In an interview with PC Gamer, Introversion Software, the studio behind the PC hit Prison Architect, detailed a rather peculiar experience.
Recommended Videos
In late December, the studio received an email from the British Red Cross: “My immediate reason for writing is that it has been brought to our attention that in your game ‘Prison Architect’ a red cross emblem is displayed on vehicles. Those responsible may be unaware that use of the red cross emblem is restricted under the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims of 12 August 1949, and that unauthorised use of this sign in the United Kingdom is an offence under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.”
Related
Yes, according to the British Red Cross, Prison Architect‘s use of a red cross to denote health violates the Geneva Conventions. The little red cross is actually the emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), not part of the public domain. The committee played an integral role in the framework of the Geneva Conventions — a statute that applies in wartime conflict to ensure human rights are not violated. 196 countries are ethically bound by the Geneva Conventions, which means that virtually every video game released that uses the emblem is in violation of the agreement.
It’s not just independent titles like Prison Architect that have violated the conventions, though. The emblem has been used as the symbol for health packs for decades. Franchises of AAA-caliber — Halo, Half-Life, Doom, and Fallout, to name a few — have included representations of the emblem.
Kotaku pointed out that the Halo franchise has gradually transitioned away from the emblem, replacing the cross with an ‘H’ in recent entries. Additionally, the Doom franchise switched from the emblem to a red pill to denote health packs.
This is the first time a video game studio has been contacted about the emblem’s use in a game, so it appears that the ICRC has not been particularly stringent on making sure its emblem doesn’t appear in games until now.
Editors' Recommendations
- Gaming to boost mental health: 5 tips from a clinical psychologist
- The best Animal Crossing games, ranked from best to worst
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons beginner’s guide
- The video game hype machine is less fun than it used to be
- Overwatch cross-platform support: Everything we know
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the intersection between video games and real-world symbols, it's fascinating to delve into the nuances of the article you provided. The use of the red cross emblem in video games is indeed a topic that involves a blend of cultural symbolism, legal considerations, and the evolving landscape of game design.
Firstly, the article touches on the recognition of the red cross symbol in video games as a representation of health packs. This iconic image, a red cross on a white background, is widely associated with healing and restoration in the gaming world. However, what caught my attention is the legal angle brought forth by the British Red Cross.
The British Red Cross asserts that the use of the red cross emblem in the game 'Prison Architect' is in violation of the Geneva Conventions. This emblem, not just a generic symbol of health but the emblem of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is legally protected. The Geneva Conventions of 1949, established to safeguard the rights of war victims, restrict the unauthorized use of this emblem. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to the seemingly innocuous use of a red cross in video games.
The article also highlights that this issue extends beyond independent titles like 'Prison Architect' to major franchises like Halo, Half-Life, Doom, and Fallout. These AAA-caliber games have, for years, incorporated representations of the red cross emblem in the context of health packs. Notably, the Halo franchise has taken steps to move away from the emblem, replacing it with an 'H' in recent entries. Similarly, the Doom franchise shifted to a red pill as a symbol for health packs.
What's particularly intriguing is that this incident with Introversion Software and the British Red Cross is the first known instance of a video game studio being contacted about the use of the red cross emblem. It suggests that, until now, the ICRC might not have actively policed or enforced restrictions on the appearance of its emblem in video games. This raises questions about how other game developers might respond to similar inquiries in the future and whether adjustments will be made to comply with legal constraints.
In conclusion, the article sheds light on the unexpected intersection of international humanitarian law, symbols with historical significance, and the creative choices made by game developers. The evolving landscape of video game design is influenced not only by artistic considerations but also by legal and ethical dimensions, as demonstrated by the implications of using the red cross emblem in the gaming industry.
