Violent video game stirs controversy

Video game violence is under fire again with the planned release of Hooligans: Storm Over Europe. Produced by Dutch developer The Thirteenth Production (TTP), the game allows players to control a gang of football thugs.

The RTS game, premiered at the ECTS trade show, was first reported by website football365.com. Since then the controversy has grown, along with tabloid interest.

TTP's Jason Garber said: "I don't think it will encourage people to become hooligans. There are loads of violent games out there but violence is an educational and political issue, not one for computer games. I don't think it's in poor taste. We got bored of games where you fight trolls and just thought it was a nice, topical idea."

However, the Home Office and the British Board of Film Classification have expressed concerns about the game, with the former saying: "We condemn anything that seeks to glorify hooliganism."

TTP claims it received favourable responses at the ECTS show.

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