AfterDawn: News

Video game criticized by Hindu leader

The Sony PlayStation 2 video game Hanuman: Boy Warrior has come under criticism from the American Hindu leader Rajan Zed, who has asked the company the withdraw the game from stores.

Zed adds that the game "trivializes" Lord Hanuman, a highly revered deity in the Hindi religion.



Sony responded to the claim saying it will not withdraw the game from the market, and has no plans to.

In the video game, players get to control the destiny of Lord Hanuman, while in the real world, religious believers put their own destinies in the hands of the deity. "Controlling and manipulating Lord Hanuman with a joystick, button, keyboard, or mouse is denigration", added Zed.

The game is only available in India, and Sony says that "prominent Indian scholars were consulted at every step" of developing the game. The game was created to "encourage young Indians to celebrate the stories of Lord Hanuman and to help bring the key lessons to life" adds the company.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Apr 2009 17:10

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• 9 comments

• lecsiy

  I would like the first comment off this article to be :
  
  Who gives a flaming f***.
  
  haha

  21.4.2009 17:22 #1

• Ragnarok8

  Originally posted by lecsiy: I would like the first comment off this article to be :
  
  Who gives a flaming f***.
  
  hahaWell you did care enough to click on the link and open this article (and so did I)...but other than that, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

  21.4.2009 17:24 #2

• lecsiy

  Haha let mee clarify.
  
  I dont care whether a hindu leader condems me :)

  21.4.2009 17:26 #3

• samshizze

  If he doesnt like the idea of the game, then guess what he doesnt have to buy it.

  21.4.2009 18:06 #4

• ThePastor

  And other "deities" have never been "denegrated" before.
  
  Express displeasure, sure. Ask that the game get pulled? naw, I don't think so.

  21.4.2009 18:51 #5

• elbald90

  Originally posted by samshizze: If he doesnt like the idea of the game, then guess what he doesnt have to buy it.that would be way to easy

  22.4.2009 05:02 #6

• KillerBug

  Indian law prohibits giving offerings to Shiva...and this guy is worried about a video game for an outdated console?

  22.4.2009 07:10 #7

• ak472009

  Come on now grow up , you acting a freaking child , i myself would be buying the game to inflict pain on you , you hypocrite

  23.4.2009 07:16 #8

• ThePastor

  Did he express similar outrage about the baby shaking app?
  
  http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=78371

  23.4.2009 19:24 #9