[-STAT-]

New Bully Video Game Stirs Up Conflict

Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:04PM EDT



[Image: http://f3.yahoofs.com/ymg/raskin/raskin-...8Czk4SjrxI]It's not yet available, but Bully, a new video game from Rockstar Games (the U.S. distributor is Take 2, the same folks who brought you Grand Theft Auto) is causing uproar. The animated game, set at the fictitious Bullworth Academy, features a protagonist who is bullied, faces mean teachers, and encounters the nastiness of clubs and cliques. There is no beating them without joining them in this game set in a bully or be bullied world.

GameSpot, a gaming destination, reports that the Britain-based Bullying Online, an organization devoted to ending "bullying" on school grounds in the U.K., is seeking to have the game banned in the country. According to a BBC report, Bully will change the name of the U.K. release to the less offensive Canis Canem Edit (Dog Eat Dog). It is due for release on the PlayStation 2 on October 27.

Here in the U.S., members of the Washington D.C. based youth group Peaceoholics protested outside Rockstar Games' New York offices. And a Florida attorney, Jack Thompson, has sued to have the game removed from stores. In the US, the game has no rating yet because it hasn't shipped, but it's expected to receive an M for mature (over 17) audiences from the ESRB.

I watched the trailer for the game on GameSpot, and clearly it's a game about bullying that's similar in style and action to Grand Theft Auto. But this game is like your worst high school nightmare, with everything from wedgies, mean girls, and teases, to nasty cheerleaders and catty cliques. As the protagonist, you need to get strong fast as you rise through the challenges of girls that hit; mean, spiteful teachers; and gang plots to make your life miserable.

There are those who think that a game that makes "play" out of bullying is despicable. But in fairness it should be pointed out that this is not a shoot ‘em up game, and there are no guns or blood. Some experts believe it can be a healthy outlet for kids to get these sorts of fantasies out of their systems on the screen and not in the real world. On the other hand, the game shows that to survive the bully culture you need to become one.

What do you think? Will kids know that Bully is a game? Can they find it amusing and keep it in stride? Or do they learn that bullying is acceptable, fun, and even cool behavior? Would you let your teens play Bully?

[SEKYscout]

These claims are ridiculous...trust me, there's a lot worse out there. A 12-year old could play this game and just think it was funny. Why do people have an uproar over this but not games such as "Leisure Suit Larry"?

[football17]

ya i kno O&a and lil jimmy norton play a role in this game i think it would be pretty funny game!

[Doc Holliday]

do ya

what about little conner?

[crazytaxidriver]

These claims are ridiculous...trust me, there's a lot worse out there. A 12-year old could play this game and just think it was funny. Why do people have an uproar over this but not games such as "Leisure Suit Larry"?

that's the problem.. no one takes heed to the rating of the game.. It's not meant for 12 year olds, therefore parents probably shoulldn't buy it for a twelve year old...

same with leisure suit larry.. that game wasn't meant for kids, i think they were trying to reach a more of an adult audience, as is most games that come out these days..

My aunt is getting ready to go buy my little cousin an xbox 360, the kid already has a PS2 and can't play it to begin with, cause he don't really understand how to play games, and most other kids don't know either, but the parents will let them sit down and try to blast everyone away on these games.. i just don't get it

[SEKYscout]

Do you all really think that video game violence creates real-world violence?

[crazytaxidriver]

i personally don't think a kid will play a video game and then decide to go shoot someone.. or beat someone up.. But the language in these games, and the way they are played will stick in a kids mind i think. And if they enjoy playing a game that involves nothing but killing people, for an extended period of time, then who's to say that later on down the road, then won't have some pent up aggression, and take it out GTA style on someone..

[-STAT-]

The rating of this game is actually T for Teen

[BC75]

What is this Leisure Suit Larry game?

I was kind of wondering about this game coming out. It seems like this rockstar games group may be pushing a little too far. Eventually they will come out with something that is too far, it will have to stop somewhere.

[SEKYscout]

Just search Leisure Suit Larry....it's a very popular game, probably not appropriate to talk about on here though. Nobody seemed to care when it came out. Not too many people pay attentions to ratings anyway....they saw that Leisure Suit Larry had a M for Mature rating and just shrugged it off.

[crazytaxidriver]

hahah that game needed an M rating ol.. it's hilarious, but i wouldn't let my kids playy it..

[TheyKnowMe]

I don't think this game would be fun

[Slamdown]

any time there is a game that comes out that causes some conflict people start thinking that video games cause violence in real life.

[GOREDDEVILS]

I see nothing wrong with this game if the person is 18 or over and they want the game then so be it. I like games with violence I think they are fun. But you dont see me out there doing this stuff in real life. Its all about fun and I truly believe these types of games don't make people mean like the media claims. If they play the game then they should be responsible enough to not do all of that stuff IMO.

[GOREDDEVILS]

This is just like the same stuff where the police tried to get 25 to life pulled from the shelves with no success.

[TOMCAT06]

compared to the other games out there this is nothing which is really sad some of the games that 10,12 year old kids are playing are absolutely rediculous!! Hmm.. Why are kids shooting each other in schools and stuff? Well DUH!:ape:

[shsfootball]

Sounds sweet

[Meaty]

It looks retarted to me

[-STAT-]

Finally getting the chance to play this game, and its awesome.