Bully won’t be stocked at Currys
Currys, a retailer here in the UK, has today announced that they will not be stocking Bully (or, as it will be in the UK, Canis Canem Edit) because they are a “family friendly store”.
This is getting simply ridiculous. The game is rated “T” in America which means that teenagers can play the game. Therefore, the content really isn’t that bad. Yet a store in the UK has said no to it; a slight reversal on what usually happens then, since it’s usually America that bans things.
The best bit though, is that Currys stocks GTA games, which I don’t really consider “family friendly”. I was in one of their stores on Saturday and they had San Andreas up on the shelves. The GTA games carry 18 certificates, yet that is more acceptable than Bully apparently. They even stocked Manhunt for a time (admittedly they did ban it, but not before the release). It’s interesting because I have never seen a Currys manifesto that states they are family friendly, so I wonder where this came from.
This news comes after Jack “Wanker” Thompson lost a court battle to stop Bully from shipping. Why people can’t just leave these types of games alone is anyone’s guess. If a child or teenager cannot realise that what happens in a game is fiction and shouldn’t be repeated, then there is a problem in the brain, not the game.
Don’t worry though UK gamers. The game is still being stocked everywhere else, be it online or in store. The game is released on the 27th of October.
Even though you’re gamers, which means your frontal lobes are fried, see if you can follow this:
Bully has a 15 certificate, which means it cannot be sold, legally, to anyone under 15, so the UK has concluded this is a rather violent game.
Curry’s, understandably, is concerned that a game that is violent and which does reward violence by the “hero” in the game in a school setting (can’t you all even read gamer reviews of Bully that prove that?), should not be in the hands of school kids between the ages of 15 and 18.
This is a very logical decision, and I applaud Curry’s for it. You gamers are all for freedom, right? Well, Curry’s has the freedom not to sell a piece of garbage like this.
How do you like freedom now?
Jack
Well in that case, should Currys not remove all DVDs that carry a certificate above “U”? Because it’s the same principle. Just because they are not actively controlling the actions of the hero, doesn’t mean a child isn’t influenced by what they see.
Mr. Thompson, I urge you to do something else with your time. You are a joke in the gaming communtiy, no-one respects you. You talk of freedom: we all have the right to buy this game, surely, if we are above the age rating?
All that Currys have done is harm themselves. They will lose out on potential revenue (if people even buy games from them), all because they want to look “family friendly”. No-one cares about that, consumers will just go elsewhere.
And please, if you consider yourself an expert, spell Currys properly. There is no apostrophe, check on the website.
I’m framing this one. A comment from Jack Thompson. Awesome.
Your logic is crippled in a few very obvious ways Mr. Thompson.
As you state the game has received a 15+ certificate. Well it received that rating from several impartial parties drawing their authority from exactly one thing: support and trust from a vast majority of the general public.
What you are essentially saying is that you think the rating system is crippled, because it does not conform to your views, but you ignore that they do reflect the people’s views. So in short, your statement proves you are an ignorable factor in the whole equation, one that considers all violence to be content only fit for adults, an opinion not shared by the general public because it would be reflected in the ratings otherwise.
Currys can of course choose what they want to sell in their stores, that’s besides the point. The point is that windbags like you that have funds to burn and time to spare can that way make more of an impression to the world than the silent majority, despite the fact that your view is not shared by more than 1% of the target audience.
Hi Jack! Big fan.
I could rip the gentleman a new one but I’m a bit tired - I’ve played too many video games today, about ten whole minutes, and that fries your frontal lobes as you know - and I think you guys could do that better. I will ask you to comment on my pending Destroy All Humans! 2 review. Please? It’d be great. Autograph it and everything.
By your logic of games causing copycat behaviour, nearly every child knows that there are rabbits and birds trapped inside each and every robot (Sonic the Hedgehog).
“so the UK has concluded this is a rather violent game.”
The UK did not (I repeat: DID NOT) decide this is a violent game. The BBFC did, not the populus of the United Kingdom.
15 rated are bad for you? Why don’t you go arfter the X-rated movies, or the 18 rated ones. Hell, go after The Passion of Christ for making nuns faint.
Get your head out of your arse and learn that you will not win.
By your logic of games causing copycat behaviour, nearly every child knows that there are rabbits and birds trapped inside each and every robot (Sonic the Hedgehog).
“so the UK has concluded this is a rather violent game.”
The UK did not (I repeat: DID NOT) decide this is a violent game. The BBFC did, not the populus of the United Kingdom.
15 rated are bad for you? Why don’t you go arfter the X-rated movies, or the 18 rated ones. Hell, go after The Passion of Christ for making nuns faint.
Jack your an idiot. Games do not make violent people. Crappy parenting makes violent people.
God I wish that was from Jack Thompson.
Oh and just incase it is, you Mr Thompson are an arse luckily you are an American arse and I don’t have to have any dealings with you pushing your own views onto me.
IP and email check out and fit the writing style. We have atm no reason to believe he’s not authentic.
Wow! My Moment to shine.
Freedom. Coming from an American. The greatest democracy in the world (or I believe that is how you atempt to portray yourselves). Except the democracy and freedom only applies to white middle class chrstian America.
So to even begin trying to argue under the banner of freedom is a mistake as your understanding of the concept of freedom itself is flawed from the start.
Yes it is Currys right not to stock this game, just as it is my right as I am of sound mind and legal age to purchase and play this game. If Currys choose not to sell it it makes no difference to me and probably over 90% of UK gamers as we don’t generally use Currys (personally I prefer an independent retailer).
The only thing that happens is (as pointed out before) is that Currys lose out on potential revenue (bad business, not giving the consumer what they want). The issue is not solved by not stocking the game, the issue is solved by addressing the actual problem. If I was to believe your blinkered way of thinking then the numerous shootings in Americas schools year after year are down to violence in video games.
So nothing to do with the easy access to firearms in America then, but can’t really say anything against that because its you rights as “free Americans” to own a firearm, so guess you need to find something else to throw the blame on and use as a scapegoat.
Must be annoying to you that I may find a game like this would give me a couple of hours enjoyable escapism but somehow I am not some lunatic peodophile rapist, but in fact own a house, have a steady job, with a girlfriend have never been in trouble with the police in my life.
Your arguments are flawed in the same way as religious fundamentalists, you pick and choose some of the facts to suit you yet leaving out the whole story. It doesn’t matter what anyone says to you or presents you with however many facts refuting your limited ideals. You have faith that you are correct and the problem with that is that nothing can convince you that you are wrong, which is one of the basic problems with blind faith.
If you want to argue for the cause of freedom then at least have the intelligence to understand the correct concept of freedom not some silly little personal version you have made up in your own mind, in order to take revenge at the world for being bullied through school and never having a decent social upbringing.
Which is completely defied by the simple fact that European ratings are generally more lenient than Americans, and there’s a lot less shootings here.
Stop selling guns to minors and irresponsible parents first, then worry about video games.
I’m a gamer from the United States of America, and proud of it, damn it!
I’m proud to live in a country lead by George Bush (yeah, I said it!), but I guess you Englishmen like The_Glovner would prefer Al Gore or Kerry to have won and stripped away our rights.
I enjoy shooting rifles…NOT at people, but shooting nonetheless. But I guess supporting the Second Amendment (that’s the right to bear arms, if you don’t know) makes me as bad as Jack Thompson, right? Well, f*** you!
Criminals are criminals: if they’re willing to commit murder, it’s shouldn’t be THAT hard to find a firearm for sale on the black market…a market that would only increase in size once strict gun control is enacted.
Here’s an example of the stupidity of gun control laws: in 1994, Bill Clinton ratified a law creating the Assault Weapon Ban. The only problem? They weren’t actual assault weapons (except by the legalese that they wrote). It basically banned certain firearms that had such things as bayonet lugs and collapsible stocks. These were NOT automatic firearms: there was already legislation (the 1934 National Firearms Act) requiring extensive background checks, etc. to buy fully-automatic “machine guns” such as AK-47s and AR-15s (the automatic versions that is). Furthermore, this ban did not ban the ownership of such weapons (thank God for that), but instead the manufacture, transfer, or possession of any of the firearms that were produced after the time at which it was enacted. (here’s an article, with a link to an official Q&A: http://www.factcheck.org/article258.html)
Now, minors are already not allowed to own any type of firearms, and yet they get them and use them to shoot up their schools. Where do they get them? Well, they might buy them off of a shady dealer. But where did most of the weapons used come from? Parents, friends, and relatives (as seen here: http://0-www.cdc.gov.mill...iew/mmwrhtml/mm5209a1.htm)
One solution (as Curry suggested) would be to stop selling firearms to irresponsible adults. But how are we supposed to KNOW that someone is an irresponsible adult? The best course of action (in my opinion) — which does not directly limit the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — is for parents to actually get up off their butts and teach their kids about firearms. I grew up with firearms, and I understand perfectly what it means to shoot someone. Meanwhile those kids who have only played shooting simulations (in other words, video games) do not gain a full understanding of the ramifications.
I submit that it is those children who have not had large amounts of experience with real firearms AND good firearms instructors/parents that then go on rampages because they were teased. I was teased, and while I may have considered stabbing some people, I can truthfully say that I have NEVER even DREAMT of shooting someone I know. As for criminals (and especially murderers and rapists), I’d shoot them happily if I had to defend my self or especially another. If they’re successfully captured, then all the better: they can rot in jail for (hopefully) the rest of their lives.
Does this mean I support banning games like GTA and Bully? No. Do I support limiting who can purchase them? Yes. I don’t want a game like GTA…or for that matter Call of Duty or any violent game…in the hands of a young kid any more than I want a firearm in the hands of a minor or a criminal. Who should decide who gets to play what? The government can decide who gets to have firearms…to an extent…because of the POTENTIAL for the destructive use of a firearm. As to video games, the final decision is up to parents/family, just like it’s up to parents/family to keep firearms out of their children’s UNSUPERVISED hands.
But, back on topic…Currys can decide to sell whatever it wants, and yeah, Jack Thompson is a moron. I could almost see him posting on here, but it’s still hard to believe.
WOW CliffyB one day, Bill Gates the next, and now today its Video Gaming’s best friend in the whole world Jack Thompson. We need an ICgamers red carpet. ¬_¬
Thats it now, you have done it, Jack is going to sue you and me and all of us because we mentioned his name, oh the shame of it all!
Fuck Jack!
He be the big cock monkey swinging on my annoying branch!
(I don’t even know what that means?!)
In the Spirit of the Dixie Chicks. I’m ashamed Jack Thompson is from the US. And I know this in some small way puts Jack in the same league as Bush but hey idiots belong together.
Mr Thompson, comments like this “Even though you’re gamers, which means your frontal lobes are fried, see if you can follow this:” Have no place in a valid argument. Leave your dodgy legal practises out of our website, for the sake of your dignity.
Also, please do not admit that you search google daily to see which webpages have insulted you. I think you will find far too many to flame in one lifetime.
Thank you.
lol…..just lol….
Jack, my man, give it up pal. You’re a joke. Next time you open your mouth, do something useful with it. Insert my nuts, hum a nice tune and frig off afterwards.
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