Rockstar pulls plug on Xbox Bully?
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 3rd 2006 at 8:55PM }
TotalVideoGames.com reports that Rockstar has confirmed that their next controversial game, Bully, will now be a PlayStation 2 exclusive. The news hasn't really popped up anywhere else and the game's official site still lists Xbox as a platform they are supporting, so we'll have to see exactly where this goes.
But, with more and more developers abandoning the Xbox platform as of late, this really comes as no surprise.
If the news is true, would things be any different if the Xbox 360 were fully backward compatible? Does Microsoft even care? Bully seems like one of those games that could become a real hit for the PS2 and we're sure Microsoft would have enjoyed at least a taste of that success.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sebastien Rodriguez @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:06PM
I don't get it, why do people not put games for Xbox anymore? WHat makes PS2 better to them? Anyone know?
Vazel @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:17PM
I find the premise for this game revolting. Being bullied is like being tortured. Not that i've ever had a serious bullying problem myself.
ivan @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:19PM
Its a damn shame MS doesn't really care about its old console or supporting BC on newer games like painkiller on the 360.
If you compare the release of PS2 games to XBOX this year it would look something like this....
PS2....Okami, Yakuza, Rule of Rose, GOW 2, Socom 4, and most recently Bully......
******
.....that goes to show Sony is comitted to having a long relation with its old systems....
TC @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:23PM
Even though this game is about beating up the bullies, I too am a bit concerned about the tastefulness of the experience. I may have to put my concience to one side if the game features a Super Wedgie Attack though.
dredub @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:24PM
"I don't get it, why do people not put games for Xbox anymore? WHat makes PS2 better to them?"
Microsoft doesn't support it anymore, why should a third party.
Plus there are a ton more PS2s in peoples homes than Xboxes. I think somewhere around a 3 to 1 ratio more PS2s.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:24PM
If it's not on 360, there's no point. Xbox games aren't moving any units these days.
Dave @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:27PM
Microsoft's nearly complete abandonment of the XBox has been disappointing for this XBoxer. But since they lose money on everyone that is sold, it isn't surprising. The only model available most places, the Forza "bundle," is a complete joke.
So who can blame publishers for following MS' lead on ditching the console? It isn't like they're turning their backs on the PS2's huge installed base.
Jim N. @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:33PM
Sebastien
Please do not think me to be a Playstation fanboy because nothing could farther from the truth. I usually find myself enjoying the experince that XBox and Xbox360 provides far more then the experince Playstation provides. That said the one thing that you have to give Sony credit for is their BC. The PS2 has something like a 97% to 98% BC of PS1 games, and the PS3 is suppose to have the PS2 chipset in it so that it is 100% BC with PS2. So kudos to Sony there. Although I like Microsofts idea behind making an emulator better then more hardware inside an already crowded box, it seems that Sony's way of doing things has found allot more sucess.
So to answer your question I think allot of developers are wary to invest big dollars into a Xbox 1 product with only a small chance of it being able to be played on the Xbox 360. Where as developing a product for the PS2 has a much larger installed customer base, and there is guarented support with the next gen of the console.
If Microsoft is smart they will learn from this little error they made and make sure that the next XBox Console is completely backward compatible with all or at least most of the XBox 360 titles.
Todd Rabanus @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:33PM
#3 Just so you know Microsoft didn't pull this game rockstar did.
most likely Rockstar didn't release it on XBOX because they didn't see any profit from it, even though it is most likely finished.
who the hell wants to play last gen anyways? SOny? Nintendo?
yeah. well gotta go play some GRAW in HD!
FMB @ Aug 3rd 2006 9:57PM
In my opinion, both rockstar and sony are huge dissapointments to the gaming industry. Rockstar "founded" a great genre and suddenly thats the only thing they can bring to the table. And now its just crap. Sony has been announcing the release of the ps3 for years but they havent shown us shit. Im not a fanboy, im just dissapointed. Sony might have a huge base but thats just because of their marketing. Everyone may have a ps2 but that doesnt make it a fantastic console.
And as for Microsoft dropping the XBOX, you dont see Sony still releasing Playstation games? its dead technology. Microsoft may be losing money but at least they care about genuine gaming.
fat boy @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:02PM
Um, is Rockstar ever going to get around to releasing this game?
Next I guess 3D Realms will be announcing there isn't going to be a Mac version of Duke Nukem Forever
darryl @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:04PM
"Microsoft may be losing money but at least they care about genuine gaming."
Bwhahahahaha .... hahahahhahahha... bwahhahahahhaa!
Man, that was the best thing I've heard all day! Thank you, I needed a good laugh.
Ray @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:05PM
I'm not to concerned about this being a ps2 exclusive, im just waiting for the game to come out to see how it plays. I don't remember any previews or indepth looks at the game, it could be a total flop and not matter. But i do know this will attract a bunch of buzz on the media and how its going to influence people, kids, to do these things at school with it's gameplay and target audience.
I'm also aware of how Microsoft ditched the xbox but who the hell can blame them ,they are having the worst time with this backwards compatible crap that people who haves 360's don't want a xbox and can't buy xbox games so what the hells the point.
refinedsugar @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:13PM
When the 360 came out, it was unenviable that the original xbox would take a big back seat in game sales and interest and predictably MS stopped first party title development to go forward with 360 support. No company spends large quantities of time or money devoting themself to old product lines (especially ones that lost them money). Publishers didn't dump the xbox console because MS stopped first pary support, they dumped it because it was a wise business move.
Who green-lights a production budget on a game made for a system that's on it's way out? It has a smaller installed user base than the competition and it's shrinking and naturally less money and less interest is being shown in it now that the console's successor is already out.
Since Sony's next gen offering is months away from coming out of course support for the ps2 is going strong. End of story.
FMB @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:14PM
wow darryl
go play katamari damacy while i enjoy GOOD games.
Sony is releasing a 500 console! Are you kidding me
"We never said it was a game console!Its a computer"
is that how u justify it?
anonymous @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:34PM
Katamari Damacy isn't a good game?
Neko Ewen @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:45PM
When GTA3 was big news, I said, "Wow, I totally don't want to play a game about horrible mob violence."
Then the commercials for Vice City were overplayed and I got seriously sick of that Flock of Seagulls song.
When the Hot Coffee nonsense was big news, I found myself thinking that the video game industry would be better off without Rockstar.
With Bully, they aren't doing much to change my opinion.
FMB @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:46PM
it was about a year ago
Ice @ Aug 3rd 2006 10:58PM
"5. "I don't get it, why do people not put games for Xbox anymore? WHat makes PS2 better to them?":
Xbox 360 is out, PS3 is not.
See how many PS2 games come out next year at this time.
bill pullman @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:08PM
"See how many PS2 games come out next year at this time."
NAILED IT.
Fandel @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:10PM
Off topic, but the past few comments prove that any game that receives as much popularity as a game like GTA, will almost always come under a backlash among gamers. GTA was a pretty good game. Over hyped, maybe, but a lot of people are attacking the game because it seems like the fashionable thing to do right now among many people.
zombunny @ Aug 3rd 2006 11:25PM
http://news.spong.com/article/10498
Spong reported on the 2nd that they had, not long before the article was posted, concluded a phonecall with R* UK about Bully. The call confirmed the dropping of the Xbox version, and also that the game would "definitely" release by this Christmas.
Spong's article encouragingly notes that: "we were promised that we will be seeing a lot more on the title ‘very soon indeed’"
I'm really looking forward to getting to play Bully; and it's release happening before the year's through is great news for me! :D
apoc06 @ Aug 4th 2006 12:05AM
"And as for Microsoft dropping the XBOX, you dont see Sony still releasing Playstation games? its dead technology. Microsoft may be losing money but at least they care about genuine gaming."
Sony supported the PS1 for a solid 10 years. They released games from 1994-2003. The Xbox got only four years or so out of the deal before the plug was pulled. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_PlayStation_games
I own all three so yes, I am a lil bitter about this. Most of the titles I own for Xbox aren't even BC except for Halo2, and Crimson Skies. All of my games aren't obscure "niche" games either. =(
BC is one of the main reasons I haven't bought my xbox360 yet. Sony has a huge fanbase, but not because of marketing. They have a huge fanbase because many people actually like their products and don't feel like the system they paid $100-$300 dollars on didn't get aborted prematurely.
Sony still has its first and second party developers releasing PS2 games. Each Sony console has had six years between them before the next console was even released. Nevermind the titles that will see release in the next year and change.
There are 5 million total Xbox360 units floating around, but there are 24 million former Xbox owners. Even if some are waiting on a pricedrop [like me], what are the other 19 million owners doing right now? If they are like me, they have few to no new titles to play. They are losing brand loyalty. That's caring about genuine gaming? I love my Xbox, but for now it's just gathering dust while I'm waiting for this fall's PS2 releases [Okami, FFXII, etc...]
From a business standpoint, Rockstar can release this as a PS2 exclusive and PS3 owners can/ will still be able to purchase and supposedly reliably play the game. Especially during the usual post-launch drought of titles.
bill pullman @ Aug 4th 2006 12:14AM
"Over hyped, maybe, but a lot of people are attacking the game because it seems like the fashionable thing to do right now among many people."
i'm not convinced we're seeing this surge in GTA-bashing because it's fashionable or the "in" thing. i think for a lot of folks, GTA is just becoming overexposed. it's become the "Madden NFL" of action games.
part of the problem, i think, stems from the overall design of the series. from the start, i recall reading reviews that heralded the game as very innovative and unique, but also poo poo-ing the controls. GTA:VC brought about calls of "woo hoo! more of the same, but different!"... come GTA:SA, it was beginning to sound more like, "oh. more of the same, but different." with GTA:LCS out and GTA:VCS just shambling over the horizon, i think it's safe to say that the milking of the cow is now bordering on torture, and the udders are merely producing dust.
the problem, ironically, lies in the original GTA's biggest strength: innovation. it's not there, anymore. we're not bashing GTA 'cause it's hip, we're just saying "no more". and this is coming from someone who played the original GTA series (1 & 2) AND III, and loved every minute of them... the first time.
dolemite @ Aug 4th 2006 12:39AM
I'm not here to kiss Sony's azz, but I do appreciate them supporting their consoles for long periods of time. Not everyone jumps to the new consoles as fast as I or my friends do. I have said all summer that the PS2 will sell more software than any of the new consoles this holiday season. If you notice how devs are excited about the Wii? Well guess what, since the Wii is really closer to last gen then we will continue to see games next year for the PS2. Hell, I'm buying a PS3 this fall, but I will probably get God of War 2 for it, along with a few old games I've nver gotten a chance to play since I traded in my PS2. Yes, that's a last gen game. But don't Sony and Microsft and Nintendo make their money on software sales not hardware? You would think that Microsoft would want people playing any game for their systems, whether on the 360 or the original xbox. Makes you wonder, if Microsoft in 3 -4 years is getting hammered by PS3 or Wii, will they prematurely bring out the next system again? for a company trying to make money in videogames they sure are letting it go through their fingers.
GamerG @ Aug 4th 2006 2:13AM
I reckon Microsoft probably asked Rockstar not to release an Xbox version this xmas to encourage people to upgrade!
justin @ Aug 4th 2006 5:26AM
Why are sparks coming out of that kick?
Marty @ Aug 4th 2006 8:08AM
"See how many PS2 games come out next year at this time."
Probably a good amount will come out. Especially if PS3 doesn't fare so well. Sony will just pull a Gameboy. (the virtual boy bombs, so they stick to their popular system that still sells strong.)
grahams @ Aug 4th 2006 8:43AM
To me, it's obvious this is "damage control". Bully is going to suck as badly as "State of Emergency" did.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 4th 2006 9:56AM
It's really more accurate to comapare the current number of Xbox releases with what you're going to be seeing on Gamecube starting in December. You're already seeing very few games, and you're going to basically get a last gasp around Thanksgiving and that will be that.
Gamecube and Xbox have similar install bases (Xbox had more units than GC when the 360 launched, but who knows now).
PS2 is going to be a special case. Bargain level developers will continue to push content onto that system for quite a while, I think, because allegedly there are 100 million units in homes (I'm sure there are a lot, maybe 50 or 60 million, but I do not believe that there are 100 million working PS2s on this planet).
mokeyjoe @ Aug 4th 2006 11:08AM
About GTA. I recently picked up San Andreas. I'd only played a little of Vice City before and none of 3 and all in all I'm finding it one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time. It's not just the gameplay but the quality of the story, acting and humour in the game too. I really think it deserves the success it's had.
Perhaps the series does need to move forward, but I don't think they need to completely overhaul the gameplay to do it. I guess the number of GTA games and the number of lame clones has detracted from people viewing the series as the excellent games they really are.
LaughingTarget @ Aug 4th 2006 11:24AM
It is all business. Rockstar doesn't see Bully, its long-in-development title, being very good. Rockstar has two options to get this game to work on the 360:
1. Do the BC themselves. This involves more development time and resources.
2. Wait for Microsoft to do it. As we all know, MS has a large backup in BC projects that mainly smaller development houses cannot handle on top of current projects and larger ones that believe they are entitled to free and immediate BC of their games (I'm looking at you EA and your game Black) ahead of smaller guys. It may be a long while before Microsoft gets to Bully.
Given that Rockstar isn't expecting Bully to be super profitable, releasing an XBox version even before the 360 was released wouldn't be prudent. A lot of these games rely on sheer volume of customers buying the game on a whim from the store shelves. The PS2 is the perfect platform for this because of the sheer volume of available customers, maybe around 50-75 million with working units (I know at least 4 of those 100 million PS2's were personally shot by my Makarov or .454 after dying, the fifth was sold).
Rockstar just doesn't see that 12-19 million (I've had 1 XBox die on me, also shot, but by the .454...XBox isn't bulletproof by the way...so not all of those 26 million reported shipped are being used either) available customers are going to pick it up on a whim. With no new Xbox units being produced, those numbers will only shrink. Who really wants to play a glorified Pikmin using band geeks? Not anyone who actually stops and researches their games, something XBox owners are, at this point in time, more apt to do.
BMWM3P @ Aug 4th 2006 1:42PM
LaughingTarget
I thought you didn't play games. Your lies simply won't stop, now you had 5 ps2, how come I only had one since launch and not even one problem. And just to kind of sound impartial you say one xbox died on you.
Last week you were a wall street broker that didn't play games, this week you shoot consoles with your makarov and .454 . I wonder what you will be next week.
I know what you will always be a lying ms bitch.
PS Bully is going to kick ass and I'll play it on my PS3
OtakuCODE @ Aug 4th 2006 2:21PM
I've got all 3 consoles, and plenty of games for each, so I'm certainly no fanboy. But when I hear this news, it saddens me. I definitely want to get this game. GTA and Rockstar's other offerings never really were to my tastes, but this sounds like a fun game. The fact so many people that are unable to separate reality from entertainment are bothered by it only makes it that much of a joy to buy! If I could buy this game and be assured a smothering busybody soccer mom gets poked in the eye, I'd buy 5.
But I'm going to have to play it on the PS2? Come on, have a heart! The PS2 is downright disgusting when it comes to graphics. Jaggies the size of my fists, slowdowns on action packed scenes, and most games don't even have Dolby surround! Anyone with an HDTV, surround system, and all the consoles will agree with me. If a game is multiplatform, the PS2 is the last one you'd consider getting. Even the Gamecube puts out higher quality graphics (if you've got an original model 'cube with the component video cable along with an analog-to-digital converter on the sound output...).
LaughingTarget @ Aug 4th 2006 3:00PM
BMWM3P - If you bothered to read my response to you on the previous thread, you'd have realized I quit gaming 4 months ago after 18 years of near full time gaming to engage in more productive activities, one of which is oddly enough coming here and doing freelance financial analysis. Yes, since launch day, I did own 5 PS2 systems. Yes, I did shoot them, mainly because they pissed me off and the Xbox to prove to an EB employee that they were not bullet proof as sites were claiming at the time.
If you're a Sony employee, I do apologize, but I have to tell clients that your company is not a good buy. Not that any of my humble opinions on buying existing stock is going to change the face of the company. Now if I made good headway to convince them not to buy any new issue (which your company will not do because issuing new equity is usually a dumb move), then you could get your panties in a wad.
If you're not a Sony employee, I have no idea what bug crawled up your rectum. Get it out already. Your life isn't going to end because someone says Sony screwed up.
I don't have to continue playing games to understand the business behind it. Much like how Robert Iger doesn't direct movies but has turned Disney around and how Jack Welch had no educational background in most of what General Electric did, yet still managed to be one of history's greatest business leaders. He was a chemical engineer in a company that builds Abrams tanks and owns television studios.
That is simply the fact of the world. The worst people to run a business are those who are intimately involved in specific parts of it. Much like how Kutaragi is a great engineer but a terrible executive and PR face.
If you don't agree with the financial analysis, go ahead and call me on it. But do it in a professional manner with facts and figures, not with behavior expected of a middle school child.
"If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost; you can still call him vile names." - Elbert Hubbard
Mike @ Aug 4th 2006 9:16PM
Just because it's a "PS2 Exclusive" doesn't mean it's exclusive forever. We heard the same thing with GTA3, only to see it on Xbox months later.
Provided this gets a good reception on PS2, the Xbox code could easily be ported and sold on XBLA.
Vaipa @ Aug 5th 2006 1:42PM
The 'bully' website has been updated and now only has Sony playstation logos on.
Spec9 @ Sep 17th 2006 10:32AM
Bully being ported to the xbox 360? These words from TTWO's last conference call seem to hint that Bully may be ported to the xbox 360:
"In terms of the Rockstar line-up, we traditionally play that line-up fairly close to the vest. As we have evaluated the market place, we have made some decisions and are in the process of making decisions with some products, **of whether they belong on existing gen or whether we can use those assets and move them to next-gen.** We are real pleased with the Table Tennis. We clearly identified the Vice City Stories for the back half of the year **and identified Bully**, and additional products from Rockstar. We will give more color as we go through the year."
CLick on website like for the full conference call transcript.
Spec9 @ Sep 20th 2006 1:01AM
Bully being ported to xbox 360? This is from TTWO conference call:
"In terms of the Rockstar line-up, we traditionally play that line-up fairly close to the vest. As we have evaluated the market place, we have made some decisions and are in the process of making decisions with some products, of whether they belong on existing gen or whether we can use those assets and move them to next-gen. We are real pleased with the Table Tennis. We clearly identified the Vice City Stories for the back half of the year and identified Bully, and additional products from Rockstar. We will give more color as we go through the year."