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August 10, 2006
'Bully' market
WIth Rockstar's announcement that the game "Bully" is set to hit stores in October, the flames of criticism and opinion about video game content have been rekindled.
On the print side, check out USA Today, the New York Times, or Brian Crescente's piece in the Rocky Mountain News for a well-rounded look at the game, as well as the negative buzz its getting from youth groups and school districts -- namely the Miami-Dade School District, which wanted Rockstar not to release the game at all.
If you're curious for some TV fun, check out (or not) the appearance of game nemesis Jack Thompson on G4's "Attack of the Show." If anything, it'll be an interesting introduction to the Jack Attack for those new to video gaming.
This also explains the e-mailed press release I got late yesterday announcing Miami-Dade County School Board member Frank Bolanos' "continued opposition to the wanton violence" of the game -- as if Bolanos was going to stop opposing it at some point. And in no big shocker, Bolanos is also a candidate for the Florida State Senate.
If you want, you can read the press release yourself on the next page -- because this isn't the last time we're going to see something like it. I imagine we're going to talk about this a little on All Games Interactive, which can be heard at 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time. If we don't get to it for some reason, check back here later.
WANTON VIOLENCE OF 'BULLY' BAD FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN
Bolaños says Miami schools must "stand strong for the weak"
(MIAMI, FL) – Miami-Dade County School Board Member Frank Bolaños
today announced his continued opposition to the "wanton violence" of
a video game set for October sale to schoolchildren. Bolaños also
repeated the School Board's order that parents must be warned.
The maker of the controversial video game Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar,
today confirmed that in October it will release Bully, an unrated
video game with violent themes of school fighting. In March 2006,
Bolaños led the Miami-Dade School Board's call on area stores to keep
the game from minors.
"Miami-area retailers should not sell Bully to schoolchildren,
regardless of its eventual rating," Bolaños said. "And parents must
be aware that the wanton violence of games like Bully is a horrible
influence on our kids."
Earlier this year, Bolaños and the board also directed school
officials to warn parents about potentially harmful effects of
playing violent video games. Five months later, national experts have
provided video game violence training to key educators and
counselors. Meetings, conferences and workshops for parents are
continuing as the school year begins.
"The new school year will be punctuated by a heavily-marketed video
game encouraging school violence," Bolaños said. "Our schools must
stand strong for the weak, especially now as Rockstar cuts their
Bully loose on our schoolchildren."
Frank Bolaños is a candidate for the Republican nomination for State
Senate in the Florida's 38th District. Please visit
www.FrankBolanos.com for more information and updates. The Miami-Dade
School Board's March 16 action on this issue can be viewed at:
Posted by Redmond Carolipio at August 10, 2006 10:29 AM
Comments
Funny how the movie "Heathers" is regarded as a dark comedy, while a game like "Bully" is raked over the coals before its even out.
Posted by: Reggie at August 14, 2006 03:55 AM