News

DON'T CROSS THE RED CROSS

The Canadian humanitarian organization has sent a letter to video-game developers protesting the use of its symbol in their products. The red plus sign on a white background is widely used in games to signify health packs, medical units in war titles and the player's status in on-screen displays.

The letter is from David Pratt, the director of the Red Cross humanitarian issues program. In it, he says the symbol is trademarked under Canadian law and its use is also reserved under the Geneva Conventions of 1949.

"The fact that the Red Cross is also used in [video games] which contain strong language and violence is of concern to us in that they directly conflict with the basic humanitarian principles espoused by the Red Cross movement," Pratt wrote. ". . .The crux of the problem is that the misuse of the red cross in video games is not only in contravention of the law, it also encourages others to believe that the emblem of the Red Cross is 'public property' and can be freely used by any organization or indeed for commercial purposes."

Several video-game development studios in Canada acknowledged receipt of the letter, but would not comment as they sorted out its legal ramifications. The full text of the letter can be viewed at tinyurl.com/7sf45.

Mozart schmozart

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Toronto date of PLAY A Video Game Symphony. Members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and chorus will perform game music from about 20 titles at the Hummingbird Centre on Sept. 30. It is from the same producers who brought audiences a concert full of Final Fantasy tunes last year.

Arnie Roth conducts the travelling extravaganza, which will be expanded to include titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Medal Gear Solid, World of Warcraft and the spooky Silent Hill. Tickets range from $65 to $125, which must set a record for a concert with capitalized letters and an exclamation point in its title.