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Rockstar's Next Game Draws Protesters
Rockstar's next title, Bully, has already come under fire from anti-bullying groups. Activists have taken it up another notch, though, by demonstrating outside of the NY Rockstar offices. They've also laid out a list of demands to the game developer, hoping to get the company to change its ways. The Peaceoholics demand Rockstar "Not to release Bully under any circumstances, Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only, Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects, Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc, Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and legislators about their intentions and causing insurance premiums to sky rocket, Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands" Press the Buttons has commentary, and uses some words I'd like to myself.
Duping your own submission http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/08/02/ 2229237&tid=10
Yeah, "news" this is not.
Wow... now I know what to be thankful of next thanksgiving... thank god I'm not Rockstar
A psychopath can't tell the difference between right and wrong. A sociopath knows the difference - he just doesn't care.
AHAHAHAHA AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAlLOLOLOLOLLo!!!!!eleventyone!!!111 !!
Those "demands" are hilarious.
I though it was, and had to re-read, but it's NOT "prostitutes"
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
Aren't lists of demands what terrorists give when they hold people hostage?
I support the Center for Consumer Freedom
The irony is so sharp I cut myself.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
I can't understand why no one blames the parents for subjecting their children to violent video games. It's the parents responsibility to monitor their kids- what TV shows/movies they watch, what video games they play ect.
Parents need to start doing their jobs IMHO.
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." Mark Twain.
The Peaceaholics ALSO sent demands to Bush to "save them". This is just further hilarity. If you don't like it mod down and move on.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
But the anti-bullies are bullying the creators of Bully.
How ironic.
WASTE - The Secure P2P
Dear Peaceoholics
No.
Love Rockstar Games.
PS: Reserve your Copy of Bully today!
In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
Actually, I think he specifically DIDN'T use those particular words. Good thing too, who knows how many children's minds he could have corrupted!
Karma be damned! I'm pissed now!
Okay, first off, who is this group to think that they have some kind of moral obligation to place demands on Rockstar that must be answered within five days? What are they going to do if Rockstar ignores them, as I hope they will? Stage another protest with even more demands?
Secondly, I want to congratulate them for increasing by an order of magnitude my desire to purchase both Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Bully when available, even though I will probably let them sit on my shelf unopened, as amy way of showing support for Rockstar.
These people need to realize that we gamers are a much more powerful force, financially speaking, than they are with their holier-than-thou moralism. They're giving Rockstar more advertising than they could have possibly imagined. If only such arrogance and desire to force their morality could be harnessed...
Listen, Peaceoholics, you are more than welcome to create your own gaming company that offers a line of products that are much more rooted in your personal morals. I have no doubt that you will sell millions of games, as long as they're entertaining and of a marketable value. Until that time, Rockstar that the right to sell whatever products the core gaming populous (males aged 18-35) want to purchase. Deal with it.
The Overrated mod is for reversing inappropriate, positive mods, not for voicing disagreement with a post.
Rockstar's next title, Bully, has already come under fire from anti-bullying groups. Activists have taken it up another notch
These wusses are soooo going to get beat up for their lunch money as soon as I get my hands on them.
Oh, so that's why my insurance premiums are so high here in the DC area. It was Rockstar's video games all along. Silly me, I thought it was because YOU PEOPLE CAN'T FUCKING DRIVE!
--------
This isn't the sig you're looking for. Move along.
There are probably a billion and one things more worthy of protest than Rockstar's next game.
WTF? You can make arguments that Rockstar games are bad for young kids, but are we really at the point where we are blaming a game company because our insurance premiums are too high? Maybe premiums are too high because we have idiots on the road. Idiots like the people that blame game companies for insurance premiums.
I hate when groups of "watchdogs" make demands. Who do these people think they are? They tend to make up offensive facts (OMG, the purple puppet is a flaming homo!!!) just to have something to bitch about. Or they take one quote out of context and then go on-and-on about it, twisting it until even reasonable people think it is offensive. This happens in politics all the time. I guess Rockstar got what they wanted though. As they keep pushing the envelope on what kind of ridiculous content you can fit into a game, they are going to get more and more of this.
Part of me thinks Rockstar is trying to make money by peddling offensive ideas to kids, but that really doesn't matter. Parents should be preventing kids from buying this stuff, or face the consequences when Little Johny pummels someone in 3rd grade because Bully is his favorite game.
I'm just waiting for a game where you can strangle a prostitute with a bungee cord, and beat up a cop with strips of bacon. That will be the funnest game ever.
/. ++
Dear Rockstar,
We dislike the content of your games. The morality of your games clashes with the sanitized world we are trying to manufacture. Despite you being free to market whatever content you choose, we are asking you to voluntarily do the following to intentionally bankrupt yourselves:
1.)Pull all of your current products off of store shelves, unless the store is an "adults only" smut-peddler.
2.)Do not make or sell any more games, ever.
3.)Reimburse parents for their lack of oversight if they have purchased a Rockstar game for their children at any time in the past.
4.)Pay for counciling, rehab, and whatever necessary medicines a child may require in order to be de-programed of the filth your games exposed them to.
5.)Publicly execute yourselves as a warning to others
If you choose not to follow our voluntary guidlines, we will be forced to purchase legislation that will forward our ends. Remember, when kids play violent video games, the _________ win.
Yours Truly,
The Political Grandstanders of the World (PGW)
itadakimasu
Why doesn't Rockstar just rename their games to things like "Happy Pony Time" and "Hugs and Kisses Ville" that way the parents organizations would have a reason to be upset. Any idiot who buys their kids a game named after a felony, expecting wholesome family friendly fun, does not deserve to raise children. Now I think its time to take our gelding shears to these peace-nics.
...apart from calling them absolute universal morons, none seems quite fitting.
It seems as if noone is concerned about facts anyway. Next week they may want to protest against the weather or that *SHOCK AND HORROR* they are teaching things about the human reproduction process in a biology class.
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
But a game about Bullying students and teachers in a fictional schoolyard? There's almost no doubt in my mind that I will purchase (and probably enjoy!) this game, but c'mon Rockstar, can you push some more buttons?
With all the sensationalized stories about bullying in schools, children committing suicide due to being harassed, etc. do you really think its wise to make a game like this?
I realize it'll be rated M. I know that there will be ESRB warnings around Violence, Language, etc. I also realize that this sort of stuff is great publicity for their game releases. But games like this DO give the electronic entertainment industry a bad name. Its already under fire for "Hot Coffee". Do they really need to demonize video games any more?
And before someone says it, NO, I don't believe creative game-making should be stymied by groups such as the ones protesting Bully. I just think they should become more creative in ways OTHER than kicking the crap out of children in a schoolyard. I think that Pikmin, Katamari Damacy, Morrowind, etc. were just as creative an "out there" as GTA. But no one is coming after the industry because you killed some cartoonish Pikmin.
Sad thing is, I had no interest in the game Bully until I all these people were upset by it. I think their attempt to kill these games is having the opposite result.
"Derp de derp."
Someone has to tell me when these guys are protesting so I can pester them.
I'd be happy if Rockstar would just release a game with controls that don't suck.
The GTA games are cool in so many ways, but every time I play I have flashbacks to the Army Men series. The controls are very similar: Slow, mushy, and inaccurate. My favorite is when you're getting killed and get overzealous on the turning stick and suddenly find yourself crouching helplessly in a hail of bullets.
Manhunt was even worse and didn't even have the benefit of being a fun game. Good lord, did Manhunt suck. "Hey, look at me! I'm standing out in the open in plain sight, but there's a tiny shadow covering my forearm, so I'm invisible!"
No, really... this HAS to be a joke.
...or we will BLOW UP THE EARTH!!! Mwuahahaha!
> Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects
*boggle*
Do they also want Rockstar to pay for a national education campaign to teach reading to all the illiterate parents who apparently can't read "violent content", "sexual content" and such on the box? And possibly hire some security guards in all the stores selling their products to tackle any parent who tries to buy a copy without reading the box, and twist their arm, slap them around, or torture them in any way, shape or form until they do read the box?
> Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc,
Because, clearly, there has been such a huge spike in those crimes after GTA was released... my god, the people at Rockstar must be gods, with the power to affect our minds and control our actions!
> Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and legislators about their intentions
"We're sorry we lied to you and said our game is very violent and contains sexual content. Oh wait, we said the truth! Nevermind."
>and causing insurance premiums to sky rocket
Okay, when I got to this one I just lost it. Causing WHAT insurance premiums to sky rocket?? Medical insurance for carpal tunnel? Eye insurance for staring at a computer/TV screen for too long?
> Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands
Seriously... who the hell ARE these people??
ClutterMe.com - easiest site creation on the Net. Just click and type.
We all know the stats on how violent crime and violent crime among children/teens have gone down since Doom was released.
Does anyone have any stats on what actual carjacking rates have been since GTA3 was released?
While we're on the subject. To MLB, Please don't play anymore games under any circumstances. Volunteer to move all MLB games to Pay-per-view so I don't have to watch them. Let me have a full refund to any baseball game I went to. Create a fund for victims of baseball bat related crime or any crime related to thrown objects. Make a national apology for misleading and lying to children, parents, and now legislators about their steriod use. Give a Written response within 5 days of recipt of these demands.
"...do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects..."
... attending protests and making unreasonable demands
Possible effects include:
- Bitchiness
- Irritability
- Overreactions
-
"Derp de derp."
I find it utterly fascinating that the same people that flock to see "The Passion of the Christ" will picket a videogame. I mean we are talking about an extremely violent movie, a movie that people have died watching. Bring children to an excessively violent religious themed movie? No problem. Rockstar video games? Burn them at the stake. I am sincerely stunned at the hypocritical justifications folks make. If parents feel that certain tones of violence are OK due to religious themes, thats fine, thats great. Perhaps other parents deem unrealistic pixels to be more suitable forms of visual stimuli than live action massacres. Just a thought.
Hint : It didn't go up.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
Giving this protest group the benefit of the doubt considering the ridiculous demands they are making I have come up with an alternate theory: Peacoholics is actually a group funded by Rockstar to generate press about their games via protest. I imagine that funding a volunteer organization is much cheaper than bying advertisement in all the major gaming mags and websites. And not only is this method cheaper, but it reaches a wider audience! Ingenious, way to go Rockstar. They should patent the idea and sell it to EA. EA could fund a protest group of disgruntled NFL fans to protest 'Football Simulater xx23 - with even better graphics!' Wait, I'll patent the idea and sell it to EA. None of ya'll tell anyone, ok?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
a !
*snigger*
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah hah hahahahaha ha hahahah hah hahah ahahahahahahaha!
*falls off couch*
Hahahahahaihhihihihiahahahahaahahooooohahahahahah
*pinks away a tear*
Rockstars responce: "Thanks for the free publicity!"
Rockstar gives a refund to the parents of 17 year olds since Rockstar already advised them this was a game for 17+. Then inform the misguided protesters that the bullies in the new game are actually the bad guys, not the character the player plays.
I'd also suggest going one step further and hiring real bullies to beat up all the protesters, and steal their lunch money - but that's just me.
In their demands, the protesters refer to Bully, a game that's currently under development, and demand Rockstar to:
"Not to release Bully under any circumstances "
The "under any circumstances" part is where they stop being reasonable and rational (and where I stop listening). Essentially, they're saying that they're going to protest any game called "Bully" that Rockstar releases, even if the content was radically edited, sanitized, censored, etc.
This makes it clear that the protesters are not actually interested in improving or sanitizing game content, but that they're simply out for revenge against Rockstar, even if Rockstar was willing to compromise or negotiate.
Let's figure out a couple of good phrases to googlebomb 'Peaceoholics' and 'Jack Thompson'.
Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only
Soooo... lemmee see if I understand this... this group is demanding Rockstar do something that will result in millions of teens - mostly male - flocking to adult video stores?
Can you say 'impulse buy'? I ~knew~ you could.
Give a written response within five business days of receipt of these demands
How about a live one-finger response?
Remember though, that correlation is not causation. Even though carjacking and violent crime among minors has decreased, you can't use a statistic to say that games had anything to do with it. Statistics don't work like that.
However, you can say that statistically, it is probable that certain games had a negative impact (in terms of numbers) on violent crime among minors and carjacking.
I'm going to buy Bully the day it comes out, and pick up Manhunt(er?) next time I'm at the store. I'm giving serious thought to picking up an AO copy of San Andreas just for posterity and to boost their stats.
For every jerk out there protesting, somebody ought to pick up an extra Rockstar game and show those fools what gamers are made of. We have expendable income! We're jaded and materialistic! We want the old ultraviolence and we want it now!
For this event, I have prepared a song about the Peaceaholics and their efforts:
*I Feel Pretty begins to play*
I FEEL STUPID!... OH SO STUPID!... I FEEL STUPID, RETARDED, AND DUUUUUUUMB!
I WISH CUPID... DIDN'T TRY... TO GO GET ME... CONCEEEEEEEEEEIVED!
*lalalalala la la la LA LA*
WE ARE MORONS!... SUCH BIG MORONS!... THERE'S NO SHOW ON... WITH MORONS... LIKE WEEEEEE!
SO WE GO ON... AND MAKE STINKS... ON NATIONAL... TEEEVEEEEEEEE!
*lalalalala LA LA LA*
SEE THAT STUPID GUY IN THE TV THERE!
WHO COULD THAT DUMB IDIOT BEEEEEEEEEEE?
SUCH A STUPID FACE! SUCH A STUPID SMILE! SUCH A STUPID SIGN! SUCH A STUPID WEEEEEEEEEEE!
*such a stupid we! such a stupid we!*
I HATE ROCKSTAR!... THAT DAMN ROCKSTAR!... THEY THINK WE ARE... MUCH DUMB-"AR"... THAN THEEEEEEEY!
FOR THEY MAAAAAAAKE... MY KIDS GO AND... DOOOOO STUPID THIIIIIIIIIIIIINGS!
*music turns evil sounding*
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE OUTLANDISH NEWSCASTS!?... THEY MAKE US SEEM EVIL AS SIN!
BUT I KNOW THAT ONCE OUR GAME'S RELEASED... IT WILL SELL LIKE HOTCAKES AND THEN WE'LL SURELY WIN!
THOSE PEOPLE ARE DUMB! THEY ARE SO CONTRIVED *lalala*
THEY DO NOT KNOW THIS... PUBLICITY'S FIIIIIIIINE!
BUT WHY DO THEY SEEK... TO SHOW US LIKE FREAKS?! *lalala*
FOR WE ARE JUST GEEKS... WHO LIKE TO PLAY GAAAAAAAMES!
STAY AWAY FROM US... PEACEAHOLICS!... YOU MAKE ALL OF US... CATATONIC!
HONEST AND SURE... THAT THEY'LL HAVE US FINED! *lalala*
I GUESS THEY DON'T KNOW... THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR MIIIIIIIIIIIINDS!
*lalalalala LA LA LA*
WE FEEL STUPID!... OH SO STUPID!... THAT WE THINK THAT... THAT ROCKSTAR... SHOULD BUUUUUURRRN!
A COMMITTEEEEEE... SHOULD BE FORMED... TO GO AND SLAN... -DER THEEEEEEMMMMM!
*lalalalala LA LA LA*
SEE THAT EVIL GUY, THAT JACK THOMPSON THERE!? *Jack Thompson! Where?*
WHO COULD THAT SINISTER GUY GO SUUUUEEE? *Huh? Rockstar?*
SUCH AN EVIL GUY! SUCH AN EVIL CASE! SUCH AN EVIL GRIN! SUCH AN EVIL DWEEEEEEEEB!
*such and evil dweeb! such an evil dweeb!*
I FEEL STUPID... OH SO STUPID... WE GOT SO FAR... AND ROCKSTAR... HAS WOOOOOOOOOON!
CAUSE' WE LOOOOOST... IN THE STUPID... LAW APPEALS COOOOOUUUUUURT!
~Otaku-Man
When are people going to realize video gamea are not just a medium of entertainment reserved only for young children anymore. The original gamer kids have all but grown up, and so needs to the gaming industry. We are now mature gamers, and we can handle games targeted at a mature audiance. Grand theft auto is just one example of a game not suited for young kids, but some parents just are to ignorant to realize that their are adult rated video games. There is a reason the ESRB rated games, and that is because their is a wide range of content ranging from pre-kindergarden to pure adult. This kind of thing does not go on with movies, people understand what a R rating, or X rating means, why won't these same parents realize what the hell an M or 17+ rating means. Three words for you people, GET A CLUE! Adult games are for adults not kids, if you don;t weant them to play them, DO NOT BUY THEM, pay attention, and stop blaming others for your failings.
They will probably have a sequence called "Cold Kool-aid" about a sex scene with a teacher and an underage student.
Oh wait that was real life too.
...you aren't sure about Bully.
...when you don't even know what the game is about.
But a game about Bullying students and teachers in a fictional schoolyard? There's almost no doubt in my mind that I will purchase (and probably enjoy!) this game, but c'mon Rockstar, can you push some more buttons?
If you read this article, you would realize that Bully is not what you claim it to be. As a matter of fact, it's a game that pits you, the average student, in a situation where you attempt to OVERCOME being bullied.
Sorry for being the jerk here; however, I think it's problematic when you decide to say: I agree with the standard argument of "Parents should regulate what their children play, and pay attention to what comes into their household", THEN proceed to go on a diatribe against R* because they are demonizing video games (again, your words, paraphrased)...
So, what to do? Ignore the protesters, let them advertise for you, and if CERTAIN countries ban the release/sale of the game (the United States certainly won't, and it's really hard to care about the UK), EVEN BETTER. When a game is designed to be controversial, isn't it a marketing golden opportunity to be bale to say "so [blank] that it's banned in some countries."
It may prevent the game from being very widely sold, but I do not believe that this game is really going to be top on anyone's list, so perhaps the controversy is good in helping it establish its niche.
lies ,damn lies , and statistics
Of people these "peaceholics" trying to bully them into not releasing a game called "Bully". On another note, these kind of people make me sad. I t's just stupid that they get all riled up over a goddamn game. There are bigger things wrong in this life ffs. How many deaths are accountable by games? How about the "war on terrorism" and the one basically still going on in Iraq? Which one detoriates "traditional" moral values of upstanding citizens, teaching them that it's perfectly OK to kill _real_ people or giving people a chance to immerse themselves in a role of a bully, seeing some unrealistic pixel sex or giving them a chance to shoot some polygons that represent a cop. It's strange, on their logic these games should be making people more aggressive and violent. I've played games since I was like six years old, and I don't remember ever hitting someone on purpose or even when I got really pissed off the last time. Right about now someone will say that one evil doesn't counter another. Well, I don't even think violence in games is a bad thing. The sex on the other hand.. Laughable. I'd rather watch porn, it's more realistic ;)
. . .most of the children who play this will be the ones getting bullied.
I didn't even know about this game before these idiots started protesting it. Suddenly I found myself at Gamespot checking it out, sounds kinda fun. Can't wait.
Thanks, Peaceaholics!
"I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
-Hoban Washburn
Because all successful games need lots of violence, right?
I already know i'm going to hell, now i'm just trying to get cable down there.
It's about getting back at all the bullies and evil teachers at a corrupt boarding school.
Silicon & Charybdis McLuhan Kildall Papert Kay
Stupidity isnt contaigous. These people would be so infected with the disease, they would have to be quarantined.
I respect Rockstar's right to make any game they want. After all, this is America and everyone has the right to say what they want or create any work they want, regardless of how I or anyone else feels about its content.
I also have to say that I am completly disgusted with Rockstar for making a game that glorifies bullying regardless of whether it causes anyone who plays it to start bullying. I don't believe that GTA had much of an effect on people who played it, but lets face it, bullying is a far more accessable activity to the average grade-schooler than carjacking and cop-killing. I would very much like to see somebody, preferably Rockstar, make a game where you fight against bullies.
Rockstar has its freedom of speech and so do I.
Technoli
Jimmy: Hey, billy, want to come over and play Grand Theft Auto?
Billy: I'd love to, but mom said I couldn't play violent video games anymore, and she's even out protesting at Rockstar headquarters!
Jimmy: Yeah, my mom is protesting, too, which means we'll have all afternoon un-attended to do whatever the hell we want!
Billy: AWESOME! Should I bring my dad's Playboy and my brother's marijuana, too?
What's that they say about stones and glass houses? The culture of relative truth and the REAL "if it feels good do it" culture (Don't think hippie. Think yuppie, I.E. Soccer Mom), are behind most of the problems. These people are liars. Plain and simple. It took me two minutes to realize that in "Bully", you do NOT play the Bully. You play a character who is bullied, and your goal is to rise up the social structure of your school. You play the average joe who overcomes the bully. And where exactly is the problem with this? These people are liars. They're trying to make you focus on THIS "immorality", while their greed, ego and selfishness runs rampant and destroys a nation. Don't let them. BTW. The irony of the situation is that it's the culture that's the problem that makes bullying a problem in the first place. The "up or out" culture where you either win or lose, and everything comes down to that is what kills any sort of cooperative atmosphere anyway. All I'll say is thank god for video games, especially on-line games that are starting to teach kids how to work together towards a common goal. The kids really are all right...no thanks to these people.
Let parents return Grand Theft Auto for a full refund until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content and possible effects
Gahhhh.
This stuff is giving me heart-burn, I tell you.
If Rockstar were to do that, it would be financial suicide. There are millions of units of GTA:SA sold right now. And there a millions of people who have finished - the PS2 version at least - the game. Most of these people sell their games back to ebgames at a loss. But if Rockstar were to offer a refund, it wouldn't be JUST the parents who would return the game for money... it would be every cheap college student who could use 50$, despite the fact they have no objections to the game. It would be morally wrong, but when you're in college and living off of ramen and cheep beer, you don't care.
Literally, it would provide a free game to millions of people, where they would play it, then return it for a full refund. Financial suicide for Rockstar!
These people need to have "I am stupid" tattooed on their forehead. The game already has a list of all that's wrong with it, including Explicit Sexual Content as one of the items. How much more explicit can you get than listing it straight on the box next to the big "M for Mature" logo?
Tepp
you just can't buy that kind of publicity.
These guys are addicted to peaceohol? Either that or alcoholics are addicted to alc. I don't know.
That and the Bush Pro-ID statement close the case for me. The US is a lost case, I suggest we're smarter than the marines and just nuke it out.
Damn. How do you live with so many damn fucking stupid morons all around you? I pity every american with an IQ above 10. You must be in constant pain just thinking about it.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
Welcome to the fictional Bullworth Academy where you play a troubled schoolboy named Jimmy in reform school who tries to stand up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on annoying kids from all over campus, and even tries to pursue a love interest.
Sounds really bad for kids... almost like REAL school. Which isn't dangerous at all, that's why they have metal detectors.
http://www.pterrys.com
however, I believe it would be a nice gesture of goodwill for Rockstar to do something along the lines of the one demand, "Create a fund for victims of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and car-jackings, etc". they could give something beneficial to those affected by such tragedy, instead of simply glorifying the perpetrators through their games.
I don't think it's gonna happen though.
They're exercising their freedom of expression, and I don't like what they have to say! We just can't let this go on any further! We must protest, lobby, and sue until Rockstar is silenced!!!
We all know the stats on how violent crime and violent crime among children/teens have gone down since Doom was released.
Hey c'mon that's not anything to joke about. My cousin was killed last week in Detroit by a flaming-skull shooting hell demon.
Anti-bullying groups? Seriously? So we solved that world hunger thing?
I don't know about anyone else, but I think Peaceoholics is doing a good thing by spreading awareness. Before they started their campaign I did not know that Rockstar was going to produce a game about being a bully. The list of perversions in this game was completely unknown to me. Now, as a informed consumer I really can't wait to buy this game. Kick ass Peaceoholics, spread the word!
Wonder if they have a list of games somewhere with that lists the best violent video games out there...
The inspiration for this brilliant and comprehensive game is the things that are wrong in society today. Rockstar wouldn't have made a game about car-jacking if there wasn't such thing as car-jacking, as well as, prostitution, murder, etc. I believe Rockstar realises these acts are wrong. That's why they incorporated these acts into a game (it's a medium where it's not wrong). Perhaps these "peacaholics" should take a more proactive stance and try to combat the core of these problems, instead of ignoring them.
Yeah, my bad. Sorry about that.
After playing Doom, I decided to become a physicist so that I could unlock the secrets of interdimensional travel.
If it weren't for my playing Myst, I would never have had the foresight to keep my D'ni linking book handy when the demons came through.
Unfortunately, I linked to some Bizzaro-Earth where killing and car theft are OK but having sex is VERY bad. I wish I could go back...at least hell demons behave rationally.
Right now there is a marketing guy at Rockstar laughing his ass off.
Why?
Because he just got his company national press and awareness for their new game, for free.
At worst, this will deter a very few number of sales as parents decide not to buy it for their 12 year old.
At best, a few extra thousand young/mid adults now know about the game and are more likely to become customers.
-David
All the protesters are lined up on the sidewalk? I could grab a car and mow them down for a grand amount of points! I learned this from playing Fantavision.
And back in the 80's I used to dress in overalls and a fake moustache and kick turtles all day as well.
..when a bunch of folks start protesting against every policy by the current Administration, or by any Republican at all, the media and many here hail them as heroes for using peaceful means to expedite change.
But some concerned citizens use exactly the same methods to right what they perceive as evil, they're automatically labelled as fools, and treated as obstructionists.
Way I see it, this is how such things *should* be done. Just like a boycott-grass roots *action* from the people, not repressive laws and suits from lawyers.
Just like the activities against games labelled as "racist". Vote with your wallet, and gvie your opinion voice-don't pervert the laws and make the government enforce morality.
whatever happened to "I may disagree with what you say, but I'll fight to the death to defend your right to say it"? Are protests only allowed if they're anti-establishment, anti government, anti-christian or anti-Republican?
Wait until we see the super-secret cheat code that unlocks the 'S&M' room in Bully.
Care about electronic freedom? Consider donating to the EFF!
Let's get one thing straight. Rockstar did something (with the help of a modder) that got a lot of attention. And now everyone is jumping on the band wagon looking for some attention related to it. Rockstar is happy because it is free PR, but it's the same with these crazy protesters. It's free publicity for them as well. The politicians are doing it, the protesters are doing it, Rockstar is doing it, news sites are doing it, /. is doing it. It's all publicity for free. Every one of them knows that this whole thing is something that will get people to talk. Can we please never hear of this again?
Stop Global Warming!
Just say no to irreversible processes!
Hmm.... So the Bully advertisment will begin with these words on the screen... BLOOD SEX VIOLENCE ... but that's not the best news....
We just saved a lot of money on our car insurance.
Buy your copy of Bully today..
This message brought to you by Gieko.
They are blaming Rockstor for high insurance premiums????? Thats the funniest thing ever.
PS, does sending out millions of things saying your games are violent contain sexual stuff ect. count as awarenss campaign? because they right it on every box.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
Their website drives me towards violence. It's such bad, bad flash... and no text version available...
http://www.pterrys.com
I think the people so hotly protesting Rockstar are missing a very important point.
Videogames are not universally meant for children.
In fact, as the people who were the first to really get into videogames grow, the maturity level of the games themselves seems to be growing, too.
These protestors seem to think that any and all videogames are intended to end up in the hands of children. I believe they would protest ANY game not suitable for a young child; GTA is just unlucky (lucky? - free press) enough to be the current scapegoat.
Why is it difficult to realize that these violent games are not intended for youth any more than rated R movies?
Volunteer to sell its violent and sexually explicit games in adult video stores only
If I could buy my porn and my video games in one quick trip, I'd save money on gas and have more time to play Bully when it comes out!
I haven't bought a game since HL2 and BF2 came out, and then not since BF1942 was released (whoa!).
That said, I might just pick up a copy of GTA-whatever-the-latest-version-is JUST OUT OF FUCKING SPITE.
Jesus, people, not that they're going to be the one reading this, but if you don't like it, DON'T BUY IT.
Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
or at least in the US, so I could walk up to these activists/protestors and tell them loudly and proudly, "FUCK YOU!"*
I'm glad they're not sitting on their fat retarded asses but actually doing somethig about stuff they don't like, however they have no fucking clue what they're talking about and their demands make about as much sense as Beowulf having sex with Robert Fulton at the first battle of Antietam.**
Bully isn't gloryfing bullying, but shows a kid who actually "stands up to bullies, gets picked on by teachers, plays pranks on malicious kids, wins or loses the girl, and ultimately learns to navigate the obstacles of the fictitious reform school." I even think some anti-bullying people actually like the idea, but I don't have any quotes, sorry. This one is from Rockstar's description, can be found for example here
Originally I wanted to go through the demands, but the article already does that with much less anger, insults and profanity than anything I could write now. Have a nice day.
* - Rockstar's official response? please?
** - Dennis Miller in Famili Guy
Peaceoholics crave Peaceohol.
Why?
Alcoholics crave alcohol.
What is Peaceohol?
...I play violent videogames that let me kill random people on the street so I don't do it in real life.
until they do a national awareness campaign to educate parents of content
Oh, you mean they're going to start teaching people to read again? Good. If they hadn't slacked on that in the first place, people would have realized that the name of the game was GRAND THEFT AUTO and not "Babysitter."
*slight crashing sound*
A group of slashdotters and prochoice gamers have gathered outside the homes of the peaceaholics gathering outside rockstar during the day.
The slashdotter/avid gamer group requested a list of demands be read.
1. Stop putting your filth in our newspapers, your taking up space of actual news with your dictator like demands.
2. Remove yourself for the sake of the world's gene pool, the sooner your gone the better we are.
Didn't happen with Doom.
Columbine?
The irony is that these groups complain out loudly that games will affect kids when in fact they seem to be more affected by the virtual world than anyone else.
READY.
PRINT ""+-0
"...It's alright to whup a woman, it's alright to steal a car, it's alright to mess with a prostitute, it's alright to curse and to use drugs." ~Mr. Ronald Moten
This might have been mentioned already, but meh I'm too lazy to read everybody's comments - just like I'm too lazy to sign in.
// rant over
Perhaps these parents should question, how their children are purchasing games rated for adults? and why they are buying their children adult rated games?
Games (and all video content) have ratings for a reason. If I 7 year old is playing an 18/Adult rated game then the question is asked why? Are they playing their older brother's (or sister's) game, in which case the parents should prevent this. Has someone bought it for them, parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle etc - better protest around uncle bob's house then.
The problem isn't the people churning out the games, the problem is with people's lack of ability to accept responsibility for things.
How can a parent claim they didn't know what they were buying when their child asks them for the latest GTA game? Its right on the cover telling them its for over 18's only, so obviously little billy should be playing it.
You bought it, live with it, stop complaining and get on with your lives. If you don't want your child playing games like that - don't buy them, get your childs friends parents not to buy them either, but if those of us who are old enough and sensible enough to go and play a game like that want to, then we should do. Oh and by sensible I mean we won't try to run someone over thinking that an ambulance will come along and by some act of God they get up and start on their merry way again - it just doesn't happen like that.
Don't like it? Don't play it. Now STFU and get back to work you liberal hippiee. If you spent less time protesting and more time parenting you would have to worry so much.
-=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
Quick! Someone hurry up and censor everything! I can't be trusted to make my own decisions about what I deem to be suitable content for myself and my children! OBVIOUSLY I need the government, special-interest groups, and Jack Thompson to tell me what is acceptable content. You know, my mother stopped feeding and dressing me a LONG time ago....apparently some people still have a womb complex.
If I had a company and had a globally-announced product that was edgy and bound to sell millions of copies, why would I even consider the Peaceaholics demands? The demands are very nearly extortion--give up millions of dollars or what? The demands are unrealistic and just plain silly when considered in the appropriately business context.
I am writing in regards to your protest outside Rockstar's offices. I am a responsible adult, and I enjoy Rockstar's games. I have grown up with video games, and even played violent games when I was at an "impressionable" age. However, I am a normal, well-integrated member of society. I believe this to be a result of my upbringing. My parents raised me to know the difference between right and wrong, between fantasy and reality, and between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Mostly they taught me to be honest and take responsibility for my actions. I believe that your protest only supports the further distancing of our society from personal responsibility. You argue that instead of parents taking responsibility for raising their children in a world full of potentially corrupting influences, the world should just be cleansed of those influences. However, sex and violence are very real parts of the world, and children who are never exposed to them will never understand them. I understand that violence is wrong because I was exposed to violence through play and media, but told that in real life it was wrong to hurt others. I understand the dangers of promiscuity and reckless sex because I was exposed to sex in a healthy environment, not because I was completely shielded from it. It is not the fault of Rockstar that some people who play their games lack the quality of upbringing necessary for them to understand the difference between acceptable and unacceptable. Arguing that they should not produce games that you deem unacceptable takes that decision away from responsible adults like me. By making yourselves the arbiters of what is and isn't acceptable, you are trying to supplant the position of parent. Ultimately this takes responsibility for a child out of the hands of the parent. Personally I prefer to promote a system where a child is a parent's primary responsibility.
This sig has been stolen. Return it to its original user for a reward.
If I were Rockstar, I'd be dancing in the cubicles. Clearly, at this point, the demands are ludicrious and even if they do pan out to any actions, it'll take forever. In the meantime, the publicity alone will drive up sales. Buy low, sale high. Heck, if I were more of a conspiracy theorist, I'd wonder if Rockstar paid for the protesters and faked all of this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_implies_c ausation_(logical_fallacy)
I think you mean the opposite.
The AACS key is NOT 0xF606EEFD628B1CA427BEA93A9CA9773F
Thanks for the link. For grins, I mapped the address shown on the form.
+ King+Jr.+Ave,+S.E.++Washington,+D.C.+20032&spn=0.0 21649,0.040525&hl=en
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1926+Martin+Lucther
As a local to the area, I can tell you that this is quite ironic. "Peacaholics" is located in one of the most voilent areas of town (Southeast DC).
They should seriously work on fixing their own neighborhood first. Far more lives are at stake due to poverty, drugs and corruption right outside their own front door, than could ever be associated with this Rockstar flap.
When I first heard about this, I was actually shocked. The thing that bothered me was that I am 27 years old and I couldn't even rent the game. They always have to put the blame on someone when it comes to anything that gets national attention. This reminds me of the whole '2 Live Crew' issue with their album 'Nasty As They Wanna Be'. I remember that there were people protesting '2 Live Crew' and parents' making a big issue along with womens' rights groups saying how degrading their music was. Well then don't buy the music if you don't like it. We do have a choice. So what I say to parents all across america is that the REAL issue is you haven't been paying attention to the kind of content of your children's entertainment. If you don't want your children playing 'ultra-violent' video games, then don't buy them and pay more attention at the game store when you go to purchase them. Now everyone is jumping on the bandwagon on hating Rockstar. Just like how Quake and DOOM got all that attention after the Columbine shooting. Its just too bad that a video game company has to be the scapegoat now.
Remember when the music industry tried to implement the 'Explicit Lyrics' sticker to rate the content of music? Well Basically you had to be 18 or older to buy any music with this label. Unfortunately (for the music rating system) I think I was only turned down once for buying music prior to my 18th bday. My point is that this doesn't suprise me at all about another ratings system not working properly.
Of course, but in the case of youth violence, for instance, the fact that the crime numbers went down DOES mean that IF video games increased violence, their effect was not significant enough to offset whatever factors decreased it, so at the very least, unless there were very significant factors having a positive effect, video games did not have a significant negative effect.
As for those stats, all I could find was that carjackings went down in the years leading up to 2002.. but 2002 is when GTA3 was released, and I haven't seen any stats for after that.
unlike your posting
Anyone curious about how many "Adults Only" games there really are? Nineteen. You can use the ESRB advanced search form to list games by rating or features.
Rockstar's next game will cast you as a pantsless psychopath that spends the entire time turning to the camera and saying 'remember kids, try this at home!' and what kind of name is 'Peaceoholics', anyway? "Hi, my name is Fred, and I'm a peaceoholic" "Hello, Fred"
Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it in your home!