Bully denounced by 'Internet expert'

Rockstar's prep-school drama takes a pounding by president of anti-online-harassment group; DC youth group also protests game.

Rockstar's Bully hasn't been released yet, but the game has already seen its share of hate. Set in a fictional prep school, Bully follows 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he copes with bullies, teachers, and other sorts at his school. When faced with getting his head dunked in a toilet or being beaten to a bloody pulp, Jimmy learns that talking his way out of confrontation isn't always practical and that he can use various weapons, including baseball bats, to even the playing field.

This portion of the game has upset many groups, including outspoken Florida antigame lawyer Jack Thompson and youth group Peaceoholics. One more can be added to the list today, as Jayne Hitchcock, president of activist group Working to Halt Online Abuse, has spoken out against the game.

"How long will it be before we hear on the news about a victim of bullies who is inspired by the new game and retaliates using a baseball bat?" asks Hitchcock, in a statement that proclaimed her as an "Internet expert." "There is a tremendous probability that this new game will send out twisted messages, possibly even influence victims of bullying to resort to violence as a means of defense."

Citing a report by The American Justice Department, Hitchcock points out that 77 percent of students say they have been bullied and one in five has admitted to being a bully. The statement didn't mention any specific demographics.

"[The glorification of the game's violence] targets the video game to kids and teens, who are impressionable and might come to believe they could be just like Jimmy Hopkins and beat the daylights out of their real-life bullies," says Hitchcock. "That is not the message that should be sent out."

Late last week, the group known as Peaceoholics protested in front of Rockstar's offices in New York City, demanding that the company not release Bully. A gamer known as "The Software Pirate" documented the protest, which consisted of chants of "This game is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S."

Despite opposition, Rockstar is pushing along with the game's release. Earlier this month, Rockstar revealed that the game would be available in October on the PlayStation 2, and a company spokesperson told Reuters, "Finally, Bully can speak for itself. People can look at the game and see what it is and what it's not."

Bully has not yet been rated by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

345 Comments

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 7:11 am PT

    heheh, hahah, i can't wait until this game comes out

  • DAZE

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 8:09 pm PT

    What the Hell is wrong with people? Don't they have childeren they should be watching instead protesting games that there childeren are playing while they are protesting. Just dumb

  • phinsfan

    Posted Oct 12, 2006 10:02 am PT

    OMG TEH BANANAS!!!
    Anyway, now that that's out of the way, it got a T rating, doesn't mean it may be tame?

  • BoSox09

    Posted Oct 11, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    this i crazy no ones even seen it or played probaly besides r* so wats the big deal.

    at my school ther isnt bullies u get hit u fight back

  • jiminy_macca

    Posted Sep 20, 2006 12:52 am PT

    What the hell does everyone see in this freakin game! You guys obviously have been bullied at some time, but come on...taking a freaking baseball bat to settle things, YOUR OUT OF YOUR F***ING MIND! And ****, smurf-killer, if your going at people bullying you with a bloody knife your freaking insane! Yeah I've been getting bullied since I was freakin 5 yrs old but jesus christ, go grow some balls and actually confront the people doing it instead of just lowering yourself to their level.
    Finally, people that actually like these rockstar games are freaking mentally retarded. For GTA, please go, play a game that promotes people to use violence and shoot random people in the street, yea it may be San Andreas, but come on, you already know how these people are going to turn out in life!
    And Thanos_of_MW don't go calling these people 'game haters' just because they have an objection to a game. Can you even read this article, I'd love to find out if half the people who like these game actually can.

  • Cainekass29

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 10:00 am PT

    Heaven forbid people actually play the game before they talk about how bad it is.

  • manapsal

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:21 pm PT

    the guy in the video is a douche

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 11:59 am PT

    I'd almost forgotten about this game entirely. . .

    Now I've got a reason to clear some room out of my PS2's memory card. . .

  • 495123

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 5:22 pm PT

    man screw the peaceaholics or whatever there called this game is gonna rock but, i think they should have a little blood because if your gonna hit someone they will probaly blead

  • LettuceMan17

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 4:44 pm PT

    that is **** **** why dont they just leave it alone and let it come out

  • crazymonkey22

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 7:48 pm PT

    I completely agree with ReaperXxxx, bullies won't listen. the only way to deal with them is by beating the sh!t out of them with a weapon. or to kick them in the nuts continuously, run and laugh like a little school girl.

  • ReaperXxxx

    Posted Sep 6, 2006 2:26 pm PT

    I fail to see the problem of retaliating against a bully with a baseball bat. One quick shot to the leg and the problem is solved. As someone who was bullied in grade school quite a bit here's a free piece of advice to all of the "peace advocates", the ONLY thing that works against a bully is violence. Don't tell me I'm wrong, because I'm not. I've dealt with the abuse, I learned how to properly fight, and I beat the hell out of a few of them. That was quite literally the only thing that ever solved the problem. I went to a rough High School from Grade School. I was picked on the first day at lunch by a much larger kid (he literally stole my sandwich off of my plate, along with the $3 change sitting next to it) and got a weeks detention for breaking the rather heavy plate over this head (he deserved each of the 8 stitches is caused too). I was never picked on in HS again. Go figure. It's nice to teach kids that violence isn't always the answer and to talk through as many situations as you can, but with bullies it simply doesn't work and to think otherwise is incorrect.

  • master_shake14

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 8:25 pm PT

    "This game is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S."


    HAHAHAH can someone offer these people an award for "Funniest Thing I Have Ever Heard In My Life"?

    I'm sure hearing this intimidating chant outside their office will make Rockstar cancel production and release for this game.

  • elwhite

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 8:06 am PT

    The game is not as bad as some people make it out to be. I admit when i first heard about the game,"It's from the guys that made GTA and it's in and big world environment. Sweet GTA in a school, Columbine simulator". But after i did some research on the game i found that it is nothing like that. There are no guns, knives, no murder, and no shred of blood. There and weapons such as bats, krickets, and sling shots but nothing leathal. Even though it's not going to be a insane shooter like GTA it still looks like it will be a really good game. So before all the nay-sayers and protesters get their chants together, they need to actually look at the game and find out what its about.

  • Jondommy

    Posted Sep 5, 2006 3:09 am PT

    To kick the living snot out of bullies is a good message.

  • ithaca37

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 3:23 pm PT

    if you're getting bullied you should fight back with a bat so who cares?

  • hybridace

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 7:57 am PT

    These people protesting are obviously ignorant. It just pisses me off so much that they "think" that they know whats best for the youth when in fact, they know jack s**t! Most gamers will know that Bully (or whatever its new latin name is) is just a fictional game and is not true. For instance, when GTA 3 came out, i knew right away that what the main character was doing in the game was wrong and that no should follow his example. The only reason i played it was because it was FUN! F-U-N, FUN!!! And besides, if the parents raised their kid properly, then they've got nothing to worry about. You know, I'm starting to think that parents are fearing that games are going to take over the world or something...

  • Zodar89

    Posted Sep 4, 2006 6:36 am PT

    I started playing shooters when I was about 3. I started with Wolfenstein 3D, then Doom 1 and 2, and I loved them. I then continued with Duke Nukém 3D (Missed out on Quake, I didn't get much pocket money of my parents in those days as a 7 year old). I've played games all my life, and yet I have never used violence once, I am no racist, I do not believe in evil demonic forces invading Deimos etc.

    Why? Because my father was the one who got me into games. I remember as a 4-5 year old playing Doom on the day when he was at work, and then watching him play a bit in the evening when he got back. And he obviously made it clear to me that it is all fantasy, all just for entertainment. All Unreal ( ). Kids these days are often quite stupid. And stupid, violent kids should not be playing these games. And that's up to the parents to make sure of, combined with possibly a rating system and laws demanding ID to sell games rated 18+ to minors. But no one should demand censorship of what is art.

    This Bully game sounds like an interesting little story to me. I shall surely be checking it out when it's released.

  • ste90

    Posted Sep 3, 2006 8:47 pm PT

    Sick of this now now if the game was made for kids it would have a rating of E for everyone but it may be for teens but to be honest if a teen is impressionable form this game then nobody has told the its not real life.
    In society is expect that even if you get bullied day in and day out a game about bullying or confronting them will make you start hittin them with baseball bats, because i think teens and people know it will do serious damage.
    Its a game and thats it if a kid plays the game its not rockstars fault! these people need to shut up and just leave rockstar alone.

  • ooktar

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 2:06 pm PT

    Ok I figure I could give my side of the story here. These so called "Peaceaholics" arent as upset about the content of the game than they are about who made the game. They figure its gonna be a Violent sadistic "Im-gonna-beat-up-a-random-person-with-a-bat" game because its coming from a company thats known for creating games such as Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt. Now I am a fourteen year old boy and when i was introduced into Grand theft auto when the third one came out i loved the game but didnt have any urge of beating a person to a pulp. These people are upset that its gonna be a Columbine Recreation which is ridiculous in the first place. These are the people that have no lives. If you play grand theft auto and wanna beat someone to a pulp after five minutes you need help.

  • jayme22

    Posted Sep 2, 2006 12:29 am PT

    Lets just face it guys even if a bullyied kid does take a baseball bat to a bully in real life its the only way to deal with it because teachers dont do jack anyway and even if they do there is a strong chance that the bully will go after the bullied kid with a baseball bat for dobbing on them lol

  • walleteater

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:51 pm PT

    this probally hits close to home to some of these... "peace-a-holics" HA... Isnt it better to kill virtual teachers than real ones? let off some steam on the old boob tube? or would these hippies rather we arnt distracted by amusing programs, and rather out there being creative with our baseball bats... i say sit back, play the game, and lock up the hippies.

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 5:10 pm PT

    since when is cool to say babanas, tsk tsk tsk... anyway All these uptight suits need to shut up, it's only a game

  • Lambretta89

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:55 am PT

    *Laughing Out Loud* The whole reason people get bullied is because they dont retaliate...Banning this game wont change a thing...Bullying will never be crushed, its in human nature to keep the underdog down...

    Personally I wasnt gunna buy this game..but now seeing the negative reaction its got has made me wanna buy it...and buy it I shall!

    Activists! will they ever learn?

  • RhysHayes

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 8:33 am PT

    Wots wrong with "beat the daylights out of their real-life bullies", sound life a proactive way to "fight" bullying to me.

  • Brainy142

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 7:01 am PT

    wow, a kid gets bullied and they say "tattletale" and then when the video games use the idea they try discriminate it, shiesh don't they have somthing better to do with their life than that?

  • Brainy142

    Posted Sep 1, 2006 6:55 am PT

    bananas...wtf is happening everyones saying that now... why bananas

  • yugimasa9999

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 6:49 pm PT

    This ain't gonna teach children to be a BULLY. They would just ROLE-PLAY jimmy hopkins. All this activists are like the activist in my country as well. A bunch of IDIOTS !!! The game looks INSPIRED! I'll check this one out ! :!

  • SwimPUNK

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    Wow. I never knew that the game was more about the guy leveling the playing field, not just him going crazy. It's like a teenage version of Postal. In postal, just like in life, you have choices. Would you let that annoying employer get away with treating you like trash or would you go on with it? simple things like that. I'm thinking Bully is like that. If it doesn't give you the option to not do the violence then obviously it's going to cause problems.. I mean, seriously, the name "bully" is way misleading.

  • interpolred

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 11:23 am PT

    I don't think what these people say matters. Rockstar is still going to release the game.

  • coastalliving

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 10:12 am PT

    What this guy is saying can be insulting to the US army and everyone who supports it. I know video game and real life war isn't the same but isn't that what terrorists are doing in this world? Bullying other countries? Bullying the citizens?? And this guys is saying don't get up and say enough is enough? Friggin' idiot.
    My opinion, if some jock bully gets his head bashed in with a crow bar because some scrawny little kid played this game and got ideas from it, then fu**ing GOOD! THAT'll stop them from pushing other kids around just for the hell of it.

  • bizsumpark182

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 6:51 am PT

    I think it would be a good lesson for kids to learn. If someone bullies you beat the crap out of them with a baseball bat. No better way for someone to learn a lesson then with a baseball bat.

  • oliver_475

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 6:42 am PT

    this is a loada c**p, they should blame the government NOT BULLY!

  • s0ild_snake

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 5:59 am PT

    this game is cool

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 5:21 am PT

    Good effort jdhoff. Doubt she'll change her stance, but it will at least give her something to think about.

  • jdhoff

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:53 am PT

    I went to that fruitcake's site and emailed her this:

    WHen I was in High School I was bullied. I did what you recommend. It DOESN'T work. In the case of bullies, violence is the ONLY way. I'm not saying beat the crap out of him with baseball bats, but a punch to the nose ended my bullying pretty quick, only if I had used it sooner. Whether or not you like the game doesn't matter. Myself along with millions of other people are going to buy this game, and enjoy it. This game has MILD violence at best. You want a violent game. Go buy MANHUNT. I guarantee you'll LOVE it.

  • jdhoff

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 4:37 am PT

    This so called "expert" has no clue what he's talking about. Has he ever seen MANHUNT??? That game's scrutiny was understandable, but Bully?
    Come on, there's NO blood, and all the pranks and violence are limited. You cant go around hitting teachers and the principal and basically turn it into a bloodbath. So why does this guy even waste his time sharing his thoughts with MILLIONS of people that dont give a s#%^ what he thinks and are gonna buy the game anyway. I know Im still buying the game, and just for that a$$, I'm gonna let my 11 year old brother play it. (He's already been playing Dead Rising....HAHAHAHA)

  • jtrix

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 1:46 am PT

    IM BUYIN THIS GAME WHETHER ITS BANANAS OR NOT

  • Nosnitsttam

    Posted Aug 31, 2006 12:33 am PT

    Wait a second, a child might resort to violence for defense if they're being bullied!?! Get outta town! This game won't teach anything new to children (unless they're repressed). Honestly, kids who are constantly bullied will fight back if they feel they need to without any outside influence. There's a word for that: oh yeah, it's called INSTINCT. Also, if the person who was bullied doesn't defend themselves (or is uncapable of doing so), the need for revenge is a common feeling that occurs after being attacked or humiliated. Whether or not the person who was hurt decides to act on that feeling is ocmpletely up to them. So how can this "internet expert" blame a video game for something that's been happening since long before video games existed?

  • ghostbear373

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 9:29 pm PT

    b-a-n-a-freakin-as

  • games_pot1

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 9:11 pm PT

    Wow these people are idiots. They protest and then other people learn how violent the games gunna be (which is bull because there is no violence) and then they buy it.

  • juanfraino

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 8:50 pm PT

    bananas

  • ivan_the_one

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 8:39 pm PT

    I don't condone resulting to violence if it can be talked through but if can't then force may be used if needed...

  • MaquisMurph

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 7:24 pm PT

    people need to leave the video game alone what about the parents huh look at what your kids playin stop blaming it on the video games oh sure do not beat up your bullies let them beat the crap out of you the dude is an air head Go on rockstar

  • Vash67

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 7:07 pm PT

    The game is most likely gonna be rated M. Meaning that if anyone still in school gets it, the fault lies with their parents. Besides, if a kid pulls a baseball bat on a bully, I will so cheer for him.

  • RonHack

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 6:04 pm PT

    Looks like what I need to say has already been said.

    Might as well respond to gagan21's question:
    "why are people always after rockstar, leave them alone, they make one of the best games in this industry"

    I think you have just answered your own question; they make one of the most popular games in history (GTA, GTA:VC, GTA:SA), so people have to jump on them to get their "me, too" moment. Just like id Software with Quake, Doom, and others.

    Only the popular games get critized by these anti-gamer losers, Thompson included. I remember when, during a news conference 10 years ago, the politician mentioned a list of games he would have controlled: Doom, Blood (anyone remember Blood? Awful game, that was), and he sounded so retarded, like he never played them at all!

    Now, if someone actually PLAYED games, they may come out with something more constructive...... like praising positive-playing games, instead of condemning the negative-playing ones. No-one listens to critiques without SOME positive reinforcement.

  • Scorpion16

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 6:01 pm PT

    What an idiot, since when has defending yourself against a bully been a bad thing? I agree with the person who said that bullies only know force and fear. The world is an ugly place but some people like to act as if human beings are flawless.

  • reghat

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 5:59 pm PT

    "Internet expert"

    That just said it all...

  • Darwin917

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 5:27 pm PT

    This game is going to be so gangster. we have been waiting for rockstar to come out with another great game. and to rockstar: you guys and girls are geniuses

  • mkurts

    Posted Aug 30, 2006 4:25 pm PT

    Stupid comments by these idiots aside -

    The morals they preach are :

    Videogames are bad. Getting Bullied is Good For You. Don't React to Bullies - let them harm and kill you.

    Good on you Rockstar - I hope this game is a success for you !

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