Again, Bully becomes the center of controversy

by Dustin Burg { Jan 21st 2008 at 2:45PM }

With Bully: Scholarship Edition's upcoming release this March, the anti-bullying activists and UK's media are again throwing a temper tantrum over Rockstar's "controversial" game. Did we mention they aren't happy?

When released on the PS2, the UK version of Bully underwent a name change to Canis Canem Edit (that's "Dog Eat Dog" in latin) which was probably an effort by Rockstar to keep the controversy to a minimum. But this time around, the 360 and Wii version will forgo a latin name change and be called Bully: Scholarship Edition and that doesn't seem to sit well with anti-bully activists. And even though Bully is a rather tame game whose story doesn't specifically reward bullying, it's made by Rockstar and deals with touchy subject matter, so this kind of controversy is expected. It's controversy Rockstar is all too familiar with.

[Via Game Stooge]

Tags: bully, bully-scholarship-edition, rockstar

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Josh @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:22PM

half the time you arent even bullying people, i mean that is an option, but like everyone else says you get cool shit for going to class and you help nerds quite a bit it should be called HELPING HELPLESS NERDS: BULLYING "OPTIONAL"

Ample Salty @ Jan 21st 2008 3:14PM

Heh, I thought this might happen, as I said in the last Bully story. Just typical fare from people who've never even played the game.

Jonah Falcon @ Jan 21st 2008 3:25PM

You have to go to class to increase your skills. THE HORROR!

Mr. Stabby Mouse feat. Hat @ Jan 21st 2008 3:39PM

Because we all know that video games MAKE children go out and murder people, steal cars, and be bullys.

Dick @ Jan 21st 2008 4:58PM

Apparently, they'll start going to class to earn points, too.

Mr. Stabby Mouse feat. Hat @ Jan 21st 2008 5:53PM

*Dink* Achievement Unlocked: Going to School 20g

stinger503 @ Jan 21st 2008 7:40PM

I wonder if these group have any sense of irony in the fact that they are letting their prejudices get the best of them and want to ban a game (a form of bullying I guess you could say)

Phil @ Jan 21st 2008 8:14PM

As nobody ever plays these games before passing judgement, perhaps we should publish a dark and disturbing game entitled "Puppy Love" that uses subliminal messaging and provides detailed instructions on the construction of improvised explosive devices and challenges you to guide adorable puppies into tumble dryers, under the wheels of moving cars, and off cliffs.

And as nobody parents their children these days billions of young minds would be twisted and corrupted into puppy killing psychopaths.

Disclaimer: I have nothing specific against puppies, but if they were all wiped out then there would be nothing stopping cats usurping the human race as the dominant species- if you thought terrorism was bad you should try owning a cat. That should teach people a lesson!

Boff @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:11AM

Now THAT sounds like a good game! I'd stick 800msp on 'Puppy Love'!!

Swagman @ Jan 21st 2008 8:18PM

Sweet.

With already over 2 million copies sold on PS2, more controversy will just sell even more copies, insuring that new-gen consoles get a version of the eventual release of Bully 2.

Jonman @ Jan 21st 2008 8:49PM

Meh. The UK has a particularly virulent tabloid press, and they like nothing more than a good old fashioned witch-hunt. 'Vidjo-games' are just this month's witch.

As with the interwebz, don't feed the trolls.

mattclarkie @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:28AM

I have no compulsion to play this game, but I will defend the right of any company to release it, no matter how crap it is.

I want to add that if a game endorsing puppy killing was released I would have issue with that, I would demand that the company replaced the puppies with Cats, and then I would play that game until my eyes bled.

Dogs FTW, Cats WTF.

Ciaran Gallagher @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:44PM

It's a game! It's make-believe! IT IS NOT REAL! It's not like children are going to become bullies after they play this! But then again, the MTV show Jackass pretty much turned half of America's younger generation into a bunch of retards and games like America's Army and Call of Duty continue to warp our opinions of war and point fingers at people in other parts of the world...