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Bully re-release gives fools in Britain a second chance to be outraged photo

I can only assume the editor of The Telegraph tented his trousers with perverse glee when he realized that Rockstar was re-releasing the "violent" Bully, as it gives pundits and plebs the chance to whine and moan a second time about this controversial game that "glorifies" bullying.

The game was originally called Canis Canem Edit in the UK to combat this kind of pathetic whining the first time around, but with Bully: Scholarship Edition hitting current gen consoles in March, developer Rockstar Games has decided to go Hell for leather and call it by its proper title, the title it should always have had, since crooking a knee to political correctness is a dangerous and ill-advised action.

From the charity BeatBullying, to game fighting politician Keith Vaz, plenty of people in Britain have been getting their licks in now that the game has changed its title to one they can judge the entire thing from. After all, attacking a game with a Latin phrase for a name just isn't sensationalist enough, while Bully gives them all the fuel they need. Look forward to this release getting even more complaints, and you can bet the "omgz interactivity" of the Wii will be mentioned, too.

PC World and Currys are two UK stores that have decided simply to ban sale of the game. "We don't think this is suitable for sale in our stores. We are careful about what we sell and this is something we have decided not to list," claimed a store spokesman, who seems to think people who matter buy games from those places.

I was never completely interested in this title when it was first released as Canis Canem, but thanks to the outcry from these jesters, and the decision to revert the name back to Bully, I believe this is one I am going to happily support when it hits the Wii and Xbox 360 in a few months' time.


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29 comments | showing # 1 to 29
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Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:06
Sam Spectre
Does anyone else think that if this game wasn't made out to be so controversial it would be a complete flop?
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:08
Hamza CTZ Aziz
"I am going to happily support when it hits the Wii and Xbox 360" You're buying both versions?! OK, Richie Rich :P
Spykron's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:10
Spykron
aaaand table tennis haha
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:11
Jim Sterling
Sam:

I doubt it would reach GTA levels of sales, but it was meant to be quite good, wasn't it? Also, the name Bully definitely helps. Much easier to grasp that title than Canis Canem Edit. Punters are reeled in with the most obvious of bait.
Riser Glen's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:25
Riser Glen
Wow. This again? Bully's story was grade-A social satire. So this is almost like blaming Spinal Tap for school shootings because the kids listen to "the rock musak."

Hooray for judging a book by it's cover long after its original release?
razerangel's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:28
razerangel
"We don't think this is suitable for sale in our stores. We are careful about what we sell and this is something we have decided not to list,"

If they were careful about what they list they wouldnt sell crap pcs for £100s more than they're worth.
Riser Glen's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:30
Riser Glen
Dang. My brain dun work so good today.

Wow. This again? Bully's story was grade-A social satire. So this is almost like stopping the sale of Spinal Tap to prevent school shootings because most "bad" kids listen to "the rock musak."

Hopefully that makes more sense, now.
---AMARU---'s Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:37
---AMARU---
cant we all just... get along?
Guagloves's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 19:54
Guagloves
"We don't think this is suitable for sale in our stores"

Really? The game doesn't encourage bullying but instead stopping people from being bullied. These people really need to play the games before they open their damn mouths.
xenon's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 20:17
xenon
I think British gamers should avoid purchasing anything from the mentioned shops, and possibly make them aware of the boycott. Yes, boycotting is not the most noble and glorious way of fighting, but unfortunately it's one of the few viable and effective ones left. Also, Bully is a brilliant game with a rich and brilliant story. Also, cocks.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 20:34
Jim Sterling
I'll be shocked if anyone here buys stuff from Currys. PC World will be a different story, however.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 20:57
Eschatos
I was under the impression that Bully was a game against bullying.
Y0j1mb0's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 21:46
Y0j1mb0
I played the hell out of this game on the PS2. If you haven't played it yet..do so. Good Stuff.
F Whipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 21:56
F Whipple
what the hell does Canis Canem Edit even mean??
GonzoJoe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 22:43
GonzoJoe
Dog eat dog, Whip.

Maybe I'm just getting cynical in my old age, but I find the outrage doesn't come as quickly as it used to. Or maybe I'm just seeing it in a more historical perspective. To wit, kids typically don't vote, older (parents) people do. Ergo (this canis canem edit thing has me in a Latin mood) whatever interests kids will blindly be used by politicians to garner favor with the older crowd who actually gets to the polls.

Historically, this has been everything from rock music to violent cartoons. Video games are just the next phase in this cycle, and will be replaced by whatever it is that our kids do that pisses us off when we get to that age.

To polish it off with the Latin theme in tact, "Nihil sub sole novum." Which means there's nothing new under the sun.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 22:46
Necros
@ Eschatos

It is, but stupid people will just assume it's a game about bullying from the title.
kawitchate's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 23:03
kawitchate
jim (and people) you should be buying it because IT'S A GOOD GAME! sure it's not perfect, but it's got great writing and R* brand parody.
Justin Villasenor's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/20/2008 23:56
Justin Villasenor
Silly people are silly. And I wonder how many skipped it the first time just because of the weird-sounding Latin title.
MissHinasaki's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 00:26
MissHinasaki
I didn't play that far into it but ya know, I don't really recall it being that bad... It was rated T though, wasn't it? And I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be about anti-bullying.

So. They take a closer look at what they sell, eh?
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 01:09
vexed alex
Can we have someone who can publicly call these people out on their whiny bull shit? Seriously. Can we get the anti-Jack Thompson?

I vote Jim.
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 02:01
Aurain
Our country is on the ropes, We've only just recovered from kids running away from home and challenging everyone to Pokémon battles, and now we've all got to start going out and spray painting and go to school again.

If only we were smart enough to not copy everything we see in computer games...
Axle's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 04:02
Axle
Keith Vaz is a wanker. I'm writing my PhD in videogames (well, sociology) at Loughborough University which is 10 miles from Vaz's constituency. i wanted to interview him to find out if he's really so close minded, but he ignored any invitations to be part of my study.

He is fast becoming the UK's Keith Thompson.

BTW Sterling nice link to Wiki!
Drunken Haze's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 04:30
Drunken Haze
I would say i wouldn't shop at currys and PC world in protest but that would imply that I would ever shop there. Judging from the news everyone else is in the same boat as me

"Shares in the firm plunged more than 27% after DSG (owner of both companies) said full-year profits could be up to £50m below expectations.

Maybe they should learn to not overpice their limited selection of crap. Banning bully is just another example their poor management.
Axle's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 05:03
Axle
Surely if you're a gamer you wouldn't shop at DSG anyway? Shops like that are the reason why FIFA and NFS are always top of the sales charts.

I go in there to listen to beguiled parents taking purchasing advice from their 8-year-old kids on why buying the console package with five 'free' Xbox games for £2982 represents good value.

It's no wonder games like Bully cause an uproar, the parent just don't understand what's going on and unfortunately, many of these are in positions to make 'informed' decisions on what is wholesome game and waht is not.

Don't you HAVE to go to to skool in Bully if you want to learn and progress???? Sounds meritocratic to me.
Mappy's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 12:26
Mappy
PC World is ridiculously expensive for Video Games.
RoMeRtHeGaMe's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/21/2008 16:39
RoMeRtHeGaMe
I've heard nothing but good things about this game, I was actually going to pick it up for the ps2, but once I heard it was coming out for the 360, I just decided to wait instead.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/22/2008 12:16
Fading Star
That's nice.
hoppo254's Avatar - Comment posted on 01/23/2008 07:35
hoppo254
Ha brilliant news.. Lets rename Disneys enchanted "swear whore sucky cockfest" and see if they ban that. How can you pass something under one name and not under another if its the same content ?????? The mind boggles
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