New Bully Video Game Stirs Up Conflict

Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:04PM EDT

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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?

 

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  • 46 Posted by brandyjmullins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am pretty sure this game is rated M just like the Grand Theft Auto games. With that said if you think your kids are ok to watch rated R movies then its ok for them to play this game. However if your kids cannot figure out the difference between a game and reality then you prolly should have kept your seed to yourself.

  • 48 Posted by brandyjmullins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am pretty sure this game is rated M just like the Grand Theft Auto games. With that said if you think your kids are ok to watch rated R movies then its ok for them to play this game. However if your kids cannot figure out the difference between a game and reality then you prolly should have kept your seed to yourself.

  • 49 Posted by jprichter1@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's a video game! That's all,let it be. The more you complain the more free publicity the game gets.

  • 50 Posted by hogoshaxtsurugi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I really think that it can be a game to release your bullying on, and possibly a game to make people bullies. A friend of mine puts his driving temptations off on GTA, so maybe someone else can do the same except they're bullying temptations. Also, it depends how your kids are.

  • 51 Posted by junomaster2006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    The news has already been to late. Its a rated "T" game and no, your not a bully trying to beat nerds up. Your character is a nerd and trying to get back at the bullys and jocks. The politictions really need to play or see the game before they judge before making a wrong choice without any knowlege of the game.

  • 52 Posted by kmarkeson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    In reference to one of your last questions: Will kids know that Bully is a game? That's why the game has a mature rating; so kids won't be playing them. If peope want to argue that it doesn't matter and kids can get their hands on the games anyway, well that's true, but they can also get their hands on mature music, mature movies, and other inappropriate items for the underage.

  • 53 Posted by rtrypwr101 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is ridiculous what this world has become. Bullying has always been a part of growing up. Now I read in the news kids are not even allowed to play tag or touch football at recess. No wonder the nation is becoming obese. I think people are trying to put the blame on everyone but themselves. Parents need to step back and know your kids just like xstryker26 said.

  • 54 Posted by danielle_l_brooks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Little by little all of our freedoms are being taken away. Who is to say what games can be released and what can't? We still live in the "Land of the Free" do we not?Let parents take in active role in their children's lives and let them decide what is right for their own children. Shocking concept I know...

  • 55 Posted by tekkagetter on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    This game will probably recieve a M rating meaning mature for people 17 years and older. Now what I don't understand is why people try to get the game banned when they really should be focusing there efforts towards enforcing the ratings on the games. Theres a lot worse games out there then this. A LOT WORSE. Kids shouldn't be playing this game to begin with or any other M rated game for that matter.

  • 56 Posted by gich1234 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    OMG, u people over react it's a game! I love it, if they don't make a game that the public won't like, then they won't make money. I'm 13 and I figured it out, give the public what they want. Grand Thept Auto was only bad because of the cheat that lets you have s*x. That's understandable for the people to be mad, because they put some bad things that made the game turn from rated M to rated AO.

  • 57 Posted by imabprez2040 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think people need to be aloud to decide for themselves and not let "peaceoholics" run our lives. if a kid decides to beat up someone, give him an equal punishment. im only 19 and thats how i learned not to do dumb crap like that. because games are for ENTERTAINMENT purposes only thats why they are games.

  • 58 Posted by hippiegolucky79 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    You couldn't have missed the point of this GAME more if you tried. In it, violence is punished, cliche's are looked down upon, and overcoming rude, brainwashed people is rewarded. Hmmm....sounds a lot like many successful peoples' high school days. Bark your unenlightened, extremist views up another tree.

  • 59 Posted by allenru21 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    It is just a game if you don't want your children to play it don't buy it. I have been a gamer since pong and I do just fine. It seems there are to many right wing groups trying to censor what I do. I agree it should be labled mature but not banned, if that happens it gives those people another notch on the belt of censorship.

  • 60 Posted by nickisimo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    It may be bad, but I don't see how it's a whole lot worse than a lot of other violent games out there. If you ban this game because of its content, you'd have to ban a lot of other games as well. The game will ship with an M rating, so anyone under 17 shouldn't be playing it anyway, unless their parents or older siblings/friends buy it for them, inwhich case the parents are ultimately responsible. Internet content can be difficult to monitor, but it's not too hard to see what video games kids are playing.

  • 61 Posted by saleenrules on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    if you think it's not the game for your children, then sack-up, be a parent and DON'T BUY IT FOR THEM! Good gawd...

  • 62 Posted by ram_fan31 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Um sorry but u guys are all late Bully game out on October 16 and it is T for teen. I am only 14 and I don't think its that bad. Its not like Grand theft Auto it is more like Warriors. I like this game because u can do anytihng like a school kid would normally do. The person above is right you aren't caring about games like Scarface but u are on Bully. Thats Weak

  • 63 Posted by mallondaniel on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think this is a good game, but for parents its up to you do you think your child is old enough?

  • 64 Posted by marauder707 on Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:12AM EDT Report Abuse

    No worse than regular tv..Leave Rocstar Games alone!

  • 65 Posted by lord_vader_1990 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am 16. I have played GTA, and I plan to get Bully. Because let me tell you something: Death, Gangs, Violence, Sex, and all the other ills of the world depicted in this game exist. I veiw Women as people, not objects. I don't smoke weed or drink. I rarely fantasise about killing people, and in fact think murder should only happen when it has to. By far, I should want to kill everyone in my town. I spent years in my school being beaten and picked on because I was black, and unfortunately my mom will not move us out of our predominantly white town. Nobody did anything about the thousands of beatings I received based on the color of my skin. Not even the teachers. They stood there, sometimes coming close to praising the children. Perhaps we need to look at our educational staff and the parents who spend no time with their children (This is not my mom, in case you may be thinking that) before we blame all our problems on pixilated characters.

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