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Nigel Farage slams 'pathetic' UKIP app made by schoolchildren
Nigel Farage slams 'pathetic' UKIP app made by schoolchildren
(34 minutes later)
Nigel Farage has condemned a phone app made by schoolchildren featuring a character called Nicholas Fromage kicking immigrants off the white cliffs of Dover.
Students from Canterbury Academy have made a satirical mobile game in which users kick immigrants off the cliffs of Dover under the UKIP banner — and Nigel Farage thinks it's "pathetic."
The UKIP leader said the game where players kick immigrants as far as possible to gain the highest "racism" rating is "risible and pathetic" and "crosses the line".
The Ukip leader called the game, the main character of which he evidently inspired, "risible and pathetic" and said it "crosses the line".
But principal of Canterbury Academy Phil Karnavas said his technology class' project was "just a bit of fun".
Players use Nicholas Fromage to kick immigrants in the pursuit of "racism" points, and it's that term which had Farage riled up.
The student developers, who have formed game design company FonGames, say the game called Ukik aims to "make a mockery of extremist views"
KentOnline reports that Principal of Canterbury Academy Phil Karnavas said the project was "just a bit of fun" and said that "politicians should be able to laugh at themselves".
Mr Farage said he accepted criticism as a public figure, but elements of the same - such as the use of the term "racism" - were unacceptable.
Farage said: "Those elements are risible and in many ways pathetic. I think I'm quite well known for having a sense of humour.
He said: "Those elements are risible and in many ways pathetic. I think I'm quite well known for having a sense of humour.
"I'm a public figure and of course people are going to have views. But elements of this game appear to cross the line.
"I'm a public figure and of course people are going to have views. But elements of this game appear to cross the line."
"Fair play to them for having a bit of fun. If they want to go away and look at Ukip policies, they will actually learn a lot."
He added: "Fair play to them for having a bit of fun. If they want to go away and look at Ukip policies, they will actually learn a lot."
The five 18-year-old developers, who designed the game as part of their games start-up FonGames, describe it as "a mockery of extremist views"
The game features an apparent manifesto from the fictional Nicholas Fromage, Ukik leader, saying: "If you are feeling irrational and want to live in a right wing hell hole then vote UKIK this May.
"These people might improve our economy, contribute to our culture and make Britain great but they are different to us so let's kick them all out!"
Principal Mr Karnavas said: "It's certainly topical and should stimulate discussion about political issues amongst young people - something we are constantly told is important.
Principal Mr Karnavas said: "It's certainly topical and should stimulate discussion about political issues amongst young people - something we are constantly told is important.
"But, really as political satire it is just a bit of fun. Many politicians don't need help to make themselves look daft, or to say very silly things, but they should at least have the ability to laugh at themselves.
"This game may be a bit 'edgy' but I suspect it will not bring the British political system crashing down!"
"This game may be a bit 'edgy' but I suspect it will not bring the British political system crashing down!"
The game has been developed by 18-year-olds John Brown, James Dupreez, Fraser Richardson, John Hutchinson and Joe Brown.
A Ukip spokesperson told The Independent: "We're all for people having a bit of fun, and in this case a bit of a pop, but bandying around words like 'racist' is a bit much."
The group are all learning coding, graphic design and game development and have been making mobile games about spaceships and platform games.
FonGames describes itself as "a team of developers who create games based upon controversial news stories for the purposes of entertainment and to encourage political discussion amongst young people."
Marcus Ball, a co-founder of Ambition House, which was set up at the Canterbury Academy campus two years ago with the aim of fast-tracking 16 to 24-year-olds into setting up their own digital businesses, said: "What's great about Ukik is that it has been created by young people to encourage others of their age to start talking about politics.
"It's irreverent and a game based upon the British tradition of political satire that pokes fun at a high profile figure and should not be taken too seriously as it is entertainment."
