New Bully Video Game Stirs Up Conflict

Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:04PM EDT

See Comments (2772)

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?

 

Top 5 Posts

Comments on New Bully Video Game Stirs Up Conflict

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 67 Posted by cardicom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think this is the same argument that Hollywood deals with every year. Bloody, sex filled, and vulgar movies show up on the silver screen in mass every year but according to statistics murders are down and teenage pregancy is as well. I think that the adult populos doesn't give teens enough credit these days. We have some really bright kids out there how know what reality is from fiction. And yes occasionally there will be that crazy story about some teen ager that goes mad but that is the excpetion not the rule. Plus just like with school shootings and all other bad teen behavoir parents are the ones who need to be accountable. I think parents should know the thoughts and possible actions of their teens. If not they should have their children taken away from them cause they aren't parents in any stretch of the imagination. Best,

  • 68 Posted by someohioguy28 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Here is another PRIME example of poor parenting. Its so easy to blame the video game instead of taking some responsibility! The world we live in is not perfect nor will it ever be. There will always be many problems in our society. How we can we learn and benefit ourselves and our children if they are to never understand it? Do we just pretend it doesn't exist? With proper guidance and parenting, games like this can be a constructive learning tool to show the difference between right and wrong. A creative outlet to rid these negative traits in some children without harming others. It is ultimately the parents responsibility to see their children develops properly and positively. Shielding them from the realities of life will only harm them more when they learn them the hard way. Why do you think the preachers daughter is usually the one who gets in the most mischief? Parents: Quit being lazy and take some responsibily and use common sense!

  • 69 Posted by paulpehlke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's just like any toy or material a child can have, the parents need to be involved. If you believe it's too much for your child to handle then don't buy it. If your kid knows about the game and is asking for it, or if a friend of theirs has the game, talk to your child about it. Only a fragile mind can be effected by something like a video game. A fragile mind is the problem not the video game.

  • 71 Posted by neworleansmalldog on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think dat dis game will do no harm to no childred are nobody dat came should be rated TEEN

  • 72 Posted by nurbs_801 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm really looking forward to this game. And if it is rated t for teen or M, don't let your kids play it. I really don't see an issue here, other than unattentive parenting. Oh and Jack Thompson should not be taken seriously as a lawyer.

  • 73 Posted by italy_freak33 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just think it's going to be stupid like all video games.

  • 75 Posted by blankmanga on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    The games content is really rather tame. It only has a t for teen rating and its like playing out your fantasys youve always had about getting back at the bullies at your school.

  • 76 Posted by ryze2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    It comes down to us living in a society that no longer takes a roll in their childrens lives. They plop them in front of the digitil nanny *the TV or comp or ps2 or whatever*, and then yell and scream when their kid does something they dont like. Get proactive you sheep, if you dont like the game, dont own it. If your kids friend owns it, call their parenTs and let them know its off limits when your childs over. Start acting like parents and actualy get involved in your childs life instead of screaming and yelling from the sidelines.

  • 77 Posted by o3lp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    They are rated 17+ for a reason. Children under that age will have the game furnished to them by thier parents. Would you buy "adult videos" for your 12 year old? I'd like to hope not. A game with an ESRB rating of "Mature" is the equivalent of an NC-17 rating on a pornographic film.

  • 78 Posted by dtran2k3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    The ESRB has already given Bully it's rating, and it won't be a "Mature" as the article suggests. It is instead rated Teen (ages 13 and up). So this isn't even close to being a violent of any sort. If these subject matter is so offensive to these uptight parents enough for them to protest the game (on a sidenote, don't have have jobs to attend to, or maybe parenting their OWN childern) then we might as well ban Mean Girls, Saved by the Bell and any other forms of entertainment with comedic mischeif in a high school environment. Its a joke that this game has so much controversey.

  • 79 Posted by texas_livin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    sound like a cool game to me cant wait to play it

  • 80 Posted by angeldiane8553 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think that this will only encourage kids to accept bullying even more. And also rating something for older kids does not stop some from playing it.

  • 81 Posted by cryptic_tickles on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Teach your young ones what right and wrong are. They should know the difference. If they're young and you dont think they'll take it the right way, dont let them play a voilent game. Plain and simple.

  • 82 Posted by t_s_d_m on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    i love these articles that Yahoo feature. Its one of the most interesting ways I get news.

  • 83 Posted by xx_gamekilla_xx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    just two things to say about this 1: bully is out and i love it 2: i hate jack thompson

  • 84 Posted by rehberger on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    This article is inaccurate in many ways. The game has been released, it was shipped on 10-17-06, and it has been rated by the ESRB as T for teen. Much todo about nothing when groups rally around a game that they haven't played. Of all the violent and aweful games svsilsble, they attack one that does not allow for any character death. Smart.

  • 85 Posted by glddraco on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Fact is bullying exists in the world whether a computer game exists or not will have little impact in the real world. It's sorta like the point of these anti bullying groups and their pointless existence. I wonder if they trully don't understand that they have no impact in the world fore the simple fact the world moves on and bullies will always be here whether we like it or not. Patents need to stop blaming video games on their childrens problems. It's not the video games fault that your bad parents afterall.

More Posts: First Prev … 3 4 5 6 7 … Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.