Game maker courts new controversy--boys kissing

Teen character in "Bully" can smooch boys as well as girls at his new boarding school, and not everyone's happy about that.

The story "Game maker courts new controversy--boys kissing" published October 28, 2006 at 6:00 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[buddha49er]

Who gives a frack?

So, the boy and the girl can make out, but the moment a boy and a boy make out, all hell breaks loose? Is this hypocrisy, or what?

[seth Wright]

AMEN!!!

And why not represent a schoolyard as it really is... diverse("I can't let my kids play this..." but Im assuming you will let them go to school - where they're taught to respect diversity). Society has already decided that gays are people too... so this is an old argument that these people have already lost.

[cnutsucks]

Foley is developing video games?

Looking at the title, it sounded like Mark Foley was <br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.teckmagazine.com/content/view/701/44/" target="_newWindow">http://www.teckmagazine.com/content/view/701/44/</a><br />getting into the video game business.

[volterwd]

What a joke

"I can't have my kids playing this game. This is morally reprehensible. GTA (Grand Theft Auto) is a real man's game, Bully is a disgrace,"<br /><br />So murdering strangers and generally being violent and other morally bankrupt behavoir is 'normal' male behavior but kissing another boy is morally reprehensable?<br /><br />Shoot the quoter... he should at least be neutered and banned from raising children.

[aka_tripleB]

Before someone complains about the statement

Let's make it politically correct and castrate the man. We don't need to have these pansies...I mean...culturally sensitive persons taking aim here to shut down this open forum.<br /><br />And to spread acceptance of "boy kissing boy" scenarios, who should find spokespersons from public events like football and NASCAR to inform these culturally sensitive persons that it is okay for a boy to like a boy.

[chuck_whealton]

Re: What a joke

You're right. It's ridiculous to let your children play a game <br />where you (the player) murder whoever you can and then scream <br />and holler about the sex aspect.<br /><br />Charles R. Whealton<br />Charles Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

[ichibaka]

Stupid parents

If you are a parent and you're reading them, and you have a problem with the game, then you really should ask yourself what century are you living in right now. Or perhaps your mind is still stuck in the 60s and 70s. If you call this little thing immoral then you DON'T deserve to live anymore. Let me make this clear and simple: YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KNOW AND ACCEPT REALITY.

[mattumanu]

Intolerance

&gt;&gt;If you call this little thing immoral then you DON'T deserve to live anymore.&lt;&lt;<br /><br />King Ichibaka has just made a decree, by which all persons who hold to the position that a boy kissing a boy is both immoral and reprehensible are to be taken into custody, and sumarily executed.<br /><br />GET REAL!!! You have to be the single most intolerant poster I've run into in a long time. You are no better than any religious "nut" who has ever called for the death of another human being because you disagree with them.<br /><br />&gt;&gt;YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KNOW AND ACCEPT REALITY.&lt;&lt;<br /><br />Neither does yours, Mister inconsistant. The game "bully" doesn't condone the behavior, but rather points to a "reality" where kids, in real schools around this country, must bow and kneel to their "peers" and curry favor in order to get by. If they don't, they get persecuted in a number of ways... and if they could, I'm sure the "bullies" would call for the deaths of all those who wont "kiss it" to get by. <br /><br />So, should those who think it's immoral for a boy to kiss a boy "kiss it" so you'll let them live? Answer me! Bully!

[mattumanu]

intolerance (redux)

&gt;&gt;If you call this little thing immoral then you DON'T deserve to live anymore.&lt;&lt;<br /><br />King Ichibaka has just made a decree, by which all persons who hold to the position that a boy kissing a boy is both immoral and reprehensible are to be taken into custody, and sumarily executed.<br /><br />GET REAL!!! You have to be the single most intolerant poster I've run into in a long time. You are no better than any religious "nut" who has ever called for the death of another human being because you disagree with them.<br /><br />&gt;&gt;YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO KNOW AND ACCEPT REALITY.&lt;&lt;<br /><br />Neither does yours, Mister inconsistant. The game "bully" doesn't condone the behavior, but rather points to a "reality" where kids, in real schools around this country, must bow and kneel to their "peers" and curry favor in order to get by. If they don't, they get persecuted in a number of ways... and if they could, I'm sure the "bullies" would call for the deaths of all those who wont "kiss it" to get by. <br /><br />So, should those who think it's immoral for a boy to kiss a boy "kiss it" so you'll let them live? Answer me! Bully!

[sagarat]

Dodgey Reporting

C|Net, please don't quote random people from internet forums, calling them "other people", just because you can't be bothered finding a proper source that has an alternate opinion.<br /><br />I know you are "Only" reporting on computer games, but sloppy journalism has no excuse.

[mattumanu]

Thankyou!

Kind of makes you wonder: is Cnet actually just the school newspaper goading on the students and the internet just a big school playground filled with "bullies" trying to push thier view of things down the rest of our collective gullets?<br /><br />I think so. People today never grow up.

[VI Joker]

Check the source

The story came from Reuters and they were the ones who took the quote from Gamestop. Be sure to check the source next time. Below is a link to the original story.<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&#38;storyID=2006-10-28T001240Z_01_NAP359267_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-VIDEOGAMES-BULLY.xml&#38;pageNumber=1&#38;imageid=&#38;cap=&#38;sz=13&#38;WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1" target="_newWindow">http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=technologyNews&#38;storyID=2006-10-28T001240Z_01_NAP359267_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-VIDEOGAMES-BULLY.xml&#38;pageNumber=1&#38;imageid=&#38;cap=&#38;sz=13&#38;WTModLoc=NewsArt-C1-ArticlePage1</a>

[newcreation]

i wouldnt buy the game in the first place

the whole concept of the game is sick let along the boys kissing..cnet seems to cater to liberal<br />causes

[System Tyrant]

The problem...

The problem with the world isn't right or left wing groups or liberal media. It's nearsighted close minded hypocrites who believe everybody is in the wrong, but themselves. Those are the people that stir the pots and they live on all sides of the playground.<br /><br />The only thing I wonder about in regards to your comment is why someone who seems to find CNet articles biased would continue to read or even comment on them. If I believed that CNet was blatantly biased to one side or another I would no longer read any stories on their site or post comments to their stories.

[System Tyrant]

The problem...

The problem with the world isn't right or left wing groups or liberal media. It's nearsighted close minded hypocrites who believe everybody is in the wrong, but themselves. Those are the people that stir the pots and they live on all sides of the playground.<br /><br />The only thing I wonder about in regards to your comment is why someone who seems to find CNet articles biased would continue to read or even comment on them. If I believed that CNet was blatantly biased to one side or another I would no longer read any stories on their site or post comments to their stories.

[jdrachmat]

What is so LIBERAL with eradicating DISCRIMINATION ?

I do not understand newcreation.<br /><br />Do you think discrimination is right ? Women should not vote ? Black men should be slaves ? Just as it is wrong to discriminate people on their sex or colour skin, it is just as wrong to condemn people just due to their sex orientation.<br /><br />Please rise above name calling (as if slapping the label "LIBERAL" would be enough to declare it an immoral concept), and tell us why you think discrimination is GOOD.

[jones_8099]

Stupid?

First off I won't buy GTA or Bully. GTA is wrong because of its <br />random pointless killing. And Bully is wrong because of this. <br /><br /> " bi-sexual or transgendered characters are "more and more the <br />norm" on television" <br /><br /> Just because the media displays something does not make it a <br />popular opinion. If this was "ok" then why have so many states <br />made changes to their Constitutions regarding marriage? Its <br />because the majority of people don't agree with it. I personally <br />believe that being "gay" is due to a chemical imbalance in a <br />person that affects their sexuality kind of like depression. But <br />short from having my opinion I keep it to myself in public and <br />treat everyone the same. However, since the internet allows <br />people to express their feelings anonymously I decided to post <br />this.

[System Tyrant]

Good for you.

I'm glad you choose not to buy video games that promote violence. Good for you.<br /><br />Your right about the media too. They have the ability to influence popular opinion, but they aren't the ones that decide popular opinion. However, people tend to believe what's in the media regardless of it's factual value.<br /><br />As for the majority. The majority opinion changes everyday. Today the majority votes against gay marriage and tomorrow they vote for it. Who knows tomorrow may turn all those opposed to homosexuality into a new kind of racist.<br /><br />Let me finish by saying this. Those who fear homosexuality are the ones with the problem. You should take the time to get to know and understand gays. You might find that they are really no different from you and I.

[calvin84]

cool stuff

hmm touchy subject. Tolerance does not equate to respect nor treating as equal. And sexuality is more fundamental than just brain chemistry. <br />There was a time when ppl think being left-handed was a disorder as well.<br /><br />however as for the game, it'll be more realistic if the kid got punched in the face after presenting flowers to the same sex.

[techned]

ESRB rating needs to be re-worked.

I have no problem with what could be considered a game with possible homosexual content, especially if it's not done stereotypically and it offers the user a choice between the type of relationship the character is to engage in.<br /><br />What I do have a problem with is the rating system of the ESRB - it's too misleading, especially when you look at the content that "T for Teen" has. <br />I wouldn't consider this game to be "M for Mature", it doesn't have content that matches GTA but it should have a rating that should be considered "PG" as in need of Parental Guidance, especially if the main character is a child (under 17) in school.<br /><br />A game having anything that could be considered controversial like homosexuality in it should not be given a rating as misleading as "T for Teens", because it's misleading - saying that the game is actually OK for kids 13 and up to have access to material that they will need to have some form of guidance to either understand or approach the controverial subject matter in the game.<br /><br />To me, it's not the fear that children will buy this game and see homosexual acts and be "scarred" by it but it's the fact that kids will see this and villify something they don't understand, which could lead to some ugly consequences like ignorance or worse, a violent Hate crime. <br /><br />It's one thing to argue that the game is like any other type of entertainment like "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", "Will and Grace", etc., but "Bully" is a game, unlike a TV show where there is no interactivity and a person can be bored on not interested in the TV show and turn it off or change the channel - a game is more or less made to be accessible and enjoyable to everyone, with enticements to spur the gamer to venture more into the game and this is where the problem lies with video games not being another form of entertainment.<br /><br />My POV - Game ratings should be made stricter and tighter like that of the movie industry. Like I said, I have no problem with gay content in a game as long it's done in a non-discriminating way but I would still like to know what type of game my kid has, the security that game retailers won't sell my kid anything without my consent, and if there is stuff in there that is controversial - the right to be able to tell my kids what the fuss is all about and whether it's right or not.