? And what of the job offerings making these games intended for ADULTS? Obviously all that "trivializing" and "glorification" hasn't amounted to jack shit, what with people not being so retarded and knowing that movie, game, and book representations may not be accurate depictions of events and acts...
If someone really doesn't understand that real violence isn't something glorious or trivial, they likely haven't been in touch with reality in a while, or they're crazy.
Go cry yourself to sleep.
Geez it seems like there's a Jack Thompson around every fucking corner.