Bully will stuff you in locker in October
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 9th 2006 at 11:45AM }
Reuters reports that Rockstar's potentially volatile Bully will be coming out in October for the PlayStation 2. The game, which is sure to get soccer moms and the like all up in arms about video game violence, is actually about a kid who is trying to fend off the pig-headed menaces:
The game's main character is 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, who must defend himself against school bullies at a fictional U.S. boarding school called Bullworth Academy, while dealing with characters ranging from nerds and jocks to authoritarian prefects. Weapons included baseball bats that break after several blows, stink bombs and bags of marbles that when strategically thrown will lay flat most pursuers.
Now, as Rockstar says, the game "can speak for itself. People can look at the game and see what it is and what it's not."[Thanks, Shizzle]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
007craft @ Aug 9th 2006 11:49AM
what its not is on ps3 or xbox 360. Thus I, nor lots of people care about it. Stop supporting these old systems.
DustBoogie @ Aug 9th 2006 11:49AM
Sounds to me like the controversy over the game should decrease a little bit. I think everyone was under the impression that you played AS the bully, not as someone fighting off bullies.
Though I can't help but wonder if the game was delayed so much in order for Rockstar to change that around after what happened with GTA.
phillosmaster @ Aug 9th 2006 11:54AM
I think I hate you #1
Chris. @ Aug 9th 2006 11:58AM
Whilst I'm sure #1 is being a tit just to rile up owners of PS2 and Xbox, if he isn't and is an owner of Xbox360 or wants a PS3, then it is worth noting that one of your reasons for owning the console is no doubt the backwards compatibility.
Back-Pat, an aspect of consoles that fanboys tend to overstate as a 'must-have', when in reality - the majority of gamers don't use the back-pat option currently bundled with PS2 and the trend looks set to continue...
So shut up.
that guy @ Aug 9th 2006 11:58AM
007craft - why would Sony give up on a system that has sold 100 million+ units worldwide? Developers and publishers can still make a ton of money off this system, and they know it. Nothing wrong with that at all. There are still quality games coming out for both PS2 and Xbox, not to mention a little game called Twilight Princess for GameCube.
Go home.
Chris. @ Aug 9th 2006 12:00PM
call the game Victim then... but I suppose that would cause far too little controversy for Rockstar to consider
Redeemer31 @ Aug 9th 2006 12:03PM
If you're defending yourself against bullies, then why is he taking on nerds? I can understand jocks and prefects but nerds? What, they wouldn't let you copy their homework? Or they laughed because you have a red pocket protector instead of the coveted blue one?
DarrenJ @ Aug 9th 2006 12:06PM
While I think #1's comment is childishly written, there is a valid comment in there somewhere. I am much less interested in my older systems now that I have a 360, so my likelyhood of buying a new title is really low.
As for backwards compatability, don't assume it will work until MS official announces it, as their list is incomplete. The PS3 shouldn't have that issue, but I don't expect it to be an issue anyways (not out yet, and those that can afford it already have a PS2).
deathguy @ Aug 9th 2006 12:13PM
Actually, Twilight Princess will also be available to the Wii ... so that kind of cancel your point about this game.
Xbox is dead and you know it. PS2 will die eventually. Gamecube seem to be dead since some time already, with the exception of a few games here and there.
Now, about the game ... looks boring.
Player1 @ Aug 9th 2006 12:18PM
Parents thoughts:
Game about bullies = bad
Real bullies = "boys will be boys"
Player1 @ Aug 9th 2006 12:19PM
Is the PS3 out already? I didn't realize that. God forbid they make games for a system that is out.
Marty @ Aug 9th 2006 12:20PM
that guy... 100million + units shipped, not sold. (yet)
Drew @ Aug 9th 2006 12:20PM
I don't think you fight nerds unless they have some mecha suits...
The game still promotes attacking kids with baseball bats and even if they are bullies, that seems a bit extreme. Hopefully the weapons don't get much worse than that. I'm sure if they didn't have to deal with the backlash, Rockstar would have no qualms with including guns and pipe bombs too.
Fagaymer @ Aug 9th 2006 12:26PM
I can't wait to play this on my PS3 along with all the other great backwards compatible PS2 titles. Thanks Sony for making real backwards compatibilty unlike Microshaft.
Jake @ Aug 9th 2006 12:28PM
^^ PS2 userbase is not 100million. It is 99,999,997 because I had 3 of them break on me. LOL, I am not trying to start a flame war.
Anywho, I actually agree with #1. Yes, alot of people care about the game because they will only have a PS2 when it comes out. I have a 360 and PS2, and I highly doubt I'll ever buy a PS2 game again.
If the PS3 was already out, this Bully game would truly be a nonfactor.
Christian aka nsomneia @ Aug 9th 2006 12:32PM
i've come to the realization that no matter what the post is about there will always be some douchebag fanboy that wants to rep his system of choice and then EVERYONE gets sucked into this stupid argument.. . like it's a next gen pissing contest.. . shutup for christ sake.. . of the next gen only x360 is out.. . suck it up.. . NO ONE knows anything about the ps3 or wii (and don't say "well we know the price and the specs and this game and that game is gonna be on it.. . ", woop-de-doo).. . it's all just rumors and hearsay.. . for all anyone knows sony and nintendo could both bomb or they could be insanely popular.. . who knows.. . NO ONE !
Player1 @ Aug 9th 2006 12:35PM
Fagaymer,
Here's a list of PS2 games that won't even play on the latest model of the PS2. That's right, a PS2 won't play PS2 games. At least the Xbox and 360 can play all their own software.
http://www.us.playstation.com/News/ConsumerAlerts/softwareTitles_75001.html
WizarDru @ Aug 9th 2006 12:40PM
"Sounds to me like the controversy over the game should decrease a little bit. I think everyone was under the impression that you played AS the bully, not as someone fighting off bullies."
They've said that from the start...however, they undermine every attempt at that by showing screenshots of a character who is described as a drop-out who has been kicked out of every previous school and this is his last stop before military school. This game MIGHT be a 'get back at the snooty oppressors' game, but showing nothing but screenshots of him shoving kids' heads in toilets and giving nuggies doesn't really paint that picture.
I suspect that this thing is probably going to stink up the house like the Warriors.
Ethan @ Aug 9th 2006 12:51PM
marty, PS2 has 100 million units SOLD. it has like 110 million units SHIPPED.
32_footsteps @ Aug 9th 2006 12:57PM
And here, I was thinking that I hadn't heard from a particular lawyer in some time. Guess we're going to hear something no later than two months from now.
Todd H. @ Aug 9th 2006 1:09PM
Why buy a new console (360 or PS3) to play last gen games?
Maybe it's just me but I want new content and new games...
Todd
http://www.proxbox360.com
ipodfanboy @ Aug 9th 2006 1:22PM
For those old xbox console owners like myself Bully is not coming out for the orginal xbox its a rockstar said bully is a ps2 exclusive. I kind of agree with you number 1 but how many casual gamers think xbox360 sucks and the nintendo wii kiddy or gay many of them do and they have never played those consoles, games like bully gives casual gamers and openminded liberal soccer moms another reason why not to upgrade to a next gen console espicially cheaper nintendo wii and xbox360. With a game like bully with crappy graphics and poor voice acting it gives people a reason to keep or buy a ps2. I hope this game cost 29.99 because for one the graphics for this game going to suck and will be very glitchy like most rockstars games. I know Bully sounds like a childrens version of Manhunt. But for me im buying an xbox360 before i go back to college early next month, but the real reason why i wont pick this game up is that my ps2 memory card is officially full and im not going to pay 25-30 dollars for a brand new ps2 memory card which only holds 8mb what a rip off sony.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Aug 9th 2006 1:40PM
Man! The game's not about bullying nerds???? And all this time everyone from Hillary Clinton to Jack "I'm bat fuck insane" Thompson was saying it was!
I've been robbed, I tell ya. ROBBED!
Bored @ Aug 9th 2006 1:44PM
So is this game a real-time action documentary of many of it's soon to be players?
otakucode @ Aug 9th 2006 1:51PM
I can understand them making this game for the older consoles, but I'd really prefer they at LEAST make it for the Xbox rather than confining it to the PS2... the PS2 is seriously underpowered graphically and it really detracts from the game in a lot of cases. It might not be noticeable on a 13" TV using RCA connections, but on a 40" HDTV using the component connector, most of the games have jaggies the size of your fist. And I'm guessing that Rockstar is trotting out the original GTA engine yet again for this game? I'm looking forward to the gameplay, and if I could poke every 'concerned' parent in the eye, I certainly would... but I'm fearing the graphical grotesquery.
Rich @ Aug 9th 2006 1:54PM
Why is everyone so mad that they are making games for old consoles?? Do you realize that they it took til 2005 to stop production on the original Playstation?? And by the way.. since the launch of the 360, Playstation 2 has out sold xbox360... so why not make games for it??
Magus @ Aug 9th 2006 1:56PM
If you dont care about the game just because its for current gen dont post here. Simple as that...
All tho personaly i could care less about this title the fact that theyre releasing it for current gen is good for me. Some of the things released recently for curent gen are significanly better than most of the games releasded for 360 or prob even first gen WII or PS3 games...
Some people are going to go out and buy a gamecube or a ps2 still because of an already existing library.
Not everyone wants to spend 50+ for some new game. When they can get all the greatest hits for ~20.
WizarDru @ Aug 9th 2006 2:32PM
"Why is everyone so mad that they are making games for old consoles?? Do you realize that they it took til 2005 to stop production on the original Playstation?? And by the way.. since the launch of the 360, Playstation 2 has out sold xbox360... so why not make games for it?"
I think that the issue for many is that they ONLY made it for the PS/2, not that it was for the PS/2 at all. However, making it on 6 year-old hardware isn't the thrill it used to be. While developers can make the ps/2 sing, there are some hard limitiations that can be overcome due to the hardware. Compare Resident Evil 4 on the Gamecube with it's ugly cousin on the PS/2, for example.
Probot @ Aug 9th 2006 2:39PM
It doesn't matter who you're playing as, the game is still focused on kids fighting each other in school. With baseball bats!
This is an incredibly stupid move by Rockstar. I know they thrive on controversy, but I find it really hard to defend this game the way I would defend GTA.
There are no kids in GTA. The violence is perpetrated by adults onto other adults, and the game is marketed to adults. This game is about kids beating up other kids, and they're going to have to explain that it is still marketed towards adults.
It's not a matter of misleading the public. I'm not saying that a game like Conker is bad because it looks childish and children might think it's for them. But Bully is about children, beating up other children. With baseball bats!
Regardless of how it sells (because controversy like this will generate a lot of free publicity), the game is going to be criticized much more harshly than any other game. I really believe the controversy around this game could push some politicians over the edge, and really hurt the industry overall.
Turken @ Aug 9th 2006 2:50PM
I do see a lot of legal and political problems for this title in the near future. As was pointed out above, this is kids beating up kids, AND they're beating each other up using items that any normal kid will also have easy access to.
If a kid gets a gun and shoots up his school, you can blame a lot of people for allowing him to get the gun in the first place. But you can't really outlaw baseball bats and marbles. So when (and it's only a matter of time) some kid in a school assaults another person using more common items, you can only blame the kid, or the video game that plays out a similar situation. And we all know that it's never the kid's fault (or the parent's fault for raising the kids wrong) so it must be the big bad video game to blame.
otakucode @ Aug 9th 2006 3:01PM
Probot: In GTA, virtual violence is simulated between animated electronic characters represented by pixels. There are no adults or people in the game. There are archetypal representations of people, but there are no people. One of the primary reasons parents have such a hard time distinguishing between reality and videogames is because they don't even realize this distinction. They see little Jimmy control a character and have it beat up an electronic representation of an archetypal prostitute character, and they say 'Jimmy just beat a hooker to death'. The reason this seems stupid to a kid is because they CAN tell the difference between reality and videogames, even if their parents cannot.
Your point about politicians is valid, however. They will use this as leverage to obtain more power for themselves and more control over the general public. The fault is not in the hands of Rockstar, however. They aren't actually doing anything wrong. The politcians who will take any chance to expand their level of control over people are at fault, as are the voters who put them in office and keep them in office. THEY are the ones who will be doing wrong if they limit freedom of expression by banning games of this type.
Probot @ Aug 9th 2006 3:15PM
Ignoring the semantics argument, your point is valid. But I wasn't getting at the value in the content of the game. I don't have an opinion about this game.
My point is that kids are very protected. Society has deemed that a priority.
The-man-who-does-not-deserve-to-be-named often says the problem he has with GTA is not the content, but that it is being played by children. That will go the same for this game. And now, on top of that, the characters are virtual representations of children. And not only that, but it's based on real world scenarios.
Again, I'm not saying this game will be bad or that I don't like this game. I'm just saying Rockstar could not have made a game any worse than this one, in terms of setting itself up for political attacks.
Regardless of whether they should be free to do this, in society today especially with the feelings towards video games, this experiment will fail. And it will cause negative reprecussions in the ESRB and probably other companies, if not in the form of government ratings, then in the form of self-censorship, which goes on too much already.
Geist @ Aug 9th 2006 3:20PM
I think it will irrationally stir up trouble in irrational people. Otakucode says it well.
I could've sworn this game was about being a bully. Your character even looked (when I saw it) like a typical bully. I have a feeling they bent the premise a little in order not to be as controversal.
Aaron @ Aug 9th 2006 3:36PM
I think the main problem is that you are beating people up and attacking them in a school setting. We will see people yelling "Columbine" all over the place.
Ubersnuber @ Aug 9th 2006 3:37PM
I do agree Rockstar slightly crossed the line on this one.on the other hand, there will be a big M on it..
But im buying it though:P
maybe my last PS2 title^^
WizarDru @ Aug 9th 2006 3:44PM
"One of the primary reasons parents have such a hard time distinguishing between reality and videogames is because they don't even realize this distinction."
Speaking as a parent of two, I think you underestimate a lot of parents and undervalue the relevance of differing ages and values in kids. You're right that well-raised kids recognize cartoon violence for what it is...but that doesn't make an 'M' rated game as suitable entertainment for a 10 year old. Many parents, tech savvy or not, aren't terribly keen on reinforcing the message that many of the things presented in GTA is OK to even pretend to do vicarously. Bully makes this worse with presenting scenarios more relevant to a younger audience, opening up Rockstar to a lot more controversy. While you and I know that there isn't a link between video games and violence, that doesn't mean that the average uninformed parent (who may not have played a game since Super Mario Brothers) appreciates that due to media saturation and a lack of understanding about the change in demographics.
Having activities like hitting teachers, skipping class and hitting other students with a baseball bat? By allowing a kid to play that game, you're giving tacit approval in one form or another. That's what most parents object to. The trick is, they need to VOTE WITH THEIR DOLLARS. No legislation is needed here, nor should Rockstar be stopped from making the game. I think it's a bad choice for a company that's been in so much hot water, but c'est la vie.
Geist said: "I could've sworn this game was about being a bully. Your character even looked (when I saw it) like a typical bully."
From the Rocky Mountain News article at Kotaku:
"The mood-setting animation that leads into the first playable moments of the game depict a troubled teen anti-hero from a fractured family, an uncaring establishment and a large private school campus. Fifteen-year-old Jimmy Hopkins is not a bad kid, just a troubled one.
While the game has an overarching story line broken down into seven chapters, Bully’s biggest appeal will likely be the ability to roam the school and nearby town, making up your own story.
While there is an illusion of complete autonomy in Bully, the game builds boundaries by punishing and rewarding behavior such as skipping class or attacking a teacher."
Drew @ Aug 9th 2006 4:05PM
Otakucode,
Lots of little kids think that Barney is a real talking dinosaur, and they are traumatized to find out that he is just some guy in a suit. At what age do they start being able to distinguish between virtual reality and reality? I don't know, but given this example I think it's incorrect to think that all kids can distinguish between doing something in a video game and doing it in real life.
superhookie @ Aug 9th 2006 5:21PM
WizarDru...Res Evil 4 looked crap on PS2? That's just plain retarded. You're an idiot.
Player1 @ Aug 9th 2006 6:27PM
Why would you let your kids play the game if it's rated Mature? There's a reason for ratings, just pay attention to them. Will you let them watch the movie "Kids" but not play this game?
Parents are more concerned about their kids playing a video game about a kid beating up other kids than their own kid beating up other kids or getting beat up. That is what's sad.
spoo @ Aug 9th 2006 6:28PM
I don't understand why R* is still making this game. With all the heat video games have taken in the media the last year +, why would R* make an "M" game that no one over the age of 14 is interested in playing? Any older Joystiq readers interested in this game?
I'm a gamer in my mid 20's that doesn't mind playing what the kiddies are calling "kiddie" games e.g. Mario, Kingdom Hearts, but Bully doesn't interest me one bit. This game would have been fun in middle school but as an adult meh. A "mature kiddie game" is just asking for trouble. What is next putting a cartoon on a pack of cigarettes? ;)
V1L3 @ Aug 9th 2006 8:58PM
"Parents are more concerned about their kids playing a video game about a kid beating up other kids than their own kid beating up other kids or getting beat up. That is what's sad."
I doubt there's a parent or even a self-serving politician (I'm looking at you, Hillary) who honestly believes that. Their concern is the game will (intentionally or not) glorify the act of bullying, and that kids will either act out the scenarios in the game, or become more accepting of the actions presented therein. If a child plays a game where kids are getting dunked in toilets all the time, they may begin to think of it as normal behaviour, and not intervene when they see it happening to a classmate.
That being said, of course, NO KID SHOULD EVER PLAY THIS GAME. But I can also see the other side of the argument - that some parents are just ill-informed about their child's game-playing habits, and that kids will get a hold of something if they want it, regardless of age restrictions. Are you seriously going to tell me you never saw any kind of pornographic material until you were 18?
The sad fact is that kids can and will act on what they see on television. Power Rangers was banned in New Zealand after a number of instances were primary school kids were punching and kicking each other, pretending to be their favorite character (probably not the pink one). Even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had its own body count, after two kids got trapped and drowned in a sewer, trying to find their reptilian heroes. Sad, but true.
And you're all right in saying that it's up to parents to protect their children from games like this, but the problem is that it won't be the kids who play this game who suffer, but rather the children they might decide to try this stuff OUT on - i.e. your OWN child, or maybe your younger brother or sister. Or you.
It basically boils down to 3 things:
1. Tighter restrictions on violent/inappropriate content being accessed by children.
2. Parents being more informed and supervising their children's activities and behaviour.
3. Game designers taking an ethical approach, and realizing that some issues are better left alone.
4. Hillary Clinton shutting the hell up.
Bullying is a serious problem in schools, and has far-reaching psychological impact on children.
Yes, freedom of art and freedom of expression are important, but there are ethical implications to everything we do, as individuals, and as groups, whether we like it or not. It's like saying that we should be able to leave our front doors unlocked at night. You're right. We SHOULD. But we can't.
How do you think a game with a name like "Rapist" would go down? I don't even think it would matter "which end of the stick" your character was on (so to speak), it'd be a bad, tasteless idea, with no redeeming value for society as a whole, or video games as a medium.
It's really too early to pass judgement on this game, but as with most other games that rile people up, like BMX XXX, Manhunt... it's probably going to suck ass.
Case closed.
WizarDru @ Aug 10th 2006 7:47AM
superhookie said: "WizarDru...Res Evil 4 looked crap on PS2? That's just plain retarded."
Crap? No. I probably should have said 'uglier' not 'ugly'. Because compared to the Gamecube version, it is. Fewer enemies, reduced polygon counts, loss of progressive, no dynamic lighting, fewer textures and so forth. Don't believe it? Follow the link below to see some of the differences.
http://www.gameswelike.com/web/re/RE%20Comp.htm
Jay @ Aug 10th 2006 10:59AM
Hey, USA Today got to play Bully ... it sounds pretty interesting, actually -- you can read about it here:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-09-bully-preview_x.htm