Rockstar’s Bully Already Criticized
August 11th, 2006 by Darren Stevens in Offbeat, PC, PlayStation 2, RPG, Simulation, Strategy
Rockstar’s new game, Bully, which is scheduled for a release later this fall has already been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism, mainly from Jack Thompson. He Criticized the game for being violent (what else?) during the discussion on G4TV, watch it here.
Rockstar replied by releasing a trailer of the game, showing no violence at all. Many politicians, including Thompson still call it a “Columbine simulator”. Rockstar have yet to issue an official statement, but they’ll probably be dismissing all criticism. Who can blame them?
Read here, here, and here. Watch the Bully trailer after the jump.
[gv data="http://www.youtube.com/v/ELtcuTRwxWg"][/gv]
Tags: Offbeat, PC, PlayStation 2, RPG, Simulation, Strategy
August 12th, 2006 at 11:17 am
How come it’s only in USA that politicians try to control how computer games are made. And how can anyone be so F%¤#}¤ stupid as to think that it’s the computer games’ fault that people are violent and commit brutal murders? It’s so obvious that some people have just moved the focus away from the real causes to violence, like the lack of SOCIAL SECURITY
August 13th, 2006 at 1:21 am
I didn’t watch the video (28 K) but Rockstar releasing a trailer with no violence at all seems to be a very poor reply to the criticism. They cannot pretend that violence does not exist in the game. They are going to change no one’s mind about the game from a simple video.
I like to let people have their own opinion, but Jack Thompson’s is defamation of character. He wants to infringe on a developer’s first amendment right, and I just can’t condone that sort of behavior.
Another thing. I can’t fathom why no gamer can say a level-headed word about Mr. Thompson. Calling him names is not helping anything or anyone. I sometimes regret being on the same side as someone saying “Jack Thompson is an idiot!” Stop doing it. Remember that one activist has very little power, and his argument can never stand up in court. At least in the US. The Bill of Rights is on our side.
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:39 am
[...] Rockstar’s Controversial Bully Game Due in October Rockstar’s Bully game was already a big controversy over a year go. In Bully, gamers play a troublesome schoolboy named Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who’s been expelled from every school he’s ever attended. In the game Hopkins stands up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on other kids and flirts with girls all while attending Bullworth Academy. Rockstar’s attempt to soften up critics with Table Tennis apparently hasn’t worked. Bully still has plenty of critics as its October, 2006 release date approaches. A Rocky Mountain News article (thx Game Life) lists some of the people and organizations critical of Bully. Ronald Moten, co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based Peaceoholics, who has not seen Bully, likens it to alcohol or tobacco. He says his non-profit group, formed to help reduce juvenile crime through intervention and community outreach, plans to hold protests in hopes of keeping the game out of stores. “We don’t want the game to come out at all, we don?t think there is a purpose for this type of game,
October 2nd, 2006 at 6:40 am
[...] Rockstar’s Controversial Bully Game Due in October Rockstar’s Bully game was already a big controversy over a year go. In Bully, gamers play a troublesome schoolboy named Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who’s been expelled from every school he’s ever attended. In the game Hopkins stands up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on other kids and flirts with girls all while attending Bullworth Academy. Rockstar’s attempt to soften up critics with Table Tennis apparently hasn’t worked. Bully still has plenty of critics as its October, 2006 release date approaches. A Rocky Mountain News article (thx Game Life) lists some of the people and organizations critical of Bully. Ronald Moten, co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based Peaceoholics, who has not seen Bully, likens it to alcohol or tobacco. He says his non-profit group, formed to help reduce juvenile crime through intervention and community outreach, plans to hold protests in hopes of keeping the game out of stores. “We don’t want the game to come out at all, we don?t think there is a purpose for this type of game,
October 4th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
[...] Rockstar’s Controversial Bully Game Due in October Rockstar’s Bully game was already a big controversy over a year go. In Bully, gamers play a troublesome schoolboy named Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who’s been expelled from every school he’s ever attended. In the game Hopkins stands up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on other kids and flirts with girls all while attending Bullworth Academy. Rockstar’s attempt to soften up critics with Table Tennis apparently hasn’t worked. Bully still has plenty of critics as its October, 2006 release date approaches. A Rocky Mountain News article [...]
October 6th, 2006 at 12:17 am
[...] Rockstar’s Controversial Bully Game Due in October Rockstar’s Bully game was already a big controversy over a year go. In Bully, gamers play a troublesome schoolboy named Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who’s been expelled from every school he’s ever attended. In the game Hopkins stands up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on other kids and flirts with girls all while attending Bullworth Academy. Rockstar’s attempt to soften up critics with Table Tennis apparently hasn’t worked. Bully still has plenty of critics as its October, 2006 release date approaches. A Rocky Mountain News article (thx Game Life) lists some of the people and organizations critical of Bully. Ronald Moten, co-founder of Washington, D.C.-based Peaceoholics, who has not seen Bully, likens it to alcohol or tobacco. He says his non-profit group, formed to help reduce juvenile crime through intervention and community outreach, plans to hold protests in hopes of keeping the game out of stores. “We don’t want the game to come out at all, we don?t think there is a purpose for this type of game,
October 18th, 2006 at 9:18 am
I like how the title of this article is misspelled. Citisized? Lol, Criticized maybe is the right word?
And to Kaiser Soze, this game is for PS2, not computer
Video games dont create violent people. Abused, demented, uncontrolled children are the start of violent teens and adults. Simple.
October 20th, 2006 at 12:27 am
Well Joe, CONSOLE GAMES… Anyway we pretty much share the same opinion I think
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:24 am
I tink that Jack Thompson does not know wat he is talking about. if anything its good because it shows people wat its like in schools
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:41 am
They are just trying to make a big deal out of nothing … this game is seriously harmless and from my limited time playing it yesterday at a friend’s it’s actually fun if you are into this type of genre.
It’s laughable to think anyone should ever consider banning this game. Might as well ban every MA rated game then (and join Germany’s incredulous behavior … anyone heard of Freedom of Speech; I guess all of Tarantino’s movie’s should be banned as well) … and this game is rated ‘T’ anyway. This coming from someone who has historically had issues with Rockstar’s games.